I stood alone, knowing I had broken the rule. My heart was pounding in my ears and my palms steamed with sweat. It was early, the shadows were still hugging the corners of the walls, just as frightened as I was while I walked through the tattered remnants of corpses unfortunate enough to have been caught out.

The bemoans of the half-butchered were wailing insistently, softly, begging, imploring, asking that their broken bones be mended so they can continue.

I stood by one of them, studying her features as she blinked up at me. Her eyes were hazy, and solid black bruises covered her entire body. I knelt beside her, reaching for her long, greasy hair, and slowly, brushed my fingers through the damp blood sticking to her scalp.

I stayed with her until the bell tolled, the low chimes low through the stone halls. I followed its summons quietly, keeping to the back of the crowd and away from the wild children sprinting past. I had backed myself underneath one of the torch holders barely lit by its brave attempt to cull the dark bleeding from its rotted corners.

Slowly, I crouched down by the grand yet battered doors, looking up at the sway of teens and young filing into the room with routine brutality. It was the first time I had been in the main hall, the fear I felt of breaking the rule was still pounding in my chest. I had been repeatedly told I was forbidden to ever come; the newness of it was intimidating as I looked up at the grey-matte ceiling painted with large splotches of thick soot. I didn't find myself surprised when the first inhuman and wrathful howling scattered the wild-born underneath various stone tables.

I had been tempted to join them, if I didn't find an opportunity to abruptly sprint through the fight and claw a foul piece of bread from someone's hands. I was lucky while I dashed through the legs of teens starved by violence.

I ran until I hid myself against a wall, triumphantly holding the broken heel under my tattered shirt as I waited for the thievery to be forgotten, it wouldn't be long according to the vicious screaming brawling itself down the hall. Eventually, I fled farther away, turning the corner to where I saw the girl. But she was already gone.

Tall men stood around a cart, their laughter loud as they picked up the remains and discarded them. One began to turn towards me, their full-body suit shiny even in the warm light. I couldn't move, I found myself trembling horribly, staring vacantly at the wooden slats dyed with blood and rotting corpse-leavings.

I reeled, when the guardsman closest to me angled himself towards me. It was then that I felt a hand bruise my arm, a strong grip yanked me down the hall on faster legs. They carried my wild screaming, somehow bearing through the wild bites I sank into their dirt-soaked flesh. But even with the taste of blood in my mouth and their arm torn apart they didn't let go until I was thrown against a corner.

"What did I tell you, Twelve!" I froze underneath Cody's hard gaze. "Tell me!" She shook my shoulders, hard enough that my teeth clattered making me bite down on my cheek.

"I didn't do any—"

"You broke the fucking rule!"

"I didn't break the fucking rule!" She shook me hard, my neck hurt and my head bounced against the hard stone behind me.

"Don't you dare swear at me when I have just saved your life!" I tried to push her away, but her grip was stronger. Completely overpowering my capability to fight against her. "You do not leave my side, ever!"

"I was hungry!"

She grimaced, her blue eyes wide with rage and her short, black hair fluffed around her. "I do not care how late the bell is, you wake me! Tell me why you didn't wake me up!"

"I don—"

"Tell me, Twelve!"

"Because I wanted to go alone! I can take care—"

She grabbed my jaw, yanking me close and digging her nails into my cheeks while I was centred by her rage. "You cannot take care of yourself, you stood in front of the guards! You nearly killed yourself!"

"I don't need protection!" I slurred past my cheeks, trying to push her hand away. She re-adjusted her grip and forced me to look up.

"You. Do not. Leave my side."

"I know." I said through clenched teeth.

She turned through a soft gasp, pressing her body against mine. She covered my mouth, her lean much more gentle than the clawing ire that pinned me down. The voices were quiet, far enough that I knew Cody was overreacting. Slowly, I pushed at her, but her strength was greater when she crowded against me further.

"You're going to listen to me, very carefully, Twelve. Nod if you understand." I hesitated, but eventually obeyed.

"We are going to leave this hell and return to the surface," her smile was bright, leaping my heart into a realised fear. She grabbed my wrist, the same mark of a black skull stapled to my skin swayed with hers. "We have someone who can help."