ACRO

Heal

Ian walked into the basement, and stopped behind Samaira, who stood before her four violators, the knife in her hand dripping with blood. 

He looked at the bleeding corpse of the Mayor, his eyebrows rising, merely.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Can't you see?" she said, her voice low.

"Did he attack you?" asked Ian.

"No."

"Why'd you kill him, then?"

"He's a monster, that's why." she said, walking away from the four.

"And you're not?" he asked, sternly.

Samaira stood before the wash basin, as the water ran over the knife's edge, washing away the blood.

"He deserved it. And they deserved to watch him die." she said, glaring at the four, who sobbed, loudly.

"You're getting sloppy. You need to get ahold of your emotions." he said.

"I haven't killed them, yet. My rapists. That's remarkable self control." she shrugged.

"That isn't self control, Samaira." he argued.

"You're making them suffer."

"They deserve it." she said, quietly.

"But do you?" he asked.
"Do you deserve to take that toll on yourself?"

"The toll's already on me." she said, numbly, looking up at him.

"I broke my mother's arm."

His lips parted in shock.

"It's time for the next phase of your training." he said, after a moment of silence.

"And what will I learn this time?" she asked.

"To kill your emotions."

*

A few days passed. Sam was mostly bed ridden. She hardly ate, and threw up most of the time. The poison had affected her body, but the fever, weakness and vomiting were aftereffects of the torture and physical violence she was put through.

She looked down the window, watching the parade march, in synchronization, with Youssef leading them. The troops stopped, and stood at ease when Alfarsi arrived, giving them their daily dose of encouragement.

Youssef stood straight, his face straight and emotionless, his eyes ahead of him. He looked up at the window, four stories above and saw Sam. He looked away immediately, when Alfarsi began to address him.

"Good morning." greeted Salima, as she walked into the room, making Sam turn away from the window.

"Hey." she said, limping towards her.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

"Pissed off." answered Sam.

"Me, everyday." Salima stated, making Sam scoff.

"I can't even try to escape, thanks to fucking Zara." said Sam, quietly.

"How do you know her name?"

"She came over the other night," said Sam, sitting on the bed.
"to fuck."

"I could hear them for a whole hour."

Salima's eyebrows raised in pity.

"They aren't in the best place, though. Him and Zara." said Salima, making Sam look at her.