I lowered my head to my clasped hands as another chill slapped against my bare body. Looking to the mattress on the floor across the room, I checked that the door was clear of the guards and scurried over to take the thick linen covering the base. I wrapped it around my body and quickly sat back down.

When I had awoken this morning, the cell was empty. 901 had left, probably to train. And I was glad of that fact. I racked my brain to remember if, with the exception of Master, I had ever had to face a male the morning after he had had to take me. I couldn’t remember, but I had the feeling that I hadn’t. 901 intimidated me more than anyone. I knew I would have been terrified to face him this morning. My stomach rolled when I thought back to how much he hadn’t wanted to pleasure me. But then I pictured him after he had reached his release the first time. There had been a look of wonder and awe in his blue eyes as he had stared into mine. His sharply featured face had relaxed to betray softness. That expression had created a home in my heart when my palm touched his rough cheek.

I blinked to break the trance I had fallen into, tucking my head into the bundled linen at my chest to stave off the cold. When I did, I was engulfed by the strong musk scent of 901. My thighs clenched together as the aroma infused my lungs. I closed my eyes, once again seeing him rocking above me, his bulging arms flexing and tensing beside my head.

The sudden sound of the cell door made me jump. When I looked up, a guard was in the doorway. He flicked his chin and ordered, “Move.”

I immediately got to my feet. As he turned to lead me out of this cell, a momentary sense of regret sprouted within me. For a second, I didn’t want to leave. 901 might not want me here, but he was a better alternative than Master. Trepidation ran over my skin as I walked down the familiar hallway toward my quarters. I didn’t want to return to Master. I didn’t want him to hurt me.

I didn’t want him to cherish me, either. His crazed possession was almost as terrifying as his harsh hand.

When we reached my quarters, the guard opened the door and I walked through. My eyes immediately searched the room for Master, to try to foresee what would happen to me today. But I relaxed when from the side room came Maya.

The guard shut the door, and when he did, I smiled. Until I remembered yesterday. Until I remembered that Master had hurt her in the room where I had been given my bracelet.

A sudden sadness propelled my legs to move, and surprising Maya, I wrapped her in my arms. Maya gasped as I held her.

When I drew back, I searched her dark eyes. She appeared uncomfortable and lost.

“Are you okay?” I asked, and she blinked blankly.

“Yes, miss. Why?” she questioned in a timid voice.

Chasing away the lump in my throat, I replied, “Because of yesterday. Because of the way Master hurt you.”

“Hurt me, miss?”

I held up my bracelet and said, “In the room where I received this. He hit you.” I shook my head and knew I was showing my confusion now. I lifted my hand to my head. “It felt wrong to me that he did that.”

Maya shook her head and reached for my hand. “No, miss. It isn’t wrong. Master does whatever he wants, whenever he wants. He beats us frequently.” Maya swallowed, then added, “I am a chiri, miss. I have no say in anything that happens in my life.”

I nodded, understanding that I was mistaken, but something in my heart felt off. Like Maya’s statement was false. Like we shouldn’t be treated this way.

A pain ached in my brain when I tried to understand why I had this thought in my mind. I couldn’t remember.

“Come, miss,” Maya said, and led me from the center of the room to the table at the far side. I sat down and she poured me a glass of water. She next placed a plate of food in front of me. Maya went to remove the linen from around my body. I was in the middle of bringing a lump of bread to my mouth, when I dropped it to pull the linen back.

My cheeks flushed under Maya’s raised brows. “I … I just want to stay like this a moment longer,” I said quickly.

Maya nodded dutifully and moved to walk away. I reached for her wrist, and she stopped dead. Not wanting to be alone again, I asked, “Please, stay.” I pointed to the food. “Eat with me.”

Maya shook her head. “I can’t, miss. It’s forbidden.”

A flick of anger burned in my chest, and I pulled out the chair beside me. “Sit down, Maya. Please.”

She glanced over her shoulder to the door, but it was clear. There was no sign of Master or the guards. Maya slowly sat down, then waited for me to speak.

So I told her about last night. About 901.

“Why would he do it?” Maya questioned, confused, when I had finished speaking. “Why would Master give you to his best fighter?” She checked the door again and, when it was clear, said, “Master acts so differently toward you, miss.” Maya’s gaze dropped to stare at the floor like she was thinking things through, then her head snapped up. “Maybe it was why he hurt you so badly the night before last. Because he knew he was giving you away.” She ran her hand over the linen I was still wrapped in and continued. “It was why he ordered you dressed in the transparent fabric. It was so you could seduce the champion.”

“You’re right,” I rasped, her explanation making sense of the Master’s recent actions.

“But why?”

“The guard told him I was a gift. For him being so efficient in the pit.”

Maya leaned forward. “But there are many monebi in the left section of this place. Why would he give you to him? You are the High Mona.”

I rubbed my hand over my forehead. “I don’t know.”

Maya lost her questioning gaze, then placed her hand on my bare arm. When I felt her watching me, I looked her way. “Was it okay, miss? Did … did he hurt you?”

Feeling my cheeks blushing, I shook my head. “No. No,” I repeated, “he didn’t hurt me.”

Maya nodded, then said, “Some of the monebi I have cared for, they have been hurt by the fighters.” She leaned even closer and whispered, “The males are given a drug that sometimes makes them uncontrollable and rough. They lose their minds and only know how to fight and hurt people—including the monebi who are sent in to help calm them down.”

I thought back to 901. I knew he was nothing like that. In fact, he did not seem to be under a drug’s influence at all. “I don’t think this fighter was on anything like that.”

Maya nodded. “Some are on lesser doses if they are compliant. They are given something to make them aggressive and short-tempered, but if they have been here for years, they are accustomed to how we live.”

I soaked in every word, then asked, “How do you know so much, Maya? You are so young?”

Maya flinched, her face contorting at something I had said. “What?” I questioned, and reached for her hand. Her head bowed, avoiding my gaze. “Maya?” I pushed again. She flinched. When she lifted her head, I saw tears fill her eyes. “What is it?”

“You called me by my name,” she hushed out in response.

My stomach plummeted. Squeezing her hand, I said, “Maya is your name.”

Maya shook her head. “No, I’m chiri, I’m a 000. I lost my name when I lost my face. It melted away the same time the acid melted my flesh.”

This time I leaned forward and ducked my eyes until I held her attention. “In this room, you are Maya.” I inhaled slowly through my nose, and the words, “You are someone. You’re more than a number,” spilled from my lips. I suddenly sat up straight when I abruptly pictured a dark cell in my mind, a rough hand brushing over my face to move away sweat-ridden strands of hair. I couldn’t see him, but I heard his voice tell me those exact words. You are someone. You’re more than a number …

“Miss?” Maya questioned worriedly.

I forced a smile and said, “To me, you are Maya.”

A teardrop trickled down her cheek and she whispered, “Thank you.”

I waited until she had found some composure, and repeated my question. “Maya, how do you know so much about what happens in this place?” I rubbed my fingers over my forehead and said, “From what I know, I have spent most of my life here, yet I remember almost nothing. I can barely recall being trained to be a mona.” I turned to face her and said, “Please, explain everything to me. How does this place function?”