Aiko shot upright, her heart hammering at the banging in the hall. She crept to the slot in her cell door and slid it open with shaking hands.

  Her breath caught. Malcolm and some man in a suit were dragging Ginger. Her head dangled, blond hair covering her face.

  No, no, no—what did they do to her?

  “I thought you said the tonic was ready,” Malcolm hissed.

  “It tested fine. She must have reacted,” the man replied, voice cold.

  They disappeared down the hall. Aiko slammed the slot shut, pressing her back against the door. Her chest ached. She wanted to scream, but all she could do was whisper: Hang on, Ginger. Please hang on.

  Morning. A guard shoved open her door. “You’re needed.”

  Aiko followed, stomach twisting, through endless halls until they reached a forgotten block. Peeling paint. Broken tiles.

  And there—Ginger, tied to a chair. Her head lolled, breath ragged.

  “Why is she like this?” Aiko burst out, voice cracking.

  Operator 47 didn’t even blink. “Her mind’s caught in a fantasy. You’re the only one she might listen to.”

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  “What are you talking about?!” Aiko demanded.

  Before she could move, something jabbed her arm. Her vision swirled into black.

  When she woke, Ginger was gone. The empty room made Aiko’s chest hollow. I have to find her. I have to.

  Back in her cell, a scrap of paper slid under the door.

  Aiko, meet me in the yard. We need to talk. —Ginger

  Her fingers shook as she shoved the note into her pocket.

  Late that afternoon in the yard, she spotted Ginger—pale, shaky, standing alone.

  Aiko ran to her. “Ginger? What did they do to you?”

  Ginger’s eyes brimmed. “I don’t know. I feel… wrong inside. Like I’m not me anymore.”

  Aiko squeezed her hand hard. “It’s okay. We’ll figure it out. I won’t let them—”

  Ginger screamed.

  Aiko flinched as orange fire burst across Ginger’s hands, crawling up her arms.

  “It hurts! Aiko, make it stop!”

  Aiko stumbled back, frozen. No. This isn’t real. It can’t be real.

  “Please!” Ginger shrieked, her skin blistering under the flames. She bolted across the yard, body engulfed. The stench hit Aiko’s nose — sharp, sickening, burning flesh. She gagged, tears streaming.

  “Stop! Somebody help her!” Aiko screamed.

  Other inmates shrieked as Ginger’s body exploded, fire leaping from girl to girl like it was alive. Flames devoured them, their screams piercing the air.

  Aiko slapped her hands over her ears but couldn’t shut it out. This isn’t happening. Please, please stop.

  Guards rushed in with hoses, but the water only made it worse — flames roared higher, burning hotter. The sound of sizzling flesh, the cries for help — it seared into Aiko’s brain.

  She collapsed to her knees, sobbing, choking on smoke. “Ginger! Please, fight it! Don’t leave me!”

  Ginger was gone forever!

  The alarm wailed across the yard as the fire spread, chaos swallowing everything. Aiko curled in on herself, powerless, her voice raw as she screamed with the others.