Word Count: 1670

~Avia

The fire has officially burnt out within Kenna.

For the past week, she hasn't had anything spiteful to say, and has instead opted for staring blankly at the wall. We've offered her books, pens and paper, anything for her to do in her idle time, which is all day, except when Malin is in here, questioning her. And now that Kenna isn't fighting back, Malin is bored with her, and has sent me in here to do my part in convincing her that we are the good guys.

Even though seeing her in this small room makes me think that we are becoming the opposite of the good guys.

"How are you feeling?" I ask softly. She's lost a lot of weight, sometimes refusing to eat for days until she realises Malin's resolve is far stronger than her's, and if Kenna died, that would make Malin's job far easier. Her clothes hand from her small frame awkwardly, making me wince whenever I come into the room.

She doesn't even look at me, back pressed against the wall, legs under the covers of her bed. "Tired."

That much is obvious. The dark circles under her eyes have become so entrenched in her appearance that I can't remember what she looked like without them. And her skin is sallow, so pale and lifeless without constant sun. She avoids the small, barred window like it might burn her.

"Can't sleep?" I ask softly. I've offered constantly to supply her with better bedding, but she hasn't taken it.

She shrugs. "Missing my family."

My heart hurts. It aches to the point nausea rises up within me. I know what it feels like to miss your family, so I can only imagine what Kenna is feeling. She may even doubt if she will ever see them again. I want her too. I want this to be over, so she can go home and be happy.

I just hope Malin doesn't kill her first.

"I'm sorry you're here. I know I tell you that every time we talk," I sigh. I don't know what else to sat to her. It's not like I can apologise anymore, and there's no hope in convincing her to side with us. Whenever I try, she just stares blankly at me. She dropped the curt retorts about how we are all deluded and how she doesn't care about this Pack.

"The doubt is written all over your face," she mutters, coughing into her hand. "Malin, even your boyfriend sees it."

I blink, unsure of how to respond to that.

I'm done trying to convince myself that I'm not doubting anything. If I weren't thinking twice in my situation, then I would be a soulless person. Malin might disagree, but I've come to know a different side to everyone in that manor, so it hurts. I just have to remember the bigger picture, remember what my family went through in their last moments, just so Isaiah's family could continue their reign,

"I'm not doubting anything, this job just is taxing." it's not like I can confide in Kenna. Any sign of weakness in me, and she will exploit it to get herself out of here, to get me in trouble with Malin. She's made remarks to me in the past about how she thinks Malin is the true leader, and that she will eventually turn against me.

Kenna rests her head against the wall, closing her eyes. "Malin is a bitch."

"She can be, yes," I admit.

Kenna smiles lightly, for the first time since she came in here. "Well, if you happen to change your mind about this whole rebellion thing, let me know, and we can get out of here and not look back."

I watch her quietly for a long moment. She doesn't avert her gaze, and for the briefest moment, I see a spark of hope there. She genuinely believes I am going to turn away from the rebellion, that I'm her new way out of here.

"Alright Kenna..."

I couldn't leave the room fast enough, scared I may say something to Kenna that will incriminate me. Malin is waiting for me in the main room of the compound, tapping her foot impatiently. On the wall behind her, her near incoherent scratching take up most of the space. She like's to see her plans right in front of her, so almost all the information about Isaiah is just sitting there, right in front of my face.

"The new girl is fitting in well, when she shows up to meetings. She has some good information," Malin notes. She hasn't sounded pleased like that in awhile. I knew Caiya would fit in here, and I'm glad Malin has given her a chance to prove herself.

"Good, I'm glad."

I collapse into my seat at the head of the table, exhausted. As usual, it's the middle of the night, and I'm tired. I spent all day tailing Isaiah, attending meeting after meeting about the new development. And as usual he had almost no input, and anything he did, say generally against the idea.

Malin faces the wall, tapping her pen against it. "Don't make me say it..."

I don't even have to see her face to know what she is insinuating. I roll my eyes, hating that this is a topic of conversation each time I come here. It's almost becoming tiring, and not because of the hour...

"I'm not doubting anything," I mutter. Why Malin hates hearing me come back from meetings telling her Isaiah could be more uninvolved is such a problem when it's the truth, I have no idea...Spite, probably. "Everything is going well, I'm starting to truly gain Isaiah's trust. I haven't even needed to touch him, let alone kiss him or anything."

She turns suddenly. "If he asked you to fuck him, would you?"

I glance over my shoulder towards the door, even though I know Kadrick is sleeping right now. If anyone else around here overheard, they would tell him immediately. The purpose of the rebellion never comes before gossip, it seem.s

"Malin...I have a boyfriend," I respond tiredly.

"For the mission, I mean," she shrugs, her smile almost devious. "Don't act like you haven't thought about it, or even been tempted...Even I can admit he's attractive."

"We've talked about this." I can feel myself getting irritated now. Sleeping with Isaiah then discarding him isn't coming all that easily to me, temptation or not. "I'm not going to do that, not for the mission. And I don't need to anyway, Isaiah respects me without me having to strip all my clothing for him. You haven't gotten everything right about him."

Malin shakes her head, strolling closer to sit in the chair next to me, kicking her feet up onto the table.

"Let's be honest, you've always been out of Kadrick's league, and once we get into power by overthrowing the Alpha, you'll be moving on very quick," she grins. I frown. She's mentioned jokingly before that she doesn't think Kadrick and I will last outside of the rebellion, but I didn't think she was actually serious.

"You don't know that..."

She leans forward, tilting her head. "I know where there is an absence of passion."

Kadrick and I haven't had sex once since the mission started. We've barely even kissed. When I come back here, I'm far too tired, and it feels easier to tell him next time. With everything going on in my head about Isaiah, it doesn't feel like the right thing to do, to sleep with my boyfriend and not acknowledge what else is going on.

"You'll say anything to make me do this," I dismiss. She grabs my hand, squeezing it tightly. Whenever she tries to convince me or something, she gets up close to me, becomes affectionate and caring. I miss when Malin was more like this. When her mind wasn't on the mission all the time.

"Funny thing is, I mean it," she murmurs, brushing a piece of my hair back. A huff out a breath, conflicted. It's like she can read my mind about Kadrick, sometimes.

"He's to be married to Elise, as I have told you," I remind her softly, swallowing past the lump in my throat. "And the vibe I get from her is that she will quick literally murder me if she has to, and I'm thinking maybe I can get information out of her."

Likelihood is, Elise wouldn't actually care if I slept with Isaiah, as long as she doesn't have to. Malin doesn't need to know that, though.

"I don't like the sound of that woman." Malin's nose scrunches up at the thought. Interestingly, her and Elise actually have a lot in common, especially in the way they carry themselves. "I think you and I would both like to see her fall."

I chew on my bottom lip until it's painful. "We'll see."

"Have I ever told you how much I love you, best friend?" Malin asks sweetly, patting my cheek gently. I roll my eyes at her, even as I smile. "I'm asking you to fuck the most attractive man in the Pack, and make him want more. You should be thanking me."

I can't help but laugh, despite myself, holding my hands up. "Whatever you say."

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"Tomorrow, we don't have to speak of this again." I hardly know what I'm asking. I just know I want whatever it is.

He watches me with an intensity that I know only he is capable of. "Put my hand where you want me to touch you."

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