Chapter 4

The door opened, and this time, She flinched.

It was small.

Barely there.

A tightening of her shoulders. A sharp pull of breath she couldn’t fully stop.

But it happened, and she knew they saw it.

Viv entered first. Elara followed.

Neither of them commented.

That made it worse.

27 pushed herself upright from the mattress before she was told to.

Her body felt heavier today.

Slower.

Every movement dragged slightly behind her intention.

She hated that.
“Stand,” Viv said anyway.

The word landed after the action.

A correction.

27 froze for half a second, then stood fully.

Too quickly.

Overcorrecting.
Elara’s lips curved.

“There it is,” she murmured. “You’re starting to anticipate.”

27 ignored her.

Or tried to.

Viv stepped forward, stopping at the same precise distance as before.

Always the same.

Always measured.

Her gaze moved over 27 slowly.

Not lingering.

Not rushing.

Taking everything in.

“You will be given rules,” Viv said. “You will follow them.”

A pause.

“You will not hesitate.”

The word settled heavily.

27 swallowed.

Her throat burned.

“Rule one,” Viv continued, “you speak when spoken to.”

27 kept her gaze steady.

But her focus wavered for just a second.

“Rule two, you do not challenge me.”

Her fingers twitched slightly at her side.

“Rule three, you do not forget your position.”

Silence.

“Repeat them.”

27 didn’t wait this time.

“You speak when spoken to,” she said. Faster than before. “You don’t challenge you. Don’t forget my position.”

Her voice was tighter. Less controlled.

Elara tilted her head, watching closely. “Oh,” she said softly. “That was quick.”

Viv didn’t react.

“Again,” she said.

27’s jaw clenched.

She repeated them. Slower this time. More careful.

“Good,” Viv said.

Then, She lifted the glass of water.

27’s eyes moved immediately. Locked onto it.

She couldn’t stop it.

And this time, She knew it showed.

Elara let out a quiet, pleased sound. “There it is again,” she said. “You’re not even trying to hide it now.”

27 forced her gaze back up, But it felt harder.

Viv stepped closer. The glass held steady in her hand.

“Take it,” she said.

No hesitation in her tone.

No room for refusal.

27’s body reacted before her mind did.

A step forward.

The chain dragged. She stopped just short.

Her hand lifted, Hovered, She hesitated.

Not for long, But long enough.

Viv saw it.

Elara leaned in slightly.

“Still thinking,” she murmured.

27’s fingers trembled. She hated that more than anything.

Then, She took it.

No refusal this time. No defiance. Her hand closed around the glass.

Viv released it immediately. 27 brought it to her lips. She drank.

Fast.

Too fast.

Water spilled over the edge, running down her chin, her throat, soaking into her skin.

She didn’t stop it.

Didn’t slow down.

Because for a moment,

She couldn’t.

Elara watched, something shifting in her expression. Less amused. More… focused.

27 lowered the glass.

Her breathing uneven now.

Her control slipping in ways she couldn’t fully hide. The lack of food, attention, water, basic necessities were impairing her mind.

Viv watched her.

Closely.

“Rule four,” she said.

“You do not hesitate.”

A pause.

“You did.”

27’s grip tightened around the empty glass.

She knew.

Viv took it from her without resistance.

Set it aside. “No food today,” Viv continued.

The words landed heavier this time.

Not shocking.

Not unexpected, but harder.

27 didn’t react immediately.

Then, Her shoulders dropped.

Just slightly.

Not submission, but not resistance either.

Something in between.

Elara noticed. Of course she did.

“Oh,” she said quietly.

“That’s new.”

27’s gaze flickered.

She straightened again. Too late.

Viv turned toward the door. “You’ll improve,” she said.

Not a threat.

Not encouragement.

Expectation.

She left.

Elara stayed.

Silence stretched between them.

Elara stepped closer. Slow. Careful.

“You didn’t fight it,” she said.

27 didn’t answer.

Elara crouched slightly, lowering herself just enough to catch her gaze again.

“You wanted to,” she added.

A pause. “But you didn’t.”

27’s throat moved.

“I was thirsty,” she said.

The words sounded smaller than she intended.

Elara smiled faintly.

“Yeah,” she said softly.

“I know.”

That felt worse.

27’s fingers curled slightly at her sides. Elara watched it happen.

“You’re starting to understand,” she said.

27 looked at her.

“Hate that,” Elara added lightly.

A small pause.

Then, quieter

“Also kind of like it.”

Their eyes held.

Something shifted again.

Subtle.

Unstable.

Then Elara stood. “Try not to fall apart too quickly,” she said, stepping back.

A beat. “I’m getting attached. You remind me of me.”

The door shut behind her.

The lock clicked.

Silence.

27 stood there for a long moment.

Then, slowly, She sat back down on the mattress, turned towards the corner away from the door, letting the tears fall once again.