The ride to the holding facility was spent in pure blackness. There were no windows in the trailer,  a slip of wind managing to slither through the thin crack in the doors was all I was offered for fresh air. The metal floor beneath me was covered in a thin coating of straw which provided no comfort and only served to itch the bits of bare skin that were not covered by my clothes.

    The trailer was freezing and with the tight bonds on my wrists already limiting circulation, I could feel my fingers growing numb. I tried to curl up my body as best I could to maintain body heat, quite a task with chains on both my ankles and neck. The rough metal dug into my skin and it took all of my efforts to find a position in which to rest.
   
I did my best to sleep. Fear and the trials of the last few days had left me drained of energy but I needed to be more on guard now than ever and for that, I would need all the strength I could manage. I knew there would be little rest to come when I reached our final destination.

    It must have been hours later by the time the car stoped, though it was impossible to tell. When the trailer doors opened I was in some sort of garage, already shut away from any daylight, if it still remained in the outside world.

    "On your feet, human," came a sharp command. A bright light was shined directly on my face practically blinding me. No doubt they wished to keep me disoriented but it made my ability to follow their command all the harder. My legs had fallen asleep along with my mind and between the chains and the pins and needles sending waves of protest through my calves and feet, it took multiple attempts to find balance enough to steady myself.

    As I blinked against the light I saw three sibla men standing near the door of the trailer. Two had guns trained on my body, the other aimed with his flashlight. It was almost comical. Did they think I was still a threat even so heavily chained? I certainly had no intention of being anything but obedient. After all, some part of me still wondered if Magnus could truly come to my rescue as he'd claimed. He'd asked the authorities for three days at least. I would do nothing to sacrifice my final chance at salvation.

    "Follow us," came the next command. I did so, shuffling along, all too aware of the armed men in front and behind me.
   
Down hall after hall the officers lead me until I became entirely lost within the gray slab concrete-walled maze. After what seemed like an eternity we arrived at what seemed to be our destination, a large metal door with threateningly solid bolts upon it. The guard in front of me rapped on the door, opening a small window to ensure the sound might be heard through the thick barrier.

    "Prisoner transfer," he said. A moment later the door creaked open and I held my breath, wondering what fresh horror might await me inside. Before I even had the chance to hesitate, I felt the muzzle of a gun pressed into the base of my spine.

    "Keep moving, human," the man behind me hissed. "Don't think I won't shoot. No one would come back for a crippled animal."

    I knew he was right of course and had no reason to suspect his threats were idle. Magnus had seemed certain his family name might hold weight and I had heard Dulane speak favorably of the man's brother Torvald, but even if that protection did exist for now, it would disappear instantly at any sign of rebellion and I knew that well enough. I walked forward into the prison, eyes cast down lest they perceive any sign of disobedience or pride within my expression. I heard the door thud closed behind me.

    "What's this then?"

    I looked up slightly to see a sibla man stand from the desk at which he sat. He was very tall, muscular with a square jaw and pale grey skin. I imagined he must spend quite a bit of time within the walls of this prison to have such a light complexion. The uniform he wore was different from those of my captors. The stripes on his right breast seemed to identify him as a superior officer.

    "Another one of the Dulane Estate escapees, head inspector," my guard answered, casting a disdainful frown in my direction. "Her name is Alice."

    My heart pounded as his words hung in the air. How many more of my fellows had they already caught? Had any already given me up?

    The head inspector took the note my captor held out and skimmed it.

    "She was found with a sibla man?" he asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

    "One Magnus Kendrick," the officer replied. He has been brought to the station as well and I'm certain you will wish to speak with him. He claims to have been present at Dulane's murder. According to his story, he barely escaped with his life."

    "Kendrick?" the head inspector asked, the confusion all too apparent as he looked to the officer's notes again. "As in Kendrick meats? As in Torvald Kendrick?"

    I must admit I was surprised to watch the interaction playing out before me. Was Magnus's brother more well known than even I had suspected?

    "Yes," the officer answered. "The man claims to be Kendrick's brother."

    The inspector's brow furrowed. "Go to Mr. Kendrick immediately and tell him I will be with him soon. I have had dealings with Torvald in the past and will contact him myself. I'm certain he will be relieved to hear his brother is safe. After news of the attack broke he was certain all hope was lost that the man might have survived. But what is this note I see about the human?"

    I shrunk in on myself as the man's gaze turned to me now.

    "Kendrick asks that she be separated from the others?" His eyes widened further as he looked to the sheet again. "He wishes to re-claim this rebel?"

    I was hardly surprised by the man's incredulity. I was incredulous myself. Magnus had seen exactly what I did to my Master. He had no way of knowing the cause of my actions. Had he truly taken me at my word? Was he so naive as to trust that easily? Now that his protection was the only thing keeping me from a truly horrific end I couldn't help but wonder. Surely it wouldn't take much to convince him that I was dangerous. And the authorities did not even know how culpable I was in the carnage wrought upon their fellow sibla. At least not yet. The sick feeling returned to my stomach.

    "Indeed," the officer answered, "that was the man's request. He was concerned that any advanced interrogation might damage the animal and that putting her with her fellows might turn her feral."

    The head inspector pursed his lips in thought, his expression hard, brow furrowed.

    "I can hardly blame him for his concern if he is truly intent on keeping the creature," he replied "But reports of what those humans did are truly horrific. I can't see any of Dulane's stock being permitted to live after such an atrocity. Moreover, we need all the information we can obtain and if this animal knows something we must have the ability to put questions to her to ensure there is no threat remaining after the incident. Can't have human rebellions popping up on other estates and murdering more innocent sibla."

    It was all I could do to hold back a laugh at his later comment. There had been nothing "innocent" about Cedrick Dulane and his family. They'd deserved what they got. Of course, now that I was under sibla authority once again, it was likely I would pay back that vengeance in spades.

    "We will put her in a cell on her own for now," the head inspector said after a moment of thought. "I will speak to Torvald Kendrick and see what further details I can ascertain of his brother's visit to the Dulane estate. In the meantime, go and take care of the elder Mr. Kendrick. Ensure he is treated with every courtesy. Find him some refreshment and take whatever statement he has to give before his brother arrives.

    The officer nodded and went back through the heavy metal door, leaving me alone with the head inspector.

    I stood entirely still as the man went to his desk and picked up the phone, ostensibly to call for back up.

    "Don't you even think, of stepping out of line," he said, keeping his eyes upon me as he dialed. "I assure you I will shoot you dead before you can get within four feet of me. Do you understand?"

    "Yes, Master," I answered. I had no intention of moving a muscle, still in shock that the officers were willing to consider Magnus's words at all.

    "A new transfer," I heard him say into the phone speaker. "I want her watched around the clock. Send two men to escort her to her cell." The man listened for a moment, nodded his head, then hung up the phone and picked up the receiver to dial again.

    "Hello, Mr. Kendrick."

    My ears pricked up at the mention of Magnus's name, though I knew the inspector must be speaking to the man's brother.

    "Ah, I see. Then the captain already called you?" a pause. "Yes, I assure you he is safe. My men brought him to the station not long ago. He seems to have been uninjured in the attack. We need only record his statement and you may take him home." Another pause as the man listened to Magnus's brother on the other end of the line, nodding occasionally and giving small grunts of affirmation.

    I'd hoped to hear to more of the conversation but it was at that moment that two armed guards entered the room.

    "Perkins, Jenkins," the inspector said, covering the phone's speaker as he addressed them, "this is the human. See to it that she is processed into the system and found suitable accommodations. Forgive me, Mr, Kendrick," he said, turning back to the phone.

    Perhaps it was a good sign that he was not concerned enough about me to even oversee my transfer? I followed obediently after the men who led me from the room and down the hall past a line of empty cages. I kept my head down fearing that I would look up to see cells occupied by anyone I knew. Unfortunately, staring at my feet did not block out the screams I heard reverberating against the cold slabs of wall. Did any of those tortured cries belong to the poor humans who had managed to find themselves victims of my scheming?

    I was struck with overwhelming guilt that nearly obliterated fears for my own wellbeing. I had encouraged them to rebel. This was my plan, my vengeance. They had followed me and then I'd abandoned them. I'd gone with Magnus Kendrick. What if I could have helped my fellows instead? What if my disappearance had been their downfall? And even if it had not been, it hardly mattered. They would not have rebelled without my prompting. They might still be safe on Dulane's farm. Slaves yes, doomed to the same fate as all humans in our world, but they would not now be facing such torture. They would not be suffering for another's crimes.

    "Put her in the last cell," the man behind me called out. "We'll take a look at her there."

    The man in front of me nodded and opened one of the cells on the empty hall.

    "In ya go," the man behind me said, jabbing the shaft of his rifle into my back to force me forward. "Now take off that dress so we can see your brand," he ordered. He took a knife and cut the bonds on my wrists.

    I didn't hesitate, quickly unzipping my dress and letting the top fall around my waist, exposing my torso. I hoped they would not make me strip further. I didn't trust these sibla men to not take advantage of our private location as Everett had once done. But the men had no interest in anything but business.

    One of them grabbed my arm and yanked it forward, exposing the numbers and markings on my shoulder to the light for better legibility.

    "Number 2773," he said aloud as his friend wrote down notes on a small pad he had taken from his pocket. "Marked as farm bred. Has the Dulane crest on her. She's definitely one of them all right. Got a nice assortment of lashing marks on her back too. This isn't her first time stepping out of line."

    He let my arm go and frowned.

    "You proud of what you did, human?" he asked.
    I didn't dare answer. No response could possibly be to my benefit.

    "Leave her," the other officer said. "No doubt we will have time to put questions to the animal later. Plenty of others to get through still. I heard on the radio that another patrol caught a group of them in the woods and should be back by tomorrow morning. With nearly every one of the Dulane estate accounted for now, we'll get to the bottom of this quickly and dispose of these filthy creatures."

    "Get dressed," the first man said, his frown still fixed.

    As soon as I had re-zipped my dress one of the officers grabbed my arms and tied my wrists again before closing the door of my small cell. The sound of clanging metal echoed in my ears cementing my place as their prisoner. Tears slipped from my eyes unbidden. If the officers were to be believed, almost all had been accounted for. Would any of my friends be spared? Had I damned not only myself but all those who I had claimed once to help? The thought was terrifying.

—————
    Stuck in my isolated cell with nothing but fear and worry to keep me company I sat on the floor and tried to center myself. I had to manage to keep my mind sharp if I was to have any chance of survival. Magnus's words seemed to have their intended effect and that was good. With any luck, I would have at least the three days reprieve he had requested.

    Scanning the bare cell I saw a loose bit of concrete in one of the corners and I went to it, managing to break of a small shard. I took the bit of rock in my hand I scratched a thin line in the wall. One. This was my first day. Given my windowless environment, there would not be any easy way to track the sunrise or sunset but I had to presume they would provide me some sort of food and drink on a schedule. I was proven right. Not long after they had locked me away, a sibla guard arrived at my cell with a metal bowl in hand. He passed the dish under the bars through a small opening that allowed for such exchange but did not force the guard to have to actually enter my enclosure.

    The bowl contained some sort of liquid that I imagined was meant to be soup, though it was not warm. There were a few pieces of beleaguered potatoes and something that might have been a piece of meat. The thin soup had the taste of something sour and rotted, but I was hungry and had no idea when I would next be given sustenance. I finished my meal quickly and drank the cloudy water offered. Meager rations complete, my stomach felt somewhat fuller than it had before and once another sibla guard retrieved the bowl and cup, it seemed as if I might have the luck of being forgotten about until the morning. I decided to take advantage of my isolation and sleep. I'd need whatever strength I could muster if I were to face what my captors likely had in store.

—-
So yeah... things dont look good for Alice. We know from AH that Magnus is already working to try to gain Torvald's help in releasing the human who saved him but... Alice doesn't know that. We also know it took weeks to secure Alice's release. Ao what happened in that time? Monday we will see a glimpse of that...