Her Cage

I glance at the delicate form of the young woman before me. Gently, I unlock her enclosure and prod her slightly with my foot. This action might seem harsh, but others in my position would have treated her far worse for disregarding their orders to stand. “Wake up, you’re being relocated,” I murmur, crouching to shake her gently. She remains still, a profound sadness weighing on me. Brushing the hair from her face, I check her neck for a pulse, my lips tightening as I detect the weak throb of her heart. Observing her labored breathing, it’s clear she’s ill. The decision looms: place her in the truck with the rest or rush her to a physician? Neither option in the truck promises anything promising. The dilemma gnaws at me—whether it’s more heartless to send her off with the others in her frail state, or seek medical help. The thought alone makes me nauseous. She might perish here or end up wishing she had. Yet, ignoring her plight isn’t an option for me; I can’t just watch her life ebb away. Maybe, just maybe, she’ll be grateful if I manage to save her.

Hazel. She’s quite the beauty, too exquisite and delicate for the harsh existence into which she was thrust. Raised in a training camp, her exposure to the world’s wonders and its inhabitants is severely limited. A disciplinary action gone awry has left her disabled, rendering her an outcast.

Axel. Just an ordinary guy, except for his imposing stature. As a Trainer, he’s expected to embody harshness and cruelty—traits that are alien to his nature. Yet, it pays the bills, so perhaps meeting those expectations isn’t the worst path? Faced with a crucial choice, Axel must decide his true identity. Will he conform to the expectations laid upon him, or will he opt for what’s difficult, yet morally sound?