[She's dead, she's dead, she's dead. They're all going to die now, shot dead because she didn't follow the rules. Maketh takes a shuddering breath, trying not to cry, and wishes she'd been allowed to keep her helmet. It would have been better if she'd been able to hide her face. She could have done it then. It was just another test, one of hundreds, and she's never failed them before. Not like this.
Her mother reaches out, grabs her roughly by the shoulder and pulls her in close. Squeezing tight. Maketh puts her forehead down against her mother's shoulder and sobs. That way she doesn't have to see the way her father stares when Chris pulls the bag free. The horror in his eyes. He's afraid of her, Maketh realizes. Of course he's afraid of her, this person who nearly---
No. Enough.
Jes Tua was always a gentle man, even during the war.
This isn't a war. This is peacetime, Maketh thinks wildly. It's supposed to be better.]
Th--there's no way out. They're coming. They're gonna come and see...
[Her mother squeezes her tight.]
The door's locked.
[Maketh lifts her head slowly, trying to face Chris without flinching.] I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
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Her mother reaches out, grabs her roughly by the shoulder and pulls her in close. Squeezing tight. Maketh puts her forehead down against her mother's shoulder and sobs. That way she doesn't have to see the way her father stares when Chris pulls the bag free. The horror in his eyes. He's afraid of her, Maketh realizes. Of course he's afraid of her, this person who nearly---
No. Enough.
Jes Tua was always a gentle man, even during the war.
This isn't a war. This is peacetime, Maketh thinks wildly. It's supposed to be better.]
Th--there's no way out. They're coming. They're gonna come and see...
[Her mother squeezes her tight.]
The door's locked.
[Maketh lifts her head slowly, trying to face Chris without flinching.] I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.