Scarves

Inmates

Avery and I put our uniforms on and, because we were forced to, I tied my scarf around my waist. Avery used his to cover his bandage on his arm. He left the top part of his uniform off and tied the arms up because of his wounds.

The guards let us out of our cell when we finished getting ready and brought us to the interrogation room with another inmate. Jessica Slavy. She had a harsh pixie cut, and a skull tattoo on her bicep. She had a scarf too, hers was black with bleach spots.

"So, what did you two do to get in here?" Jessica asked after the guards left.

"Association" I said immediately.

Avery cut me a look that said he was a bit hurt, "I'm an outlaw. She was seen with me" He said. A bit of irritation lingered in his voice.

"They don't usually throw people in here for association, no matter who it's with. You had to have done something more." Jessica stated cooly. I thought on this for a minute, then it hit me.

"We escaped when the king was questioning us. I got out first and Avery followed." Avery grabbed my hand and squeezed it assuringly.

"Let me guess, you're a couple? If not you should be. Y'all are kinda cute together" My breath caught in my throat. I've always thought of Avery as a friend, but now that this random person finally said something... well no I'm not so sure.

"Hm. Very funny, we aren't a couple. We haven't even seen each other in years." Avery let go of my hand and it felt cold.

"So what are your names? I know you are Avery," she pointed to Avery, "But you gotta have a last name. And you, look really familiar. I know your face but can't remember your name"

I hesitated for a minute, "I'm Lyrenna D-" Avery cut me off.

"Day. Lyrenna Day. And I'm Avery John." I glared at Avery. Why had he cut me off? It's not like she would care, right?

I was drawn out of my thoughts when Jessica said something, "Right. And I'm Kenna Lynn. I know her last name isn't Day. There isn't a family with that last name, up top or down here."

"It's Danielles. My friend here cut me off"

"Obviously. Danielles eh? Huh, who would've thought one of them would get thrown in here."

"So Jessica, how'd you get thrown in here?" Avery asked.

"I have something called Dyslexia. I struggle to read and write. The king doesn't allow anyone with mental disorders to walk about. Doesn't stop me though."

"Dyslexia? My friend Marie has that. The king hasn't thrown her in here"

"Well then it hasn't been reported. And if I were you, I'd refrain from talking about your friends disorder. You wouldn't want her to end up here too."

I sighed. She was right, her family and I were the only ones who knew. I usually wrote things down for her.

The guards came back in with a bleeding girl. I knew her, it was Kelsey Aston. She collapsed and instinct kicked in, I caught her.

"Why are you helping me?" Her voice shook. They'd probably punched her in the throat.

"Because no one deserves to be treated this way, they beat up Avery yesterday too." Kelsey looked up and saw Avery standing there. She smiled slightly and realized he had whip lashes.

"You guys have scarves too? I haven't seen any other inmates with scarves besides me and another guy they dragged out of a cell I passed."

"Yeah, Lyre knows why but I think we should wait to see if anyone else gets thrown in. I'm guessing three more including the guy you saw Kelsey." Avery said. Jessica raised an eyebrow

"You know why? How?"

"Let's just say the King isn't great at keeping conversations private" I said, lifting Kelsey's arm over my head. I helped her stand and she gripped her abdomen.

Just then, the door opened once more and a small boy was pushed inside. He didn't look much older than 14. Jessica walked over to him, tears brimming her eyes.

"Beckett? Oh my gosh." She said bringing the boy into a crushing hug. I noticed the boy had two scarves in his hand.

"Uh sorry to disturb the beautiful moment, but why do you have two scarves?" Jessica let go of him and looked at his hand.

"Oh uh they said to give this to the girl. I'm guessing that's you?" He said gesturing to Kelsey. The scarf was pink.

"I think they are trying to anger me. I hate pink." Kelsey twisted her face into a scowl while looking at the door.

Jessica chuckled, "Here, have mine. I don't really mind pink all that much." She said as she unwrapped it from her waist. I took it from her and gave Kelsey the scarf. Jessica took the pink scarf and wrapped it around her head.

Kelsey asked me to help her and I tied it around her thigh to help stop the bleeding from a large gash in her leg.

Beckett took his scarf and wrapped it around his arm like Avery. The door opened for hopefully the last time, and in walked twin boys. They had white blond hair but one had blue eyes and the other had stormy grey.

Jessica scoffed, "Lyre, meet Fritz and Felix Sevlin. The biggest jokesters out there. You and Avery are famous for your pranks, they are famous for the trinkets you would use."

"If they are so famous for trinkets, why are they in the pod?" Kelsey spat, I think at one point she had history with Felix.

"Our trinkets are illegal according to the king. Also, does anyone know why we are here, or why we were given scarves?" Fritz asked. Jessica caught my eye and gestured for me to speak.

"I do." Kelsey looked at me and scoffed.

"I really do, and I wouldn't make fun of this cause I could very well drop you." I seethed. Kelsey's eyes widened.

"Anyway, I heard the King talking to Lynn-"

"But aren't their last name Lynn?" Beckett asked. I still didn't understand his connection to Jessica.

Avery put his hand in front of me to keep me from strangling the kid, "Yeah, but Lyre hates Kenna so she calls her by her last name"

"As I was saying, I overheard the King talking to Kenna about where the kids who have disappearing really go to."

"Where is that? I thought they were executed." Fritz stated like it was obvious.

"They aren't. They are given scarves, and sent to Earth to die." I said and the room got very quiet very fast.