The train screeched to a stop, jerking slightly before resting. Like everyone else, Octavia rose from her seat and stepped off, her steps brisk, almost calculated. With the hood of her sweater pulled low over her head, she kept her gaze fixed on the ground, avoiding eye contact like the plague.
Nineteen-year-old Octavia was, by most standards, an odd one. A stunning girl with piercing blue eyes, she often acted like she had a personal war with the world. Quiet, distant and when triggered, unpredictably volatile.
Her life had been sculpted by hardship. Born into a polygamous family, she'd lost her mother at the fragile age of seven. Since then, she and her sister had endured the torment of a ruthless father and an even crueler stepmother. Her sister, Mica, had fled years ago after a violent rift with their father leaving only a vague trail Octavia alone could follow.
And now, it was her turn to disappear.
Hands deep in her pockets, Octavia made her way toward the roadside. The sun dipped lower, painting the sky in bruised purples and gold.
She flagged down a cab and got in, pulling her hood farther down to hide her face.
"Wow! Nice eyes you've got," the woman beside her in the cab said, voice laced with interest.
Octavia cringed.
She considered responding, maybe even faking a smile, but decided against it. Instead, she turned her face to the window and stared into the distance, her silence screaming louder than words.
The drive passed with little noise, aside from the chatter of the car radio. But Octavia didn't hear it her thoughts were louder. Her mind swirled with fragments of memories, of her sister, of pain, of everything she had run from. She longed for peace but all she knew was plight.
Eventually, she reached her stop and murmured for the driver to pull over. She paid with a few folded bills and climbed out, her feet already carrying her toward the place she dared to hope would change everything.
She moved fast, sharp eyes scanning the terrain as she crept through the thick brush. Her destination was in sight now a towering building nestled behind the trees like a secret. It looked both modern and ancient, wild yet contained. She had no plan for how to approach it. All she had was instinct.
Then came the voice.
"Stop right there!" a rough tone barked from behind.
Octavia halted.
She didn't turn, but from the rustling behind her and the distinct clack of a cocked gun, she knew they were many.
"Raise your hands above your head and turn around. Slowly."
She obeyed partially. Her hands lifted, but she stayed facing forward, lips tightly sealed
"Who are you, and what do you want?" came another voice, more curious than hostile.
At that, she turned slowly, eyes meeting a group of boys armed and cautious
"My name is Octavia," she said quietly, "and I'm looking for my sister."
One of them raised a brow. "Who's your sister?"
"Mica," she replied simply.
That name hung in the air.
"Mica?" one of them echoed.
There was a pause. A subtle shift in their stances. Her name meant something.
"Why are you looking for her?" the leader pressed.
Octavia hesitated. Her voice trembled, but her resolve didn't.
"I… I want to see her."
Another silent glance passed between the boys, and then, a decision.
"Move," the leader ordered, gesturing with his gun.
She walked ahead of them, unease crawling down her spine. Still, she was less afraid and more… aware. This was their territory, and she had no choice but to play by their rules.
They exited the forest and approached a colossal gate. With a single command, it opened, revealing something far beyond what she'd imagined.
It wasn't just a building it was a compound.
Her lips parted slightly in awe. She saw sleek cars, boys and girls moving freely some lounging, others smoking. It was chaotic, vibrant...alive. And powerful.
She felt something deep in her chest stir. For the first time in a long while she didn't feel alone.
They led her to one of the main buildings, through a corridor echoing with life. As they passed a hallway, a small crowd came into view, gathered in a loud, feverish circle.
Cheers filled the air.
"Come on, bitch! Get it done!" someone yelled, and Octavia caught glimpses of two figures fighting in the center of the crowd.
From where she stood, the scene was wild and chaotic
One fighter dropped, the other triumphant. The cheers swelled.
She squinted through the crowd, trying to see the winner's face but the girl was turned away.
Then, she laughed and stood.
Octavia's heart skipped.
"Mica…" she almost whispered, but held herself back.
The girl turned, soaking in the attention. Then her eyes landed on someone she hadn't seen in years.
"Octavia?" she gasped, blinking in disbelief.
The crowd turned.
Octavia stepped forward, her heart racing.
"M...Mica," she murmured, her voice quivering between joy and relief.
"You're her sister?" one of the boys asked, and Mica nodded, stunned.
She crossed to Octavia and took her hands, studying her face.
"What are you doing here?" she asked softly.
Octavia gazed at the sister she hadn't seen in two years. Mica looked different—tougher, more rebellious. Her hair was cropped into a punkish style, her ears glittered with piercings. But she was still her sister.
"I came to see you," Octavia said, shyly.
"She brought a stranger into the building?" a girl from the crowd snapped.
"She said she was looking for her sister, okay?" one of the boys defended.
"Doesn't matter! What if she's a spy? If Master Khalid finds out, you'll be punished."
"What does she want anyway?" another voice asked.
Mica turned to her, gently squeezing her hand.
"I… I want to stay here," Octavia said, barely above a whisper. "I want to belong."
"What?" someone snapped. "Are you crazy?"
You can't stay here. Master said no new members," another chimed in.
Octavia stayed quiet, her eyes on the floor. She should've been scared. Should've felt humiliated. But Mica's hand in hers was an anchor.
Mica looked into her sister's eyes and saw it the pain, the desperation, the plea.
She turned to the others. "Don't worry. I'll talk to her."
She should leave now, Mica. If Master Khalid returns and finds her here, he might kill her."
Mica ignored them.
"Let's go," she whispered to Octavia, and together, they slipped away into a quieter room, sisters reunited in a world full of danger.