Free Judgement 8 (Subject Alpha #1) by D. H. Sidebottom Page B

heart beating rapidly when I realised what, or rather who it was. No, not again! Fury gave me the strength to lock my spine into place and drag my feet to my room.
    Pushing open my door a pain stabbed me in the chest with the rage at what greeted me.
    “Elina!” Lettie cried out, her tiny face flooded with tears, her long dark curls twisted around Blaine’s fist. “He’s hurting me!”
    My eyes snapped to Blaine. “Let her go, Blaine. She’s six, damn it! She’s never done anything to you!”
    A cruel smile twisted his lips as I was pushed forward from behind, the surge making me fall to my knees. Lettie cried out and I spun my face to hers, forcing a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, sweetie. Blaine will let you go now I’m here.” I swung my eyes to Blaine. “Won’t you?”
    He tipped his head as Ruben, Dillon and Marcus stood in a semi-circle around me, their cruel smirks making my mouth dry up. I knew time was up and I’d have to give in to them if Lettie was to be kept safe.
    “Well.” He quirked an eyebrow at me. “That all depends on you, Princess.”
    “If my mother found out about . . .” I hissed at the pain when one of the men behind me smacked me around the head. Ruben bent down, bringing his face close to mine, close enough for me to smell the whisky on his breath.
    “But she won’t find out . . . will she?” he spat. “Not if you want your precious little friend here to make it to her teenage years.”
    I gulped at the bile, my teeth gnawing on my bottom lip. I looked at each of them, imploring with my eyes. “Maybe we can come to some other . . . arrangement?”
    Blaine scoffed before he grabbed Lettie’s throat, her tiny neck nothing under the strength of his large hands.
    “Fine!” I cried when Lettie’s lips started to turn blue and her eyelids drooped low. “Fine, just . . .” I took a big breath then blew it back out. “Just promise me you’ll leave her alone from now on. I do this, then it guarantees her safety.”
    Blaine dropped Lettie immediately, her tiny body collapsing in a heap at his feet. She scrambled along the floor to me, flinging her arms around my neck and hugging me close. “I’m sorry, El, I only wanted a lollipop. I didn’t mean to come into your room without you.”
    “Hey,” I whispered, “that’s okay, you know you’re welcome any time you want.” I smiled at her, stroking my hand down the side of her hair as I tried to ease the knot that Blaine had twisted in it. “Let’s go get you that lolly, but you need to save it for after your dinner.”
    She took my hand when I held it out to her and climbed off the floor, trying my best to ignore the narrow eyes from the men who knew I was stalling.
    “What colour today?”
    She pursed her plump little lips as if the question required delicate consideration then pointed to the yellow one buried deep near the bottom of the jar. She turned her wide eyes to me, a smile playing on her lips. Although only six years old, Lettie’s mental and emotional age was massively enhanced, her IQ one of the highest in the world for her age. Most of us had enhanced senses, but the treatment had intensified Lettie’s intelligence, making her very clever, as she proved with another delay tactic.
    I smiled back softly, giving her a stealthy wink. “Yellow it is.”
    I started to take each lolly out, placing them on the table beside the jar. “I’m sorry, El,” Lettie whispered to me.
    I scowled at her and shook my head. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
    “But . . .” She swallowed and flicked her eyes to Blaine. “He’s . . . they’re going to be mean to you.”
    “Don’t be silly. As if I’d let them hurt me!”
    She regarded me and I produced a big smile, biting back the distress as I handed her the yellow lollipop. “Here you go. Now go get your dinner and don’t eat this until you’re back in your room.”
    She stared up at me. “Will you come visit me later?”
    Swallowing heavily, I shook my