Free Talent Storm by Brian Terenna Page B

doors. The lobby was dimly lit and filled with wooden benches. Across from me, a rack of pre-war rifles and new swords hung from the wall. The officer pulled me to the left.
    “Hey, Sam,” he said, waving to a tall red-haired officer behind a chest-high counter. “Can I get the key for Isolation One.”
    Sam’s eyebrows rose as he whistled inward. He stood straighter, and I noticed his hand hovering around a revolver. “Sure thing Max.”
    Sam tossed a ring of keys and Max caught them. Max jerked me in the opposite direction. I still hadn’t felt any effects from the shot he’d given me. Clearly, it wasn’t a sedative like I thought.
    After we turned a corner, we walked down a hall lined with cells. Each cell was packed with up to five prisoners even though there were only two beds. I never knew that so many people in the Coalition were criminals. Was I a criminal? I didn’t feel like one.
    When we passed the prisoners, they called out through the bars. “Watch out New Fish,” a small-eyed, flat-nosed man said.
    “Hey honey, want a piece of this?” a woman asked.
    I twisted to regard her. She might have been attractive if not for her missing front teeth. The officer tugged me forward. We turned a corner and ascended a flight of stairs, then strode down another hall containing cells with iron doors. Small barred windows were the only break in the cells. No one called out to me, and I heard no other sounds. I caught a glimpse in one window. A male prisoner stood gagged and chained against a wall with cuts and bruises on his face. I gasped. Would they abuse me too?
    At the end of a hall, the officer unlocked an iron door and shoved me inside. He un-cuffed me and chained my hands and feet to the wall. He stuffed a ball gag into my mouth, strapped it behind my head, and left, slamming the door behind him. The sudden darkness weighed heavily upon me. Cold sweat dripped down my trembling body as reality set in. I injured citizens with my talent, and there was a zero tolerance policy. I had known that, but the memory was absent during the fight. I would be in jail forever .
    My legs began to tremble, rattling my chains. I craned my neck to see the thick, iron chains securing me, then examined the door. It was stout; I saw its thickness when we entered. The bars on the window were thinner, but the opening was no more than a few inches wide. If I wanted to escape, I’d have to smash down the door and shear through my chains. I had no idea if my talent was strong enough.
    I shut my eyes, feeling lightheaded. Forever. The thought sickened me. I escaped my uncle’s prison, only to be shut in this one. Now, I’d never sit by the creek or laugh with Ben and Danessa again. I’d never be able to apologize to Lilly. She’d hate me forever.
    Forever. The thought marinated in my mind, becoming more putrid and sour as time passed. Forever....
    No. Forever was unacceptable. I gritted my teeth and sought my talent. I felt it swirling and twisting inside me, promising freedom. I reached out to its power... but my will slammed into an invisible barrier. My eyebrows dipped, and I growled, low and menacingly. I wouldn’t be controlled. Rage exploded inside me, and I fanned its flames. Damn you Talent, Work! I battered my will against the obstacle, putting the full force of my determined fury behind it.
    Nothing. Muscles tensed and blood pumping, I clenched my jaw. Why wasn’t it working? Then I remembered... the injection. It must have been that.
    Bastards! I thrashed around and screamed behind the gag, enraged by my helplessness. The shackles cut into my wrists and ankles, shooting spikes of pain through me. I strained and cursed like a lunatic until my strength fled, as if my muscles had crawled out of my body. I hung limp, my breathing hard and my will broken. It wasn’t fair; I was only protecting myself.
    ☼☼☼
    The next morning, my wrists and ankles ached, like I had walked a thousand miles, holding lead weights. I stood