Chapter 24

"Laris Halloway, someone's here to see you." Laris had been in the detention center for only a few days, but she was already a shadow of herself. Her face and body was marred with bruises. Numbly, she rose and followed the detention officer to the visitation room. Upon seeing Micah, terror gripped her, and she stumbled back, clutching the officer's arm. "Please, I don't want to see him. Take me back!" The officer shook her off and turned to Micah. "Since you've signed the victim-offender agreement, I'll handle the paperwork, and you can take her." Micah nodded, his face unreadable. Laris's fear shifted to relief at the officer's words. She assumed Micah was there to free her. "Micah, I knew you'd save me!" she cried, grabbing his arm. "Get me out of here. I can't stand this for another second." Raised in privilege, Laris had never faced such hardship. The detention center had been merciless, with officers and inmates alike doling out brutal lessons, leaving her battered and broke