19

Maxine Pov

Serving my punishment was an ordeal. The work was hectic and exhausting, pushing my body to its limits. My limbs were practically going numb from the constant labor, and to make matters worse, I had to endure it all without eating. Complaining was out of the question; any sign of dissatisfaction would only result in more severe punishment and I'm not sure if my body could carry it.

As I worked, my thoughts kept drifting to Tobias. He was one of the few people who had tried to make my life a little easier. He would console me and make me smile, a rare kindness in this harsh environment. Now, Liam had pushed him away, just like everyone else who showed me any semblance of kindness. I just hope he isn't going through any kind of punishment because of me. Elena wasn't visiting as often either; she had been given a tasking job that consumed all her time. I was back to zero, completely alone and feeling more isolated than ever. I wondered when this nightmare would end.

Finally, a