I hobble into the room and take a seat. I am by far the youngest person here. Though there are plenty of women, most are like the soldier I met in the back of the truck; hardened, bulky, emotionless. I stick out like a sore thumb. I’ll be relieved once I’m given a US Marine Corps uniform to replace the strange, stiff, homemade uniform of Fort Noix that I am still wearing. For the first time, I wish I hadn’t been so hasty in demanding to join in the meeting. I could have really done with a hot bath, a hair brush, a proper sleep, and a change of clothes. But just like when I was a kid, I find myself wanting to please my dad, to do everything right and be the daughter he always wanted me to be. I know, now, after my ordeal and everything I’ve survived, I am so close to making that a reality.

I can tell that the atmosphere in the room has changed. Everyone is a little wary of me. I’m not surprised, to be honest. Just like the Commander at Fort Noix, the people here have learned to be suspicious of everyone. There’s probably more than just a flicker of doubt in the back of each of their minds, questioning whether I really am who I say I am or if their grief-stricken Commander has let in some kind of slaverunner spy. I will just have to prove myself to them and earn their trust and respect.

“Please,” my dad says. “Resume your meeting.”

The General nods obediently and walks over to a map of Texas hanging up on a board.

“This is Arena Three,” he says. “Our target.”

I can feel a coldness spread through my body at the thought of another arena. There must be so many all across America now, filled with kids like me forced to fight to the death.

“We’ve been in strategic communication with the compound up in Massachusetts,” the General continues. “We’re preparing to coordinate a large-scale attack on Arena One and Arena Two in New York, while at the same time taking down Arena Three, here in Texas. We have only one shot to get it right. We’ve amassed enough bombs and weapons to eradicate all three. Once the first three arenas fall, it won’t take long to break the stranglehold of the other, smaller ones across the country. A coordinated attack on the major arenas is step one in the liberation of the people of America.”