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Prologue

BLACKBURN, CALIFORNIA

The building was in sha a toll on the exterior It had started out as a town hall, back when theco since passed Now it stood alone, withering away in the dark of night—the sole lasting reminder that the area had once flourished

What had been a place of asse, oneabout for the first tis shook and sto, staying on his heels but doing her best not to step on his shiny black shoes

They walked down a dark, narrow hall, passing a few aze on the floor, the sound of their voices as they greeted her ht down her back These were new ers, people she hadn’t known existed

He led her through a door at the end of the hallway, and what met them made her stop in her tracks The stale scent of sweat andher nose Masses ofechoed off the walls, hitting the child like a freight train to the chest She gasped, her heart racing as her eyes darted around looking for the source of the pain, but she couldn’t see past the sea of bodies

Herher in front of hied as his hands claain at his co the two a clear path, and Haven obediently , their eyes like lasers that burned down deep, ht red

In the front of the roos were pinned to their ragged clothes, a number scribbled on it in black nore her master’s touch, and watched as the crowd tossed irls were auctioned off to the highest bidder, tears staining their cheeks as ed them away

“Frankie!”

Haven turned at the sound of herHis face was like cracked leather and led with scars, his eyes a blackened pit of coal In her frightened mind, she mistook him for a monster

Frankie tightened his grip on her, locking her in place as he greeted the man “Carlo”

“I see you brought the girl,” Carlo said “You getting rid of her? Because if so—”

Frankie cut hiht it would do her soood to see her own kind”

Her own kind The words fascinated Haven She looked back at the stage as a new girl caht with some scissors Dozens of holes peppered her clothes, and her blonde hair was haphazardly chopped in a pixie cut She was gagged and shackled, the number 33 affixed to her shirt

Haven wondered—Was she like her? Could they be the same?