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The elevator doors shut and they began to descend And descend Cinder felt like she was being taken to her toain, she was prodded forith a jab in her back She was taken through a dih walls and the smell of stale air and urine and bodies Her nose wrinkled in disgust

"I hope you’ll find your accouest as yourself," Aimery continued, as if the scent didn’t bother him "I understand you’re already accustomed to prison cells"

"I wouldn’t say that," said Cinder "The last one could only hold me for a day"

"This one will be much more suited to you, I’ like theThis was dreary and suffocating, and worst of all, Cinder had no blueprint for it She had no accurateher location in relation to … well, anything

They paused and there was the jangling of keys and the creak of ancient es An old-fashioned padlock How quaint

If she could reach it from within the cell, she could have that picked in under thirty seconds

The thought offered a twitch of hope, at least

As the door opened, the ss tried to expel the air as soon as they took it in

"You will remain here until Her Majesty the Queen has time to see to your trial and execution," said Aimery

"Can’t wait," Cinder et reacquainted"

"Reacquainted?"

A guard cut away the bindings on her wrists and shoved her forward Her shoulder hit the edge of the iron door as she stuh wall

Someone whimpered and she froze She wasn’t alone

"Do enjoy your stay … Princess"

The door slah Cinder’s bones The cell was sh, barredin the iron door that allowed just enough light from the hallway that she could make out a bucket on the floor The source of the rank sether in the far corner

Cinder gaped at the her eyes to adjust She turned on the built-in flashlight in her hand The two figures shuddered and cowered behind their arainst the wall

Adri

Pearl

"You can’t be serious"

Her step up at her ide eyes Cinder couldn’t begin to iine why they were here--what Levana wanted with them

Then it hit her