The slot in the door opened, and trays of food were passed through. Not the usual prison slop, but actual meals. Rice with vegetables. Protein that might have actually been chicken. Soup that smelled edible. Even small portions of fruit.
"Winner's meal," a guard's voice called through the slot. "Eat up."
They took the trays in silence, settling around the small table. For several minutes, they ate without speaking, their bodies too hungry to delay, their minds too overwhelmed to process everything at once.
But the questions hung in the air, waiting.
"You never know, this might be your last meal," Shuyin murmured, her jade eyes tracking their movements as they ate. Her voice was quiet, almost contemplative, but the words cut through the cell like a blade. "They probably haven't told you yet. This is just another stage for them."
