Lex had shoved me roughly into the safe. Just before he closed the door on me, he muttered to someone outside, who came in in full welder’s gear. My eyes widened as the flame was ignited.
I never could forget the searing of permanent heat, or the permanance of that tracking necklace welded around my neck.
I’d fainted after that, too.

I was still breathing heavily, frightened eyes darting this way and that, taking in the room: square, light walls, wooden floors. Almost like a dance studio.
It was on one of the higher floors of the building; the huge window overlooked the twinkling city.
My ankles were loosely bound, but oddly my wrists were free. I immediately clasped to my necklace. Since its institution into my life I’d added other trinkets to it: a homing chip in a pendant and a locket. I’d also decoratively carved magnets to latch onto the other trackers.
“Awake, are you?”
I jumped. A young man was kneeling next to me, his concerned green eyes peering into mine of frightened brown.