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“Don’t listen to him,” whispered Octavia. “He could be lying.”

Movement behind her had Octavia turning. Three militia dressed in black emerged from the shadows, their pulse lasers aimed at her.

“You won’t be told again. Drop your weapons and put your hands in the air.”

Jude glanced behind him. He looked at Octavia and gave a small shake of his head. Slowly, he lowered his pulse laser.

With gritted teeth, Octavia did the same, placing the pulse laser on the damp soil in front of her.

“I want the female to walk toward me,” said one of the three militia as he emerged from the darkness. “Keep your hands raised at all times. Any sudden movements and I will shoot you.”

“You take us together,” said Jude.

“You don’t get a say in what happens from now on,” said the soldier. He gestured at Octavia. “Over here. Now.”

She glanced at Jude. “I’ll be okay.” Keeping her chin up, she inched toward the soldier. When she was within arm’s reach, he grabbed her and spun her around, restraining her arms behind her back.

“Be careful,” growled Jude.

The soldier restraining Octavia smirked at him.

A second soldier stood in front of her. His skin was pockmarked with old acne scars, and he was missing several teeth. He leered at her as he yanked her cap off and grabbed a handful of her hair. “This one would be pretty if it wasn’t for these scars.” The rough pad of his thumb grazed across her cheek.

“Keep your damn hands off me.” Octavia turned her head away, out of his rough grasp.

“I can’t do that,” said the soldier. “You belong to us now. That means we can do whatever we like with you.”

“Stop playing with her,” said the soldier restraining Octavia. “Check for weapons. We need to get out of here.”

“I’m happy to oblige.” The soldier with the pockmarked face kicked Octavia’s legs apart.

“Watch it,” she hissed at him.

Jude made a move toward her, his hands in fists and his glare fixed to the soldiers.

Octavia’s eyes widened as she saw three more militia appear behind Jude. They grabbed him before he could get any closer.

The soldier in front of her grinned. “Looks like your boyfriend can’t help you now.”

“You’re going to pay for this.”

“Keep your mouth shut.” He ducked down and ran his hands up her left leg and then her right. His fingers rubbed across her groin, a leer crossing his face as he did so. “We can have fun with you before it’s over.”

“I’d rather be dead.”

“That won’t be a long time coming,” said the soldier. “I’ll fuck you from behind so I don’t have to see your scars.”

Octavia’s throat tightened, but she refused to drop her gaze as the soldier ran his hands up her arms and across her chest.

He took a step closer and inhaled deeply.

Octavia slammed her knee into his groin. Her foot connected with his jaw as he bent over. She struggled in the other soldier’s grip, slamming her head back and making contact with his nose.

For a second, she was free. Her gaze landed on a pulse laser on the ground. She launched herself at it. Her fingers had just touched the weapon when her head was yanked back by a fist tangled in her hair.

“Try that again and you’ll be dead.” The soldier she’d head-butted spun her around and backhanded her across the cheek, making tears spring to her eyes.

He dragged her back to the waiting militia. The soldier with the pockmarks still clutched his groin. He stared daggers at her.