Chapter 3 - The Condition

Chapter 3 - The Condition

The crowd fell silent, all eyes fixed on Jenny as if time itself had paused.

The lead officer, a man with a scar stretching from his left brow to the corner of his lip, studied her with an intrigued, almost amused expression.

"A condition?" he repeated, his voice cutting through the silence.

"You dare to bargain with the Elders?"

Jenny's eyes met his, unflinching, a spark of defiance in their depths. "Yes," she declared firmly.

"If I am to join the CTL, then James must come with me."

A wave of disbelief swept through the crowd, and even the officers shifted uncomfortably, their stoic faces betraying a flicker of surprise.

"You do realize," the scar-faced officer said slowly, as if speaking to a child,

"this is no small demand. The CTL does not bend for just anyone. It takes only the best."

Jenny stood her ground. "I don't care," she replied, her voice unwavering, ringing with a strength that defied her small stature. "If James doesn't come, I won't go either."

"What?... Jenny, what are you doing?"

James's voice trembled, caught between disbelief and happiness. He had prepared himself to say goodbye, to watch her walk away into a life of privilege and opportunity where he would be left alone. But now, this… this was something he never expected.

"You don't have to do this."

Jenny turned to face him, her eyes softening, but her resolve remained unshaken. "Yes, I do," she said gently, but with a firmness that left no room for argument. "I won't leave you behind, James. Not now, not ever."

The murmurs of the crowd grew louder, rising to a cacophony of disbelief and judgment.

"Who does she think she is?"

"She's just a gardener! And him, a miner! How could they possibly belong in the CTL?"

"They're both insane. The Elders will never agree to this."

**Jenny's P.O.V**

"When I was little, no one cared whether I lived or died,"

Jenny thought, memories flashing vividly before her eyes. She remembered the cold, dark nights when hunger gnawed at her bones, and the mornings where she would wake up with nothing but the dirt beneath her and the sky above her. She had been just another orphan—another forgotten soul destined to disappear into the cracks of this cruel world.

But then, there was James. Sweet, gentle James, who stumbled into her life and changed everything. He didn't look at her with pity or disgust.

He didn't see her as a burden or a lost cause. He saw her as a friend. As family.

It was James who bandaged her wounds when she scraped her knees, who shared his meager rations when she had nothing to eat, who told her stories of hope when all she wanted to do was cry.

"In a world that had forgotten me, he made me feel seen, made me feel... loved."

Her fingers clenched into fists, her nails biting into her palms, the pain anchoring her to the moment. She lifted her chin, her gaze never wavering from the scar-faced officer.

"I won't abandon the one person who has always stood by me. No matter what it takes."

**End of P.O.V**

____

"So," Jenny challenged, her voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd, "will you accept my condition?"

The scar-faced officer's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, it looked as if he would laugh in her face, reject her outright. But then, his lips twisted into a smirk, one that sent a chill down the spines of those watching.

"Very well," he drawled, "I will relay your condition to the Elders. But remember this, little gardener," he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that only she and James could hear,

"nothing in this world comes without a price. And some prices... are heavier than you can imagine."

He placed his wrist against his ear, activating a hidden communication device. "Yes, sir... I've confirmed the situation... Understood, sir."

Jenny held her breath, the seconds stretching into what felt like hours. James could feel his heart pounding against his ribs, every beat echoing in his ears like a war drum.

The scar-faced officer straightened, turning to face them both.

"The Elders of Seven have agreed to your condition," he announced, his voice carrying a note of disbelief.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, disbelief and awe mingling in the air like smoke.

"What?!"

"How could the Elders agree to something so absurd?"

"This has never happened before!"

But Jenny didn't hear them. She was too focused on the officer's face, searching for any sign of deceit, any hint that this was some cruel joke. But there was none. He was serious...Dead serious.

"Prepare yourselves," he said, gesturing for them to follow. "You will be taken to the CTL Headquarters immediately."

The journey to the CTL Headquarters felt surreal, as if Jenny and James were walking through a dream. The entrance was grand, carved into the rock like a fortress, with guards stationed at every corner, their armor glinting under the harsh, artificial light.

They were ushered into a lavish room, a chamber that was a far cry from the bleak, cold confines of the Complex they knew.

The room was like something out of a fairy tale—rich tapestries lined the walls, an ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the air was filled with the scent of fresh flowers.

In the center, a table was laden with food—fruits, meats, bread, and pastries, more than they had seen in their entire lives.

"Wait here until you receive further instructions," the scar-faced officer ordered, his tone now formal, almost respectful.

"Do not wander. You are being watched."

He left without another word, the door clicking shut behind him.

~~~To Be Continued~~~