After all he’d earlier said to me that was scowling and cynical, these last words were free of bitterness. Just plainly stated facts. This was his world, his rules, and I didn’t belong here.
Once the master said his peace, Alex walked me through the crowd toward the far end of the building and led me into a washroom. He removed the ring that was still lodged in my nostrils, then left, closing the door behind him.
I looked around at the small room seeing my clothes hanging on a nearby hook. I reached behind my head and removed the locks from the rings and pulled the headgear off. I stared in the mirror. My face seemed misshapen and my sweaty hair was plastered to my head. I shook it out and tried to comb it, but that was a wasted effort. I gave up, deciding that I deserved my ragged appea
