Charity’s breath rattled in her chest as Dr. Garza prepped the injector. She watched the tiny glass capsule slip into the metal tip, so small, so neat, just a speck of cold tech that would burrow under her skin and hum her location to Alejandra’s phone day and night.
She squeezed her eyes shut. Please not this. Not like an animal.
Alejandra’s palm settled on her shoulder, a steady weight that pinned her in place more effectively than any strap. She could feel the warmth of Alejandra’s pulse in that touch, calm, sure, claiming.
Dr. Garza’s voice droned on, professional and bored. “Hold her still, please.”
Charity’s eyes flew open in panic. She jerked once, just once, before Alejandra’s fingers slid from her shoulder to the back of her neck. A small squeeze. No pain. Just pressure. But it rooted her so deeply she couldn’t have moved if she tried.
“Shh. Patrona. Be good now,” Alejandra murmured, voice almost gentle. “It only takes a second, mi amor.”
Charity’s lower lip trembled. She hated the way her eyes stung, the way her chest hitched with a trapped sob. She tried to form one last plea: I’ll be good. Please, please, please don’t do this.
But her little voice cracked apart on her tongue, too soft to pierce the sterile hum of the room.
There was a sharp sting behind her right shoulder, quick, mean, final. She gasped, the sound more a squeak than a cry. Metal clicked. Something cold slid under her skin, then a short, dull pressure that made her spine twitch.
Dr. Garza stepped back, gloves snapping off. “Done. Tracking enabled. It’ll sync to your phone, Miss Jiménez. She won’t wander far without you knowing.”
Alejandra’s fingers slid up from Charity’s neck into her hair, combing through the soft strands like she was calming a startled kitten.
“There, see? So brave, Patrona.” She cooed the words in that sweet hush, so at odds with the steel they wrapped around her ribs. “All done. Now no one will ever take you from me. You’ll always come home to your guardian, hmm?”
Charity’s tiny shoulders shook. She wanted to tell her: This isn’t home. You’re not my family. But all she could manage was a whisper, so thin she barely heard herself:
“Please… please don’t leave it in me… please…”
Alejandra just smiled, her thumb stroking a circle behind Charity’s ear.
“Good girl, mi pequeña. We’ll talk about rewards later. For now… you did so well. Say thank you to Dr. Garza.”
Charity’s lips parted. Her mind shrieked No. But the new thing inside her, the collar, the chip, the warm hand tangled in her hair, crushed the word into dust.
“…Thank you, Dr. Garza.” Her voice sounded like a ghost’s echo: soft, obedient, almost grateful.
The doctor nodded briskly, jotting a final note on his tablet. “Pleasure. She’s a healthy Little, Miss Jiménez. Treat her well and she’ll stay that way for a long time.”
Alejandra’s grin widened, bright and satisfied. Her other hand tugged Charity closer, pulling the trembling tiny thing flush against her chest as she thanked the vet in Spanish, more warm laughter, more words Charity couldn’t untangle through the roar in her own ears.
Through the fabric of Alejandra’s cheap clothing, Charity heard the steady beat of a young heart that now claimed hers too. And deep inside, right beneath the fresh sting of the chip, she felt a soft, traitorous truth settle:
She could run. She could scream. But she would never get far.
And Alejandra knew it.
_____
Bonus episode of something later today about 6 hours after this post goes live.
A bonus episode later today? Can’t wait.
Anyway, Dr. Garza seems nice and like the description of the injection of the chip into Charity.
Dr Garza is a good person he cares about helping everyone who comes into his clinic.
Thanks, its been fun depict things with charity as it often feels different hten the jordan expierence.
Is this Bonus episode about Charity.?
No it’s about Kayla and Kelli
1) “There, see? So brave, Patrona. All done. Now no one will ever take you from me. You’ll always come home to your guardian, hmm?” Condescending cruelty masked as comfort.
2) “Please… please don’t leave it in me… please…” Unfortunately, taking them out is known to be dangerous.
3) “Good girl, mi pequeña. We’ll talk about rewards later. For now… you did so well. Say thank you to Dr. Garza.” not sure I trust the concept of “rewards” from Ale
4) “…Thank you, Dr. Garza.” Forcing and manipulating gratitude is messed up, she’s approaching Sara’s levels of cruelty.
4) Shes not really manipulating anyone though. Shes just taking her little to the doctor and she choosing to not pay thousands of dollars when its not like seh cna’t hear Charity. She’s not dying. Its an elective surgery the money she just got she wants to send to her family who needs it.
3) Well rewards is a pretty broad term. Im sure Charity would get some reward whether is the reward charity wants is another story but that also wasnt’ promised.
2) It is as it bonds to the spine normally so removal is dangerous and potentially life threatening.
1)That is your favorite kind of comfort.