Ruby's POV
Sweat poured down my face, each drop hitting the scorched earth beneath me. The sun blazed overhead without mercy, and my injured leg throbbed with every movement. That massive orderly stood watch over us like a warden, his cold eyes tracking our every gesture.
A sharp cry pierced the air behind me. One of the patients had been pulling weeds too slowly. The orderly stomped over and drove his boot into her back.
"Move faster, you worthless piece of trash!"
"Hey!" I hurled the stone from my hand, my voice cutting through the heat. "Keep your damn hands off her!"
The orderly wheeled around, his face twisted with annoyance. "What's your problem? She's not your friend."
I ground my teeth together. "No, she's not. But I won't stand here watching you beat defenseless people. What are you supposed to be, a medical professional or a street thug?"
His heavy boots thundered across the dirt as he advanced on me. "Want me to snap the other leg too? Keep running your mouth."
