The person on the ground did not respond, as though she had heard nothing.
Hesta studied the other woman's back. Arantida was incredibly gaunt; Hesta could almost make out the line of her spine.
A rectangular electronic clock hung on the wall, already counting down two hours. There were 1 hour and 58 minutes left. The section after the seconds flashed too quickly to make out, cycling repeatedly from ten to one.
"Hello." Hesta knocked on the partition again. "Can you hear me?"
After arranging to meet Arantida, Hesta had received materials from the prison containing updates on her recent condition. From the end of last year to the beginning of this one, Arantida had repeatedly attempted to end her life by extreme means, but now she no longer had the strength to do so. She did not care whether she lived or died. She had lost the strength to care. The former Inspector had been on hunger strike for a long time. She was still alive only because the prison force-fed her nutrient solution every day.
Hesta sat quietly on one side of the partition.
After a while, she remembered that she had not introduced herself yet.
"My name is Jane Hesta. I was previously assigned to the combat unit in District 3. This year, I was transferred to District 12 to take over as Inspector."
At the word "Inspector," the woman on the ground's shoulder twitched.
Hesta continued, "...I'm your successor."
"Successor..." The woman's voice was like the sigh of a ghost rising from beneath an ancient grave. "Not Kendall?"
"Not Kendall. Me."
The body, which seemed to be little more than skin wrapped around bone, slowly pushed itself up and turned over. Amid her withered, pale-gold hair, Hesta saw a pair of hollow, lifeless eyes.
Arantida was