Page 11 of Rat

“Screw you.”

Ollie laughed and licked at his spoon like he was enjoying ittoomuch. He was doing it to annoy Rory, but it got the attentionof a few other inmates. They looked at him with hunger, and as soon as Ollie noticed, he ducked his head and dropped his spoon on the tray.

“I think I’ve had enough,” Ollie murmured.

Rory shook his head in disbelief. “No kidding, that guy across from us is masturbating under the table.”

“No, he’s not.”

The man in question’s body was shaking, and his right hand was hidden beneath the table. His body shook more violently, and his eyelashes fluttered. The officers didn’t intervene, they pretended they hadn’t noticed, but Teddy revved back to life.

He launched from his seat, near enough flew over the table, and smashed the guy onto the floor. Teddy punished the inmate for enjoying Ollie’s teasing display. His fists rained down, cracking against bone, and blood speckled the floor. Teddy was an unchained beast, snarling and spitting, and the inmate at his feet curled into the foetal position to protect himself.

“Jesus,” Ollie whispered, then covered his face with his hands, peeking through the gaps in his fingers. Rory watched with wide eyes, but Captain shook his head.

“We’ll have to put our gym plans on hold.” Captain sighed.

An ear-splitting siren started, and officers rushed into the room. They demanded the inmates return to their cells and tried to break Teddy and the masturbating inmate apart.

“That’ll teach you for teasing the guys in here,” Captain directed at Ollie. He stood up with his tray and took it to the designated trolley. Rory squeezed Ollie’s shoulder, and he was quick to follow Captain’s lead. The inmates all began grumbling as they trudged back to their cells.

Rory followed Captain up the first set of steps. Captain’s cellmate quivered like a leaf and darted help-me glances to his group of friends. Sebastian hung his arms over the railing on the top landing, watching everyone scurry back to the cell. His gazelingered on Rory as he paused on the top step, then he rubbed his chin, smirking.

One of the officers pointed to him. “Even you, Sebastian.”

“I’m going, I’m going.”

Sebastian went into the cell first, and after a deep breath for courage, Rory followed.

The door shut on Rory and Sebastian, and he immediately bolted to his bed. Sebastian moved to the mirror and re-wetted his hair. A stray strand at the back stuck straight up, and Sebastian cursed, cupping more water to flatten it down.

“You think he finished?”

Rory blinked. “What?”

“That your favourite word, huh? Is there anything actually going on between your ears?I said,‘Do you think he finished?’ It was a joke.”

Rory forced a laugh, and Sebastian flung his hands up in the air. “Forget it. I’m disappointed. I thought there’d be more to you.”

“More to me?”

Sebastian pressed his chest to the bunk. He stared up at Rory, and although Rory was higher, the intensity of the glare shrunk him and pinned him to the wall. Sebastian took a long time to speak, and Rory resisted the urge to tug his knees up to his chest.

“Eight years, right?”

Rory blinked. “Right.”

“Thought there would be more to you. No one will start on that Captain—he’d surely finish it. That Ollie kid has won Teddy’s affections instantly, so he’ll be well protected, but for you…there’s nothing. You’re in trouble. You have victim written all over you.”

“I’m not a victim.”

“Give it a week.”

“It’s… This is my first time inside. I’m—I’m trying to get a grip on things.”

“A grip on things?” Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “Don’t go saying that in front of Pauly. He’ll see that as a solid invitation.”

“All I want to do is keep my head down and do my time.”

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