Page 110 of Rat

“Stop saying that,” Ollie hissed.

“You need to get your hands looked at,” Sebastian said firmly.

“Fine, I give in, I’ll ask to see the doctor.”

“Get a few spoonfuls of that down you first, though,” Captain said, pointing at the porridge.

Rory rolled his eyes but did as Captain told him.

Ollie chatted away normally, but Captain and Sebastian were both watching him with concern, like they could sense he was about to break at any moment.

Rory sagged in relief when the prison officer agreed to let him see the doctor on the medical wing. It got him away from Sebastian and Captain for a while, but Ollie watched him go like a lost puppy.

“Lie down,” Doctor Pichard said.

“I don’t need to lie down.”

“Just do it.”

Rory huffed, then lay down on the bed.

Pichard prodded Rory’s knuckles, and he hissed.

“That hurt?”

Rory frowned. “Yeah, I didn’t hiss for fun.”

“I can give you some painkillers, something to bring the swelling down. I don’t think anything’s broken, but if you’re still in a lot of pain in a few days, ask to see me, and I’ll sort out an X-ray.”

“Thank you,” Rory murmured.

“I’ll go get your medication now.”

Rory slipped off the bed. He glanced around at the other sick and injured inmates that had been assigned to the hospital wing.

“I heard you in the corridor.”

Rory stiffened, then turned towards the voice. He didn’t recognize Pauly at first. Half of his face was covered by bandages strapping his nose.

“What?”

“Well, technically, I didn’t hear you. Someone else did, and then they told me.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“A police officer…here to spy on Sebastian.”

Coldness swept over Rory. “No—”

“Yes.”

His blood turned to ice, and he rubbed his hand over his heart to stop it from freezing over. Pauly smiled, and the bandages on his face rose, squishing his eyes.

“And I’m thinking to myself, Sebastian still doesn’t know, and he only has a week left. What will you do to make sure I keep your secret?”

Rory swallowed. “What do you want?”

“You broke my nose, and my ribs…”

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