Page 129 of Shadowman
Phew.
But then he lifts his arm and shouts, “No. Talking!”
Swinging the billy club right into the side of Matthews’s head, he knocks the poor bastard out with one hit. Matthews crumples off of the bench seat onto the floor, and we all gape in horror—and of course, silence—as the guard just struts away, continuing his rotation like nothing happened. Leaving the dude bleeding on the ground.
Fuck.
After that, Trevel and I don’t speak another word. No one does. We all eat in fraught silence, enveloped by a tension so eerie it’s like its own presence in the room. When the meal is over, the guards bring us ten inmates to the showers where we wash ourselves in the same strained, speechless trance.
I think I’m seeing the purpose of this no-talking order. It’s a way of isolating us, even with people around.
Touché, Ivory.
On our way back, I’m being suffocated by looming despondence. Nothing matters. Thanks to this new regime, even if I wanted to open up to someone, now I physicallycan’t. Unless we opt to pass secret notes in the halls.Again, like fucking high school.
We get to the row, and I shoot Trevel an expression of reluctantgoodbye, paired with a small wave that I just know looks pathetic, but I can’t help it. He doesn’t get to return it, though, because that guy, Kent, swings around the corner.
He looks to Trevel, then me, then the guard behind us. “These two are going in together.”
Trevel and I are frozen, dumbfounded, while the guard cocks his head. But he doesn’t argue, not the way Velle would if someone popped up telling him what to do like that.
He simply asks, “In which cell?”
Kent nods in the direction of the row. Meaningmycell. Then he says to Trevel, “You’re moving. I’ll bring your things by later.”
Um, hang on… What’s happening??
Trevel looks just as thrown off as I’m feeling, but when the guard ushers us both over to my cell and shoves us inside, a very visible delight washes over his face. Our cuffs are removed, and we’re left alone,together, with the slam of the bars.
Wait, so… he’s actually my cellmate now??
Trevel releases a beaming smile that shows off his straight, white teeth. The more I look at his smile, the more I notice that it’s actually a tiny bit crooked. And he has only one dimple on the left side.
I like it. The imperfections somehow make it… prettier.
I gulp over a suddenly dry throat.
Oh, boy.
This might be bad.
“Byron…” He sighs my name, face alit, eyes twinkling. “I can’t believe it. We’re roomies!” He bites his lip, and I swallow hard again. “This is going to be so fun!”
My head swivels back and forth. I’m still too confused to process this unexpected turn of events. “Why… would they move you?”
His smile fades, forehead lining. “I’m not positive, but Ihadmentioned that I was sick of living alone… I suppose Manuel decided to listen.”
Manuel…?
He calls The Ivory…Manuel??
“Okay, I’d really like to know why the Warden does things for you,” I grumble, brushing my damp hair back with my fingers. “Do you know him or something?”
He gives me a look. “No. He expects me to do him favors, and in return, he makes my life a little easier in here. It’s nothing scandalous.”
I stare at him for a moment, an icky feeling weaving around my insides. “Like what? Whatfavors?”
“So far, he only wants me to begin sessions with Dr. Love,” he answers casually, puttering around my cell—ourcell, I guess—poking at things.
