Page 75 of Caged In

Izz waits—tense and suffocating—for the inevitable burn to sheer through his entire existence. Yet . . . nothing’s happening—

The invasion never comes, instead, a sickening crack—loud, wet and horrendous—echoes throughout the entire cell—

A solid heavy weight slumps over Izz’s legs—

A gurgled gasp—another meaty crack—seconds after the first—

Izz can breathe again. His airways cleared. Sucking in sobbed gasps, as another snapping sound rings out, a solid thud of something heavy hitting the concrete floor—

Sinn'ous’s face appears in Izz’s wavering vision. He’s sure he’s hallucinating. Certain Sinn'ous is not in fact crouched down in front of him, with lips moving to form words. Words the ringing in his ears refuse to allow him to hear.

The blazing anger in Sinn'ous’s eyes has Izz questioning his resolve on the image being a figment of his imagination. He could never envision such cold hatred in anyone’s expression. Let alone the handsome eyes of the male who caught his attention the moment he arrived in this cage.

Izz bursts into tears, ragged, raging, girly-girltears. Reaching out to grasp his hallucination—

A warm comforting embrace greets him. And Izz knows it’s real. He’s not imagining a scenario as he’s being used by four inmates in a tiny cell. He really is saved.

He allows the male to help him to his feet. Clinging to the comfortinglifeline that by some miracle has appeared before him. Standing strong and secure for him to take hold of. For him to use as an emotional escape.

Please, God, don’t let this be in my head.

He’d break—if he woke up to find the four inmates huddled over him—he’d break. Crack in two. Fall apart, dive headfirst into insanity that would never be cured.

He blinks, slowly clearing his vision so he can see the chaos laid out in the cell. The bodies strewn over the concrete floor—

Wait . . . This is . . .

Izz shifts his gaze around the cell, peering past Sinn'ous, who he clings to like a Kevlarvest—

This is my cell?

When had they arrived back here? He doesn’t remember leaving . . . He doesn’t remember walking anywhere. Had Sinn'ous carried him? Or had he walked on his own, in a numbed-out haze?

He’s back in his cell now, curled up on his bunk. A blanket around his trembling body, and a solid saviour pressed up against his side. He’s practically seated in Sinn'ous’s lap. A warm hand rubbing slow circles over his back. The gentle touch comforting after the vicious violation . . .

Izz closes his eyes, tightening his grip on Sinn'ous’s shirt. To keep the male from leaving. He can’t be alone. Not right now. He can’t. He’s falling apart, he needs this lifeline to keep his mind. He can’t lose his sanity.

I can’t let this place take away who I am.

The next time Izz becomes aware of the prison around him, it’s to the clanging noise of multiple inmates. The hustle and bustle of the work period being over and done with—or is it the ending of lunch? And the inmates are clearing out of the cafeteria?

It feels like a lifetime has passed, yet at the same time, it feels as though mere seconds have flashed by.

He hears the sound of his cellmate’s cheery voice. Reni beginning a conversation with Izz before the other is even in thecell. It must be the end of the meal, why else would Reni sound perfectly normal. Izz’s mind is too fried to string his friend’s words together into a meaningful sentence. The familiar tone is reassuring. A soothing, safe, familiarity.

He watches the cell’s entrance as his friend barges in. Watches the smile fall off his friend’s face quicker than a gasp. Reni freezing solid in the entrance way.

Izz would laugh—at the shocked look on his friend’s face—if he had the willpower to. It must be a scene—his pale, tear-stricken face. Shaking body curled up in Sinn'ous’s lap, seated on his bunk, with the serial killer gently rubbing his back.

“You okay, Izz?” his cellmate grits out, his eyes flicking to Sinn'ous and narrowing in contempt.

Izz’s not sure he can answer, his throat feels like he’s sculled boiling water filled with thumbtacks—

“He’s fine,” Sinn'ous takes over, answering for Izz.

“Wasn’t talking to you. With all due respect,” Reni speaks in a way that screams bitter, spiteful, disrespect, “was asking Izz.”

“And I have said he is fine. You. May leave.” Sinn'ous isn’t looking at Reni. Izz can sense the male’s eyes on him. Can feel the concerned gazechecking he’s okay. Sinn'ous’s tone of voice, however, implies there is no room for argument. Reni is to leave or be thrown out.

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