Page 107 of Too Many Beds
“S-sorry?” I stammer, confused. Tarrant said the deal was just for him. Surely I’m not going to be?—
“I’m moving you to another block for safety; this is the best I can do for now.” She keeps typing away, then stops to look at me. “Believe it or not, we don’t actually like it when inmates are murdered in here.” Her face softens into a wry smile. “Too much paperwork.”
Icarry my world in a plastic basket. Back across the yard, past the scrutinising stares of the inmates, and through the stark white buildings that all look frustratingly the same. Anxiety takes hold of my chest just as it had the day I was admitted, but this time everything’s so much worse. There’s no spark of resolve or simmering anticipation to see Tarrant. There’s just … nothing. Nothing but a target on my head. An actual fucking target that I put there myself. So much for keeping my head down.
I should have known making enemies would be more dangerous than being the new boy; I have no doubt Kon’s already spread word of my betrayal throughout Tarrant’s crew and the next time I show my face to them, it’ll be smashed into the concrete. The Authority’s going to need to do more than change where I sleep.
Fargus swipes her device at the entrance of my new cell block and the inmates in the common room all turn to face our arrival.
“New cellmate,” she says, gesturing me inside. “Kim, I trust you’ll make him feel welcome.”
Heron looks up from his PKT, smiling from ear to ear in a way I’ve never seen before. Warmth fills my chest, burning away the claws of anxiety’s grip. I almost drop my basket and run to him.
“Of course,” he says, still grinning. “Let me show you where you’ll sleep.”
Heron Kim stands and leads me through the open door of his room.
