Page 75 of Babalon

I can’t let her go, I won’t.

On top of that issue, I’ve been seeing things shift, and I’m not liking it. There is something going on amongst the inmates, and the last time there was a shift of this magnitude, people got hurt. I guess that is to be expected in prison, but the danger fell upon those who typically didn’t participate in prison drama.

Then there is that creepy fuck, Lucien. The moment he spoke about Nadia, I saw red. One, he don’t know… okay, maybe he did see, but he doesn’t know what the hell is going on between us. From an outsider's perspective it probably looked like I was overpowering her and making her do something she doesn’t want to do. I do like overpowering her, but it’s consensual. I am not about to sit down and explain to him. I refuse to explain anything to anyone.

Two, it’s not his fucking business what I do with her. We may not be anything of substance but that woman is mine. I’ve never had a protective bone in my body, but if he so much as tries anything with her, I will rip him limb from limb. Going to seg and receiving mental torment, even if it was only for a week, was enough to awaken the darker side of me.

He fucks around, he will be the first person I tear down, believe that.

Nonetheless, if there is anything going down in the prison, I know either Matias or Ronald knows what is happening. Ronald is out on another one of his medical visits, so I guess I am left with bothering Matias. I have yet to find all that is needed to help him with his case, so I hope he doesn’t hold that above my head. We have been friends long enough that it shouldn’t, but I have learned a lot of shit being locked up, and one big one is that you don’t trust anyone wholeheartedly.

The kinfolk like to set up shop at the gym equipment in the rec yard, the AB in the showers—weird if you ask me—the Asians in the kitchen, and the homies in the common room in gen pop. Same shit, different day. I don’t know how people do this bullshit day in and day out. It’s so goddamn repetitive and is getting old. It’s no wonder people go crazy in here, kill others, or commit suicide.

I was made for more, Nadia was too.

Following the hallways from the library to gen pop, I immediately find Matias and motion for him to follow me.

Not suspicious at all, Kace, you dumb shit.

Thankfully, he doesn’t second guess a damn thing and follows me into a vacant cell. Reaching both of our hands out, we do one of those bro handshakes then pass off a one-armed hug.

“What’s up, amigo?”

“Not a whole lot, I want to say thanks for the heads up the other evening. I know I can count on your discretion, but I still wanted to give my thanks.”

“No problem, man. I told you I got your back, that isn’t going to stop any time soon.”

“I appreciate it, she does too.”

“I knew you had a thing for her, even if you two bicker and fuck with each other all the time. Cute little enemy thing you have going on. She also gives you more attention than anyone else here, usually a dead giveaway.”

“You mean to tell me you knew she had heart eye emotes as she threw me on the ground?”

Fuck, his laugh is always soothing. His head tilting back before he half way leans over to catch his breath, hands pushing on the top of his knees to hold himself upright.

“Amigo, you not fighting back is what set off my senses. What do you mean?”

“Hah.”

Asshole, he would point that out.

I reach both hands up, running them through my hair and leaving them at the back of my head. Watching him still trying to catch his breath after having one hell of a good laugh.

How do people do that? Laugh and exist in such a way, when they are literally confined from the rest of the world?

“You’re a funny guy,” he adds, wiping his eyes.

“I haven’t heard that in a while. I’m happy to see that I still got it.”

“What’s up, man? I can sense there is something else on your mind other than me keeping my mouth shut about you andMrs. Officer.”

“I know there is something going down and I want to know what it is. If it is anything that can harm Nadia then I want to be able to forewarn her so she’s not here when shit hits the fan.”

He stands there, a cold and calculated expression passing over his features this time. Long gone is the Matias I know, this is business now.

The tension is palpable between us. I can’t tell what is going through his head or if it is anything I actually want to know. Either way, I need to man the fuck up and keep Nadia safe—she has gone out of her way to do the same thing for me for three years now. It’s time I return the favor.

“That’s snitching, Kace. You realize that, right?”

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