Page 102 of The Rat

“That wasn’t myintention.”

Pauly backed away, smiling to himself.He flashed a look at the guard, who stepped forward. “Ready to goback on the wing?”

“Hell, yeah.” Pauly muttered, then hewinked at Rory. “Don’t worry. I’ll get the conversation startedwith Sebastian…”

Rory sprung forward, but the guardpushed him back. “Hey, I’ll take you back once the doc’s got yourpills.”

“I wanna gonow.”

“No. If you’regonna argueabout it, I’ll take you back down to solitary.”

Rory rocked back onhis heels, then spunaround to find the doctor. When he next looked at the door, theguard and Pauly had gone.

“I need my medication.”Rory shouted.

“In a minute.”

“No, now.”

The doctor strode forward and shoved aclipboard under his nose. “Sign here.”

Rory scribbled in the boxes, snatched thepills from the doctor’s hand, then rushed to the door.

“I need to go back on thewing!”

****

Rory’s heart beatso hard he swore hecould hear it. He stepped into the wing, and whipped his head leftand right, looking for Sebastian. He glanced up, like the first dayhe’d walked in there, and there Sebastian was, on the secondlanding, leaning over the railing, looking at Rory. He grinned, andRory grinned back, then his eyes snapped to Pauly approaching. Thegrin on his face wasn’t friendly, but cruel and twisted.

Rory rushed to the stairs,tripped and hit his knee, earning him a cheer from the rowdyinmates below.He ignored them, pushed past people, all to get to thesecond floor, to stop Pauly revealing his secret.

“I know something, you don’tknow.” Pauly said in a sing song voice.

Sebastian folded his arms.“Oh,yeah?”

“Yeah!”

Rory ran at Sebastian andgrabbed hisarm. His heart pounding and he thought might pass out. He swayed onhis feet, and open-mouth panted.

“Easy, Rory…”

“I need to talk toyou.”

Pauly smirked. “Don’t you wannaknow what I do? It’s a one-time offer, hear it now…”

Sebastian tore his gazefromRory.“What the hell are you on about?”

“Let’s go in the cell.”Rory begged. “Please.”

“In a minute, Iwanna hearwhat this asshole’s got to say.”

Pauly tipped his head back andlaughed.

“No, now.” Rory hissed.

Other inmates were looking theirway,edgingcloser, eager to hear their conversation. Rory pulled atSebastian’s arm, but he didn’t move, he had tunnel vision forPauly, and his gloating face.

Sebastian brushed Rory’s hand away andtook a step closer to Pauly. “Come on, out with it…”

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