Page 15 of The Rat

“He’s three years into a lifesentence,”Ollie murmured.

Teddy tappedhis finger on the table to getRory’s attention, then flicked his gaze in the direction ofSebastian. Rory looked, then quickly looked away.

“He hates me.”

Teddy shrugged.

“He might be the lesser of twoevils,” Olliemumbled, “get him onside.”

“I don’t know how. He scares the shit outof me.”

Teddy snorted, then he smiled atOllie. Ollie grinned back and lowered his gaze.

“Win him over.” Olliesuggested.

“How?”

“Spend time with himoutside your cell. Go over there right now.”

Teddy slapped his palm onthetable,and sternly shook his head.

“Or not.” Ollie muttered.“All I’m saying is, Sebastian is clearly in charge of thewing.”

Teddy bobbed his head, then smiled atOllie.

“Get him onside, and you’ll havehis protection. Paulywon’t touch you.”

Teddy clapped his hands and smiledbrighter.

“Yeah, but how do I dothat?” Rory asked.

He’d been trying for the past fivedays to find common ground, but he was getting nothing back fromSebastian.

“No idea.”

“Exactly.”

The bell soundedfor yard time, andthe inmates queued at the gate. Rory sighed, and took hisunfinished lunch to the front. Ollie and Teddy stood next to eachother near the front of the line, but Rory didn’t dare try to cutin, he took a space in the middle, and kept his head down. Theywalked in single file down the corridor, then they suddenly stoppedand Rory narrowly avoided bumping into the man in front.

“Oi, newbie…Can you get the ball from thecupboard?”

Rory nodded, and pointed at thedoor closest to him. “Thisone.”

“Yeah, that’s it.There’s a boxof balls inside.”

Rory pulled thestringdangling from the ceiling, but the light didn’t come on. He steppedfurther in, and something crunched under his feet. He realized itwas glass from the broken bulb. The door closed behind him, and thelatch clicked.

“Wait… hold on…”

Rory backed up a step, knockinginto something firm. An arm wrapped around him, a hand pressed overhis mouth, muffling his shout. He tried to pry itfree, butthey were swaying in the dark, and Rory lost hisfooting.

A sharppain erupted in his side, and aburning took over. An intense burning that stole his breath andmade it impossible to scream. The arm released him, and he fell tohis knees clutching his side. His hand registered wetness, hisnostrils pulsed at the ironlike scent in the air.

The door opened, Rory saw aglimpse of light as a shadow passed out, and then the door shutagain, leaving him in the dark. He heard footsteps, more like amarching bandof racket passing by the door, but he couldn’t call out. He tiltedhis body forward, and felt the trickle leave him.

He reached, managed to find thehandle, but didn’t have the strength to open it. He pantedshallowly andattempted to bang on the door. He couldn’t be heard above thelaughter in the corridor, or the stamping feet.

“Hey, newbie, you get lostin there?”

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