Page 25 of The Rat

“I don’t know.”

“Come on, you must know. It’snotsquealingif you tell me, I won’t tell the guards.”

Rory licked his lips. “I really don’tknow.”

Sebastian did bunny ears with hisfingers. “Well, when you remember, let me know.”

“Why?What will you do if I tellyou?”

Sebastian’s laugh rumbled. “Nothing. I’ve putmy money on Pauly though, a few of the other guys have placed moneyon others.”

“You’re betting on who stabbed me?”

Sebastian shrugged.“Damonthinksit was your buddy, Ollie.”

“Olliewouldn’t do that.”

“He’s in here for stabbing a guy. How well doyou actually know him?”

Rory turned away. “Shutup.”

“There’s your balls.” Sebastianchuckled.“Iwondered where they’d gone.”

Hesat down on his bed and groaned as he gotcomfortable.

“Your turn.”He mumbled.

Rory got down, brushed his teeth, used thetoilet, then washed his hands. He tentatively lifted his T-shirtand felt Sebastian’s eyes on him.

“Whoever did it, didn’t want youdead. They would’ve gone for your throat, or yourheart.”

“I was scared,” Rory admitted. “Scared I wasgonna die.”

Sebastian frownedand didn’t respond.Rory thought it was the end of the conversation, but Sebastianmumbled, “Tell me who it was. I wanna know.”

Rory shook his head. “I don’tknow—”

“When youremember…”

“There’s nothing to remember, Ididn’t see him, and what’s the point in telling you if you’re not gonnado anything about it?”

Sebastian rolled on his side,presentingRory with his bare back, and ending their conversation. Roryremoved the rest of his clothes, folded them up, then eased himselfonto the top bed.

“Night, Rory.”

Rory bit hislip, waited aminute, then whispered. “Night, Sebastian.”

****

Captain’s scream tore through the prison.Rory struggled out of his sheet, then yelped at the pinch in hisside. He panted through the waves of pain until they only lappedinside his body, instead of tidal waved. Sebastian got out of bedand steadied Rory as he rocked forward and back while the painfaded.

“Okay?”

Rory nodded, then swung his legsover the bed and slipped down. Sebastian held him up for a fewseconds, then backed off when Captain called out again.

“Jesus.” Sebastianhuffed.

Rory limped to the door of the cell, thengot to his knees, cheek to the floor.

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