Page 34 of The Rat

Sebastian stepped away from thetable, clutched his head, then rushed back and sat down.“Rematch?”

“Rematch.” Roryagreed.

They both jumped at the yell.Sebastian turned around lightning fast to see where the commotion was comingfrom. Guards went in Ollie and Teddy’s cell, and when they cameout, they were dragging a thrashing and growling Teddy.

“Calm it, Teddy.” Sebastian shouted, but ithad no effect.

In his current state,he wasunreachable—spitting, and flinging his head side to side. Hestruggled like a wild animal, and the three officers trying to gethim under control had no chance.

Teddy broke freeand shoved one ofthe guards over. The alarm started to howl, and officers demandedeveryone return to their cells. Teddy raised his hands, ready tofight the guards. His eyes were crazed, and he wanted blood. Heswung his fist with brutal efficiency and caught the closest guardin the chest. He went down and didn’t get back up.

“Jesus, Teddy!” Sebastianyelled.

Rory spotted Ollie pressedagainst the opposite wall, wide-eyed with his lip wobbling. Therest of the inmates were slow to return to their cells,clearly wanting towatch as Teddy took on the guards. Four of them lined up, and onelay on the ground. Their batons were out and ready for Teddy’s nextattack.

He swung another punch, and theofficers backed off fast.

Sebastian rocked on his heels,cursed, thenstrolled forward. The guards made a space for him to pass through,and he walked straight up to Teddy. He craned his neck forward,spoke close to Teddy’s ear, then suddenly he slumped, as if he werea puppet, and his strings had been cut. His arms sagged at hissides, and he lowered his head.

Sebastian retreated, thenthe guards launchedat Teddy. He didn’t fight them, he let them throw him to theground.

“Come on.” Sebastian said,giving Rory an encouraging push. “Back to the cell.”

Rory hoppedonto his bedas soon as they got inside, but he didn’t curl in a ball in thecorner, he sat with his legs hanging down.

“So you’re a chess genius?”Sebastian muttered.

“Yeah, and believe it or not, I’m not anidiot.”

Sebastian smirked. “I didn’t sayyou were. Whotaught you to play?”

Rorybit his lip, then mumbled, “Mygrandad at first, then my dad.”

“I hate to admit it, butyou’re good.Really good.”

“I beat your sorryass.”

Sebastian’s eyebrows shot up,and Rory thought he’d crossed a line, but then anamused rumbleescaped Sebastian’s lips. “You did that time, but nexttime…”

“I’ll beat youagain.”

“I like yourconfidence.”

Rory listened to the shouts, andclunks of gates. “What are they doing with Teddy?”

“He’ll be thrown into solitary. Iswearhe’sspent more time there over the years than in the wing.”

“What did you say tocalm himdown?”

Sebastian hummed, then looked up. “Itold him he was terrifying Ollie.”

“He likesOllie?”

“Yeah. Teddy, he’s complicated. Idon’t know what that was about though.”

Rory swallowed uncomfortably andaverted his gaze.

“But you do, don’tyou?”

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