Page 42 of The Rat

“And inside therats?”

“Drugs, alcohol, phones,aftershave, chocolate, whatever will fit.”

“Why did you want me to get youdrugs when you’re already doing it yourself?”

“I didn’t really, I wanted toknow what you’d do to get myprotection.”

“So that’s how you smugglestuff in?”

Sebastian huffed. “All prisonsdo it differently, but I’ve been running this for years. One rat aweek, haven’t been caught, and it’s preferable to getting drugs from someguys back passage.”

Rory twitched his nose. “Because it’s somuch more appealing getting drugs from a rat’s stomach.”

Sebastian laughed.“Exactly, andthat’s not all.”

“What do youmean?”

“Thegovernor is so convinced of this ratproblem, he bribes me with phone cards to keep the inmates quiet.Ten cards a month, and I kept the rat problem hush hush when thehealth inspector comes. I’m pretty much paid to smuggle stuffin.”

A silence grew betweenthem,andRory picked obsessively at his nails. “It—It’s reallyclever.”

The bed shifted,and Sebastianstood up. He crossed his forearms on Rory’s bed, and leaned closer.The glow of the floodlight shone on his face, and his blue eyessparkled. His silver hair caught the light, too, and highlightedthe etchings of age on his face. Rory hated to admit he thought hewas handsome, but he couldn’t deny it in that moment. Thefloodlight shone a spotlight on Sebastian, and Rory liked what hesaw.

“You think so?”

Roryglanced at Sebastian’s lips. Hecouldn’t stop looking at them, and they lifted into a smile underhis gaze

“Yeah…”

“Good to know.” Sebastiansmirked. “But if the guards suddenly get wise, I’ll know who toblame.”

“I won’t say anything, Iswear.”

Sebastianclimbed underneath the bed, outof Rory’s view.

“Night, Rory.”

Rory wiped his handdown hisface, and inwardly cursed. “Night, Sebastian.”

ChapterEight

During the first week, the hardest part aboutbeing inside had been the fear. The fear that he’d get found out,the fear that Pauly would corner him. The fear someone would hurthim. It had come true, but he didn’t feel fear anymore. Pauly stillshot him interested looks, Sebastian still scared him sometimes,but the fear had gone. Instead it was the boredom that drove Rorymad.

Most of the inmates busiedthemselves in the gym, orboxed, or played soccer. Rory tried to train withCaptain, but after ten minutes he was out of breath, and painthrobbed in his side. Captain patted his shoulder, then went tohelp Zeke lift weights.

Rory ended up limping back tothe wing and collapsing on thesame uncomfortable chair he had sat in day afterday. He read books, he ate, he talked to Captain and Ollie, and hewatched the one-hour allowance of TV, all in the same spine-achingplastic chair.

Then Sebastian would come overwith the chessboard, and for a few hours they would play. They smiled inamusement, and triumph. They frowned and huffed in frustration.They mocked each other and jeered. Rory hated to admit it, but hefound it fun, and he looked forward to their matches.

****

Ollie slipped intothe chair oppositeRory. Captain’s chair.

“And you’re sitting therebecause?”

“I can see thegate.”

Rory glanced back. “There’s nothinggoing on at the gate.”

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