Page 50 of The Rat

“You might wanna get backto the wing?”

“Why?”

“The guards are trashingyour cell.”

Rory stopped panting and stoodupright. “What? Why?”

“No idea, but Sebastian’sfuming.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Captaingrunted, then held out a bottle forhim to take. “Not before you drink.”

Rory drank the whole bottle, thenhurried out of the gym.

Sebastian’s eyes followed himthe whole trek up to the cell. The glare was back, more intensethan before,and Rory’s gut squished with unease. He stared at the metalwalkway as he approached, then leaned on the railing besideSebastian.

“Can you believe it?”Sebastian hissed.

“What are they lookingfor?”

“Anything we’re not supposed tohave. The question is,who’s trying to piss me off?”

“What?”

“They wouldn’t do thisrandomly, someone’s tipped them off.” Sebastian pointed his fingerat Pauly hovering by the stairs. “And I reckon it’shim.”

Pauly snorted andturnedaway.

“I’ll get you back for this.”Sebastianwarned.

Rorycraned his neck to see inside thecell. Their clothes were scattered, and the mattresses were gettingvigorously patted down. One of the guards stepped out and held up asmall pot.

“What’s this?”

“It says what it is on thetub.”

“Don’t go getting smart with me,Sebastian.”

“Don’t ask dumbquestions.”

The guard untwisted the lid and took asniff.

“It’s Vaseline,” Sebastianmumbled, “For sore lips.”

The guard narrowed his eyes. “Yeah,I’m sure that’s what you use it for…”

He gave Rory a pointedlook.

“What?We don’t do anything likethat.”

Sebastian snorted, then flung his armaround Rory’s shoulder. “No, we go at it raw, likeanimals.”

The guard shuddered and wrinkled hisnose. “I don’t wanna hear it.”

“Look, it’s not banned, I bought itdownstairs in the shop.”

The guard huffed, then tossedthe tub back into the mess oftheir cell.

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