Page 64 of The Rat

“Is that really what youwanted?”

Rory nodded, then shook hishead, then noddedagain. “I don’t know.”

“Can I ask for something inreturn?”

“What?”

“Never ask me to do that again.”

“Aww, howsweet.”

Rory blinked back the moisturein his eyes, then looked up at Pauly. He gestured to the table,where Sebastian’s hands were no longer pressing down on Rory’s. They had atsome point, joined, and they were holding each other.

“Keep walking.” Sebastianhissed.

Pauly carried on, and Rory noticedmore men wearing bandanas following him. He counted ten, and theyall glared venom at Sebastian.

“There’s more of them,” hewhispered.

“Don’t worry aboutit.”

“I am worried.”

Sebastian smiled. “I can handle it.I’ve still got the majority of this prison behind me.”

“But it only takes one tohurt you bad.”

Sebastian’s smile fell, and hedropped his gazedown to their hands. “Rory, you’re squeezing me pretty damnhard.”

Rorystopped clutching and pulled hishands away. “Sorry, I didn’t realize.”

“It’s okay…Chess?”

Chess was Rory’s salvation, and Rorynodded eagerly.

Sebastian waved Einstein over.Heplaced theboard down, and Sebastian set about getting it ready.

“Ready?”

“Yes.” Rory breathed.

Sebastian rubbed his fingers upand down the pieces before he moved them, and Rory was transfixed.When he took Rory’s pieces, he clutched them in his handbefore setting themin front of himself. He lined them up, all the pieces of Rory hehad claimed, and now owned. Rory took more pieces of Sebastian, buthe didn’t line them up with confidence, he pushed themaside.

“Captain’s back.” Sebastianmurmured.

Rory turned around expecting to see Captainlooking a bit less guilt-ridden, instead he looked raging angry,and Rory’s heart started to thump.

“Captain?”

“He wouldn’t evenhear me out.Got the guards to tell me he felt too threatened by me, doesn’tthink he can work with me. You hear that Rory, he spent thirtyminutes with me and saw me for what I was, a monster. Unsavable,evil.”

“You’re notevil.”

Captain stepped forward and toweredover Rory. “Don’t. You don’t know me.”

He turned his attention toSebastian.“You run this wing, right?”

“Right.”

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