Page 73 of The Rat

“I think Sebastian is.”Ollie snorted.

Rory glanced up at him.“What?”

He tapped the picture. “This onewith the massive coc—”

“It’s a gun.”

Sebastian flexed hisbicep. “I’ve gotmassive guns, too.”

Mrs. Mason narrowed her eyes and studied thedrawing. Rory shuffled in his seat, and his hairs stood on end. Hedidn’t have a clue why, but her judging his random doodles wasunsettling.

“Jesus,it’s only a stickmanpicture.”

“Sometimesdrawings are a window into oursubconscious.”

“Only to barking madpeople.”

“Oi!”

Rory turned around and looked at theguard. His arms were folded, and his eyebrow lifted when theirgazes met.

“Any more of that and you’ll beout, understand?”

“Yeah…”

Mrs. Mason continued, “Who’s winning thebattle?”

“No one’s winningit.”

Rory looked at the picture.Death and destruction on both sides, but novictor. Itwas a snapshot of a moment, it was nothing.

“There’s casualties on bothsides.”

“It’s abattle, there’s no outright winnersin battles.”

Pauly snorted, and Rory’s attentionsnapped to him.

“There will be in the upcomingone. Are yousure you’re on the winning side?”

“Positive. You’re not on it.”

Pauly wrinkled his nose and turnedaway.

Mrs. Mason hummed and tapped her finger onher chin. “Interesting.”

“No, it’s not. Do you know what isinteresting?” He snatched the piece of paper from Ollie’s hand,then ripped it in two, then four, then struggled to rip it intoeight, but just about managed.

“There,” he announced.

Rory saw the guardapproaching anddidn’t protest. His bicep was grabbed, and he was hauled to hisfeet.

“Right, Rory, I’m takingyou back to the wing.”

Pauly stood up. “I’m gonnago,too.”

The guard narrowed his eyes.“Why?”

“Gota bad case of the runs.”

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