Page 66 of Diamond in the Rough

Gavin rolled his eyes. “Don’t we all.”

“But not just fantasise about it, actually do it,” Ernie added.

Keiron clutched Frank’s neck. “I heard some guy crawled through a sewage pipe.”

“That was a film,” Ernie groused.

“A very good film,” Gavin said. “Probably in my top ten.”

Ernie puffed extra hard on his oxygen, and his eyes fluttered. “Look, let’s try and stay focused…”

“I don’t understand why you’d wanna escape,” Frank said. “Three meals a day, you’re warm, clothed, and if you’re lucky, you might find someone that makes being here worth it.”

He gazed at Keiron, and he blushed and ducked away. Maddox looked around for a bucket to vomit his soup into, but he was out of luck.

“He’s got a guy on the outside,” Ernie huffed.

“So much for keeping that quiet,” Maddox said.

“The whole prison saw what you did to that guy. No one’s gonna say anything now.”

Frank nodded. “Three guys are trying to transfer out of here, not to mention Max.”

“Max?” Maddox asked.

“The one you gave a face transplant. He’s already gone.”

Maddox grinned. “Shame…”

“That smile’s disturbing,” Keiron muttered. He bit his lip, then said, “You’re with someone?”

Maddox turned away. “Not currently. I’m here, surrounded by you idiots.”

“Play nice,” Ernie warned.

“Ya know what I mean. you’ve got a boyfriend? A lover?”

Maddox stood up. “I think I’m done here.”

“Sit down,” Ernie hissed before clutching his throat and wincing in pain.

“You okay?”

“I’m dying, and my dying wish is for you to get out of here and not waste your life like I did. You owe me, remember?”

Keiron pouted. “Aw.”

“Shut it, you.”

Keiron held up his hands in surrender. “Sorry, thought it was sweet.”

Ernie gestured to himself, then Maddox. “We don’t do sweet.”

He puffed noisily on his oxygen, and Maddox glanced down at the tank. Ernie removed the mask from his mouth and glared at Maddox. “You’re not bludgeoning anyone with this…”

“No, I wasn’t thinking that.”

“Then what?”

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