Page 115 of Rat

Ollie’s eyes were searching when they connected with Rory’s, and he didn’t see disbelief but a devastating realization.

“Take it back,” Ollie murmured.

Rory took a deep breath. His eyes were burning. “It wasn’t my intention to deceive you. I didn’t want to hurt either of you.”

“You’re not in here for eight years…” Ollie whispered. His brown eyes widened.

“No. I was sent here for nine months, the remainder of Sebastian’s sentence.”

Ollie’s bottom lip trembled. “You lied.”

“I did.”

“I thought we were friends—”

“We are.” Rory moved towards him, but Ollie’s hand shot up in a clear stop gesture.

“No, we’re not! Friends don’t lie like that. You—I told you about my dad.”

Rory hung his head. “I know.”

“I thought we’d be in here together… I thought I’d have you for eight of my nine years.”

“I know, but I’m not going to abandon you.”

“You’re going to stay then, are you?”

Rory shook his head. “I can’t stay. But I’ll visit you, write to you, I swear.”

Ollie jabbed a finger at Rory. “I want nothing from you.”

His face had reddened, and through blurring eyes, Rory saw Ollie getting visibly upset. Tears spilled over Ollie’s bottom lashes. “How could you do that? How could you make me think…”

“I’m sorry—”

“You get to go home! You get to walk out those gates, and go back to your life, and your family, and I’m left here to rot.”

“Ollie…” Rory pressed his hands together. “I really am sorry. I—I never wanted to hurt you.”

Ollie wiped aggressively at his face. “You know what…I wish that inmate that stabbed you on the first week had gone for your heart.”

Ollie turned away despite Rory pleading for him to wait. He opened the door, then slammed it behind himself.

“He doesn’t mean that,” Captain whispered.

“He does, and sometimes I wish it too.”

“Don’t say that…”

“Are you not going to yell at me, wish me dead?”

Captain shook his head, then murmured, “Of course not. That question about me working undercover suddenly makes sense.”

“You were right. It wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t worth hurting Ollie, lying to you, betraying Sebastian. I told you I can be evil too.”

“You’re not evil, Rory. You did what you had to…” Captain held out his hand. “It was nice meeting you.”

“Really?”

---