Page 37 of Rat

“No, I don’t.”

“You can start on my shoulders, maybe my thighs too.” His eyes glinted, and he gave Rory a confident smile. “I’m already looking forward to it…”

Vince hastily set up the board, and Sebastian gestured for Rory to take the first move. He moved his pawn, and the game began.

Rory had played the naive guy perfectly, and Sebastian fell straight into his trap. The smirks and snorts from Vince and Einstein lessened, then stopped altogether.

Sebastian clutched his chin before each move, and his brow folded with more intense lines each time they went back and forth. Their game got a crowd, and a few officers stood close enough to watch.

Ollie came over at some point but lost interest and disappeared with Teddy. The match lasted an hour, then Sebastian stood up abruptly, tilted his head at Rory and admitted his defeat.

Rory held out his palm for the phone cards, and Sebastian slapped them down. He counted them, then handed three to Vince and three to Einstein. They gawped at Rory in surprise.

Sebastian stepped away from the table, clutched his head, then rushed back and sat down. “Rematch?”

“Tomorrow,” Rory agreed.

They both jumped at the yell. Sebastian turned around lightning fast to see where the commotion was coming from. Officers went into Ollie and Teddy’s cell, and when they came out, they were dragging a thrashing and growling Teddy.

“Calm it, Teddy,” Sebastian shouted, but it had no effect.

In his current state, he was unreachable—spitting and flinging his head side to side. He struggled like a wild animal, and the three officers trying to get him under control had no chance.

Teddy broke free and shoved one of the officers over. The alarm started to howl, and officers demanded everyone return to their cells. Teddy raised his hands, ready to fight the officers. His eyes were crazed, and he wanted blood. He swung his fist and caught the closest officer in the chest. He went down and didn’t get back up.

“Jesus, Teddy!” Sebastian yelled.

Rory spotted Ollie pressed against the opposite wall inside the cell, wide-eyed with his lip wobbling. Rory took a step towards him, intention clear, but Sebastian grabbed him around the waist and held him still.

Sebastian spoke in Rory’s ear. “Don’t get involved.”

“But—”

“No buts,” Sebastian said firmly.

The rest of the inmates were slow to return to their cells, clearly wanting to watch as Teddy took on the officers.

Four of them lined up, and one lay on the ground.

Their batons were out and ready for Teddy’s next attack.

He swung another punch, and the officers backed off fast.

Sebastian pulled Rory behind himself.

“Stay right there.”

His voice nailed Rory’s feet to the ground.

Sebastian strolled forward with his arm out and his hand raised towards Teddy in a stop motion. The officers made a space for Sebastian to pass through, and he walked straight up to Teddy. He craned his neck forward, spoke close to Teddy’s ear, then suddenly Teddy slumped, as if he were a puppet and his strings had been cut. His arms sagged at his sides, and he lowered his head.

Sebastian retreated, then the officers launched at Teddy. He didn’t fight them. He let them throw him to the ground.

“Come on,” Sebastian said, giving Rory an encouraging push. “Back to the cell.”

Rory hopped onto his bed as soon as they got inside, but he didn’t curl in a ball or press himself to the wall. He sat with his legs hanging down.

“So, you’re a chess genius?” Sebastian muttered.

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