Page 36 of Prisoner

But I still can’t take my mind off of what Dax said.

Bring Theo here? No chance!

16

THEO

It’s been roughlyfour months since I was put in the District Prison.

Four months.

I’ve lost a sufficient amount of weight from the lack of food and my complexion is disgruntled and pale. The bags under my eyes swallow my skin like dark shadows.

After that first week of being here and they let us out into the small courtyard on that cold, rainy day, it’s my favourite time of the week, seeing the sky, whether cloudy or clear. It is my saving grace, something to look forward to.

Predicting the weather is one of my favourite things to think about. One of theonlythings to think about. The satisfaction of being right, the pleasant surprise of being wrong. I don’t care. I embraced the outdoors for every three thousand and six hundredth seconds I had it each week. An hour wasn’t long enough and Puck ended up having to drag me back inside every time.

Puck is still my protector. My friend. With nothing to do but talk, me and Puck spend every second we’re awake doing just that. We speak about my home, my mother, his Bonnie, and what it was like growing up in the Rhivers mansion. He even joined in on my weather game sometimes.

After being introduced to Sandy, Ty, and Mac, they often joined us. Puck would laugh and joke with them, and I would sit in silence, wishing sometimes they would leave us alone. But I had nothing to worry about. Puck promised me I was his best friend with our pinky swear, my child-like brain being easy to please these days considering I have no other expectations.

Sandy, Mac, and Ty soon became my friends of sorts?but only when I was with Puck. I wouldn’t dare go near them without him. Since that third day here when I was manhandled by that creep, Puck is with me at all times.

Since he helped pick me up from King’s bathroom with another guard, up to this very second, he’s only left my side to sleep.

Much to my dismay. I’d rather have him with me for that, too.

Another thing I can never seem to take my mind off is King. I haven’t seen him since our bathroom escapade and my hatred and anger for him seem to grow more and more each day. How can he go from being sweet and caring, tracing my scars with gentle fingers, licking me up with pure lust, to advancing on me like a predator about to destroy his prey, all traces of respect and kindness gone?

Just the devil ready to take away another soul he’d used to make vulnerable.

And then he leaves. He doesn’t come back.

Was I just going to be an easy fuck for him?

I’ve seen Dax a few times, coming and going, checking on the ‘prison’ as he says. I know he’s checking on me but why? King clearly doesn’t give a fuck.

I’ve thought about our past more than I’d like to admit, and how I came to know King Rhivers, and it’s been eating away at me. I don’t want to tell Puck and let it out in the open. It feels so secretive. Itwassecretive. And now it’s nothing.We’re nothing.

But there was something about King that day that reminded me so much of the boy I once knew.

While lying with Puck, the comfort of his arms around me, I allow myself to think about it once more, as it’s too exhausting trying not to.

The heatin the car is stuffy and suffocating, the tiny crack in the window doing nothing to aid the air circulation. I know Dad said to wait in the car, but I can’t stand it anymore. I open the door and step out into the sunlight, letting the fresh air consume my lungs. I take a deep breath in and wipe my sweaty forehead with the back of my hand.

I look around, taking in all of my surroundings, and I recognise the huge building in front of me from photos. This is the Rhivers mansion.

So we are in the First District.

I spin around and see a large fountain behind the parked car, with water spouting out from all sides in perfect unison. I head over to it and dip my hand into the water, then bring my wet hand to my face, cooling myself down. Turning back to the house, I sit on the edge of the fountain and admire the towering building and the beautiful gardens that surround it.

There’s a huge guard standing at the doorway, and a few scattered around the long driveway, but aside from the gentle breeze and the water spraying, there is no other movement. It’s peaceful.

My father said he had last-minute business to attend to on our way back from a visit he’s dragged me to that he said was also for ‘business’.

I’m never allowed to go on business trips with him or to interrupt him whilst he works at home. But today is different.

He introduced me to Edison Ramon, the leader of the Third District, and lots of other men that I didn’t know, and I had to shake all their hands. They gave me funny smiles that made me uncomfortable. My father told me it was fine. I wish my mother could have come with us, but she was too tired. Or so my father said.

---