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By the afternoon I still have way more questions than answers but have gotten a feel for a few of the “groups” or “gangs” or whatever they call themselves in here. I mentally note a few areas of the prison to stay clear of.
The yard seems to be an active meeting place, and around midday, Axle did come down to a platform and basically sat around for a while overseeing things. From the distant safety of the second level, I did watch him. I’ve never known a man like him before, and it’s a puzzle that intrigues me. Maybe it’s the viciousness underneath the already rough and, I’ll admit, gorgeous exterior, but I find him more attractive than any man I’ve met before either. It’s a bit unnerving.
When I see an empty cell with a nice hidden corner, my body reminds me to take care of other functions. I’ve looped around and am back near Theo’s cell and it seems blessedly quiet. Glancing around one more time, I quickly pee and notice gratefully I’ve stopped bleeding, though a bit of blood has made its way through the layers of fabric of my pants. Oh well. I suppose it’ll help me fit in more to have blood on my clothes. I don’t breathe easy until I stand up again and turn the corner, bumping face-first into a hard chest.
“What where you—oh hey, it’s the little boy!” a voice says above me. I turn to go the other way but find another chest in its place.
I turn and look up into the face of one of the men from the truck. I remember the scar down one side of his face, and, apparently, he’s made friends already. My whole body is tense as I take in the half dozen leering men surrounding me. They think I’m a teenage boy and they’re practically drooling.
They cannot find out I am a woman.
Balling my fists, I tilt my chin and stand tall. I don’t think I can take them all on, maybe one or two, but I sure as hell won’t go without a fight. Maybe if I stand my ground they’ll fuck off.
“Let me pass,” I grit out at the new guy. There’s a blond man with tattoos on his face standing behind scar-face, watching intently. I get the feeling he’s seeing how the new guy reacts and it’s all I can do not to sigh. Great, what am I, a fucking initiation?
“I don’t think so, pretty boy,” he says, and several men laugh. “Why don’t you let us show you around a bit? We all need friends in here.”
I open my mouth to bite back a response, but an arm reaches around my throat pinning me back. My airflow is immediately cut off and I struggle in earnest, clawing at the arm holding me. The arm lets go a tiny bit to let me breathe but keeps me totally immobilized. The new guy chuckles and takes a step towards me, running a hand down my cheek.
“All we gotta do is grow your hair out and you’ll be just the prettiest little thing,” he whispers, leaning forward and dragging his tongue along my cheek. I growl and shoot hand up, hitting him square in the nose. Blood bursts from beneath my knuckles and the person holding me is surprised enough to drop me. I fall to the ground and scramble under their feet until I’m no longer surrounded.
My chest is heaving as I quickly stand up and turn to them, my fists clenched and blood running down my forearm.
“That fucking athhole broke ma nothe!” Scar-face shouts. Tattoo-face, who is still standing there, looks over at the man unimpressed. He turns back to me and I take a step backward still gritting my teeth. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“That wasn’t very nice, fish,” the man says to me as he pulls out a shiv and slowly begins to strut towards me. He’s almost pretty himself, bar the tattoos everywhere. Wrapped around his eye is what looks like a snake, and I resist the urge to shudder. Baby blue eyes and blond, albeit dirty, hair. He’s not as tall as some of them, maybe five foot ten or so, but he looks strong. His smile is insincere, almost manic, and the gleam in his eyes speaks of agony and pain. I slowly move back, aware I am totally screwed when a voice rings out behind me.
“He’s mine, Cole.”
Cole, AKA, tattoo-face, growls at Axle, who I feel, rather than see, walk up behind me. I should be just as worried, but I figure if that’s what he wanted from me he would have gotten it before. I will not turn my back on these other guys though. Behind Cole, several more watch the scene warily. Broken Nose—as I’ve decided to rename him—is holding his face and glowering at me.
“I thought you had them nuns to keep you company,” Cole says. “Why don’t you leave something for the rest of us?”
My eyes flick up towards Axle only for a moment. Nuns?
“He’s mine,” is all he says in response, taking one step forward so he’s barely in front of me. I watch as Cole sheaths his weapon and grins, a creepy smile that makes me shiver.
“No problem, boss,” he replies before nodding his head forward. I don’t move a muscle until all of them pass. When their voices finally fade, I dare to glance up again into the inky depths of Axle’s eyes. They tear into me, demanding my secrets. I’m not ashamed to say I look away first.
Axle grunts and walks away, nodding his head.
Iamashamed to say I follow.
Seven
Axle
Idon’t know what the fuck is wrong with me right now. I was on my way to find Doc when I come across the fucking kid, Josh, cornered by Cole and his boys. Normally I don’t interfere with their shit unless it’s getting out of hand. As much as it disgusts me, it’s not my business. I couldn’t keep this place running for all these years if I started to make rules and shit. I keep things pretty open, and as a result, the inmates abide by it the few times I do impose my will. Our differences are settled in The Pit. It’s how it’s always been.
But for some reason, I couldn’t let them have this kid.
Something about his attitude, his courage, impresses me. Maybe he just reminds me of me at that age. Until I know why, I’m not giving him to those animals to destroy. Once I figure it out, solve the puzzle, I’ll toss him in The Pit if need be. It looked like he got in at least one good swing in, if the other fish’s broken nose is anything to go by. Maybe he’d be a good sport.
We get to my chambers and I go in and, of course, don’t hold the drape open. I hear the swish of it behind me only a second later and grin to myself.
“Sit the fuck down and don’t fucking do anything,” I tell him, pointing at a corner with old rags in it. The boy nods and goes to put his back against the wall, facing towards the door. My lip quirks up in amusement before dropping again.
My head twitches and I itch my arm for a moment before Ethan comes waltzing in. He immediately notices the boy in the corner and raises an eyebrow at me.
