Family Don't Break

CHAPTER 26

ALEX'S POV:

"I'm pretty sure we're just making the floors dirtier by washing it with this water." I mumble. The water is browner than my hair, and it has several dead bugs floating in it. "I don't even know why we're washing the floor. It's basically rotting out from underneath us." Race holds his cigar in his mouth as he scrubs. "You two better shush up, or they guards will hear ya. They don't like complaining." Peter whispers.

Peter's been a great help. He taught us how to survive here. It's only been a day, but so far we haven't had any problems. We haven't gotten any food and we only got a couple hours of sleep, but so far we're doing alright.

"Alex, your hair is falling out of your cap again." Race whispers. I look around to make sure no one is watching as a I tuck it back in. "I'm starving. I could eat one of those bugs." I say. Race wrinkles his nose but his stomach grumbles.

A sharp whistle blow silences the room. "Get up! Time for dinner! Back to your bunks or you don't get any." a guard shouts. I drop my brush into the bucket of water and stand up. My knees are bruised from putting all my weight on them. We must have been working for at least eight hours. First they had us wash the bedding and then scrub the floors. They been yelling at us all day. I saw one kid faint 'cause he was so hungry. His friends got him back to his bunk, but the guards saw and forced him to get back to work.

Race and I sit on our bunk, awaiting the food. The guards come out with baskets of bread. I can see the mold all the way from here. They start handing it out to each kid. When they get to us, they hand us one roll to share. "I thought we got one each." Race grumbles. He splits it in half and hands a piece to me. I take a bite and I swear I feel my teeth crack.

"This is like rock!" I whisper. It tastes like sawdust too, probably because that's what it's made out of. I do my best to choke each bite down. It tastes like shit and I doubt it'll keep me full for long. "This is worse than Jack's cooking." Race forces a smile.

The guards walk back through the bunks, sneering at the kids. They have power and they know it. "Look, it's the two newcomers." they stop in front of our bunk, looming over us. Race pushes me behind him a bit in an attempt to hide me from view. "How ya liking your new home? I'm sure it lives up to your street rat standards."

"Could use some better lighting. I can almost see your ugly mug." Race snarks. The guard pulls him up by his shirt, looking him in the eyes. "Watch your mouth, boy. You don't got anyone to help you here." He drops Race's collar and Race stumbles back. Peter is watching from above, a worried look on his face. The guards start to move on, done with their taunting. Race sits back on the bed and straightens his hat like nothing happened.

"Race, what the hell were you thinking?" Race just lays back on the bed. "If they're only paying attention to me, they won't pay attention to you. Gotta keep you out of their line of sight. Jack would kill me if anything happened to you."

"And Spot will kill me if anything happens to you, Race! You can't be playing hero in here." I argue. "The worst that happens to me is I get bruised. You got more to worry about. I've been in places like this, I can handle it." I know that he has a point, but I don't want to see him being reckless like this. "Just promise me you won't be putting yourself in unnecessary danger." Race crosses his heart. I join him in laying down on the bed. I hope Jack and Spot get us out of here soon.