My territory

8. Punishment

It takes several days for Jeff to cool down. He's furious at Bible yet he's still fascinated. He avoids him completely since he can't trust his own reactions, but as usual, his many informants tell him about his movements.

Jeff can't help but play some little tricks on Bible. These are not obvious things, but very annoying.

For example, Bible's favourite dishes always ran out before Bible turn queuing in the cantine, his weekly "wages" were never paid because of a computer error, his clothes were completely ruined in the laundry, and his library records showed he lost some books.

He also had to help in the kitchen one week, and clean bathrooms the following week.

What are the chances of everything happening at the same time?

Bible knows he's in trouble and more or less has an idea of why and who is behind all these inconveniences.

But he doesn't want to think of Princess too much. It only brings trouble. It's good he hasn't seen him around.

He lowers his head, goes to the library and stays inside his cell as much as possible. He doesn't want to go to the courtyard with good weather. He's just focusing in his studies and his personal project.

His weapon.

He's making a knife with the handle of an old toothbrush and a piece of scrap metal he got from the kitchen.

It's his self defence kit.

He's working on a DIY project that looks like a miniature model of the prison, but the real work is his small knife. He hides it inside a hollowed book that Tay has left behind.

Tay is free at last. His cellmate is gone and for now Bible is alone in his cell.

He's fine being alone.

***

It's bath time. The inmates go to the communal showers in small groups of five.

Waiting for his turn in the changing room, Bible notices that Boss and Big are in the same group as him. This alone puts him on edge.

They get in with the other inmates, then Big and Boss say something to the other two guys, who just wet their heads and walk out of the shower room in a hurry.

Bible is left alone with the other two, naked. All sorts of red lights fight for attention inside Bible's head.

A clothed figure appears on the corridor to the changing room. Bible's eyes are glued to him. It's Princess who doesn't make eye contact with him.

Jeff motions for Big and Boss to get Bible, instead. But Bible is not going down without a fight.

In a swift wide movement, he uses his knife, hidden inside his bathcloth, and manages to make a long cut in Big's chest and Boss' forearm.

The weapon is too small to do real damage, he can only surprise them and attempt to escape, but Jeff is there, closing the exit.

Bible goes for it, trying to dodge, but Jeff pulls out a taser from his pocket and fires it on Bible's shoulder.

***

Bible wakes up to a throbbing pain in his head.

After a moment of confusion he remembers falling on the bathroom floor after being tased by Jeff.

His eyes wonder around, he's tied up and naked in Jeff's cell. Shit.

All the others are there too, the two big guys.

Jeff gives Bible a pill with a glass of water.

- You fell and hurt your head.

Bible stares blankly at Jeff.

- I have now decided your punishment. You broke the rules.

Bible is trying to follow Jeff's line of thought but it's too difficult. He scrunches his eyebrows, his pupils moving in all directions.

Jeff takes a bottle in his hand and says:

- I'll give you a choice. For what you did... Big and Boss can fuck you now and your punishment finishes quick... or I get to punish you with with my own hands for a long time.

Bible's eyes widen in alarm. Of course he's going to choose Jeff, he looks at him intently.

- You - says Bible at last with a hoarse raspy voice.

Jeff turns his face away to hide a relieved smile. That's good, because it was a big bluff. Jeff doesn't really want them to touch him.

- Boss, Big, you can go now.