The Cage (Book 2)

Loyalty and Caution

I woke up feeling well rested, much to my surprise. Even the bump on my head from the upper bunk had faded. In fact, I was feeling a lot better than I felt yesterday. I was still in prison, and this was the second day of my lifelong sentence, but I wasn't panicking, and I was a little less afraid for my life than I was yesterday.

It had to be Schneider's effect on me. Or, more realistically, our deal's effect. Knowing that I'd get all the protection and benefits of being Schneider's bitch and not have to pay the price was an excellent bargain, one that I could live with. At this point, I wasn't much concerned with pride; seeing as there were a lot of newspapers out there that had my face and 'MURDERER' written on top of it.

Well, we hadn't explicitly discussed it yesterday per se, but after hearing Schneider's guilt-ridden apology, it was safe to assume that he was on my side.

It was ironic; the prisoner had more of a conscience than any of the guards in this facility. How terrifying. Truthfully, I couldn't be more thankful for Schneider's help.

Careful as to not bump my head again, I slid out of the lower bunk and looked back at the upper bunk to find that it was empty. Schneider already left.

At the sink, I washed my face and brushed my teeth using the 'complimentary' toothbrush and toothpaste provided in a ziplock bag. Inside the toiletries bag was a plain bar of soap that didn't smell like anything, a single blade razor, and a roll of toilet paper. After making sure no one was peeping, I put the toilet paper to good use.

No sooner did I finish doing my business and pull up my pants did someone appear in front of the cell's door.

For a moment, I was terrified that the fickle door would slide open for this stranger too, just as it opened for Schneider. But when it didn't, I let out a tiny sigh of relief.

"You Julian?" The stranger asked, leaning forward against the bars.

"Who are you?" I demanded, instantly on guard. How did everyone seem to know my name? Well, I supposed putting a guard in the ground made me somewhat of a celebrity in prison. As well as a massive target.

"The boss sent me. He wanted me to tell you that he's coming to take you to the showers in an hour. Get your stuff ready." The short, bald man said, looking slightly annoyed that he got stuck with escort duty.

The boss. Schneider. Schneider had sent him.

I felt a strange fluttering in my chest. I turned to the sink and busied myself with the task of washing my hands. Not once did I steal a glance at my expression in the mirror.

Schneider was actually looking out for me, even when he wasn't available to do it himself (I assumed he was busy with something else). It was... comforting. Heartwarming. Even touching. Such unearned loyalty from someone who didn't owe me anything would certainly catch me off guard.

But if the events of the last few weeks of my life taught me anything, it was to not completely trust anyone, no matter how kind they seemed. Kevin had ingrained that lesson into my brain well.

Caution was my new best friend.

"Isn't it almost time for breakfast?" Any minute now, the alarm would buzz and the door would slide open, ushering us to the cafeteria for some prison-quality breakfast. I was the fresh fish and even I knew that.

"You can eat later. The showers will be empty while everyone is having breakfast. Unless you like showering with an audience?" Baldy arched an eyebrow at me questioningly, probably thinking he'd won the argument.

Well, he had.

I wiped my hands against my thighs and slightly narrowed my eyes at him. "What's your name?" I asked.

"Fenix."

I doubted he'd give me his real name if I asked, so I dropped it. Maybe I ought to take up a street -or rather prison- name as well. Something like Spanky or Bullwinkle. "Okay, Fenix, I'll wait for Schneider. But you better be right or you'll owe me a meal."

Admittedly, I wasn't too eager to rush to the cafeteria where all the inmates of this block and half the guards would be, especially after last night's 'incident'. Technically, there was no harm in waiting for Schneider. And if the guard was to be believed, I'll get to break my fast later. Honestly, I wouldn't mind a hot shower to unravel the tension in my bones.

So, I waited as Fenix said I should. As I sat on my bunk biding my time, I watched the inmates pass my cell, headed for the cafeteria. I noted two things in the hour or so I waited for Schneider.

One: The inmates moved in groups, mostly based on race like blacks and whites, and on ethnicity like the Irish and Hispanics. Two: Anyone who wasn't in a group was most likely a loner -easy prey. There were only a few of these. I counted just three loners.

The last loner I saw pass by my cell peered at me through glassy eyes devoid of joy or even life. When our eyes met as he peered into my cell, his immediately darted away like a nervous animal. That's when I took note of his disheveled appearance, both his hands shoved securely into his jumpsuit's pockets as if to keep from accidentally touching anyone. The lanky man, who couldn't be older than twenty-five or twenty-six, looked absolutely miserable.

Pity welled up inside me like a geyser. I could only imagine the horrors he'd been subjected to because he didn't have anyone protecting him.

Once more, I was immensely glad that I'd agreed to Schneider's deal. I'd been offered a cruel glance at the life that awaited me if I hadn't.

Exactly an hour later, Schneider appeared at the door.

"Punctual, aren't we?" I got up, eager to stretch my legs after an hour of sitting.

"If you're late in prison, you're hopeless." Schneider grinned at me, and then said, "Good morning."

Good morning, indeed. Schneider's white radiant smile left me blinded, as if the sun itself had cracked a pearly smile at me. He looked just as handsome in the morning as he did in the evening -or any other time, really. The man was human perfection.

He tossed me something.

Only after grabbing it did I spread it out in front of me and realize what it was. A towel.

"Let's go," he said and proceeded to exit the cell and head down the catwalk.

I grabbed my toiletries ziplock off the sink and rushed after him. Once I caught up to him, I asked, "Do you think they'll let us shower when it's breakfast time? Wouldn't the showers be locked?"

Schneider smirked confidently. "Let?"

"Oh, right. I keep forgetting... who you are." Schneider was the prison pass I never knew I needed. He was the key to every door in this place, it seemed. How lucky for me.

"Besides, we need to keep up appearances."

I nodded in understanding. "Right, right."

He wanted the other inmates to think we were having some quality shower time together, him as my protector and me as his bitch, fulfilling my 'duties'.

My cheeks warmed, knowing what people were going to think and say. But this was the price I had to pay, and I'd be damned if I let my pride get in the way of my survival.

Kiss your reputation goodbye, Julian.

"Once we're done, I'll give you a tour of the block. It's kind of my thing, actually." He winked at me. I got the feeling he'd done this before. How many 'bitches' did Schneider have before me? For all I knew, I wasn't the only one. The guy had to get some, after all, especially when he was getting none from me. And who would deny him, the handsome overlord of an entire prison?

A strange tightness in my chest slowed me down so that I was following him instead of walking side by side. 

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