It was now lunch time, and I grabbed a tray to join the food line with Trevor and Mr. Richard behind me.
After what looked like mashed potatoes was slopped onto my tray, I was told to pick a fruit. Only the apple caught my eye, so I grabbed it and followed Trevor and Richard toward a table tucked into the corner of the dining hall.
The room was loud with the clatter of trays and murmurs of conversations. The smell of overcooked vegetables and something sour lingered in the air. Officers patrolled the perimeter, their presence a constant reminder of the controlled chaos.
"Not today, pretty boy," a high-pitched nasal voice cut through the noise as I was about to sit.
Before I knew it, we were surrounded by a group of huge, buff men.
"This seat's taken," a hulking bald man with a thick, unkempt beard said gruffly.
"Hmm... Who's the new face?" another voice asked from behind, forcing all eyes to land on me.
"Boss—he’s the one. The guy who robbed the museum. The Emerald thief," a shorter man with glasses chimed in. He looked comically out of place among the giants surrounding him.
"Ahhh... I didn't know we were graced with such prestige," the boss said with a mocking grin, slapping my back so hard I stumbled, nearly dropping my tray.
"Won't you like to come with me?" the boss—Block, I later learned—asked, his grin widening.
"Leave the kid alone, Block," Mr. Richard said firmly, his calm tone cutting through the tension.
"Stay out of this, Richard. He’s coming with me."
"Block, can’t you pick on someone else?" Richard countered.
"I said stay out of this," Block growled.
"Alright, then let him pick who he wants to go with," Richard said.
"Pick? What do you mean, pick?" Block asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Let him choose," Richard replied evenly, standing his ground.
Pick? My mind raced. What the hell was I supposed to do? I didn’t know either of them well, and I had just gotten here less than 24 hours ago. Now, I was expected to decide between the cellmate I met yesterday and this man-mountain who looked like he’d snap me in half if I chose anyone but him.
I weighed my options. Staying silent might make me seem weak, but choosing Block could make things worse later. Neither choice felt like a good one.
Instead, I did the only thing that seemed reasonable in that moment: I walked away.
The dining hall fell silent.
"I think you have your answer now, Block," Richard said firmly.
"Where do you think you’re going?" Block barked, and two of his men stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
"How dare you walk out on me? You think because you stole an emerald, you’re now famous?" Block growled, grabbing my collar with enough force to make my tray clatter to the floor.
The entire dining hall erupted into a frenzy of whispers and shuffling feet as the tension between us escalated.
"Calm down, big guy," I said, trying to free his grip from my collar, my heart pounding.
"What is going on here?!" an officer bellowed from the far side of the room.
Block let go of my collar immediately, his expression dark. "This isn’t over," he muttered under his breath before stepping back.
I let out a shaky breath and bent down to pick up my tray, my hands trembling as the officer’s gaze swept over me. Whatever Block had planned next, I knew I wasn’t out of danger yet.
---
YOU ARE READING
THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
Mystery / ThrillerPERSECUTED FOR A CRIME HE DIDN'T COMMIT PAYING FOR THE SINS DONE BY OTHERS NOW HE HAS GOT TO ESCAPE THE DEATHTRAP KNOWN AS NOWHERE...... HE HAS 365 DAYS LEFT BEFORE HE IS KILLED HE HAS GOT TO GET OUT OF NOWHERE ISLAND IN THE END WILL HE MAKE IT OU...
