𝑴𝒚 𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 | 𝟏𝟖+

~ I'm glad you're not mad ~

Ruby's perspective

Smoky pinks and oranges spread across the sky.

Beams of sunlight seep through the blinds of each window lighting my way.

I make it down to the holding cell and nod towards the guards.

They move aside and open the door. I walk in.

For a split second, my heart stops.

I turn to see Ethan in nothing but boxers which barely help cover what's inside. I can see the tattoos coating his body - a heart tattoo, snakes crawling up his arm and small birds on his hip bone.

I rest my hip against the office desk on my side of the room and glare at him.

"So, who are you working for?" I ask, irritation lacing my voice.

"Why are you so far away?"

"It's rude to change subjects," I cross my arms.

"Why aren't you mad?"

"I am,"

"Why aren't you being mean?"

"Why should I?"

"It's rude to answer any question with a question."

I blink a few times, "I- That..." My voice trails off and his body shakes with joy. He sits up and slides off the bed to sit on our desk like usual; he wears a big grin.

"I'm glad you're not mad,"

"I said I am,"

"Then I'm glad you're not being mean,"

"Ethan, there is a difference between being mean and being treated accordingly."

His chest grows as he takes a deep breath then I watch as it shrinks again. "Fair point."

"Who are you working for?"

"How about," He leans forward so his elbows rest on his crossed legs, "We become friends again, and then I tell you?"

"How about," I followed what he did with a smile, "You let me do my job. And we're not friends."

"That is also a fair point." He leans back again. "Why would an evil murderer tell someone who hates their information?"

"I do not hate you, I am trying to do my job."

"But you're mad,"

"Yes, and anger is a defence to pain or shock,"

"So you're hurt, that's worse," A pause, "I hurt you."

He squeezes his eyes shut as if he wants to run away as if he wants to escape.

"I have been through worse than someone learning my name, trust me."

"Oh God, Sarah, you're just making everything worse."

I can't help but laugh a little. "I have a habit of doing that."

I let my head hit the gate behind me and we both stared at the ceiling for a second.

I look at him, "Alright, then tell me about the people who hurt you,"

"Why?"

"That may help my investigation. And... a friend should know about that,"

A small smile tugs at his lips. "You can't fix me."

"I am well aware,"

"I like myself broken,"

"And that's alright, but I can at least ease the pain."

He stares into my eyes for a moment, cogs turning in his brain.

"I enjoy our time together," he whispers, voice soothing and gentle.

I ignore the heat rising in my neck.

"Where do you want me to start?" He asks.

"The beginning is always a good starting point,"

He thinks about it for a moment then spills everything.

He tells me about how he was jealous of his brother, and how he was the better child. He tells me about his abusive mother and distant father. He was bullied at school and then would go home to constant violence.

"Eventually... it got too much and I ran away from home."

"Where did you go?"

"Far far away. I was found by a loving couple, they fed me and cared for me... I watched them get killed in their own home."

I gasp.

"Some officer blamed me for their deaths, said I was a monster, I was the reason everyone around me was miserable." His eyes water as he finishes. "I figured... if everyone hated me, they would see me as a monster... I might as well prove them right. I did what no one else could do, I was the bad guy."

"Miss Winter, you were in there for five hours and you're telling me you got nothing out of him?"

I swallow hard, "Yes."

The police representative sighs. The kind look she wore before is washed away and she stares at me with cold eyes.

"Miss Winter, either you're lying to me or you are not good at your job."

I clench my jaw. "He refused to tell me anything of use until we were 'friends',"

She pushes her lips together making a thin line.

"If you don't have information tomorrow I'll have no choice but to suspect you of lying."

"I understand."

She stands and walks over to the door.

"And Winter," she begins, lingering in the doorway, "find out who he works for by any means necessary."

I swallow hard.

What on Earth have I gotten myself into?