Love While Locked Up

big day pt2

Morning came without permission.

Janet woke before the bell, before the shuffle of boots in the hallway, before the building fully remembered itself. Her eyes opened slowly, instinctively, as if her body had already decided sleep was no longer safe.

The first thing she noticed was warmth.

Toni's arm was draped across her waist, heavy and real, anchoring her to the narrow bed. Janet stayed still, afraid that even the smallest movement would shatter the moment. For a few fragile seconds, she let herself forget the concrete walls, the bars on the window, the way time worked against them here.

She focused instead on Toni's breathing—slow, steady, unguarded. It was rare to see her like this. Vulnerable without meaning to be. Janet turned her head slightly, just enough to see Toni's face in the low light, softened by sleep.

This is dangerous, Janet thought.

Not the plan. Not tonight.

This.

Toni stirred. "You're awake," she murmured, voice rough, barely there.

Janet smiled faintly. "You always know."

"Habit," Toni said. Her arm tightened briefly, possessive without thinking. "How long do we have?"

Janet glanced toward the thin slice of sky visible through the barred window. Pale. Uncommitted. "Not enough."

They stayed like that anyway, suspended in a quiet that felt stolen. Janet traced the weight of what they were doing—what they were risking—by allowing this softness to exist before everything shattered.

Toni exhaled and finally pulled back, sitting up with a sharp inhale, like she was bracing herself against a cold reality. "Today's the last clean day."

Janet pushed herself upright, alert now. "Define 'clean.'"

"No unexpected inspections. No surprise shifts," Toni said. "After tonight, nothing stays predictable."

Janet's jaw tightened. "So this is it."

Toni nodded. "They moved the timeline."

Janet froze. "Moved it how?"

"Tomorrow night," Toni said. "Not next week."

The words hit like a physical blow. Janet swung her legs off the bed and stood, pacing the length of the room in three short strides. "That's too soon. We're not ready. The rotation, the guard coverage—"

"I know."

"The south corridor alone—"

"Has a new camera," Toni cut in. "Installed overnight."

Janet stopped pacing. "That wasn't part of the original layout."

"It is now."

The room felt smaller. Janet leaned her hands against the wall, breathing through the spike of anxiety. "We can't go blind through that section."

Toni didn't answer right away.

Janet turned slowly. "You already have an idea."

Toni met her gaze, steady but tired. "I might be able to create one."

"No." Janet crossed the room instantly. "Absolutely not."

"Janet—"

"No," she repeated, sharper now. "You don't volunteer yourself like that."

Toni stood. "Someone has to create the distraction."

"And it doesn't have to be you."

Toni stepped closer. "You don't understand. I already put things in motion."