Three Weeks in Hell

Chapter 9

Callen's therapy session left him feeling emotionally drained and dejected and he had wandered outside, ignoring the calls of Joe who was ruling the pool table. He sat down on the grass, back against the brick wall that separated him from freedom. If he turned to his left he had a view through the metal fence of the grass on the outside. No matter what anyone said, the grass did look greener on the other side. He stared longingly at the sight, wishing he knew how he could escape. Raised voices brought him back to reality and he looked across the basketball court to see that Pollack had been woken from his doze in the sunshine. It looked as though someone had thrown the ball at him. Callen figured that was a pretty brave move and he hoped whoever was responsible had hurt Pollack and would not get caught. The boys were all animated in defence of their innocence, raising their arms and gesturing wildly. Callen stopped watching after a few minutes, as Pollack seemed to have focused on one boy, a tall seventeen year old, and was pushing him back indoors to face his punishment.

Callen closed his eyes and let the warm sun wash over him, feeling the calming pull of sleep that Jessop had denied him earlier that day in class. If he could bottle this moment then he could easily survive Southgate. But life was never that easy or that simple, at least not for him and minutes later, a shadow crossed his face and he opened his eyes. Matty B stood over him. Callen wondered what the hell he wanted. Matt and his gang had pretty much left him alone since he'd come out of isolation, probably because they knew the officers were making his life a misery. Either that or they were biding their time, however Callen doubted they had that much intelligence.

"You got something of mine," Matt said accusingly.

"Like fuck I do," Callen replied, instantly on edge, his previous exhaustion forgotten. He had always figured the aggressive approach was the only way to deal with bullies, which was probably one reason why he was involved in so many fights.

"You retarded or something? That pack of smokes," Matt enlightened him. "I want you to get them now."

"No," Callen had no idea why, after a few weeks, Matt now wanted the cigarettes to which he had no claim, after all Callen had laid down the bet and won fairly.

"What d'ya mean?" Matt took a step closer.

Callen quickly scrambled to his feet, keen to avoid the first kick that would soon head his way if he remained on the ground. "I mean I won that pool game and then you screwed me over." Callen prodded Matt in the chest, keen to make sure Matt was reminded that he was no easy mark. "They're mine."

"That's not how it works," Matt retaliated by pushing Callen against the wall. He took a step closer, his height giving him the advantage over the shorter and younger youth. "You don't smoke so I reckon you still got 'em. Give 'em to me."

Callen looked past Matt and saw that Pollack was back outside again, this time scanning the perimeter for groups of teens he could harass. There was now a very real risk that Pollack would see the exchange between the two boys and decide to make an example out of him again.

"No," Despite the COs presence, Callen decided he'd had enough of Matt and shoved him back, deftly moving to his left so he could no longer be backed up against the wall. He could now easily step out of Matt's reach should he decide to throw a punch.

Matt stumbled slightly and then rocked forward, grabbing Callen's arm to prevent him from walking away. The motion caused Callen to turn towards him. "We're going back to your cell and you're gonna get them for me, or you'll get what Southerby got."

"Bullshit" Callen replied, shaking off Matt's arm and moving a step closer to him. "You didn't kill Jake, he killed himself."

"Maybe, but I can still make you bleed to death," Matt held his ground and smiled a sickly sweet smile that revealed his crooked teeth. "Now, you're gonna get those cigarettes and then I want you to get me another pack tomorrow. You're gonna be my supplier."