Arresting Attraction: How To Create A Criminal

Chapter Fourteen

Charlie had his eyes on the ground, his breath steady and deep as he concentrated on keeping himself up. But, he struggled, as Stephen and I carried his near limp body. Stephen's arms were wrapped around Charlie's neck, carefully avoiding the burns, while mine were wrapped around his slender waist.

The inmate didn't say anything, but I could sense his pain as we passed a familiar room.

"Through here," I nodded.

Stephen didn't think twice as he walked the man into a tiled room, with poor lighting : the shower block.

"What're we doing here?" Stephen asked, curiously.

I ushered them towards one of the showers, letting go of Charlie. Stephen's efforts were minimal as the man fell to his knees, his forearms supporting his head as he leaned over and groaned in pain.

"We have to wash the wound out," I mumbled, turning on the shower.

The water fell from the head, straight onto Charlie's back. He let out a horrific echoing scream as the mild water stung his burns. His body shook furiously, as he took the pain, letting the chemicals wash out, and water clean his open burns.

"Is there anything I can do?" The guard asked.

I nodded, "I need some fresh towels, and a couple of uniforms. Just get the first thing you see."

Stephen was already moving.

"Quickly!" I shouted as he exited the shower stalls.

Charlie was on the tiles, his screams had turned into extended sobs as he tried to take the pelts of water, painfully on his back. I didn't blame him, chemical burns weren't nice.

"Charlie?"

He didn't reply, he didn't even so much as acknowledge I was there. He just kept breathing, focusing on himself, on the pain radiating around his body.

"Charlie?"

But, he wasn't listening. And, I was running out of time.

I unbuttoned my sleeves and rolled them over my forearms, before jumping under the stream with him, knees pressed into the tiles. I tried to get his attention, but it was futile.

Instead, I had to lift Charlie up, propping his chin on my shoulder, as I tediously attempted to undo the buttons on his jumpsuit. I swore to myself, the buttons too small, too difficult to undo under a running stream of water.

Charlie made no move to help, he had his entire body weight on me, letting me do what I had to do, as I ran my fingers over the button joints until I got to the last one.

With my shoulder, I pushed Charlie off me, managing to get his attention. One gold eye looked at me, pained and angry.

"Can you hear me?"

Charlie blinked in a state of delirium. He was too focused on not feeling the pain, on keeping himself conscious he was blocking everything else out.

"Nod if you can hear me. Move your hand. Do something so I know you're here," I panicked, my hands still supporting his weight.

I searched his face, waiting for something, for anything.

Charlie's fingertips touched my knee, and I let out the breath I'd realised I'd been holding in. I smiled to myself, thankful.

I lowered Charlie onto the ground again, helping him onto his forearms, letting the water continually wash out his wound.

His back was still red, but it was no longer covered in dirt and blood. It was cleaning itself, the water doing more good. But, I needed to remove his uniform before it stuck more than it already had.