Imprisonment | Harry Styles

Chapter 10

Riley.

Every day for the past week I found myself at the prison. I was busy with talking to Harry, learning more of his side of the story and a little bit more about him. He hadn't shown any anger toward me ever since the incident about a week ago at his cell.

"Riles, you okay?"

I looked up, smiling at the old pet nickname Matt used on me. He pushed a milkshake with a red striped straw toward me, which I happily accepted. "Thanks," I mumbled before taking a long needed slurp.

"How's the trials?" Matt asked, sitting down in front of me with his very own milkshake.

I shrugged, "It's alright. I mean, it's gotten a lot better than it used to be. With Harry that is," I fumbled out my words.

"Be careful around him, okay?" Matt said, cocking an eyebrow up at me. That was his way of showing seriousness, even though to me it just made him look like a monkey.

"He's innocent, Matt. There's nothing to worry about with him anymore." I corrected.

"But I've seen the way he acts when he's angry, Riley. I saw it on television the day of the trial. It's not very pretty," he retorted, taking another slurp of his milkshake. "Besides - you've got no proof that he's innocent yet."

"I know, Matt. And I'm working on that," I replied casually.

"You think he's innocent?"

Matt's question really threw me off. It was a question I simply did not know how to answer. Or maybe I just wasn't ready to answer it. I only shrugged.

"You're just insane if you think that guy is innocent." Matt replied quickly.

"Even if I did think he was innocent I'm pretty sure it's none of your concern, Matt. This doesn't even involve you." I said, my eyebrows furrowing.

"I'm just trying to-"

"--protect me? Well I don't need protecting. I'm not a baby."

"He's a crazy guy, Riley! He fucking killed your mom. You're just gonna trust him just like that?" he asked, his face turning red from the tone in his voice.

I let a long sigh escape from my mouth. "I don't want to talk about this."

Matt just stared at me, not saying a word. I took the opportunity to check the time on my phone; seeing it was already past noon.  "Look, Matt, I'm gonna get going."

"Gotta get going to see that killer at the prison, hmm?" Matt mumbled lowly, but I managed to hear every word loud and clear.

I stood up from my seat, gathering my things. "Maybe I do."

Without saying another word, I left.

+++

"Something's bothering you." Harry mumbled, taking a bite of his rather disgusting looking chili.

"For the fifth time, it's nothing. Honest." I replied, swirling a strand of my hair around my finger. It was clearly obvious that something was bothering me, but I wasn't going to let Harry know that.

Harry shrugged, "Whatever you say."

"I just don't get why people think they can make decisions for me and automatically think I'm wrong about everything." I blurted out.

Harry's eyes widened slightly at my boldness. "Something is bothering you."

"Clearly." I rolled my eyes.

Harry chuckled, "You're funny when you're mad."

His comment only made me roll my eyes again. "I'm not sure how it's possible for someone to be funny when they're mad, but okay."

"Lose the attitude, princess." Harry said, his smile fading from his plump lips.

I sighed out my frustration, "Sorry."

"So... about the next trial," Harry began but paused.

I cocked an eyebrow at him, "Yeah?"

"What's gonna go on at this one? I'd rather not get beaten in front of people this time. Still recovering, to be honest." Harry said, sliding his large hand over his stomach and rubbing it slowly.

"I know. I'm still really sorry that happened." I said, letting my shoulders fall. "I think they're just gonna try and ask you more questions. Just keep telling the truth."

Harry's eyes flicked down to the ground for a few minutes. His mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but he quickly closed it and nodded.

"Harry, Mr. Locke wants to see you in his office."

We both looked up at the same time, only to see Ted standing over us. His expression was blank and completely different looking today, although. Harry nodded and rose up from the table and followed a different guard out of the break room.

"Why does Mr. Locke want to-"

"I'm sorry, Riley." Ted interrupted me.

I crinkled my eyebrows at his peculiar comment. "Excuse me?"

"One of the other guards heard you and Harry talking a few days ago. How he was saying he was innocent." Ted said slowly, "well Mr. Locke doesn't believe it whatsoever."

It took me a few minutes to understand what he was saying, but I slowly began putting all the pieces together. "H-He's about to beat the shit out of Harry," I whispered.

"Big time." Ted replied.

"But he is innocent, he has to know that!" I screamed out, jumping from the table that I was currently sitting at with Harry a few moments ago.

"There's no evidence for that, Riley. Mr. Locke automatically thinks he's the killer." he said, his head lowering. "They're thinking about moving him to a more secure prison."

My jaw almost dropped to the floor, "They... They can't do that. Ted, they can't do that! T-The trials aren't even over! We still have more evidence to prove, we have-"

"Alcatraz," he mumbled. "They're going to move him to Alcatraz, Riley. And there's nothing you can do, I'm sorry."

My hands were shaking by the time he was finished speaking, my breathing had already increased rapidly. "T-They think he's guilty?"

"Not think, they know." Ted sighed, "All the evidence Riley... everything just has his name written all over it. I'm sorry, but there's no way that man is innocent. He needs to be moved to a bigger and more secured prison."

"So you just automatically think that Alcatraz is the answer?! That place is for-"

"--people like him? Yes. Now I'm sorry but I have to go." Ted blurted out.

I watched him leave the break room, my mouth still open wide in a gap.

This time, I wasn't going to be able to help Harry. Even if he was innocent.

a/n: wow. major plot twist added in this. hope you enjoyed this chapter (: 

and btw, i understand that alcatraz is now shut down. but since this is a fanfiction and an au, Alcatraz is open. lol okay bye now :)))