Kids in the Dark

Chapter 41

Ryder's P.O.V

Cold and gloomy; the only words I could use to describe the cell I was currently sat in. I felt like a caged animal on display at the zoo, officers often watching us as they passed by. Marc was sat to my left, head in his hands, fingers clenched around his light green hair. He hadn't moved since he'd taken up his position, nor had he said a word. It was clear to me that my fidgeting was getting on his nerves more and more by the minute.

Theo had, until moments ago, been in the holding cell opposite my own. The hall was now eerily quiet without him; he had previously been walking back and forth behind the bars shouting like a nutcase at any officers who passed. Even I couldn't help but be shocked by his erratic change in behavior. Theo was, as of 10 minutes ago, sat in an interrogation room. I knew he was an old hand at this sort of thing but, all the same, he was facing charges of both manslaughter and murder.

"Would you cut that out?" Marc finally broke the silence, snapping at me. He stood up suddenly glaring harshly at me.

"Sorry, I don't realize I'm doing it," I replied with a shrug, moving to sit on my hands. Marc let out a low huff as he began to pace back and forth, occasionally running a hand through his hair.

There was a tight silence in the air, tension so strong I could almost feel it. I wanted to say something to lessen the tension but what does a person say in a situation like this: did you catch that episode of Game of Thrones last night? In moments like this time seemed to stretch into infinity and having had my watch taken off me my perception of time was somewhat distorted. My watch wasn't the only one of my belongings I had been forced to surrender. My lip ring was gone; this resulted in me going to bite it, as I often did when I was nervous, and biting my lip instead.

It wasn't just me who was missing my belongings. Marc had caused quite a scene when it came to a thick leather bracelet and a set of dog-tags he'd been wearing. I'd noticed that was he paced his hand would drift to his wrist as though part of him was missing.

I was caught off guard when Marc cut his pacing short, facing the wall. He stood stock still for a moment before he let out a frustrated growl, slamming his fist against the wall.

"Marc?" I asked tentatively.

"What?" He spat turning jerkily to look at me. I flinched slightly in shock making Marc catch himself before he said anything else. After a brief pause, he made his way back over to the bench. "Sorry, I'm just stressed." He muttered taking a seat beside me.

"Nah, I get it." I shrugged it off.

"How are you so freaking calm? Your brother just fucking killed somebody." It was clear to me that Marc's temper was on the rise again. "You think he's gonna get off with nothing more than a slap on the wrist and a warning not to do it again?" It was all coming out in a torrent of frustration and panic and I was just about to tell Marc he had nothing to worry about when it occurred to me that I didn't even know why the cops were after Marc.

"Sorry to stop you in the midst of your verbal diatribe but what do you even have to worry about? Why were the cops after you?" These words brought me back to when I had first encountered Marc and the events that followed. Another long, irritated sigh burst from Marc's lips, the undertones of a growl just audible before he gave a reply.

"4 weeks before you met me, I was on trial for a stolen Jeep and a robbery that had left 3 people critically injured; I was with my brother and we were both found guilty. Afterward, before they hauled us off to juvie, I blotted, Charlie was my distraction." He explained.

"And you and your brother pulled all this off by yourself?" I asked in awe.

Marc nodded slowly. "Yep. I mean here it's not a problem but usually, I'm classed as a high escape risk."

"Well, I'm glad I'm going to jail with you by my side." I laughed and for the first time in a while, it sounded genuine.

Ok so sorry it's a short chapter but I didn't want to keep you all waiting for too long. Hope you enjoyed it all the same. - Flo