Behind Steel Bars

CHAPTER 4

Evan-
I can't stop thinking about Jonathan. I wish it would fucking stop. Maybe he isn't as bad as I thought he was though... no. Shut up.
I go over to his cell. All the cells are open right now since it's technically free time.

"Good afternoon chink!" I hear one of the inmates say. I guess I expected as much from them.
"You ready to go outside?" I ask as I stand outside the block. Jonathan looks at me. I see what I assume is pride in his face.
"Yeah chink. Took ya long enough." He glances around at the other prisoners in his unit. He's dissociating himself with me. I know why he's doing it. Not gonna lie though, it kinda hurt. I expect slang from the others, but my ex boyfriend?

I open the gate and everyone goes to the door to the yard. I unlock that one and let everyone out. Each block has 6-8 prisoners in it. I stand back along the wall. James comes over to me. He was assigned block B. I'm Block A.
"So last night..."
"Sorry I left. Personal stuff."
"I understand that. Is the possibility of another night high?"
I smile.
"Totally. Despite freaking out, I had a great time."

Jonathan-
I walk straight to the outdoor gym equipment and begin lifting weights. This area is usually owned by the top dogs.
"Yo Fish! What the fuck you think you're doing?"
"Lifting some weights. Obviously." I retort.
Mitch pushes his way to the front.
"Looks like I have to show a little someone who's the boss around here." I put down the weights and stand up straight.
"I'd love to!" I turn to everyone else. "Do you really want this old man as your fucking boss? I mean sure he's been here for a long time, but anyone could beat his ass!"

There's some oh's and ah's from the small crowd.
"Kid you better fuck off or..." I cut him off.
"Or what?" I step up to him and he goes in for a punch. I dodge and grab his wrist and turn it. I hear a pop and let go. I can tell he's gritting his teeth. "I think it's time for some new leadership."

He growls and comes at me again. I realize he's a lot weaker than he used to be so I don't pull out my shiv. I dodge again and punch him directly in the nose. It starts bleeding.
"You wanna challenge me? Fine." I notice someone give him a makeshift blade. I smile. Perfect.
I go in to punch him again and he steps closer. He dodges my punch and tries to stab me. I kick him in the knee and he goes down.
"You done yet old man?" I tease him. He gets up and tries to slash me. He manages to get a good gash on my arm. I grunt as that arm punches his stomach. That cut is pretty deep. I land a couple more punches until he punches me in the jaw and knocks a tooth out. I step back and spit out blood along with the tooth.
"Alright. I'm tired of playing."

I punch him hard in the temple and he gets knocked out. I hear guards yelling and coming towards us. I then see Evan watching me in disbelief. Shit.
"Who's your top dog now bitches!" I scream.

Most of the inmates cheer but a select few, whom I assume were his body guards, give me glares.
"That's right." I start to walk away and Evan catches me. He shoves me to the ground hard and cuffs me. "What the fuck? He started it."
He looks at me with disappointment.
"Well you sure as hell finished it." He pulls me up and drags me to what they call the hole. It's total isolation.

Once we get in there he takes off the hand cuffs.
"What the fuck was that for?" He demands.
"Preserving my safety." I scoff. "Since you clearly can't."
"God Delirious. I can't help you if you're not willing to do things my way."
"Help me? You don't want to help me! Otherwise I wouldn't be here!"
"You knocked out Fendorf!"
"I didn't mean in the hole! I meant this whole fucking place!" I yell. He takes a step back.
"What do you mean?" He demands.
I sigh.

"You had plenty of chances to let me run. To escape."
"At the risk of my job? Jonathan you're insane."
"Well my insanity just got me the highest power we can have here. Now I can protect Brian."
"Yes. Good for you! You have power! Just like you did when you were outside these walls! It's always about power with you isn't it?"
"Evan, what are you talking about?" I ask suddenly confused.