Inmate

𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚎

The fifth tally mark...

I felt my mouth go dry. The counselor pulled the syringe out of his bag, puncturing it into the little glass bottle and sucking up the entirety of its contents.

I struggled to gulp.  I looked at the syringe then at Bakugou. I sat frozen in my seat. The inmate was trying to show that he wasn't afraid of what was about to happen.

His legs were cuffed to the chair, so it wasn't like he could move. The counselor flicked the syringe before making his way around the table. He was taunting him... walking slowly like that.

He raised his arm, then stabbed the thick needle into his neck, slowly pushing the contents into his bloodstream, as if he wanted to see him in pain.

The inmate let out a loud groan, clutching his fists tight. I watched in horror as his knuckles were becoming white. I stood up and pushed the counselor away, grabbing the syringe out of his neck before the rest of that painful 'medicine' could enter him.

He was shaking, trying to fight the pain. I threw the syringe on the floor, stepping on it.
"What the hell was in that?!" I didn't mean to yell.. but it just came out that way.

The counselor shot daggers at me with his eyes.
"Listen kid. You're in no place to stop me in my line of work. I have the authority to give him that.  It shuts him up and shows him that he should listen when being told to do something."

"CLEARLY it isn't working!! If he's still giving you 'attitude' after god knows how many times you've given him that, then maybe, just a thought, you should figure something else out!! He has the right to be how ever he wants if he's stuck in this stupid-"

He cut me off. Funny how he tallied Bakugou for doing that.

"Then you clearly don't know what he's done. Tomorrow we'll try this again, and if you intervene, I'll make sure to let your father know." And with that, he grabbed his materials and left.

I knew father was in the hall, waiting, but I locked the door anyways. I'd rather be in here with a criminal than with my father.

But at that moment, I actually forgot he was still in there. I sat, putting my face in my hands.

"You really don't have a clue of what I did.. huh.." I heard a low voice speak. I flinched, looking up to see the blonde.

"Oh.. uhm.. no. I don't." I sat straight and pushed that blank expression on my face once again.  He didn't move at all, just groaned and occasionally twitched.

It was hurting him.. Barely any of that liquid was given to him.. I wince at the thought of how bad it would be if he were given the entire bottle.

"Why'd-" He paused, growling because of the pain. "Why'd you stop the old fuck?" He gave me a blank stare.

"Because uhm.." I really didn't know why I did it.
"I don't know." It was a spur of the moment thing. I shouldn't care about this guy's well-being.. I..

I shook my thoughts away and sighed, looking down.

"Wanna know what I did?" He looked down at his hands, examining them.

"Yes.. I would like to know." I leaned forward, waiting for his response.

"Nah maybe another time." He wanted to stand but couldn't, since he was restrained.

"Tell your fucktard father to bring me back to my cell. I wanna sleep. You're kinda boring."  I was a little hurt by his final remark, but I nodded and stood up.

"Will do.." I unlocked the door, looking down the hall at my father.

"Father.. you can bring him back to his cell now.." I spoke with no emotion, letting out a sigh. I could feel a certain someone burning holes right into my back.

I hate this job already.

—

The car ride home was silent. My mind kept wandering back to the incident with the counselor. I was afraid father found out what I had done. I can't handle another-

Forget it...

Once we arrived at our home, I quickly made my way to my room, praying that I wouldn't hear my name being called.

"Shouto." A deep, and angry voice called for me from the bottom of the stairway.

Mm.. There it was.  The word I hate the most.