we will do what it takes to survive | jatp ✓

vii. death row

Julie Molina

The guard had caught Alex and me, and also wouldn't believe the excuse we were giving him.

"Why are you two down here?" The guard asked us in an angry tone while shoving us back to where we had just left.

"We got lost," Alex lies.

The guard didn't buy our lies. "Then why were the two of you running?"

Alex presses his lips together, not knowing what to say next.

"Thought so," The guard hummed and pushed us both back to the prison room.

This is great. How are we supposed to help Flynn and Willie if we're locked up with them? What will we do about food? I know they aren't going to give the rations we have left to children and 'prisoners.'

The guard walks us to the cell. Flynn and Willie looked up at us with wide eyes and confusion. The guard unlocks the cell door and shoves Alex and me inside.

"That is no way to treat a lady," Alex remarks.

"Sass off at me again and I'll make Malachi extend your time in here," The guard threatened and Alex's lips sealed shut.

The guard locks the cell door before walking out of the room and locking that door as well. I notice Alex shaking next to me. I rub his back a little to ease him before sitting down.

"Wasn't expecting to see you guys here again so soon," says Willie as Alex leans against the wall.

"Well, we aren't the flash and that guard is much faster than us," Alex replies.

"Well, it's fine because there are a few things I've wanted to ask you two," I say and look at Flynn.

How do I start? Do I start with how many more of you guys are there? How did you two know about the bunker? How did the two of you meet? Are the scars on your faces from the sun?

I decided the scar question might be a little inappropriate, so I quickly made an order in my head of when to ask the questions,

"Ask away.. but only if you aren't going to tell your leader," Flynn warned.

I thought I've shown her enough times that I don't like Malachi and that I won't help him? But I also can't be mad at her for being cautious, I would be too in this situation.

Alex defends me. "She's the last person who would tell Malachi this, no one down here likes him."

"What has he been doing?" Willie asks Alex and they start engaging in their own conversation while my only focus is on Flynn.

Flynn rests her head in the palms of her hands. "Let me ask you a question first, how long have you known Alex?"

"Since second grade. The teacher sat us next to each other," I explained while thinking back on that day.

"It's a miracle how the two of you both ended up down here, then."

"Yeahhh, Alex's family bought their way in here."

Flynn nods. "My parents wanted me to come down here, but I wasn't on 'the list'" Flynn tells me and looks down at her feet, starting to pick at something on the ground.