Renegade Path

“Thanks, bro.”

“We’re all gonna get together and party once we’re on the outside,” Griff promised us.

Normally, I’d take that with a grain of salt. But I was confident the bonds we’d formed inside this hellhole would last.

Griff grabbed a notebook, his stack of letters, and a few other items.

“Wait, you’re leaving now?” I asked.

He gave me an apologetic smile. “Yeah. I was told to pack my shit. My mom’s on her way. I ain’t questioning it.”

“Don’t blame you at all. Get out while you can.”

Eraser and I walked Griff to the main office. I swallowed every embarrassing emotion trying to bubble to the surface. A guard met us and pushed Griff toward a small room to the right.

“Get back to your unit,” he barked at us.

“See you on the other side.” Griff waved at us.

Eraser and I walked the long way back toward our room in silence.

Chapter Forty-One

Roman

After Griff’s departure, we were herded to the cafeteria. It wasn’t until after dinner that I was able to pick up Juliet’s letter.

I slipped it out of the envelope and stared at the torn piece of notebook paper and hurried writing. Not the pretty stationery Juliet usually used or her neat script. After I read the few lines, I understood why.

Dear Roman,

I wish I had better news to share. Mr. Potter called me at school today. Mrs. Shields passed away this morning. Mr. Potter said he needs to speak to me. I don’t know why but I’m on my way to his office now.

I’ll keep doing whatever I can to get you out.

I love you!

Juliet

My sadness for Mrs. Shields twisted together with grief over my freedom. No amount of manifesting would bring Mrs. Shields back. And it wouldn’t get me out of here any sooner, either.

“You all right, Roman?” Eraser stood and crossed to my side of the room.

“No.” I folded the letter and shoved it under my pillow.

“Your girl break up with you?”

Huh, I guess things could’ve been worse.

“No, it’s not that.”

“You wanna talk about it?” He chuckled. “Before Wiggles returns and starts yanking his snake.”

I couldn’t even force a laugh. “Not really.”

“Okay. I respect that.”

Numbness settled in my chest.

When it was time, I shuffled to the showers with everyone else. Like a zombie I trudged through my night routine, then crawled into my bunk.

Eraser skipped the guided visualization. Griff’s departure had hit him hard. Even Wiggles went to sleep without shaking the bed for once.

A few minutes or maybe an hour later, I was so out of it I didn’t know, someone shook me awake.

“We need you tonight.” Ollie’s foul breath washed over my face.

“No.” I rolled away.

Searing pain singed my scalp as he tore his hand through my hair and yanked me out of my bunk. I landed with a painful thump on the cold tile.

“What the fuck, Ollie?” Eraser’s harsh whisper both comforted me and added to my humiliation.

“Shut your mouth and get up. You’re coming too.”

Eraser didn’t need to be told twice. Careful to avoid Ollie, he slid out of his bed and knelt next to me. “Come on,” he whispered.

“I’m ready.” After Juliet’s letter, I really didn’t care what happened to me anymore. Or maybe that’s what I told myself to survive an impossible situation.

I grabbed my sneakers and shoved them on. Ollie yanked us to our feet and pushed us out the door. Another guard, Danny, was waiting in the hallway with two other kids. They were new and I hadn’t bothered to learn their names yet. We sized each other up carefully.

Danny’s hand landed in the middle of my back and pushed. I stumbled, caught myself and began the long march down to the basement. The haze of sleep vanished. I was hyper-alert. Aware of everything around me. Even though it was futile, I kept searching for an avenue of escape or something to use as a weapon.

“Maintain your balance,” Eraser reminded me in a low voice. “Stay on your feet as long as you can. Keep your hands up. Clench your teeth. Tighten your stomach and shift so any body shots land on your obliques instead of your kidneys.”

Sweat rolled down my forehead. Eraser’s last minute, desperate instructions sunk into my exhausted mind. This was happening.

Whether I wanted to or not, tonight it was my turn to get in the ring.

Chapter Forty-Two

Roman

The fear left as soon as we entered the basement. Cold detachment took its place. Acceptance. My whole life had been leading to this. No one was coming to my rescue. My only goal now was to make it out of here alive and with my body in one piece.

To do that, I’d have to win.

“You’ve got this, Roman.” Eraser clasped my shoulder. “If that’s the kid you’re fighting,” he pointed to a tall, stocky kid stalking the opposite side of the ring, “he’s big, but no endurance. He hasn’t completed a run yet.”