Barricade- John Murphy

Before The Drop

I step out the door of my cell looking around. Marcus had somehow managed to get them to let me out. I was still in a cell in solitary, but I was allowed out. I followed the guard, who I learned had a kid in the skybox. He opens a door and lets me in. I head in seeing them getting food. I join in getting my food, and as I turn to sit, someone taps my shoulder.

I turn to see a boy with goggles on his head. "Yes?" I ask him. "You must be new in here. I don't recognize you." He comments. "I was in solitary for a while. Now I'm not." I shrug at him. "Mysterious. Nice. I'm Nathan Jordan." He tells me. "Jordan... like Jasper?" I ask and he nods. "That would be my brother." He tells me. "Well, join the sibling club. Artemis Blake." I tell him.

"Oh, we've all heard. Your sister tried to run, and you fought." He chuckles. "I apologized!" I defend myself. "Still badass." He tells me laughing. We sit together and eat. When he leaves I sit for a while, someone joining my side. "Can I help you?" I ask looking over. The boy had brown hair that fell just above his ears, and dark blue eyes. "You're new. I'd recognize someone as beautiful as you before today." He says with a smirk.

"Should I be flattered?" I ask with a raised brow. I see his lip twitch from the smirk he wore. "I'm John. John Murphy." He tells me and I nod. "Congratulations." I say and his smirk shifts to a cocky grin. "Do I have to work, to learn your name?" He asks me. "Would you actually care to remember it? Or are you trying to impress the giggling band of boys staring at us?" I ask flicking my gaze to a group of boys who were snickering watching us. 

He pauses, glancing at his friends and I smirk now. "You guys aren't as sneaky as you think. Nice meeting you John Murphy." I say getting up. I head for the door and spot the guard who walked me down here. He walks over and leads me back to my cell. "Did you enjoy yourself?" He asks me. "I taunted a boy. So yeah, it was fun." I grin and he chuckles. "I'll be back later to bring you to dinner." He tells me as I step into my cell.

The next few days were like that, and every time I was there, John Murphy happened to find me. I still had yet to tell him my name, figuring making him suffer first was fun. But I couldn't deny he was fun to talk to. He wasn't careful with what he said. He was blunt, sarcastic, and could be funny when he wanted to be. Today as I sat, once Nate was gone, John appeared next to me. But no cocky remark came like usual.

"Having an off-day Murphy?" I ask glancing over at him. "Something like that." He mutters and I frown. "What's wrong?" I ask and he shakes his head. "You know, talking to someone helps. Me and Nate talk about a lot. We can too. If you're not constantly flirting." I say with a small grin. He scoffs lightly, shaking his head. But I see a small smile appear on his face. "Does that mean I can finally learn your name?" He asks and I hum.

"Maybe. What has you so down today?" I ask curiously. He sighs, looking over at me and scans my face. Like he's seeing if I'm being serious or not. "My dad... it's been exactly 6 years today since he's been floated. Because of me." He mutters staring at his hands. "What do you mean, because of you?" I ask curiously.

"He was caught stealing medicine because I was sick and they couldn't get it. Medicine didn't even help me." He mutters picking at his skin. "Quit that. That's a terrible habit." I say smacking his hand. "You're one to talk." He says pointing at my fingers. I blush hiding my hands and he chuckles. "Gotcha." He mutters.