"So?" Colby asked. He'd come over to the bleachers to switch places with Rock.
"So, I did it. Did you doubt me at all?" I asked.
"No. Just wasn't sure it'd be so... easy," Colby replied.
"A man like that is easy to control. Life's a game for him. Killing MLK was his big goal and being in jail is like a new level of a video game. One more seemingly impossible task that he can't wait to accomplish," I said.
"And because he thinks you're hot," Colby said.
"Okay, yeah. That probably helps too," I said.
"I really hate him," Colby said.
"I do too. Horrible guy. I hate how... how normal he seems. He doesn't seem to stand out from anyone else until you hear what he did," I said.
"Like the Gein house. Looked so normal until you learned what happened in that attic," Colby said.
"Yeah. Just like that," I agreed. I tucked my hand under my shirt and traced my finger along the big scar that still ran up my torso.
"I am so thankful you made it through that. Every day I wake up and I see you next to me and I just thank fucking god that you're still here," he said. I smiled up at him and stared into those bright blue eyes.
"I love you," I said.
"I love you too," he replied. He set his hand on my thigh. I didn't think anything of it until I looked back to where I'd been sitting with Ray. He was still there, his eyes focused on Colby's hand.
"Shit. Sorry babe," I whispered.
"What?" he asked. I grabbed his hand and shoved it off of my leg, then stood up.
"Fuck off, dude," I grumbled before angrily walking away. Doing that was a seriously hard thing for me. Acting like we weren't dating was already difficult enough. I snuck a glance over at Ray after I'd walked away, his gaze still fixated on Colby. Fuck.
I turned around from where I'd been going and went back over to Ray.
"What a prick," Ray said.
"Who? Brock?" I asked.
"Yeah," he grumbled.
"Nothing I can't handle. Don't worry about it," I said.
"I'm not worried. He should be, though," Ray said.
"The fuck is that supposed to mean?" I asked, my tone growing harsh.
"Woah, why so defensive?" Ray asked. Right. I had to... oh, gross. I had to flirt with this guy.
"I just don't want you to get in trouble, that's all. I'd rather you keep your privileges to come out into the yard and talk to me every day. Plus I think your face probably looks better without a black eye or giant bruise from Jinx," I said.
"Well. I appreciate that. Especially coming from you," Ray smiled. Ew. Gross.
"Mhm," I smiled back.
"Cell time! Evening count! Let's go!" Jinx yelled from the edge of the yard. Ray and I started toward the door to go back inside.
"Hey, I never asked. Who's your cellmate?" Ray asked. Oh no. I wasn't going to tell him it was Colby. I didn't need to give Ray another reason to hate him.
"Why? Jealous?" I asked. Before he could answer I started jogging, catching up to the Center and the trap guys.
"I'm sorry," I whispered again to Colby.
"It's okay. I need to be more careful," he admitted.
"Yes, you do. Dude was looking at you like he wanted to cut your damn head off," I said.
"Ray won't lay a finger on him. Or any one of us," Big said.
"I really hope that's true," I said.
"You've got my word, Mom," Big replied. He pounded his chest twice again. It was some sort of respect thing, I guess. Brought them all closer together. I did it in return as we filed into the building.
After evening count we went back to our cells, the loud clank of the barred doors locking shut echoing through the air.
"I talked to Blaze today," I said.
"Really? What did he say?" Colby asked.
"He's in. He really fucking hates Ray, but he's in," I said.
"Did you talk to Ray about all of it?" he asked.
"I did. Of course he denied the whole thing at first. But then I let him know that I'm fully aware of his plan and he doesn't really have a choice in the matter unless he wants to risk being ousted to the guards," I said.
"Damn, babe. You're a killer criminal," he laughed.
"No, I'm just wonderful at manipulation and threatening people," I said.
"Well that's a reassuring thing to have your girlfriend say," he laughed.
"Girlfriend? Who?" I asked with a smile.
"Right. Cellmate," he said, winking at me. "So... now that things are in motion, how long do you think it'll take us to get out of here?"
"I'm honestly not sure. We still need to plan out and stockpile so we have enough stuff to live for at least a week out there," I said.
"What? A week?" he asked. I gave him a sad smile.
"Baby, there's no guarantee that we go back to our time when we leave these walls. There's no guarantee that we ever go back. We genuinely might be stuck here forever. But we have to at least try," I said. Colby bit his lip and looked down at the ground when I said that. "You okay?" I asked softly. He shook his head, still looking down.
"I'm fucking terrified, Ness. I am so scared," he said. My heart fell when he said that. Obviously we were all scared. I was scared, he obviously was too. But hearing him say it out loud? It's like it scared me even more.
"I don't want to be stuck here forever. I don't want you to be stuck here forever. Not in this prison, not in this time period, none of it. But what scares me the most is the idea that while we're in here, I can't keep you safe. We've got the Center and everything, but they can't always be right there. You're going to be alone sometimes. And even if we are near you, a guard can come at you any second. No one can stop them from hurting or even killing you, maybe for no reason at all," he said.
"I know," I said, my voice coming out as a broken whisper.
"This is just so unfair," Colby said. He walked over to his bed and sat down.
"I mean, at least we lowkey got to time travel, right?" I asked with a dry laugh.
"I meant that this is unfair for you. All of this. When you told me in the asylum that you would be willing to drop the idea of joining us again with no questions asked, I should have taken that opportunity," Colby said.
"Come on. Don't say that," I said.
"I mean it. Look where this has gotten you. A bashed face, in the hospital for months, a world of pain, and now stuck in some freaky time loop at a dangerous men's prison," he said. "This is my fault. Obviously not all of the specific things, but you shouldn't be here. And you wouldn't be here if I'd just stopped to think."
"Well," I started. "You know what else this has gotten me?"
"What?" he asked.
"It's gotten me a new job that I absolutely love. It's gotten me a pretty wicked scar and a spot on the news for several weeks. It's gotten me some new friends that are now my chosen family. And it got me you," I said. "If I hadn't come on these trips with you, we wouldn't be as close as we are. We've been through so, so much together and that's why we work so well together."
"I guess," he mumbled. I walked over to the bed and sat down next to him.
"We've made it out alive on all of the other trips. I'll be damned if we don't at least try to do that on this one," I said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.