Break Out (Supernatural Prison Trilogy Book 3) Page 8

  Dane rushed at Zapper, who appeared to freeze up in fright.

  “Come on, Zap!” a voice roared from the back of the room. I whirled around to see Wolf watching the two competitors with glittering eyes.

  I’d forgotten Zapper was once part of Wolf’s “pack” when we were at Leavenworth. His little gang had split apart after their leader was taken, and the kids who’d once tormented me and my friends were now little fish in a big pond. I rarely saw them, and they certainly didn’t impact my life anymore.

  Wolf’s encouragement seemed to break through Zapper’s frozen state. He leapt into action, throwing a powerful blast of electricity at Dane, who shuddered and then doubled over in obvious pain. Zapper didn’t waste the opportunity. Gripping Dane’s head with both hands, he let the electricity flow from his fingers. Dane’s scream echoed off the walls and filled the empty spaces in the room.

  Zapper had upped his game. Only I had a feeling he was going to pay dearly for playing.

  Dane wrenched away and punched Zapper in the jaw so hard someone could have heard the crack outside this room. The kid fell back and landed in the arms of some inmates who’d crowded close to get a better look at the action. They pushed him back into the center of the room, and the crowd roared.

  My stomach twisted again. It was happening already. Without Mr. Fletcher’s urging them on, inmates were enjoying this… this circus sideshow.

  “Yep. Money’s still on Dane,” Fang said.

  Cathy turned on him. “I think Zapper just proved we shouldn’t underestimate him.”

  I found it ironic that we were the ones defending Zapper. No one from Lansing knew him as the bully he was before, yet they rooted against him anyway. What happened to cheering for the underdog?

  Because, despite Cathy’s statement, Zapper was clearly still the underdog.

  I clenched and unclenched my jaw, but I couldn’t relax the muscles in my body as I watched Zapper and Dane circle one another like two prowling tigers. Forget sideshow, this was the main event at Lansing’s circus. And Mr. Fletcher, grinning like a hyena, was the ringleader.

  I had never liked the circus.

  Suddenly, Zapper crouched to the floor, slamming his palms against the tiles. What was he—

  A blast of crackling electricity shot across the floor and struck Dane’s feet. Apparently, rubber wasn’t as good of an insulator as I thought, because Dane jumped—and I mean, jumped—as he cried out in pain. Mr. Fletcher clapped his hands together, laughing hysterically.

  Behind me, Fang swore. Dane and Zapper were more evenly matched than he’d thought, and although there was no actual money on the line, it seemed he didn’t want to lose his “bet.”

  I twisted around and glared at him. Fang at least had the decency to look ashamed.

  The roars from the rest of the crowd were deafening. Were my friends and I the only ones not enjoying this? And speaking of… where did Xander go?

  Turning back around, I looked to the spot where I’d last seen him. He wasn’t there.

  A little ball of fear formed in my chest that he might try to interfere on Zapper’s behalf. Instinctively, I knew he wouldn’t do the same for Dane. Xander had made it abundantly clear he was not a fan of his, and no amount of southern charm would ever make him one. There was too much bad blood between them now.

  What sounded like a war cry yanked my attention back to the fight. It appeared Zapper had gained confidence and was now running in Dane’s direction, his hands stretched out in front of him. He obviously hadn’t considered that Dane’s arms were longer. I watched, as if in slow-motion, Dane backhand Zapper hard enough to knock him to the ground. Zapper lay sprawled out, his eyes open but dazed.

  “Get up, Zap!” I heard Wolf yell above the crowd. “Back on your feet!”

  Not that I cared, but would Wolf get in trouble for picking sides? Glancing around, I saw that the other guards seemed to be just as into the fight as he was. Some who’d been here guarding Dane at Lansing for who-knew-how-long openly cheered for him.

  A sliver of unease snaked through me. These nonsensical free-for-alls were starting to make sense. Following the riot, the battle lines between Leavenworth and Lansing inmates had been blurred. These public matches were going to resurrect those divisions. The more they sowed the seeds of dissension, the weaker we were. The weaker we were, the less likely we’d band together to fight back.

  Mr. Fletcher was no dummy. This had been his intention all along.

  “Zapper’s holding his own, huh?”

  I spun at the sound of Xander’s voice in my ear. Immediately, I noticed an energy radiating from him that didn’t fit the atmosphere. I couldn’t put a finger on what it was, though. He laced his hand with mine, and I tensed before remembering what he’d said at breakfast. Plus, we were in the middle of a crowd absorbed in a ruthless contest to see who could knock each other senseless. No one was paying attention.

  Well, except our friends. Peeking around, I saw that not one of them was trying to hide the smirks on their faces. Birdie had a smile on her face, and though muted, it filled my heart with joy to see something besides fear and sadness shining in her eyes.

  Xander squeezed my hand and nodded behind me. I turned back around, but I didn’t want to. I had no desire to see either of the boys hurt one another.

  Closing my eyes, I blocked out the fight and absorbed the warmth of Xander’s hand. He was my anchor in this chaotic, pain-filled prison and had been since the day he arrived at Leavenworth.

  “I have some good news to tell you,” Xander whispered in my ear.

  A little more light in the darkness. I wondered what it could be? Did it have something to do with what he was talking to Lucy about earlier?

  Before I could ask what it was, my eyes flew open at the sound of a shriek. I looked just in time to see Dane pick Zapper up by the front of his jumper. Zapper gripped Dane’s wrists, pulsing electricity into him, but he must have used up his power because Dane’s arms barely shook. Either that, or Dane was becoming immune to the shocks, though I didn’t know how that was possible.

  I winced when Dane slammed a fist into Zapper’s face, and the younger boy instantly went limp. With a snarl, Dane tossed Zapper to the ground, where he groaned but didn’t get back up.

  “I hate it when I’m right sometimes,” Fang muttered.

  Then the crowd, realizing the fight was over, hooted and howled, the enormous room amplifying every sound.

  “It looks like we have our winner! Well done, Dane.” Mr. Fletcher looked and sounded like a proud father.

  I felt like I was going to be sick. The idea that he could have displayed even an ounce of this psychopathy toward Zoe and Zane—his actual children—made me nauseous. I only hoped that, for whatever reason, they’d been spared from his sadistic tendencies.

  Medics pushed through the crowd with a stretcher and loaded Zapper onto it. I cringed when I thought of what I must have looked like when they took me away. Xander squeezed my hand, letting me know he was thinking about that too.

  I felt a hand on my shoulder, and when I twisted around, I saw Fang, a look of remorse once again displayed on his face. A low growl emanated from Xander, and Fang quickly removed his hand. I fought back a smile… and lost.

  “Oh, you think that’s funny, do you?” His tone didn’t match his words. Then he pulled me in for a side-hug and mussed up my hair.

  “What am I, five?” I said. But I kept smiling. Whatever energy Xander was putting off, I couldn’t help responding to it.

  I felt his shrug alongside my body. “We’ve got a lot of time to make up for.”

  Whoa, he sounded awfully confident all of a sudden. Not only about us, but our futures. And I could have imagined it, but maybe even our future together?

  I looked up, intending to ask him what brought this about, but my mind blanked when I realized the proximity of our mouths. Xander was looking down at me, and our breaths mingled as I stared into his turquoise eyes.

  The crowd quieted
some, alerting me to the fact that there were lots of pairs of eyes that could be upon us right now. And sure enough, when I tore my gaze from Xander, I noticed Dane—who’d been running around giving high-fives and fist bumps to everyone—had stopped a few feet away and was glaring at us.

  I scowled at him. He didn’t appear surprised I wasn’t congratulating him on his “victory,” but he looked hurt. It was that wounded look that caused a dark memory to resurface. One I’d shoved so far down I almost forgot it was there. One that made me instinctively pull away from Xander’s embrace.

  Woody, a former friend at Leavenworth, had given me that same look not long before he betrayed our group of friends. His actions resulted in a failed escape attempt—and worse, the death of Oscar. The part I’d shoved down the deepest was that Woody’s actions were a direct result of my actions. Well, mine and Xander’s.

  He’d seen us kiss, just like we almost did just a minute ago. And if Dane was anything at all like Woody, we were going to regret that little public display of affection.

  But, to my surprise and relief, Dane just shrugged and continued on his merry way. Until Mr. Fletcher spoke again.

  “That was extraordinary,” he said cheerfully. “Now, Dane, let’s see you face off against Mei.”

  Dane’s enthusiasm deflated like a balloon. “You want me to fight again?”

  “The world is wide enough to narrow down the weak peoples,” Mr. Fletcher intoned.

  “Huh?” Dane said, and then quickly corrected himself. “Sir?”

  The warden smiled condescendingly at him. “Why not? You can handle it, can’t you?”

  Dane quickly plastered on a charming smile. Only this one was fake. “Yeah, sure. I can take her.”

  He would too, if given the chance. Mei, the girl who could cause you to drown in your own saliva, stepped forward with more confidence than I’d have in a dozen lifetimes.

  The match began without fanfare, and I recognized the instant Dane started drowning. I’d been unfortunate enough to experience Mei’s power first-hand. Therefore, I knew that right now water bubbled in Dane’s throat, blocking his air passageway. His nasal cavity would be next.

  I looked at Xander, who’d also fought against Mei. He was rubbing his neck, watching Mei closely. I forgot she’d had a bit of a crush on him since they “danced” together during a match. Did he have a bit of a crush on her too?

  I groaned audibly, and Xander’s gaze snapped to my face. I gave him a small thumbs-up so he’d know I was okay. Nothing to see here. Except me being an idiot, that is. First, Lucy, now Mei. What was wrong with me lately?

  Refocusing on the match, I saw that Dane had rallied. Mei was ruthless, but she needed a lot of focus to drown someone. Dane didn’t give her the chance. He barreled into her, knocking her over, and then he spit a stream of water in her face.

  Laughter and cheers rumbled through the crowd. Mei had a temper, so I had no doubt she’d inflicted her particular brand of torture on more than a few inmates.

  She screamed as Dane struck her several times. The energy Xander put off now was easily identifiable. I could feel the tension coming off him in waves. But he didn’t make a move.

  Dane grabbed Mei’s throat and didn’t let go. I held my breath. Mr. Fletcher had specifically stated these matches were not to the death, so there should be nothing to worry about.

  Still, it was difficult to watch.

  Birdie grabbed my hand again and pressed in close to me. “Don’t look,” I whispered, turning her head and cradling it into my side.

  Mei’s face was now blue, and after a heart-pausing minute, Mr. Fletcher called the match. A collective sigh of relief could be heard around me. Then the crowd roared. Dane stood, his fists raised in the air. He wasn’t smiling though. In fact, he looked like someone who’d just survived a drowning. Maybe because he did.

  Mei gasped and spluttered on the ground until the medics came to take her away. Mr. Fletcher’s smile looked like it had been carved into his face. When the noise died down, he called out, “Blaze! Take on Dane, will you?”

  Dane’s head jerked in the warden’s direction, a visible scowl on his face. The redheaded Blaze, who had a temper worse than Mei’s, leapt from the crowd, flames flickering between his fingers.

  Any good feelings I had earlier were gone. How many of these fights would there be each day? I’d mistakenly thought only one, lessening the chances of having to participate more than once. As if once weren’t enough.

  “Let’s begin!” Mr. Fletcher yelled.

  My heart raced when the heat of Blaze’s flames reached my face. He was overconfident though. After singeing Dane’s hair, Blaze paused to gloat, and it was all the opportunity Dane needed. It only took one hit from his concrete-dense fists to knock the cocky kid unconscious.

  Dane shook out his hand, sweat pouring down his face. His chest heaved, and he was bent over double, clearly spent.

  Three up, three down. That had to have been enough to satisfy Mr. Fletcher’s bloodlust for one day. He clapped along with the crowd and then called everyone to order. Turning to Dane, he said, “You’re hard to beat, bud. I can tell you’ve been honing those skills of yours.”

  I scoffed. He’d been honing his skills, alright—under the watchful eye of my mother. But he shouldn’t be praised for beating up on kids who were obviously weaker than him.

  Sensing he was finally finished, Dane seemed to rebound a little. In response to Mr. Fletcher’s compliment, he smiled and flexed, earning him loud hollers from the crowd.

  “Good, I’m glad to see you still have some gas in your tank. Perhaps Lucy will provide a challenge for you,” Mr. Fletcher mused. Dane froze. “Yes, I believe so. Lucy, you’re up next!”

  My heart stuttered in my chest, and on both sides of me, Xander and Birdie tensed. We watched as Lucy strode out of the crowd, her white-blonde hair gleaming under the light.

  Murmurs rippled throughout the room. Lucy wasn’t a fighter. But she had the potential to do some serious damage—of the mental variety.

  Dane knew this too. I watched his expression grow serious before he faked a grin again. “Lucy and I are old friends,” he said cajolingly. “Aren’t we, Lucy?”

  She smiled sweetly, but because I’d spent more time with her than anyone here, I knew that smile meant Dane was in serious trouble.

  Lucy didn’t respond. “Are you ready, my dear?” Mr. Fletcher asked her.

  She nodded once.

  For the first time since he’d begun fighting, Dane assumed a position that meant business. It was clear his strategy was to take her out before she could get inside his head.

  “You may begin!”

  Dane shot forward, but Lucy didn’t move. When he was inches from her, he screeched to a halt, his face twisting in horror. With a yell, he lurched backward. His ankle twisted under him, and he fell to the ground. Lucy stood watching him with cold, gray eyes.

  I didn’t know what Dane was seeing, but it must have been bad—really bad. Screaming, he clawed at his arms, legs, and torso. “This ain’t real,” he said, gasping. “This ain’t real!”

  “Are you sure about that?” Lucy’s smirk suggested she was enjoying this.

  Dane flailed on the floor, covering his head. “Stop! Make it stop!” he cried.

  “Do you concede the fight?” Mr. Fletcher asked.

  Dane didn’t answer. He looked around frantically, his eyes wide with fear. I knew he wasn’t seeing anything in this room. Lucy had the ability to “take” you wherever she wanted. So whichever images she was projecting into his mind were completely consuming him.

  “Dane. Do. You. Concede?” Mr. Fletcher asked again.

  “Yes, fine!” he snapped. “I concede. Just make them go away.”

  A flash of anger crossed Mr. Fletcher’s face, but he gave the signal to Lucy to stop. Seconds later, Dane’s body relaxed and his eyes re-focused. Lucy hadn’t moved a muscle the entire match.

  The room was silent, and Dane wordlessly pushed up to
his feet while sucking in lungfuls of air. He turned to Mr. Fletcher. “Am I done?” he said, still panting.

  Mr. Fletcher, eyeing Lucy, nodded. “You’re done.”

  Dane visibly exhaled. Then he wiped his sweat-drenched hair from his face and disappeared into the crowd.

  “That’s all for today, boys and girls,” Mr. Fletcher said with his usual condescension. “Until tomorrow.”

  I swallowed thickly. And not because tomorrow promised more of this purgatory.

  I’d known Lucy was powerful. I’d even experienced one of her hallucinations, right after I first arrived. She was a master at making you believe her illusions were reality. But I’d never experienced whatever that was… and I never wanted to.

  She’d had little control before—only able to hold the visions for a minute or so—which meant she’d been practicing. Dane, a guy who had just handily defeated three back-to-back opponents, had been helpless against her.

  I watched her as she sauntered toward the exit. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one.

  “Wow,” Fang whistled. “I would not want to piss her off.”

  And I was the unlucky girl who had to sleep next to her every night.

  8

  Xander

  “Hey, boys and girls, are you awake? Just kidding, it’s me, not you-know-who. And I got another note!”

  I’d barely climbed out of bed when Cathy’s enthusiastic chatter entered my head. I made a beeline for the bathroom so I could hear her message without interruption from my equally chatty cellmate. I’d just closed the door when Cathy continued.

  “It says, ‘Lie low. This means you, Alexander.’ Wait, who’s—oh, right. Chief. Okay, and guys, all of this is TOP SECRET. Duh, that’s obvious. That’s it. I’m eating the paper now.”

  I dismissed the visual of Cathy chomping on a wad of paper and thought about the note.

  The messenger not only called me out individually, but they used my given name. Only a few people called me that, and they were all adults. Phoebe’s mother was dead, so I knew she had nothing to do with it.