By some miracle, I survived my first day in prison.

The next day, Schneider visited my cell again. Luckily, his brother had yet to make an appearance.

Midst conversing with Schneider, a loud buzzing sound emitted throughout the prison. Moments later, the cell’s door –and every other cell’s door from what I could see—slid open. A commotion soon followed as prisoner after prisoner exited their cells into the catwalks. They all appeared to be heading in the same direction.

I looked to Schneider for an explanation as to why we were being let out and where everybody was headed.

“It’s dinner time. They’re going to the cafeteria. We’re in block C which is right next to the cafeteria.” He stood up, extended a hand out to me and said, “C’mon, let’s go.”

The words instantly rushed out my mouth unthinkingly, “N-No, thanks. I think I’ll just stay here for today. Maybe tomorrow.” Peering past Schneider, I saw the inmates walking past my cell in an orderly line.

That’s when I spotted two familiar prisoners who abruptly stood to converse between one another right in front of my cell. Even though they were holding the line, none of the inmates waiting behind them dared say anything about it, and I probably would have done the same. Standing before my prison cell were none other than the handsome blonde ‘who’d called dibs on me’, the one that went by Raven, and his bald, burly companion, the one that had wanted to share me like I was a cake.

Luckily, they moved on without taking notice of me, and I immediately breathed out a sigh of relief once they were out of sight.

When I looked up after composing myself, I saw that Schneider had raised a questioning eyebrow at my so-called excuse, having obviously seen through it as nothing but cowardice. “Stop being a wimp; you’re going to have to explore this place sometime, so you might as well do it now while you have me as your loyal bodyguard.”

“I’m not a wimp and I don’t need you or anyone else as- OUCH!” I fell back on the bed, clutching yet another bump in my head thanks to the upper bunk. Still groaning, I levelled a dangerous glare at Schneider, who still had his hand extended out to me, but there was something new in his eyes that I had failed to take note of before. Something that sent a shiver down my spine. Something that made my heart stutter.

A dare. And a challenge.

He was challenging me to take his hand and leave my cell.

The question was: Could I? Was I going to keep wallowing in my cell, cursing fate and the world for screwing me over and stop living? Was I going to avoid all human contact for fear of being molested again? Allow fear to dwell in my heart and cripple me?

Was that any way to live?

I stared at Schneider’s hand for what felt like hours, contemplating his challenge with furrowed eyebrows. What more did I have to lose? He was right after all; sooner or later I was bound to leave my cell for whatever reason, so I might as well do it now while I had company that I could rely on. Or hopefully rely on.

I met his eyes. I wasn’t sure why, but I trusted him.

“Don’t make me regret this.” With a sigh, I put my hand in Schneider’s. He pulled me to my feet in one swift pull.

I made sure to walk close to Schneider as he led the way, and noted that every prison cell we passed was empty and so were the catwalks except for the occasional guard stationed here and there. My eyes took in every bit of detail of block C from floor to ceiling, and I did my best to memorize as much of it as possible. Unfortunately, the place didn’t get any cleaner since I first arrived. I spotted the occasional cockroach on the way flitting about along with other insects I didn’t care to identify.

“You know,” he started as we descended down some narrow metal stairs to the ground floor, “Most people would throw themselves at the chance of being my brother’s bitch.”

A disturbing, provocative image abruptly flashed in my mind. Flushing crimson, I quickly dispelled it, mentally shaking my head in an effort to clear my mind.

It had been an image of me and Schneizel…

I frowned, deeply perturbed.

We were doing so fine, having such a relaxed time; why did he have to bring his brother into it and ruin the mood?

Clearly amused by my reaction, he continued, “Nobody touches the King’s bitch, unless they have a death wish. Everybody becomes your watchful guardian, everybody starts looking out for you and your best interests if it means getting on my brother’s good graces.”

“And you’re telling me this because?”

“Just being a good guide and giving you all the juicy information I can think of.”

“Right,” I said, unconvinced.

Exactly why did I need to know about the King’s love life?

“Oh, and watch out for Hazel."

“Who?”

“He’s my brother’s ex, the one right before you.”

“He can be the one after me; I don’t mind. Or care for that matter. Wait, what do you mean by ‘the one right before you’?!”

Schneizel grinned but said nothing.

For now, I let it drop; we’d arrived at the cafeteria.

The cafeteria turned out to be quite close just like Schneider said. There was a sign atop the metal double doors that said CAFETERIA along with two armed guards stationed on either side of it.

Unconsciously, I stepped forward, trying to get a closer look inside the cafeteria without having to go in.

The hawk-like gazes of the guards zeroed in on me.

“No food for late comers!” One of them barked, a cruel smirk stretching his mouth.

I was about to protest when Schneider said, “Perhaps you’d make an exception.” Their eyes flew to Schneider and they nearly popped out of their sockets. There was something about the man’s tone that made me shiver all the way to my core, something disturbingly sinister. It made me picture a ferocious tiger camouflaging itself in the trees, ready to pounce on its unsuspecting prey.

The guards paled and started visibly quaking in their boots.

What in the world…? Ah! They fear him too!

It made sense, because if he was the King’s brother, then he was the Prince! I frowned. Or was he the Duke…?

“O-Of c-c-course you may enter!”

“Y-Yeah, w-we were just k-kidding with the l-little guy!”

“Little guy?!” I exclaimed, extremely pissed. “Who are you calling little guy?!” I was a respectable 5’7!

“Ignore these two jerkoffs. They just want to get you to lash out at them so they’d have an excuse to vent out on you. Be careful.” Whispered Schneider in my ear, urging me forward with a guiding hand through the metal doors.

I grumbled and mumbled protests and complaints but didn’t resist Schneider’s guiding hand resting on the small of my back, though I made sure to level an angry glare over my shoulder at the two guards just before the metal doors swung closed behind us.

All thought escaped me, however, when I set foot in the cafeteria. It was immense and completely occupied by hungry inmates who were too busy devouring their trays of food to notice either one of us, thank goodness. The place was your typical high school cafeteria with metal tables, chairs and a massive counter laden with all sorts of food. Except this particular cafeteria had armed guards patrolling around, keeping a vigilant eye on the prisoners, the few large windows facing the prison yard were heavily barred and surveillance cameras were everywhere. No wonder; after all, this was a maximum-security prison.