I slam into the wall and crumble into myself. Sinister laughter crackles through the hall coupled with the deafening silence of the watching guards. Today’s attacker stands over me, grinning like an idiot. I shove myself off the wall and glare up at her. She goes to speak. I spit blood at her face. The other inmates go silent, leaning forward to watch their ally’s actions, as if they don’t already know how this ends. Iza grabs my shirt and raises her fist. I slam my head against her nose. She yells out and backs up, covering her bleeding face.

“It’s broken!”

“No,” I say sarcastically, “That’d be unfair. You lot are just playing around,” I drop my voice, “Right?”

The idiots all run forward. I duck a kick, spinning around and striking them in the gut with my elbow. Another inmate throws a punch. I yank his arm down and send him into the concrete floor. Someone comes at me with a small dagger. I grab her wrist, snap it like a twig and punch her nose with my free hand. Now armed, I move like a dancer, from inmate to inmate, slicing into their arms and legs as they attack. Their throats would be a preferable target, but then the guards would step in. They always do.

Someone clears their throat and every inmate stops. I slip the dagger into the folds of my clothes and feign an innocent smile. The inmates share frightened looks and take a step back, parting for their leader, Nolan. His neon green hair seemed oddly intimidating when I first saw it. Now it’s just laughable. This guy couldn’t swat a fly anymore, not that the others realise. Like I said, they’re all idiots.

“What is the meaning of this?”

All inmates look to Iza. She hesitantly steps forward. “I wanted to teach it a lesson.”

“It?” Nolan looks offended enough for the both of us.

“Uh ... her.” Iza ducks her head, not a good idea for a bleeding nose. “Sorry.”

“You know what happens when you poke a bear, no?”

“Yes, but she’s not really a bear. I mean look at her, she’s not even five feet.”

Nolan steps towards Iza. “Look at her, she’s only seven and she broke your nose in a second.” He looks to the other inmates. “Do not poke the bear, even if she’s still a cub.”

They all murmur in agreement, but the moment Nolan’s back is turned, they’ll be trying to beat me down again. It’s the same thing every day. I’m surprised that no one’s gotten bored yet. Guess their competiveness is enough of a drive. The bell rings, painfully like a school bell, and everyone shuffles towards their afternoon torture sessions. Sorry, education on reassimilating into society blah, blah, blah sessions. Torture’s only at night.

“And where do you think you’re going?”

I look back at Nolan. “Away from here.”

He sighs. “I will tutor you here today,” he glances at the guards, “Best you’re separated from other inmates.”

“Why? You afraid I’ll leave here in a body bag?”

“No, I’m afraid the prison doesn’t have enough for everyone else.”

“Please. They have you locked in here. They’d be prepared.”

“They weren’t last time.”

Like there’s going to be a next. I sit on the ground regardless, avoiding the new red stains. “Let me guess, today we’re going to learn an important lesson about restraint.”

“Language, actually. I thought we’d start on your strength.”

“Words aren’t going to stop the idiots from challenging me.”

Nolan gives me a cold look. “Does it look like fighting has?”

“Worked for you.”

“I’m going to be stuck here for the rest of my life. You’ll be out in twenty years, if you are well behaved.”

“Not much of a life to live after that long.”

“You’d be surprised.” His eyes get that protective glean they usually do around me. “I hope I can show you that before you’re released.”

“You’re not my dad.”

“No, because you’re not going to kill me.”

I shut up. Nolan’s the only one here that knows what I’m in for. The media had their fun with my case when it first came out, blaming so many factors on me snapping. Some even tried to say that it wasn’t me, that I was simply defending my older brother who they thought actually did it. I confessed straight away though. I was proud of myself. I thought I’d get the most satisfaction out of everyone knowing. But I was wrong. I should’ve run. Then I would’ve been able to kill more. I wouldn’t be stuck here with a guy more psychotic than me thinking himself some father figure.

Good behaviour, pfft. I’m not staying here for twenty years. Hell, I’m not going to stay here another night. There are only three guards in this room. The others are with the rest of the inmates. Nolan won’t go along with me. He seems to think that he deserves his sentence or something. The guy’s lost his drive. I don’t doubt that he’ll fight back. He’ll leave me bruised. But I still have that dagger. He’s too focused on trying to teach me. I’m getting out of here today. And it won’t be in a body bag.