Craving her ruin

oint

circles under his eyes. Like someone who had lost everything. The

were cold and gray. The air smelled like sweat and fear. I was counting the step

ner too fast. And I

thick beard. His eyes were sharp and cold, like a wolf watchin

ould be the same man from that photo. T

e. But he just stepped aside, still look

ep calm. I mum

lked away, his heavy boots ma

his wasn't going to

I couldn't stop

hat scary-looking

ging for mercy. But that man? He looked like h

. Just

assigned to prison labor. Lucky me. Cleaning toilets and sc

it came

cks during labor. Which meant... I g

ne dared to go near him. Even the guards kept their distance. They call

ying him. His routine. His habits. The way he never flinched, even when

red. Okay...

here to stare. I

sed a litt

e I pushed a cell mate during cleaning. Nothing serio

They shoved a rake in my hand and t

was p

he was

enough to feel his presence. Close enough to hear his voice

it was just a

watching him... I w

onster shaped by pain. And now,

ink my brother has

anup. Sometimes, I scrub rust off fences like a good little criminal. Ot

ed me. Or maybe he has

visible to him. Whi

me time

lease. This is a maximum-security hellhole, not a spy movie. And I'm

an. Somethin

ep? Get h

st step... don

radar. I can't just walk up and say, "

t small. R

heavy wrench. Big enough to break a skull. I see it.

p and toss i

ou dropp

His eyes

Cold.

hat look coul

speak. Doe

the wrench a

that we

off like it meant nothing. But inside, m

hat fear fee

A moment. A tiny crack

unt. Maybe he'll nod. Mayb

y, I'm get

I'll do it yet. Bu

you gotta get near

t reckless e

e days since th

eat, and pretending I'm just one

oke, doesn't even look around. He just works. Eats. Lifts heav

thers don't mess with him

fraid of h

ny bit. But I'm not here to

ry somethin

e covered in dirt, my fake chest binder is killing me, and I'm pre

pretending to yan

r. "You always

thi

. Not even

time. "Right. Strong

l not

s-shoulder huge. Beard sharp enough to slice cheese. Hi

rties," I add, not even

st

his head and sta

ut low and flat. "

ns, but nothi

ly

ike death itself lea

off... I smirk. Becaus

iping sweat from my

ger. Then he turns back to t

ng like mad. My

I g

was somethin

ta

maybe he'l

'll be six

h the