Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Life Behind Bars
Cole had been in juvenile detention for a few weeks now, and the reality of his situation had begun to sink in. It wasn't prison—not yet, at least—but it wasn't far off. The building was old, with thick gray walls and narrow windows that barely let in any light. The air inside was heavy with the scent of sweat, disinfectant, and despair.
The other kids in the facility were just like him—tough, hardened by the streets, and forced into a life they hadn't chosen. Some were older, some younger, but all of them carried the same haunted look in their eyes. They were survivors, just like him, but in this place, survival meant something different.
Cole sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the small patch of sunlight that managed to filter through the window. His days had become a blur of routine—waking up at the crack of dawn, eating bland, tasteless food, and spending hours either locked in his cell or out in the yard, surrounded by kids who had long since given up on the idea of freedom.
It was the same thing, day after day. And yet, Cole couldn't bring himself to fully accept it. He had always been a fighter, always found a way to push back against the system, but in here, there was nothing to fight against. There was no Crenshaw, no gang breathing down his neck. Just the cold, unyielding walls of the facility and the endless stretch of time in front of him.
As he sat there, lost in thought, the door to his cell creaked open, and one of the guards, a burly man with a thick mustache, stepped inside.
"Matthews," the guard grunted. "Visitor for you."
Cole's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected anyone to visit, not so soon. He stood up, following the guard down the narrow hallways toward the visitation room. His mind raced, wondering who could possibly be waiting for him.
When they reached the room, Cole's breath caught in his throat.
Sitting on the other side of the thick glass window, with the phone already in her hand, was Lina.
Cole's stomach twisted with a mixture of relief and guilt. He hadn't seen her since the day they'd both been arrested. Seeing her now, in this sterile, cold room, felt like a punch to the gut. She looked tired, more so than usual, and there were dark circles under her eyes.
Cole picked up the phone on his side, pressing it to his ear.
"Lina," he said quietly, not sure where to start.
"Hey, Cole," she replied, her voice soft but steady. "How are you holding up?"
Cole shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "It's prison, but for kids. What do you think?"
Lina gave a small, humorless laugh. "Yeah, I guess it's not much better on my end either."
Cole frowned, his heart sinking. "You're out, right?"
"Yeah," Lina said, nodding. "Got released a few days ago. They dropped most of the charges. Helen pulled some strings, and it worked out."
"That's good," Cole said, though he couldn't hide the bitterness in his voice. He should've felt relieved that she was free, but all he felt was the gnawing sense of guilt that he wasn't there to help her anymore.
Lina studied him for a moment, her expression softening. "It's not your fault, Cole."
"I let you take the fall," he said quietly, his gaze dropping to the floor.
"You didn't let me do anything," Lina replied, her voice firm but gentle. "I made my choice. We all did. You saved us by turning yourself in."
Cole clenched his fists, the guilt twisting deeper inside him. "I just… I didn't think it would end like this."
Lina's expression softened, and for a moment, the tough, hardened exterior she had always worn seemed to melt away. "None of us did. But we're still here. We've still got each other."
Cole met her gaze, and for the first time in days, he felt a flicker of hope. Lina had always been the glue that held them together, the one who saw through the cracks in their armor and made sure they didn't fall apart. Even now, after everything, she was still here, still trying to hold them together.
"I'm going to get out of here," Cole said, his voice low but filled with determination. "I don't know how yet, but I will."
"I know you will," Lina said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "And when you do, we'll figure it out. All of us."
Cole nodded, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. It wasn't over. Not yet. There was still a chance to make things right, to reclaim the life they had been fighting for all these years.
"Take care of Zack and Ty," Cole said quietly, his voice softening. "Keep them out of trouble until I get out."
"I will," Lina promised. "But you better hurry. You know how Ty is."
Cole couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Yeah, I know."
They stayed like that for a while longer, talking about nothing and everything, finding comfort in each other's voices. But eventually, the time ran out, and the guard stepped forward to signal the end of the visit.
"Stay safe, Cole," Lina said, her voice soft but filled with warmth.
"You too," Cole replied, his heart heavy as he watched her walk away.
As he was led back to his cell, Cole's mind buzzed with thoughts of the future. He didn't know how long he would be stuck here, but he knew one thing for sure—he wasn't giving up. Not yet. Not ever.
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