Chapter 36: Chapter 36: A Fragile Peace
Cole's resolve was unwavering, but the peace he had worked so hard to maintain felt fragile, as if one wrong step could shatter everything. He kept his head down, stayed out of trouble, and distanced himself from the underground fights. But in a place like this, staying clean wasn't as simple as it sounded.
The guards kept a close eye on him, watching his every move, waiting for him to slip. And Jayden? He hadn't approached Cole since their last conversation, but Cole could feel his presence like a shadow, always lingering in the background.
One afternoon, while Cole was sitting in the yard, a group of detainees started roughhousing near the basketball court. At first, it was harmless—just kids letting off steam, pushing each other around. But things escalated quickly. One shove turned into a punch, and soon a full-blown fight broke out.
Cole watched from a distance, his fists clenching at his sides. His instincts screamed at him to intervene, to stop the fight before someone got seriously hurt. But he knew better. If he got involved, the guards would find a way to pin the blame on him, and everything he had been working toward would be gone in an instant.
He stood, torn between doing what felt right and protecting his future, when a familiar voice called out from behind him.
"Don't even think about it."
Cole turned to see Lina standing on the other side of the fence, her expression filled with concern. She must have been visiting for one of their regular check-ins, and now, here she was, watching him struggle with the choice in front of him.
"They're going to tear each other apart," Cole said, his voice tense.
Lina shook her head. "That's not your problem. You need to stay out of it."
Cole gritted his teeth, his gaze flicking between the fight and Lina. She was right. He knew she was right. But that didn't make it any easier.
As the guards moved in to break up the fight, Cole took a deep breath and stepped away, walking toward the fence where Lina stood.
"I hate this," he muttered, his voice low and filled with frustration.
"I know," Lina said softly. "But you're doing the right thing. You're so close, Cole. Don't let them drag you back in."
Cole met her gaze, the weight of her words settling over him. She was right. He had come too far to throw it all away now.
"I won't," Cole promised, though the words felt hollow in his mouth. Staying out of trouble was easier said than done, especially in a place like this, where violence and chaos lurked around every corner.
Lina gave him a small smile, her eyes filled with warmth. "We're almost there. Just a little longer, okay?"
Cole nodded, though his chest felt tight with the strain of holding everything in. The countdown to his release was ticking away, but every day felt like a battle—a battle against himself, against the system, against the people who wanted to see him fail.
But he wouldn't fail. He couldn't.
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