Chapter 9
Bear whispered to Raven in the canteen, their backs to the wall, their gaze on those around, while they ate their lunch. ‘I reckon I’ll be able to get my head through tonight.’
‘Ox has four months.’
‘Depending on what’s down there, we could make it in two. Maybe sooner. It’s becoming a lot easier.’
Only their eyes smiled at each other as Oxley brought his food over.
‘I think Kane’s fallen in love with me.’ Oxley shoved a ham chunk in his mouth, chewing and grinning at the same time.
‘He’s being tender. And he cornered me at the supply room earlier when I was putting the cleaning equipment away, longing for my touch.
’ Oxley leaned back, raising his spoon with thought.
‘Can’t let him go, though. Privileges and that. ’
‘You mean sex.’ Raven scoffed out a laugh.
‘And the little snacks he gives me.’ Oxley tapped his pocket and winked. ‘Chocolate.’
‘Buy it from you,’ said Bear. ‘Name your price.’
Oxley chewed his lip, clearly amused. ‘Hmm, you’ve never been much of a fan of the sweet stuff, so I’m thinking why would my brother Bear be in need of such an item? A certain silver-haired girl comes to mind.’
Bear simply sipped his cup of water. ‘How much?’
‘Take it. As if I’m going to charge you.’ Oxley slipped the small bar of chocolate under the table, and Bear put it in his pocket. ‘So, you got feels, bro?’
‘No, I’ve not got feels. I want to tell her to keep it as currency. It could help her when we’re not around.’
Oxley received the message loud and clear. ‘So, soon then, eh?’
‘Hopefully, sooner than we thought.’ Bear rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced across the canteen to where Scarlen was sitting with his sister.
He hoped she would be safe. There wasn’t any reason she shouldn’t be.
Judd seemed to be ignoring her, and she had proved she could hold her own against Kylar.
And as long as there were no Bear and Scarlen, Varklee had no problem with her.
No one knew her true identity, and he wasn’t going to tell her truth to the other inmates.
He couldn’t stress over it. He had enough to worry about.
By the time he was gone, Scarlen would be well and truly settled into the system. He had another one or two months left with her, all being well, so it was plenty of time to make sure she was all right and well supplied for. He decided he would leave her any money he had as well.
He mentally shook his head as she met his gaze.
I’ve got to stop thinking about her. Family time was next, so he’d spend that time educating her on what was good currency to have and who were the best screws to bribe.
If she hadn’t already figured it out, he could offer that much, then he wouldn’t have to carry the weight of her with him when he went home.
She was already a burden. He didn’t want to feel attached. He owed her and her father nothing. It was just a deal to help Wynter. He didn’t need to go the extra mile.
He glanced once more at Scarlen and his sister. Both were so petite, but he knew Wynter had a bite. But Scarlen? There was something in her eyes that held a thousand stories, and curiosity got him each time he looked into them.
Can’t be easy being the general’s daughter, he would tell himself. He had no idea what her life was like on the outside, and he still didn’t know the truth behind her crime.
The mystery of her niggled at him as he finished his lunch.
The pips went, and Bear couldn’t get to the family area quick enough. Something felt different this time because he knew he was leaving soon. He hoped. And Scarlen would have no backup.
As soon as she entered the family room, he approached with his idea. ‘How about we use this time to spar, rather than play cards? Training will benefit you more.’
Scarlen was staring at him, barely having time to close the door. ‘You think I’m that bad?’
‘You’ve got some moves, but if you sharpen your tools, no one will fuck with you in here.’
She went to the bed and picked up the cards, slowly turning over the pack, considering. ‘At least we’ll look ruffled when we leave.’
He bit back a smile as she grinned his way. ‘There is that.’
‘Okay. I’m always up for improvement.’ She put the cards down and placed her hands on her hips.
‘I can’t see Kylar paying Goolan anymore for time with me on the mat, so who knows who I’ll spar with next.
It’s worth getting in some practice, especially if any more of the Pirates want a piece of me.
I’m surprised the Flames haven’t joined in yet. ’
‘They’re under Varklee’s orders to leave you alone.’
‘Oh, why? He hates me.’
‘Yeah, but he’s afraid of me.’
Scarlen’s eyebrows lifted, showing amusement. ‘You the leader around here?’
‘Some might say. Me? I mind my own business. Let them use whatever labels they want.’ He pointed at the ground. ‘Now, get on your back down there.’ She chuckled as she did as she was told.
Looking up at him, Scarlen said, ‘Why am I the one on my back?’
Straddling her, but holding his weight off, he replied, ‘Because you’re the one who needs to learn how to scrap.’
‘Scrap?’
‘Yeah. Your technique is a bit … military.’
‘Is that so?’
Bear leaned over her, pinning her hands, her breath close to his face, her eyes locked with his. He cleared his throat, then jerked his chin towards her left hand. ‘You don’t know how to backyard fight.’
‘Like an alley cat, you mean?’ Her lip curled upwards in one corner. ‘Or like a bear?’
‘I hear both can be vicious,’ he whispered next to those curved lips so close to his own. He pulled back, knitting his brows. ‘So, what would you do now, in this position?’
‘I don’t know. I’ve never had a man on top of me before.’
A lump came out of nowhere to block his throat as something twitched somewhere in his stomach.
‘Well, what you need to try and do is lower your elbows, flip up your hips, and hook one foot over his to stop his leg from balancing out when you try to roll him, which you’ll be able to do if he stumbles over your head after you’ve jerked him forward and grabbed his back. ’ He sat up. ‘Switch, I’ll show you.’
Scarlen straddled him, pinning him in place, and that lump was back in his throat, so he focused on the moves, showing her with precision each step to try, as there were a few ways her opponent could pin her once more.
‘You don’t always want to focus on strikes.
There’s a time for fighting, and a time for breaking free.
Being on your feet is the best place, and if you ever get into a fight outside of here and you break free, you don’t have to stick around to attack, you can just run.
There’s no shame in it. It’s a matter of survival. ’
Scarlen looked to be studying his eyes. ‘Who taught you how to fight?’
‘My mother. Who taught you?’
‘A friend.’
That was unexpected, as he thought she would have said her father, knowing who he was.
‘I was never taught to run away though,’ she added. ‘And I don’t like the idea of being chased down by someone.’
He had so much he wanted to teach her. ‘If someone is chasing you, and they’re about to catch you, right at that moment, you drop down into a ball, tuck your head in tight, and they will fall straight over you, then you get up and run again.’
‘That’s handy to know.’
He suppressed a smile. ‘Not done it myself, but I know it works. Been told.’
‘I guess you’d change into a bear if someone chased you.’
His smile was hard to bite back now. ‘I shift to my halfling before anyone has a chance to chase me, then I find it is they who run.’
Scarlen’s quiet laugh reached into him a little. ‘Not sure you’d fall over the top of me.’
‘If I were running fast enough, then, yes, I would, because I wouldn’t be able to stop myself.’
‘Let’s hope I never have to try out that move.’
‘Hmm. We should stick to what’s allowed on the mats. Improve you there.’
‘You and Judd didn’t stick to the rules.’
‘Happens from time to time.’ He slipped his elbows down quickly and bucked her off, not needing to grip her back, as she went flying over his face, her stomach squashing his nose, and he couldn’t help but laugh as her giggle vibrated through him. ‘I think the chocolate in my pocket just broke.’
He felt more than her weight leave him as she stood, the burden of thinking he had to protect her lifted a little as well.
‘Best we eat it now then, before it crumbles to pieces,’ she remarked, a glint in her eye.
‘It’s for you to use as currency. I want to teach you about that as well.’
‘You’re teaching me a lot today.’
‘Have to take care of my girl.’
‘Hmm. I’m still not buying that line. So, let’s spar for now. We can do money next time.’
He agreed, putting the chocolate bar on the bed. ‘You can get back on the floor.’
‘Yes, sir,’ she mocked, bending to her knees in front of him, and Bear found he needed a moment to compose himself.
They continued to spar until it was time to leave, and he gave her the usual peck on the cheek at the doorway before heading off to their jobs, telling her he would see her at dinner.
The pips went early to call everyone in for dinner, which was unusual, but as soon as Bear saw Binnow standing there with a hessian sack, he knew why.
Someone shouted out what everyone in the canteen was thinking. ‘It hasn’t been six months yet.’
Binnow held up the sack. ‘Not up to me. Just doing what I’m told. You lot should try it sometime.’
Bear could see Dionne whispering to Scarlen, no doubt letting her know fledglings were exempt, not that he thought the general would allow the warden to put Scarlen in the Zone.
‘Six names from here, as I’ve already called four from Block One,’ said Binnow. ‘So, let’s get on with it without fuss.’
The air in the canteen stilled as everyone inhaled at the same time, faces turning ghostly, hands holding hands, hearts hammering in chests.
Bear already knew if Wynter’s name was called, he would volunteer in her place, as was allowed.
He wouldn’t let anyone in his family enter the Zone, but he knew only Oxley wouldn’t let him take his place.
Raven would only agree for Wynter’s sake.
Their arrangement had been made before the last War Zone took place.
The first four names were pulled out, one being Varklee, before Bear’s name was announced, which came as no surprise, as he figured a Rebel would be put in each time.
‘That’s not fair,’ someone said. ‘Bear was in the Zone last time.’
There had always been talk of the game being fixed, but there was nothing the inmates could do about it.
‘Less stress, people,’ said Varklee, a sly grin making him look somewhat insane. ‘I’ll be in there this time.’
Bear wasn’t sure if that helped him, and judging by the looks on other faces, they weren’t sure either.
‘And lastly,’ said Binnow, digging around in the sack. ‘Scarlen Smithson.’
Some gasps filled the canteen as a sea of eyes fell on Scarlen.
‘But she’s a fledgling,’ said Dionne.
‘I don’t make the rules,’ snapped Binnow. ‘Smithson’s name was called. She goes in.’
Miss Harnish stepped forward, her finger a touch shaky as she pointed at the stack of trays. ‘You can eat now.’
No one moved for a moment, Binnow the first to walk away, then the inmates quietly went to get their dinner, Scarlen simply staring wide-eyed at Dionne, her face ashen, her body motionless.
‘What the fuck!’ whispered Oxley to Bear, breaking him from his trance with Scarlen. ‘Early Zone, fledgling, her?’
Bear marched her way, people parting to let him through to the Green side, not even a guard willing to reprimand him.
He leaned close to her ear. ‘Eat your dinner as though you don’t feel sick.
Do not show weakness. We’ll be put in the Zone straight after second headcount.
Wrap up warm. Don’t bring food, as they search us.
Try not to get cut. The weapons hold magick to make things worse.
’ He hadn’t time to say everything he wanted as Jontson entered the canteen, bringing with him an icy chill as he tapped his baton.
Oxley and Raven blocked Bear from prying eyes as they sat him at their usual table.
‘This is fucked up,’ said Oxley quietly.
‘Maybe it’s to test Bear,’ said Raven. ‘They might get a thrill watching him having to protect her.’
Oxley huffed. ‘What kind of twisted person would put their kid in harm’s way just for that?’
Bear sat straight, showing no signs of fear.
Whatever the reason was for the change in the Zone, he would stick to his end of the deal and make sure Scarlen stayed safe.
If they were trying to mess with him, they would get no entertainment from him.
He’d been there once before. He knew the Zone now.
Besides, they fucked up. Varklee’s name was called, along with a member of the Pirates.
Their precious game would be over quickly.
With opposing gang members in the game, he shouldn’t have to fight at all.