Page 125 of Fragments

“It’s the one thing I can’t give you.”

Being here for so long, you overhear a lot of conversations you’re not supposed to be hearing. Things about the layout of the island, the forest-like smattering of trees between the prison and the mansion… The fact that there’s a small dock with a boat stashed somewhere out there.

After Toby tried his escape, we learned that the guard tower actually isn’tguarded…by anyone.Can you believe that shit??

Because of all that, I guess it’s the Correctional Officers’ ultimate mission to make sure none of us ever get to see it for ourselves. It’s one thing to hear stories, but it’s an entirely different brand of hope to witness it with your own eyes.

But none of that matters to me. I’ve already lost two cellmates—twofriends—to the obsession of thinking they can escape not only the Pen, but the Isle itself. That won’t be me.

I’m here, and I’m never leaving. I have to be okay with that.

So this lovely evening is spent delighting in the simple joys of prison life. Dash and I are chatting casually while I tinker with my machine. But I must be really tired because I wind up falling asleep on top of it before the lights even turn off in the row.

Noises and movements startle me awake, and I groan quietly from the pain of the motherboard digging into my arm. Blinking the grogginess from my eyes, I look around, a whimper drawing my attention to my cellmate, who’s up and pacing in the dark, mumbling to himself.

“Dash?” I whisper, but he doesn’t acknowledge me.

He just keeps walking in a circle, rubbing his eyes. “Where is he?? Is he coming back…?”

My brow furrows, unease pinging like alarm bells in my head.Something isn’t right…

Dash has easily become one of my best friends, but you’d have to be completely oblivious not to notice his issues. There’s been no shortage of worrying behavior on his part since the moment he set foot in this cell. But I don’t judge him. I just care about him, and I want him to be okay.

No, Ineedhim to be. I refuse to letanotherfriend slip through my fingers.

“Dash…” I call to him again, quietly, my pulse picking up.

He still hasn’t heard me, or even looked up. He’s too busy pacing and muttering. I can barely make out what he’s saying, but I hear something like, “I am what you are,” and a name…

“Callum… Where are you, Callum?”

Who the hell is Callum?

Wasn’t that the name of Ren’s ex…?

Peering fully over the side of the bunk, I whisper-shout at him. “Dash!”

Finally, his face springs up. “Luthor… You’re awake.” He glances at the door. “He’ll… He’ll probably be here soon… I’m sorry, I thought you were sleeping.”

My brow cocks. “Who will be here soon?”

Dash chuckles, shaking his head. “Ehh…God.” He runs his fingers through his hair, mouth twisted in some knowing amusement that’s really baffling me. “I guess you had to find out eventually… Honestly, I’m surprised it’s taken this long.” He peeks up at me. “You could sleep through an earthquake, bro.”

Okay, I have literally no fucking clue what he’s talking about.

“Dash… are you alright?” I blink, watching him closely.

He lets out a breath, rubbing his eyes. “No… I don’t know.” Stepping over to his bed, he plops down like he’s suddenly exhausted.

I have to figure out what’s up with him. He’s acting way weirder than usual right now.

Climbing down from my bunk, I stare at him where he’s sitting with his face in his hands, knee bouncing rapidly.

“Hey…” I take a seat next to him on the bed, placing my hand gently on his shoulder. “What’s wrong?” He shakes his head, face still buried in his palms. “You can talk to me. We tell each other everything, remember?”

“You’re such a good friend, Luthor,” he mumbles into his hands before finally lifting his face to look at me. His eyes are glistening in the low light, pupils noticeably large. “That’s why I feel so bad for keeping this from you…”

My heart crawls up into my throat, and I gulp. “Just tell me, man. No matter what, I’m here for you.”