Brothers (Part 1)

Chapter 1 - Little Jinx

Hajime: "All right, you pains in my ass, new cellmate."

Nico: "Woah! I wonder who it is?"

Jyugo: "I wonder what he's in for?"

Rock: "Let's hope he's anything but a murderer..."

Uno: "Yeah, those guys are terrifying."

Hajime: "Will you idiots shut up! Come on, you. Get in there."

I walked into the cell and was instantly met with four shocked faces.

Uno: "A GIRL?!?!?!"

Jyugo: "This is the first time I've seen a girl inmate in... ever!"

Nico: "She's so small... How old is she?"

Rock: "And how in god's name did she end up here?"

Hajime: "This is number 33. 33, these are inmates 69, 25, 11 and 15. Now, play nice and try to go just one day without escaping. I got work to do."

He gives me a little shove inside and slams the cell door behind me. The five of us stare in silence for a minute.

Rock: "Uhm... can you talk?"

Jinx: "Yes. Pleasure to meet you, 69."

Nico: "Only the guards call us by our numbers. I'm Nico! That's Rock, Jyugo and Uno."

Jyugo: "Do you... have a name?"

Jinx: "...... it's Jinx."

Jyugo walked closer to me and knelt down to my level. I took a step back.

Jinx: "W-what?"

Jyugo: "Why are your hands behind your back?"

I hesitated before turning my back to them, showing them cuffs that bound my hands together.

Jinx: "One of the guards at the previous prison I was at put them on me."

Nico: "Why?"

Jinx: "Because I kept stealing sharp things."

Rock: "Why didn't Hajime take them off?"

Jinx: "He tried. But they're too strong and tight."

Suddenly, I heard a small click and the sound of metal hitting the floor. I could move my hands. I brought them round to my front to see my wrists were very bruised, but free.

Jyugo: "There you go."

I spun back around to face him.

Jinx: "How did you...?"

Uno smiled and put his arm around Jyugo's shoulder.

Uno: "Jyugo here can open any lock and break any chain! That's how we can break out all the time."

Jinx: "That's... thank you..."

They smiled at me. I rub my wrists. Rock and Nico came closer and knelt down in front of me too.

Nico: "How old are you?"

Jinx: "I'm seven."

Rock: "So young... and yet you're here in Nanba prison. How, kid?"

Jinx: "It all started when I killed my parents and older sister..."

The four of them recoiled, shuffling back until they were up against the opposite wall.