Forbidden Love [BxB]

Side Story Part 2

Prison days: Part two

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Ryan's POV

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After three days in solitary confinement, they finally let me out. My claustrophobia had given them more trouble than my outburst in the canteen. As soon as I stepped back into the cell, the three men looked in my direction. Ebi walked over with a soft smile on his face.

"Welcome back, kid," he said gently. "Was it tough in there? You look pale."

I forced a small, awkward smile. "Yeah... somehow. I'm sorry, but I need to get some... sleep..." Without waiting for a response, I climbed the metal ladder and crawled onto the top bunk, exhaustion pulling me down like a weight.

As I settled onto the thin mattress, resting the right side of my face against the rough pillow, Diako's voice floated up from below. "You were so cool back in the canteen."

I barely managed to mumble, my voice weak. "Thank... you..." My eyes closed, and I quickly slipped into sleep, my mind surrendering to overwhelming fatigue.

~

I found myself in the center of a dark, empty room. The walls seemed to stretch out into nothingness, lost in shadow. Above me, a noose hung from the ceiling, swinging slowly back and forth. It swayed just inches above my head, the rope dangling like a haunting reminder of something I didn't want to face.

I was standing on a chair, and I could feel its uneven legs wobbling beneath me. My breathing quickened as I stared up at the rope. It felt alive, swaying with a purpose, casting a dark, heavy shadow over me, causing my pulse to pound in my ears.

I looked out into the room and saw them—hundreds of shadowy figures surrounding me, their faces hidden in the darkness. They weren't just watching; they were waiting. Silent. Expectant. Their eyes, though unseen, bore into me, and I could feel their judgment pressing down on me like a suffocating weight.

I wanted to step off the chair, but my feet felt like they were glued in place. My legs trembled, and I could barely keep my balance. My heart raced, hammering in my chest as I realized there was no escape. Then, in a split second, the rope was knotted around my neck this time, and I couldn't help but look at it.

Then, a voice broke the silence. Low, cold, and distant. "Jump."

It was followed by another. And another. Soon, the entire room echoed the word. "Jump. Jump. Jump." The chant grew louder, and more aggressive, the pressure building with each whisper.

My body tensed, paralyzed by fear, and I tried to scream, but no sound came out. The noose swayed inches above my head now, casting its long, dark shadow over me. My legs buckled, and the chair wobbled dangerously beneath me.

And then, without warning, I fell.

...

I woke with a violent gasp, my chest heaving as if I'd drowned. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst from my chest. Cold sweat clung to my skin, and I gripped the thin blanket as if it were my only anchor to reality. The familiar dimness of the cell slowly came into focus, but the terror of the dream still held me in its grip.

For God's sake...

I let out a breath as I climbed down from the bunk bed. The small window showed that it was morning. I quietly walked over to the shelf to grab my things, trying not to wake Diako, Ebi, and Cyrus. They were still asleep.

Slipping out of the cell, I stepped into the corridor and came face-to-face with an officer on patrol. My breath caught for a moment, and I swallowed nervously before continuing toward the showers. The showers were located in a large, rectangular hall—rows of public showerheads lined the walls. A few men were already there, their voices low and their movements slow in the early morning.