Dez had always wondered how a fight between him and Hooks would go. There had been plenty of times it crossed his mind, despite their friendships disagreements were not something rare. He bet most guys did with their friends, the curious male mind just couldn’t help itself he guessed. And like most men, Dez had assumed he could whoop Hooks, with a struggle for sure as the guy got into fights near constantly, but whoop him all the same. It seemed decently easy in his head, but it turned out to be harder than he knew.

  ?

  Oddly enough, it never occurred to Dez just how big the size difference between him and Hooks was. Though as he attempted to pin him down and strangle him it became much more apparent. The man bucking and throwing his free elbow into Dez’s face, Dez’s grip around Hooks' throat loosened for a moment, just enough for Hooks to get his second arm into the lock. Dez cursed as Hooks ripped free from his grip and twisted with a peel of laughter. Dez felt his spine tingle uselessly, as if he didn’t recognize this wasn’t going well. A moment later, Hooks turned to take advantage of being on top in a fight, beginning to rain a series of heavy blows.

  ?

  Dez barely raised his guard, the blows smacking it into his own face, him wincing as his head bounced off the concrete with each one. Desperation gave him strength; however, he fought through the pain and dizziness and managed to lift his legs up and get them between the two of them, and with a heave, kicked Hooks off partially off of him. However, his former friend was barely bothered, having prepared for Dez’ attempt, sliding with the push and diving back in readily. However Dez had been readier still, timing a double kick for Hooks face just as the man charged back in.

  ?

  Hooks was knocked back, dazed, and landed flat on his ass, allowing Dez a moment to crawl to his feet. As he scanned the chaos around him, he realized why their spat hadn’t been broken up yet.

  Hector and the woman were holding their own against the approaching Woods. To his surprise, Hector, seemingly a boxer of some sort, slipped punches and delivered brutal counterpunches to a pair of Woods with shocking ease. Despite their numbers they seemed helpless, slowly battering the two back with low energy strikes.

  The woman was having an even easier time, stalking toward a cowering and already bloodied Vance, who crawled backwards away in terror.

  The other uninvolved prisoners had involved themselves in a different way, blocking the courtyard entrance from the guard and the rest of the prisoners alike as they cheered on the fight. Dez supposed there wasn’t entertainment in Death Row often.

  ?

  Dez, determined to give them a show, turned back to stalk toward Hooks. But his old friend just chuckled as he spat out a wad of blood. “Figured you’d snap like that, Desmond, but you need to hear me out.”

  ?

  “Done with that,” Dez replied, waiting for Hooks to stand. “You’ve played me for the last time Brother. I’m getting blood for it this time.” He said, as he raised his fists, he wanted to say plenty to Hooks; a part of him even wanted to let it all go and spend time with his brother before they both died. But all of that could wait, Dez had learned a long time ago, something just couldn’t be settled with words. This had to be settled.

  ?

  “Oh, so it’s like that?” Hooks said with a laugh as he stood. “Don’t get me wrong, brother, I would love to show you just how badly you fucked up yourself, but I’ll have my homegirl do it! Aye K!”

  ?

  Dez raised a brow, but the tall woman from before suddenly appeared between the two of them. “Okay, Hooks, you’ve fallen low, but having a woman literally fight your battles is a bit much even for you.” Dez half-joked as he gestured to her. “Listen, no disrespect intended, but I really don’t know how to feel scrapping with a woman.”

  ?

  “So leave Mr. Hooks be.” The woman replied evenly. “I’d hate to have to settle the matter.”

  ?

  Dez narrowed his eyes. She was goading him, trying to force the matter. Why the hell was she so determined to protect him? “I don’t know who you are, but I’m not fighting no woman, now get out of my way so I can kick Mr Hooks-”

  ?

  Dez didn’t even see it; he was talking big one moment, and the next, his vision suddenly burst into darkness, light returning as Dez realized he was stumbling back dizzily, dropping to his knees as he struggled not to collapse. His head ached deeply, throbbing as if it was going to explode. His spine tingled all the more now, warning him, much too late, that it wasn’t Hooks that it was worried about, but her.

  ?

  “If you're not sure what happened, that was a textbook headkick. I don’t know if you're one of those “gentlemen” or sexists.” K said evenly. “But I can fight better than most men, and Mr. Hook's protection is assured by myself…”

  ?

  “How the hell did you even find an MMA girlfriend in jail?” Dez bemoaned as he rose to his feet. The joke was mostly to hide how rocked he was, how his legs were still a little shaky. He was in trouble if he was to fight them both.

  ?

  “Our relationship is purely business,” K replied.

  ?

  “Though it is a pleasure.” Hooks joked.

  ?

  “All the same, I ain’t backing down,” Dez said, his sense of balance returning. The idea of fighting a woman made his skin crawl, but there was no way he would get another chance like this. Even if it was looking grim, he would see it through. “Last chance to back down K, I have no beef with you.”

  ?

  “Big talk, little man,” K replied evenly. Dropping into the same low stance she had before.

  ?

  It was clear that K was some sort of professional fighter. Dez wasn’t sure how or why she was here, but if he wanted his shot as Hooks, she needed to go. He would hit her a couple of good times and hoped she would back down, or at least give him an opening at Hooks.

  ?

  She had thrown a kick a moment ago, and if she was trained, letting her have the first move felt stupid. So Dez charged in low to the ground; make it harder to kick his head off. Dez watched as he she began to throw a kick from her left leg. Dez raised both arms to block what he thought was a headkick, only to take one to the body instead.

  Dez choked on nothing, the air being driven from his lungs and nearly making his legs buckle. Before he could even react, his head snapped back from a jab from K. He stumbled back, managing by pure luck to dodge a follow-up punch, and cursed as she stepped after him. He desperately ducked a punch and attempted to lunge for her, only for her to sidestep and allow him to hit the dirt.

  ?

  Dez cursed again as jeers and cheers from the peanut gallery erupted at his fall. He noticed now that Vance was still prone on the ground, and the other two Woods were much the same. Hector was nearby watching, seemingly conflicted by the fight, but unwilling to get involved. Not that Dez would’ve ever jumped a woman anyway. Hooks seemed content to watch as well, not moving an inch even as Dez struggled to his feet.

  ?

  “This is over,” K assured him. “I’ve been training for fights like this since I could walk. You’re swinging above your weight class, almost literally?”

  ?

  Dez would’ve laughed at such a sharp jab any other time. Even when aimed at him, he would’ve appreciated the wit of it. But in that moment, it was enough; his patience snapped as he was determined to humble this lady.

  ?

  He jumped up and charged, unleashing his own barrage punches. She slipped and weaved around each of them before catching his arm and wenching it behind his back with shocking strength. Dez cried out in pain from the maneuver and attempted to throw his free elbow, but before he could manage, he felt his feet leave the ground. Dez couldn’t even curse as he hit the ground flat, the air once again being driven from his lungs and stunning him.

  ?

  K watched him as he struggled to regain his breath and groaned in pain. Nodding at a job well done, she walked away right as Hooks walked over. Hector stepped forward as well, but Hooks raised his hands in mock surrender.

  ?

  “Now, now, my Latino friend.” Hooks said as he stood over Dez. “This fight is over, just want a word with my man before the guards break through.”

  ?

  Dez wanted to reply, but shame and anger burned within him. Being beaten like that so soundly, having Hooks stand over him, it was crushing. Hector hesitated tense, but seemed content to see what happened, it was the smartest choice.

  “Not that you could stop me with Wonder Woman here.” Hooks joked as he crouched low to speak to Dez privately. “I know what you're thinking Brother, that you think I’m a rat or something. But listen, there’s way too much going on here that you don’t know about, more than I can tell you right now.”

  ?

  “I told you I’m done listening,” Dez replied hatefully. “You betrayed us, tried to sell us down the river.”

  ?

  “Go damn it, there’s more to it!” Hooks snapped. “I let you sneak me like that to get some steam off your chest, but wake up. You’ve always done what I’ve said, and it’s always worked out. Don’t try to fix something that isn’t broken…”

  ?

  “This looks pretty broken to me…” Dez said.

  ?

  “You’ll see… trust a Brother.” Hooks said.

  ?

  Before Dez could reply, there was a sound of shouts of authority and pain. The guards had gathered a decent-sized party and, using shields and electric prods, were forcing their way into the courtyard. Vance and his boys were grabbed, as Hector and K both began to drop to the ground, hands raised, all the while. Hooks took a step back and began to do the same, whispering to Dez all the while.

  ?

  “Besides, you already started the next stage of this plan!” Hooks mocked as he lay down beside him, his smug face filling Dez’s vision before he was ripped to his feet by the guards, Hooks feeling the same wrath a mere moment later.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  ?

  Slowly, they were all dragged roughly back to their cells, and an immediate lockdown was initiated for the foreseeable future in Death Row.

  ?

  “You’ve done it now!” Hector raged as he paced back and forth in their cell. He had been for the last hour they had been in lock up. Never really expanding upon his thoughts as much as voicing the despair of it all. “You’ve done it now!”

  ?

  “So you’ve said,” Dez remarked, idly lying on his bed as he mulled over the events that had transpired. He felt wired, the energy and tension earlier still within him. It was odd; it had been mere minutes ago that he felt ready to face death, and yet facing Hooks had brought out his will to live, if only to get even with the bastard. It was affecting his mood in interesting ways. “Are we ever gonna get to the part of what I did?”

  ?

  “Well, first you made us an enemy of the Woods!”

  ?

  “Oh no, the racist white folk don’t like us. Pretty sure I can sleep with that.”

  ?

  “They're the largest gang in our unit, the second-largest in the entire prison. Then you go and cause a stir with that woman and man, getting us into lockdown! My friend, we’re all going to the hole because of you!”

  ?

  “Vance was looking for a fight, one that I didn’t start. Hooks did. Besides, I remember you hurting Woods more than me!”

  ?

  “To protect you!”

  ?

  “I didn’t ask!”

  ?

  “No one needs to; a good man gives aid if needed!” Hector replied, punching the wall. “Well, was getting your culo handed to you worth the effort?”

  ?

  “That girl…”

  ?

  “She goes by K,” Hector said, sitting on his own bunk with a huff, the change in topic finally making him settle down a little. “No one knows why she’s here, but she’s been at the hip of that Hooks fellow. At least I know you aren’t going to make the mistake of going with him again.”

  ?

  Dez hummed in agreement, though the words Hooks had left him with did ring through his head. The man had claimed he was no rat, that this all was part of some absurd master plan. But Dez just couldn’t see it. Hooks was clever, and at times downright innovative. But arranging all of this for a specific goal seemed unlikely, unless he simply didn’t care after getting his revenge on Jack. But that didn’t make sense either. Hooks wasn’t the finalistic kind; a plan he’d approve of wouldn’t end with him in Death Row. There was a time Dez would’ve thought it wouldn’t be for him as well.

  ?

  Had it been mere bluster, an attempt to dissuade Dez from spending their short time here gunning for him? Surely a guy as conniving as Hooks was he would realize Dez, of all times, would now see through such? Did he simply think him dumb?

  ?

  Dez wanted to discount it, but his spine tingled whenever he thought it over. So he changed the topic, content to think it over for now. Besides, Dez realized that the little stunt almost surely meant the two of them wouldn’t cross paths again. They’d likely be in solitary till the day of. “So that K chick, who the hell is she, a female terminator?”

  ?

  “Something like that, my friend,” Hector said with a sigh. “For whatever reason, she’s here, and she’s been the top dog of the whole place. Been following around that Hook guy and messing up anyone who messes with him, doubly so for any guy foolish enough to hit on her. Would’ve helped you out, but value my life, my friend.”

  ?

  Dez didn’t mind. Hector may not have fought directly with him, but he had dealt with two whole men to give him the chance, and even seemed prepared to step in if Hooks and K had taken it further after she beat him. The man was quickly proving to be one of the realest dudes he ever met.

  ?

  “Is she single?” Dez joked.

  ?

  “All yours,” Hector replied with a chuckle.

  ?

  Their conversation was interrupted, however, as the cell door opened. A foursome of armed and armored guards stood at the ready. Led by a tired-looking man in a suit who sneered at them.

  ?

  “The two of you with me.” The man said. “You have a meeting to attend, act out of line if you wish.”

  ?

  The men behind their leader tensed at the mere idea. And Hector and Dez wisely stepped forward to be cuffed, not questioning or resisting in the slightest. They were given no quarter; all the same, roughly dragged through the halls towards an unknown destination. Dez could tell by Hector's eyes that he had caught onto the same fact; they were only being taken where there were no cameras, guards, or inmates. They were making an active effort to make this covert. A terrible sign.

  That fact broke through the drama of the day like a splash of ice-cold water to the face. A cold sinking sensation made itself known within him, yet it wasn’t that old sense of his. Despite the fact that they could very well be dragged off to a terrible fate, his odd sense was giving nothing. What did that mean?

  ?

  Dez had no time to question it, for they were soon dragged into a room. It looked like a repurposed classroom, with six sets of chairs arranged in pairs of two, each chair holding a pair of shackles and chains. It was soon clear their purpose as the guard forced Hector and him to the chair furthermost to the right, shackling their hands and feet to the chairs as they did.

  ?

  “What the hell?! This can’t be legal! This is bullshit!”

  ?

  “Our just deserts.” Hector unhelpfully offered.

  ?

  The guards didn’t respond at all, leaving them bound and quickly exiting the room. Dez began to struggle against the chair, attempting to free himself. He didn’t care if his senses weren’t going off; this couldn’t be good! Dez struggled and struggled, but predictably, the chairs were bolted to the ground, and the iron shackles and chain offered no give either. Hector was no help, praying quietly to himself and shaking his head shamefully at Dez.

  ?

  They weren’t left alone for long, however. Soon, there was a commotion of cursing and threats. A moment later, the door swung open, and, of all people, Hooks and K were dragged through it. Hooks wasn’t nearly as bothered as he should be, insulting the guards even as they practically slammed him into the chair, one even cuffing him hard for the trouble. K wasn’t treated much better, but was spared a literal strike. Then the guards left again.

  ?

  “Hey there, Dez, imagine seeing you so soon! Hope you don’t hurt too much!” Hooks said, smirking at Dez with glee. “Don’t feel too bad, she’s done that to plenty of homies, homegirl don’t play.”

  ?

  “Hope I get the chance to put my hands on you,” Dez replied evenly. If not for him already trying, he would rage and attempt to throttle the man. But there was no point in it, and a bastard like him would enjoy watching him squirm pointlessly.

  ?

  “I don’t suggest it, homegirl over here is fine, but plays rough.” Hooks chuckled. “Didn’t get enough the first time?”

  ?

  “You weren’t ever the type to hide behind someone before,” Dez said with a sneer. “Guess rats don’t have spines.”

  ?

  “I told you there’s more to it than that!” Hooks snapped.

  ?

  “They're both tonterío.” Hector chimed in with a deep sigh.

  ?

  “Aye.” K agreed.

  ?

  However, their chatter was interrupted as three more were brought in. Vance and his two boys from earlier, none of them struggled, though they shot them all hateful glares as they were seated.

  ?

  “Well, ain’t this a fine get together?” Vance quipped as the guards left. “Auspicious really, any of you 'fine' folk know why we're here?”

  ?

  Dez, K, and Hector merely glared at the man, but it was Hooks who offered an actual answer.

  ?

  “They weren’t informative or gentle with any of us.” Hooks said with as much of a shrug as he could offer. “Though it seems obvious, it's due to that little scuffle earlier.”

  ?

  “So we're all screwed because you n-” A older man with thinning gray hair barked, but fell silent when Vance raised his hand.

  ?

  “Now Derby.” Vance chimed in. “No need to stir up things too much now, not until we know what sort of mess we’re in.”

  ?

  “I prefer you not refer to this situation as a mess.” A voice chimed in. The door swung open as a single man strolled into the room. He wasn’t a guard or the Warden; in fact, he looked very much like a regular old businessman. Hair gelled into a neat, artificially messy-looking mop. He wore a modest blue suit with a tie featuring cats of all things. On his chest was an identifier, a generic nametag, with a cartoonish “George” scrawled onto it. The man calmly stood before them; in one hand, he held a briefcase, and in the other, some sort of board. The man set down the board, which snapped with a whirl of gears, becoming a table with a conjoined chair. They sat in it lazily, clicking open his briefcase so they couldn’t see within and removing a thermos. He busied himself sipping from it, making an appreciative hum as they all watched, confused.

  “It’s you?!” K said, suddenly seeming terrified. “What are-”

  “I’d watch what you say, Khloe,” George said simply, proverbially gagging the woman with ease. “Besides I’ve never been fond of introductions.”

  ?

  “So is he a lawyer or something?” Vance asked, breaking the tension fearlessly.

  ?

  “Definitely some sort of desk jockey.” The apparent Derby agreed.

  ?

  “Maybe we should hear him out?” Hooks were offered to the others. Dez shot the man a look that would’ve killed him had he had the ability, luckily the others glaring at him as well made even him fall silent.

  ?

  “Ah, so not all of you are simple.” George suddenly said, leaning back as he set down his thermos, apparently done with his indulgence. His tone was odd; it was almost as if he was trying to be teasing and playful, but it didn’t reach his eyes or voice. “I am here to deal with you all, and offer you an opportunity you all are most assuredly deserving of.”

  ?

  “I’ve had enough opportunities,” Dez said with a frown. He didn’t like the sound of that last line, his sense agreed his head buzzing in response. Saying they were deserving of it could mean two things…

  ?

  “I agree, Des, my gut says he can’t be trusted.” Hector agreed.

  ?

  “Did he just call you Des?” Hooks chimed in confused.

  ?

  “I’d prefer if you all were silent now. After the mistakes you’ve made, you’ve run out of room on the proverbial leash.” George interrupted. “All of you are some of the worst criminals this country has to offer, on Death Row awaiting disposal by this great country. That is to say you have no future, and now you’ve gone and stirred the pot. How reckless.”

  “So what?” The unnamed Woods asked. “We’re already set up to die, what else can you do?”

  ?

  “A lot, it turns out,” George said with a chuckle, Dez noting his odd sense was increasing in intensity the longer he spoke. “With pressure from public media and your already severe punishments, a decision needed to be made, and it has. Your final day has been brought much closer now; in one week, each of you will be meeting the needle.”

  ?

  “Bullshit.” Vance and Dez said in sync, the two glaring at one another for the offense.

  ?

  They all fell silent at such, before all save for Hooks and Vance erupted in rage. Vance’s boy fought against their binds as Dez had earlier swearing death to George. K’s eyes became wide as she seemed to look for a non-existent escape.

  ?

  “Now come on, George, you can’t expect us to believe such-” Vance began, but the room was driven to silence the very next moment.

  ?

  Before any of them could even react, George drew a nine-millimeter pistol and shot the unnamed Woods in the face without hesitating. The sound was devastating in such an enclosed space. It made them all flinch and stunned them, before the sound of dripping blood filled the room, the vision of the man’s limp body greeting them as they recovered.

  They all were silent and still; none of them could have expected that. This was a prison, a place supposedly of law and order, the guards and staff weren’t supposed to be able to do this sort of thing. To kill someone randomly, even someone on Death Row, was unheard of. But it made it clear in one moment just how serious this was, how dangerous…

  ?

  Dez couldn’t look away from the now-dead Woods. The man’s body had gone slack, now grounded in a position that would be painful if alive; his head had been nearly split in two from the round, the crimson meaty contents pooling around Vance and his boy.

  “That was uncouth and rude of me,” George admitted with a shrug, casually placing the pistol on the desk before him. “But an effective way to break through to you all, and make it clear just how little power you have here. If I so please, I could execute each one of you here and now and face no penalty for it. This situation is beyond your understanding and control. But it doesn’t have to end in your deaths…”

  “Just come out with it.” Hooks snapped, seeming the least affected by the gun and the random death of one of them. But the man’s temper had been stoked, Hooks had never liked being threatened.

  ?

  “I come from an organization created and run by the United States Government.” George began. The man showed no ID or proof of identity. He simply didn’t need to do so with how this was set up. It didn’t matter if they believed him. “This organization is one that intends to use the US prison population to further the living of the rest of society, as well as offer those with no future a chance to live a life of at least some freedom.”

  ?

  “And what exactly would this entail now?” Vance asked.

  ?

  “You’d be labhands for a lab site, of which the location and description cannot be made aware of unless admitted to. This is an indefinite situation, of course, you would never leave it, nor would the general public be aware of your fate.” George explained. “This is completely voluntary, of course, but your only other option would be the needle, of course."

  “That’s not a lot to go on.” Dez pointed out.

  ?

  “That's all you’ll get,” George said, standing up and packing his briefcase. With a stomp of his foot, the table became some sort of board again. And the man slowly walked out of the room. “You all have until the end of the day to decide. I’ll leave guards outside your cells, and you can tell them your decision at any time. I hope to see you there…”

  ?

  They didn’t say a word as the man left, merely watching as masked men came into the room and removed the corpse, and forced them along as they scrubbed the room down to remove evidence. They all had a lot to process…