Trouble

The men’s room was quiet.

Too quiet.

The kind of quiet that pressed against your ears, where even the drip of water from a loose tap sounded louder than it should.

Aaron stood behind me.

Watching.

Not the usual way—no irritation, no bored authority.

This one was different.

There was no hiding it.

Just… hunger.

Raw. Unsettling.

“What do you want this time, Aaron?” I asked, my voice low, steady—but not respectful. Not anymore.

“I see you forget I’m your warden,” he said, stepping closer.

Too close.

The scent of whisky clung to his breath as it brushed my cheek. Warm. Sharp. Real.

I inhaled slowly, trying to ground myself.

“We could get caught,” I muttered, shifting back a step.

“Did we do anything?” he replied, almost amused.

Through the mirror, I caught a glimpse of him—his chest rising slowly, his uniform stretched tight across it, like it couldn’t quite contain him. I looked away quickly.

This was dangerous.

Not just the situation.

Him.

And the worst part?

For a split second—just a second—

My mind betrayed me.

Jess.

Her face. Her laugh. The way she used to hold me like i was her pulled or something, something worth keeping,

Someone worth being with.

He'd always been a quiet person, but not in a normal way..

In situations where others would call him avoidant and walk away.

She would sit four feet away, playing with her hands until I open up.

Till I speak about my problem.

It hit fast.

Too fast.

And it hurt.

Every time.

“Prescott.”

Aaron’s voice cut through it.

Sharp.

Close.

Closer than before.

I hadn’t even noticed the space disappear.

The cold metal of his belt brushed against me, grounding me back into the moment, into something I didn’t want to feel. His presence pressed in—heavy, controlling, impossible to ignore.

“What are you—”

“Shh.”

His hand tightened slightly, holding me in place. Not rough enough to bruise, but enough to remind me I wasn’t the one in control.

I stiffened instantly.

“I’m not—” I started, trying to push him off, but he didn’t move.

Didn’t budge.

He chuckled, and then..

Slam.

My face was against the mirror.

My lower part pressing against the cold sink.

My body shivered slightly.

Frustration rose fast, mixing with something else I refused to name.

“Get off me, Aaron,” I snapped, struggling against him.

He held me steady like it was nothing.

Like I weighed nothing.

"..ohh Prescott...." He chuckled lowly again. "I got you now don't i."

The tension between us wasn’t just physical—it was something heavier, something that made my chest tighten for reasons I didn’t understand.

“I’d prefer you call me Mr. Gray… at times like this,” he said, low.

Something about that tone...

It pissed me off.

Snapped something in me.

“Times like this?” I let out a sharp breath. “Take this, Mr. Gray.”

I kicked back hard, catching him off guard.

He staggered.

Grip gone.

Space.... finally.

“Fuck you, Prescott,” he muttered, steadying himself.

“You wish,” I shot back, grabbing my towel, ready to leave_ half done, didn’t care.

“Wait.”

I froze.

Didn’t turn.

Didn’t want to.

“I’m sorry.”

That made me pause.

Aaron… apologizing?

I turned slowly, confusion clear on my face.

“…Right,” I said awkwardly, scratching the back of my neck. “Sure.”

“And one more thing.”

His tone had changed again. Flat. Controlled.

I stepped back instinctively, but he closed the distance just as fast, stopping me before I could get far.

“I hope this stays between us,” he said, his hand settling on my shoulder—firm, deliberate.

“Yes, warden,” I replied, quieter this time.

Because this...

This version of him...

Was the one everyone feared.

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping near my ear.

“Good. Because if it gets out…”

His eyes locked onto mine, sharp, unreadable.

“I can make your stay here very… memorable.”

He straightened, like nothing had happened.

“Have a nice night.”

And just like that...

He was gone.

Leaving the silence heavier than before.

_

Later, I lay on my bed, staring into space.

My sketchbook rested loosely in my hand, untouched.

My mind drifted.

Back.

—Five years ago—

“You’re going to ruin it, Cole,” Jess laughed softly, slapping my hand away from the wet paint.

“It’s my painting,” I groaned, making a face.

“I know, sulky baby,” she teased, cupping my face gently. “Why don’t you paint more?”

“I do,” I muttered, pulling her closer by the waist.

We swayed slightly, no music, just instinct.

Her blonde hair caught the sunlight, glowing softly.

She looked… alive.

So full of it.

And for a moment—

That was enough.

That was everything.

But then—

That night.

It always came back.

Her breathing.

Shallow.

Breaking.

The shift from something good… to something I still couldn’t understand.

Too fast.

Too sudden.

Even now, I didn’t know what went wrong.

What I did wrong.

The warmth faded.

And the voice came back.

That voice.

Cold. Twisted. Loud.

I hated it.

I pushed off the bed, my fist slamming into the wall before I could stop myself.

Pain shot through my knuckles. Sharp. Real.

But not enough.

“Cole?” Bruce called out, half-asleep.

I didn’t answer.

I hit the wall again.

You killed her.

“I didn’t,” I muttered.

You did it. You murdered her.

“No.”

My voice rose.

Louder this time.

“I SAID I DIDN’T DO IT!”

My fists kept moving, over and over, like I could break the sound out of my head.

The cell stirred. Voices. Whispers.

"What's happening... man ?" A new inmate growled.

Someone slapped his head. "Shut up idiot."

"Yo, where the guards at ?" Another yelled.

Bruce stayed back.

Everyone did.

Because they could see it...

I wasn’t fully there.

Then the guards burst in.

“Stop it!” one of them barked.

But I couldn’t.

I didn’t even hear them properly.

Then...

A sudden movement behind me.

A rush of air slicing past my ear...

And then..

impact.

The baton connected with the back of my neck, hard and final.

Pain exploded through me, fast and blinding.

My body gave in instantly, strength draining out like it was never mine to begin with.

My knees buckled.

The wall slipped away.

Voices turned distant.

Blurred.

And just like that...

Darkness took over.