I was soon met with a stiff posture as he crossed his hands over his chest and sat back in his chair as if in defense position.

“I asked you a question,” he snapped.

I wilted on the seat and paid languid attention to his demands. Of course, I needed to think of a plan, and it was imperative for me to remain calm while doing so. Whatever I’m coming up with has to be believable. In the meantime, I can’t afford to make him think that I am the least bit nervous.

He came at me again, this time with an even sharper tone and heavily furrowed brows. “Answer me!” he plunged down on the table with both hands.

I finally responded, “No can do,”

“Why not…?”

I smiled then looked up from my bowl to smirk at him as if this was a game and I was only toying with him. “Because if I do… I would have to kill you.”

I threw him for a loop, and his jaw dropped open in surprise. He slammed down on the table again with both hands. The spoon vibrated against the bowl and my hand jiggled against the table’s surface. Only a few inmates close by even bothered to look back inconspicuously. Some were afraid to, and others pretended not to care.

Maybe they weren’t pretending...

He rose up from his seat and walked away from the table.

Shortly, the alarm went off signaling that it was time to get to work. I knew that I was in a pickle and sooner, rather than later, I would have to deal with this problem before it gets out of hand. But there was no way I could tell that brat the truth.

There has got to be another way…

I spent the entire time at work going up and down the steps, calibrating the difference between the paces of my steps and how long it took to get from one floor to the next. I had an idea of how to Bypass the detectors, but the plan just wasn’t coming together. I still had no idea of how to open the lock to the shipment room and countless other small details, and now this!

Soon enough, I started thinking of my last conversation with Alaya, and then it finally came to me.

It was lunchtime, and Alex had already found a seat near the back end of the room.

Jesus Christ Kid! At least pretend like everything’s okay.

Alex wore his emotions on his sleeves, so his puckered forehead and ire expression were like a banner hoisted above his head and held in place by metal bars. I refused myself a plate and headed towards his table. As I approached, his rancor towards me grew even stronger and went straight to the tipping point the moment I sat down. He looked at me with contempt, and I ignored him.

“Meet me outside in 7 minutes.”

“What?” He asked in confusion.

“You want your answer, don’t you?” I baited him. “Meet me in the Recreation Area 1, in 7 minutes.”

Then I got up and walked away. After I arrived at RAS 1, I sat down with my elbows rested on the edge of the table while rubbing my hands together and waited, because I knew he would come. When he arrived he sat down in front of me without saying a word.

The breeze whistled on for a few minutes as we sat in complete silence and engaged in the most epic staring contest of the century. Finally, I had a drink from my cup to quench the thirst and revitalize my parched lips.

“Alex…

I’m a spy.”

PRESENT

That was only two days ago, but somehow it feels like more. The door opened and two individuals wearing masks walked into the room. My position made it difficult to see their entire figure, but they were clearly male.

I was met with a sudden onset of discomfort as the heavy feeling in my stomach that brewed from anxiety turned to anger and confusion as both men removed their mask to reveal their identity as the Briston twins!