Shanice's POV

Eight months ago

I sit at the usual detention table, too used to seeing this damn place and feeling hopeless.

How does Derek even survive here? I can't believe it's been six months since he was imprisoned. And for what?

For Veronica? Is she even worth it?

I impatiently tap my fingers on the heavy stainless steel table and I look at the security guards. The waiting is always the worst.

I smile brightly when I notice the guard coming with Derek, his hands cuffed as usual.

He looks different, he always does. Every time I see him, I feel like he is so slowly losing hope and his sanity. I know I'm losing him.

But I would never give up on a friend.

The guard aggressively pushes him to walk and he seems in pain, his body is barely making any movement and his shoulder seems dislocated.

I knew what we were getting into, but this isn't going to stop until he is dead.

I need to think smart, we need to move fast.

He looks up at me innocently. I see a glimpse of embarrassment on his face. I know he hates this place but he doesn't like me helping him every time, he said it makes him feel like he can't do more for me.

His beard isn't well trimmed like it usually is, he seems unkept and his hair is a bit shorter than usual. He looks thinner and weak.

Derek looks handsome nonetheless, his now slimmer but still fit body showing through the thin material of the tight white top and orange pants.

The guard sits him down like he is some kind of distressed animal and I wince when the chair grinds loudly against the concrete.

"Hey," he slowly mutters as he lets his head down and I can't help but feel the hollowness in my stomach, every damn time.

"Don't do this," I say reaching for his cuffed hands placed on the table but he pulls away.

"You know you are better than this, we are going to get you out of here." Unless they act faster than us.

"If I speak, I'm dead." His voice is deep but rough. He scratches his thin beard, struggling to bring both of his hands to his face, and his blue eyes now look blurry and washed out.

"No, I have a plan. I talked to Dominic."

He places the cuffed hands back on table and caresses my hands the best he can. I smile.

"Give up," he says with a faint smile and I shake my head.

"It wasn't your fault. I'm your friend and I will always help you, even if you don't want my help," I speak with authority.

He sighs, damaged, and I continue talking, "I can get you the best lawyer, but there isn't much we can do if you don't speak-" he tries to interrupt me but I stop him, "you can't say what happened, not yet."

Derek nods and I look around for the guards or other people listening. Even the walls have ears here. No one is trustworthy.

"You need to snitch on them in a few months and I will pay other inmates to protect you until you get witness protection."

"That's not going to work, Shanice, they are going to come for you, for-"

"Listen to me, let me finish," I sigh exhausted. "You will snitch on Felix and the others and then you will run away. I have a cabin in Tennessee, once they are all arrested, you can come back."

"I talked to your lawyer, he says it's the best chance you have. You could get your sentence reduced to a year," I explain.

"No, they always have one person willing to do the job. They will hurt you." He doesn't like the idea at all and I don't know what to tell him anymore.

"Don't worry about me."

"What about-"

"Don't say it." I stop him before he regrets even thinking about it.

"A few months... and you will tell the police everything you did with them and I will hand in the proof from your apartment. Then the inmates I paid will protect you, but for now, you have to pretend you aren't going to snitch on them. You have to be on their side even if they hurt you."

Derek lifts his top and the security guard suddenly rushes to us but he calms down once he sees what he is showing me.

His abdomen is all bandaged and I can still see some of the clear blood coming through, the wound is fresh and it's aching me to look at it.

"They won't buy it, they will kill me and then go after everyone I ever talked to." He lets down his top and the guard gives me a disapproving look before leaving.

"You want to stay here for five years? It's going to fuck up your life, Theo."

"Don't use that name," he spits and instantly calms down. "My life is already fucked."

"No, stop pitying yourself. How could you be so stupid to take her blame?! What went through your mind?"

He shakes his head, refusing to answer and I sign exasperated.

"Answer. I want to know," I demand.

"I couldn't ruin her life. I saved her just like you saved me years ago," he says with an insincere tone and I feel like there is more to it than he wants to admit.

"She lied to you, she continued to abuse cocaine, she let you rot in prison."

Derek laughs bitterly at my last exaggeration, his abdomen seems to be hurting with each movement he makes but he quickly composes himself.

"One minute," the younger guard screams at everyone.

"It doesn't matter anymore," he mutters but something convinces me it's not fully true.

"I heard she visits you all the time and wrote you letters," I add.

He doesn't answer.

"Are you at least going to accept the deal?"

The guard comes to grab him, time is up.

"Yes," he finally replies as he is being taken away.

"Wait, one hug." I stop the guard and he seems hesitant but positions himself in front of us as I gently pull Derek in for a hug.

He breathes hard as I accidentally touch his wound and I sigh sadly.

"Stay safe, please."

He nods.

The security guard quickly pulls him away and I watch him leave. He looks over his shoulder and gives me his best reassuring smile but I can't help but dread what's about to come.

This is just the beginning.