Chapter 28 Chapter 28
When fear wears the mask of obedience, escape becomes betrayal
Clara shrugged while Trinity stood there waiting for answers.
It was such a small movement, barely even noticeable but it felt deliberate enough to sting.
"Clara? "
“Don’t start,” she said lightly, brushing off Trinity’s question as though it were nothing more than idle chatter. “I’m fine.”
Trinity didn’t believe her, for a second they just stared at each other as they stood near the corridor that led out of the general hall, the echoes of inmates’ voices and clanking trays muffled behind thick concrete walls. Clara’s posture was too relaxed, her smile too careless. It was the kind of ease Trinity had never seen on her before Saint Ridge.
“You didn’t answer me,” Trinity said. “I asked where you’ve been. I simply thought you were avoiding me but it seems more went on while you were God knows where"
Clara waved a hand dismissively. “I just needed space. You always make everything a big deal.”
Then, without warning, her tone shifted.
“Actually,” she said, eyes lighting up suddenly, “can you help me make a deposit at the bank?”
The request caught Trinity off guard.
“The bank?” she repeated. “Why?”
Clara clasped her hands together, rocking slightly on her heels. “Because I have to make the deposit today"
Trinity studied her carefully. “We’ve got a couple of free hours. Why can’t you just go by yourself?”
For a moment, Clara froze.
Her fingers twitched. Her smile faltered, just slightly, before snapping back into place. But the flicker of irritation that crossed her face didn’t go unnoticed.
“If you don’t want to help me,” Clara said sharply, “just say so. I'm not even asking you to bring me the moon"
“That’s not what I...."
“No,” Clara cut in, her voice rising. “You always do this. You ask questions like you’re interrogating me instead of just helping.”
Trinity’s jaw tightened. “I’m asking because you’ve been acting strange.”
Clara scoffed. “Fine. You know what? If this is how you’ll act every time I ask you for help, then don’t worry. I won’t ask again.”
She turned away as if the conversation was over.
Trinity sighed, running a hand through her hair. Guilt crept in, thick and unwelcome.
“Clara,” she called. “Wait.”
Clara paused but didn’t turn around.
“I’ll go,” Trinity said finally. “Just… don’t go anywhere while I’m away. Especially not ward 5, Please.”
Clara glanced back at her, lips curving into a slow smile. “I won’t move an inch.”
The bank was quiet.
Trinity stood in line, absently tapping her fingers against her thigh, her thoughts spiraling back to Clara despite her efforts to focus. The image of Clara’s vacant smile replayed in her mind over and over again.
She stepped forward just as someone bumped into her shoulder.
“Watch it,” she muttered, then froze, it was that annoying sleezebag, Jason.
He stood there grinning, hands shoved into his jacket pockets, cigarette smoke clinging stubbornly to him like a second skin. The smell hit her instantly, sharp and heavy, like he’d smoked a whole pack back to back.
She wrinkled her nose. “Will you ever stop smoking?”
He chuckled. “Good to see you too.”
Her eyes flicked to his mouth. Perfectly white teeth. Immaculate. It made no sense considering how much he smoked, and the thought irritated her more than it should have.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Same thing as everyone else,” he replied easily “Money.”
Then his expression shifted. “where's Clara?, You two are practically always together.”
Trinity stiffened.
“I have to go,” she said abruptly, stepping around him
Jason moved with her, blocking her path just enough to make his point. “Funny how you suddenly look like the building’s on fire the moment I mention her name. What's going on?”
Her glare sharpened. “Move.”
“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”
She hesitated for a moment.
Jason watched her closely, his smirk fading as something more serious crept into his eyes.
Trinity exhaled harshly. “I think… I think she might be doing drugs.”
His eyebrows shot up and a smile dances around his lips.
“She’s been acting strange,” Trinity continued, her voice low. “Detached. Saying things that don’t sound like her. I thought maybe she’s using something to cope.”
Jason dragged a hand down his face. “You shouldn’t have gone there in the first place.”
“That’s rich,” Trinity snapped. “You’re part of the reason we took the offer in the first place. You wouldn’t stop harassing her over that stupid debt.”
He smirked faintly. “I harassed her because I enjoyed it. Not because I needed the money.”
Her fists clenched. “You’re unbelievable.”
His expression sobered quickly. “You don’t understand, Trinity. Saint Ridge isn’t just another bad workplace. You don’t know how much trouble you’ve brought on yourselves by stepping into that place.”
A chill crawled up her spine. “What are you talking about?”
But Jason had already stepped back, the line moving forward behind him.
“Just… be careful,” he said quietly.
The corridor outside Hale’s cell was empty, the lights dimmer here, the silence heavier. Her heart pounded violently against her ribs as she stood in front of the steel door, fingers trembling in a red lingerie
The fabric felt too thin, too exposed against her skin. Every instinct screamed at her to turn around, to run, to hide but her feet remained rooted to the spot.
Her reflection stared back at her faintly from the metal surface of the door. Wide eyes, pale skin, fear etched clearly across her face.
She didn’t want to be here, she knew that and yet… she had no choice.
Her hand lifted slowly and knocked.
The sound echoed down the corridor, loud and final.
A pause....
Then the door opened.
Hale looked up from his work, brows lifting in surprise. For a split second, he simply stared.
Then his lips parted in a soft coo, his eyes lighting up with unmistakable delight almost sparkling.
“Well,” he murmured. “Look at you. You look so beautiful and tempting.”
Clara swallowed hard, standing frozen in the doorway, terror and obedience warring violently inside her chest as he rose to his feet.