Dim fluorescent lighting filtered through rusty bars of the cell, illuminating Nyomi as she lay in bed. Rough and dusty covers draped over her form grated against her skin. The ceiling was grimy and dark from water stains and dried bodily fluids, and there was a sour and metallic tang of blood in the air, but she’d grown used to it. She glanced at the fork in her hand, the shiny surface reflecting light into her eyes. Distantly, a scream rang through the air, accompanied by a gunshot, and the girl knew she wouldn’t miss this prison. Minutes later, she heard the soft tick of the clock reaching 2 a.m. Sitting up, Nyomi stretched and climbed down the ladder of the top bunk, gazing fondly at the silhouette under the covers and reaching her hands out. 

The gentle touch of Nyomi’s cold hand brushing ivory hair off Kaiden’s face had him snapping from a light sleep, his dark pupils flitting over his sweetheart’s face as he grinned. Nyomi leaned down, her lower lip brushing against the shell of his ear, her breath tickling him as she whispered, “It’s time. You know what to do, don’t you?” The fork she had taken from the cafeteria was run gently over his ribs, settling at and poking into his abdomen. The metal was cold and oily against his skin, and the hard press of the blunt points of prison cutlery was barely noticed by the boy as he locked gazes with his love. He couldn’t help but raise his hand to cup her cold face, using a thumb to stroke her face gently. “Last chance for me to stop. There’s no backing out after this,” Nyomi warned, with a stern but caring look in her eyes. A soft flush covered Kaiden’s cheeks, and he smiled, tugging Nyomi closer to press a tender kiss to her lips. “I’d never back out. I know how important this is to you.” I’d do anything for you, Kaiden thought, and he knew it was an unspoken truth between them. With their eyes slipped shut, they tilted their heads to kiss deeply, sharing a final moment before Nyomi pulled away, raising the fork and plunging it into his abdomen. 

A shrill scream reverberated through the air; the weapon embedded halfway into his flesh with a wet squelch. Nyomi stepped away to admire the gaping wound in Kaiden’s body while blood seeped into his prison shirt, staining it a crimson red – oh how brave her dear Kaiden was. Gripping the bloody fork  in her hands tightly, she looked down at the writhing boy with a practiced glare, a glint of amusement peeking through the cold look, admiring the staged cries of pain and struggle. Kaiden trembled, tears springing to his wide eyes as he clutched at the wound, screaming, “That crazy woman stabbed me! She stabbed me, help! She’s insane!” The light from outside shone against Nyomi’s face, illuminating it in a menacing look, and the boy couldn’t help but shiver. Guards gathered around the cell, batons in hand, shining their flashlights inside. “Turn around!” one barked, scowling. Nyomi calmly turned around  to face them, hands raised next to her head. “And put the weapon down!” the guard ordered. She dropped the fork, which clanged against the stone prison floor. The door was unlocked, and a trolley was wheeled in. Kaiden winced as he was roughly transferred from the bed onto the trolley, and he bit his tongue until the tang of blood filled his mouth. He flashed a weak smirk  towards Nyomi, and she smiled back, breathing a soft sigh of relief.  Everything will go according to plan. I know Kaiden will make sure of it. She discreetly mouthed ‘I love you’ to the boy as he was carted away. As the door clanked close, she collapsed on the lower bunk, pulling the ratty blanket to her face and inhaling deeply. And now we wait. 

***

Kaiden’s chest was heaving with heavy breaths as he was escorted to the medical wing of the prison facility. The trolley he laid upon was hard and cold, and he fisted at the thin white sheet with shaking hands. The blood was wet and cooling against the skin of his stomach. Its thick, metallic scent clung to the air, a stark contrast to the sterile hallways he was wheeled through. A glance at the clock on the wall showed it was 2.08 a.m. Right on time. Laying back against the trolley, he closed his eyes and relaxed, falling into a light and uncomfortable nap. 

When Kaiden woke up, he was in a different room. The harsh fluorescence burned into his retinas, disorienting him for a moment before he adjusted. Blindingly white light shone from above him,. The sheets over him were stiff and scratchy, and the air the smell of disinfectants. He was in the medical ward, somewhere he had been a few times previously due to different circumstances. Another glance at the wall clock tells him that it was 2.40 a.m. A little earlier than planned. As he tried to sit up to get a better glance around, a sharp pain made him wince and huncha reminder of the wound was tightly bandaged, small spots of blood still seeping through. Ugh, did she have to go so deep? Kaiden grumbled internally, but it’s more out of habit than actual annoyanceand he’s . Several opened drawers and pocketfuls of fresh bandages later, the clock hits 2.50 a.m. A soft beep sounded as the boy pressed the red alert button above his bed. The weight of the access card in his sleeve was reassuring, a silent promise that everything was going right.

Minutes later, a lady in a white dress arrived with a cup of water and painkillers. He gulps them down, but not before beckoning her over before she left the room. “Hey, nurse? I want to see the head warden. I want a cell change,” he said, smirking as he unclipped the access card from her uniform. She nodded tiredly and walked out of the room. Kaiden remembered Nyomi’s words. “We need a higher ranking access card, since the ones that nurses own  aren’t able to scan out the exits that aren’t manned.” A while later, she and a man walked into the room. The nurse stood around the counters, while the man – the (head?) warden – walked towards Kaiden. His uniform it was usually straight as a sheet, but it was crinkled today, and his usually neat hair  was slightly messy. The exhaustion clinging to the man’s features was almost laughable. The timing must be messing him up, huh. Kaiden heaves himself to a sitting position with a groan and speaks to the warden. “So, did you hear what happened? Can I have a cell change? You know, to stop that crazy girl from stabbing me again?” The warden  rub his forehead  in exasperation. From this close, Kaiden could see the dark bags under his eyes, and the slight delay in his reactions as he opened his mouth to respond. Perfect. He was sluggish. Sloppy. That would make this even easier.

 His eyes drifted towards the vase behind the warden. He raised a small rock, and with a swift throw, he  had it flying towards a vase. 

Bang!  The vase shattered behind the warden. He whipped his head around, watching pieces of ceramic break and litter the floor,  water dripping out of the broken vase. 

While he was distracted, Kaiden leaned forward, using a deft hand to unclip the higher-ranking access card from his belt and made quick work of replacing it with the nurse’s. The warden turned back to face Kaiden, and the boy shrugged, continuing, “So, do I get the room change?” The warden gives him a suspicious squint. “No. I’ve got my eye on you, Kaiden. I know something fishy is going on.” With a sharp glare, the warden carefully backs away from Kaiden’s bed, scanning the door access pass and out into the office, headed back into his office. Kaiden simply watched, his expression schooled into feigned disappointment, while deep inside, satisfaction curled in his chest.

***

An hour later, Kaiden stood outside the prison cell door. With a heavy shove, he was pushed in and the door locked behind him. He spots Nyomi sleeping on his bunk, all cuddled up in his blankets. Aw. He walked towards the bed, just a few steps away before one of her eyes snapped open. “Yeesh.” He muttered. She had a sense for these kinds of things. He sits on his bunk, running his arm over Nyomi’s gently. 

They leaned against each other, knowing what was going to come next. It was time.