Gavin sat rigid on a hard seat, his body only bumping slightly with each pot hole the grey bus hit on its trek through the slowly-depleting terrain. He had glanced around at the other passengers only once, receiving glares and sexual remarks from burly and frankly terrifying-looking men that made his skin crawl. Since then, he had taken to staring blankly out the window and out into the dismal expanse, unwilling to shift his position and hear the soft clinking of chains around his wrists that sent his stomach into to twists and knots.

It had all started a little over a month ago, Gavin wasn't certain of the exact date.

When he moved to Texas, leaving England behind in hopes of creating a modest life with a modest home and a modest job at a gaming store, he had made sure to keep close connections with his family and friends.

So when his best friend, Dan, had called him that day, he hadn't thought anything of it.

That is, until he heard the urgency in the older man's voice.

"Gavin, I need your help."

"Anything, B." He'd readily agreed to his oldest mate before hearing what the problem even was; something that he greatly regretted now.

-

"I… I don't know about this." Gavin rubbed the back of his neck nervously, perched in the back of the van.

Dan had called him up in need of his help, already on his way to Gavin's modest home with a shocking request.

"I know, B, but it's the only option I've got. If we don't… my parents will lose everything they've worked for. I need your help on this, B. I can't do this alone." His eyes were pleading and Gavin let out a resigned sigh, knowing that he would do this to help his best mate.

"I won't have to hurt anyone.. right?" He held the gun in his hands, unfamiliar smooth metal coursing with power that scared Gavin.

Dan smiled excitedly. "You're the best, B! Of course you won't have to hurt anyone, it's just for show. Trust me, if there's anything I know from my days of service, it's that no one is going to try to play the hero when there's a gun pointed at them." His voice was so sure, his eyes shining so bright; it almost scared Gavin. "We just need to get in, get the teller to unlock the vault, grab some cash, and get out. It'll be simple, B. I'll even give you some of the profit! I only need enough to help my family."

Gavin shook his head, carefully shoving the gun into his back pocket and yanking the dark grey hoodie over it. "No, B. I'm happy with my simple existence. I just want to help." But did he? A shiver ran down his spine as he watched his closest friend tuck in his gun and pull up his hood, flashing him a grin. A backpack was secured behind him holding extra materials such as money bags and (though Gavin didn't want to think about it) more bullets.

"Let's go, then." There were only the two of them; two lone men with hoods pulled up entered a homely little bank. It wasn't some giant bank for millionaires. This wasn't some ridiculous movie scene, attempting to rob a bank like that would have them killed.

One elderly security guard stood at the door, nodding a Texas greeting. The men said nothing. For a brief, fleeting moment, everything was calm. Tellers worked, children ran around, mothers and fathers waited in line, and two figures stood by the doors quietly, purpose not yet known.

And then it was chaos.

"Alright, I want everyone down on the ground!" Dan yelled at the top of his voice, pulling out his gun and moving to lock the doors. Gavin pointed his own gun at the now-panicking people with shaky hands, observing the storm raging before his eyes. Mothers ran to cover their children, workers and customers alike dropped to the ground, arms raised in surrender. One little girl made eye contact with Gavin, and the fear in her big, blue eyes tore at his heartstrings. He was the one causing that fear. He held back a disgusted gag.

"C'mon, B!" Dan motioned towards the safe and Gavin complied, keeping his gun raised. "You! Open this!" He pointed his gun at a young, mousy-looking girl and she jumped, her entire body twitching as he stumbled to her feet.

"I…I.." She stuttered out, joints locked. She appeared to be quite literally paralyzed in terror.

"I'm not fucking around!" Dan barked, shooting at the empty space above her. Gavin turned in alarm and several people shrieked out as the bang echoed through the building.

"B…" Gavin began, but he was cut off with a hand gesture.

"Open the bloody safe." Dan growled and the girl snapped to life, nodding as she rushed to the counter, fumbling to grab a key card. She threw a nervous glance at the other workers, receiving a sharp nod from one brave-looking man with dark hair.

Gavin was just thinking that maybe, somehow, it would all go smoothly, when they heard the first alarm.

"Shit." Dan muttered.

"What do we do now, B? How do we escape?" Gavin was on the verge of hyperventilating, his hood falling down as he jogged over to Dan.

"I'm sorry, Gav, but it's every man for himself." Dan fired several shots at the ceiling and everyone seemed to scatter at once, running toward the exit and screaming. Dan ran with them, peeling off his hoodie and abandoning a frozen Gavin.

His mind was screaming for him to move but his legs wouldn't comply in his panicked state, so he just stood there, letting the feelings of betrayal, guilt, and terror wash over him. He hardly even felt the heavy arms take hold of him and drag him away through his numbness.

The trial had been quick, but the questioning had been unbearable. He gave nothing up, but admitted his own guilt. He wasn't sure why he didn't rat out Dan; he just couldn't do that to his best friend, even if Dan had betrayed him.

Unfortunately for him, Dan wasn't done hurting him, even if he didn't know it. One of Dan's random bullets had managed to hit someone.

It wasn't anything fatal, but the guy would be in a wheelchair for a couple months because of it, and that was enough to destroy Gavin's chances of getting a light sentence.

So he had gotten twenty-five years in the Ellis Unit Prison, a prison known for questionable methods and unparalleled harshness.

-

The prison was much larger than Gavin had anticipated, he thought as the bus chugged forward. Tall fences tipped with barbed wire surrounded a huge red brick building and guards stood stock-still on turrets, guns held tightly in gloved hands, almost like statues. He took in a deep breath, taking in surroundings as they were made visible to him.

Inmates in orange jumpsuits were in the prison yard, broken into small groups, each man looking menacing and dangerous. Flowers lined the sidewalks, an almost comical contrast to the rough surroundings and bleak colours.

As Gavin took a hesitant step off the bus and was greeted with catcalls and loud whoops, he had only one thought.

"I'm going to die here."