I think I'm in love with every single one of you. Thank you so much, the response to this story has been so unexpected. This will be my last update until I get back from Spain. Much love to you all.

My dearest Aria,

How could you even think that I don't love you? You're the only thing keeping me sane in here, I swear to you. Your picture is up beside my bed, like a proper pin-up! Some nights when I can't sleep, I just look at you and I know that everything is going to be okay. Did you hear where my cell is? Block B, cell 26. You see? We're closer than you think.

And it's not too bad. I've made friends with my cellmate Hanson, he's nice, you'd like him. Not that you'll ever meet him, he's gonna be in here long after me. A guy named Pierce is my closest friend in here, we both love literature and he's only in here for taxes so I feel safe enough talking to him.

I'm glad you're getting on with my Mom, I know she'll look after you for me. If you ever need to get away for a while, don't hesitate to call her. You can stay in my old room and marvel at how you could possibly ever fall in love with a guy that still has Pokémon posters on his wall.

And the thing with your parents, Aria, are you sure you're making the right decision? They're technically still in charge of you until you're eighteen. I get it if you can't be around them, but try not to push them too far. A restraining order is not what we need right now, especially if you're ever able to visit. Do you think you could one day, even if it's for a few minutes? I just want to see your face in 3D.

I think I'm finally starting to get into the rhythm of this place. I went to boarding school for a few months when my folks split and it's not entirely different. Well, convicts aside. I get to work in the library most of the time, I think the guards are just happy that somebody is willing to sort through the stacks of unorganised literature! They had Austen beside Meyers – blasphemy!

Please don't worry about me, I'm fine. Only 22 more months until you're in my arms again.

Remember what I told you.

All my love, forever,

Ezra.

P.S. You have no idea how much I want Rose of Sharon right now.

With a sigh, Ezra signed his name and reread his letter to Aria. Most of it was a lies but he didn't want her to worry about him or to blame herself because of what happened. He'd been asking for it by punching Hanson, it was stupid. The less Aria knew about his life here the better.

He folded the piece of paper and placed it inside his book, he'd give it in to be posted later. For now, he had another three hours of organising bookshelves to do.

Ezra immersed himself in the dusty literature of the small library, moving slowly so as not to test his still-bruised ribs. He felt bad for lying to Aria and pretending like he and Hanson got on. In reality, they hadn't spoken two words to each other in the three days that had passed. Ezra was, in fact, a little scared that the silent treatment Hanson was giving him meant that trouble was looming. He wished he'd thought twice about crossing a man convicted of murder.

A sudden racket caused Ezra to turn away from his pile of books, authors F-G, and look towards the door to the dank library. The man in question, Hanson, had appeared with a burly guy Ezra had no name for. His breathing quickened when he noted that they had him cornered.

"Are you, uh, are you looking for a book?" He asked, hoping that his voice carried a lot less squeaky than it sounded to him.

"Turns out I am, Loverboy," Hanson jeered, walking towards the desk. Ezra noticed that his letter was peeking out from between the pages of his own book. He prayed that Hanson wouldn't see it. However, he knew that it was useless as Hanson seemed to zero in on the book straight away.

"Catcher in the Rye," he read out, turning back to look at his friend, "You see this, Carter? Loverboy is no ordinary Joe like us. No, sir, he's got an education." Carter let out a gruff laugh. "Shame nobody's gonna hire you when they see that you've been in here." Again Carter laughed.

Ezra took a tentative step forward, placing the pile of books onto a rickety desk. Hanson narrowed his eyes at him.

"But, you see, he won't tell anybody what he's in for," Hanson continued his little speech. "Have you heard him Carter? All he says is that he's in for 'falling in love'. It's sweet." Ezra looked away, his jaw clenched. He was determined not to fight back. "And you should see the chick he's in love with. Mmm-hmm! I would love to give her a taste of my magic."

Carter laughed again as Ezra closed his eyes, letting out an angry huff of breath. She's safe, he can't touch her. She's not here. He repeated this like a mantra, unwavering in his resolution not to lower himself to Hanson's level.

"She's beautiful, isn't she Loverboy?" Hanson jeered, "Did you get her to suck you? God, the things I'd get her to do with that dainty little mouth. I just love it when they have that innocent look about them." Ezra's fists clenched. "I bet the little slut would swallow, too. I bet she likes it rough."

He couldn't help himself, "Shut the fuck up, Hanson."

"Oh, there it is!" Hanson celebrated, "I told you I'd find the feisty guy that punched me, Carter. I knew he was hiding in there somewhere. Why don't you show him what we do to people that talk to us that way?"

Ezra's eyes widened as Carter trudged over. He grabbed Ezra by the shoulders and forced him over slightly before raising his knee and kneeing him hard in the gut. Ezra doubled over, the pain was near unbearable as he fell to the ground.

Carter kicked him hard in the gut again, forcing all the oxygen out of his lungs. Just as he pulled his foot back to strike again, however, Hanson stopped him.

"Wait, wait, wait! What do we have here?" Ezra coughed and moved his head slightly to see Hanson holding the letter he'd written. "Is it a letter to her, hmm? Oh, it is!" He clapped excitedly, "I can't wait to read this. My dearest Aria…" He looked up with a glint in his eye, "How sweet." Hanson looked back at the letter and went silent as he read the rest of it to himself.

Ezra and Carter waited in silence to see what Hanson would do. A moment later he looked up, a frightening look on his face. It made Ezra's heart pound.

He scrumpled the letter up and spat on it before throwing it at Ezra.

Then, with a beckoning jerk of the head to Carter, the two men left the library – but not before Carter delivered a final, powerful kick to Ezra's abdomen. Ezra felt something crack and forced himself to swallow down the bile rising in this throat.

The room seemed to spin around him as Ezra lay curled up on the ground, forcing air into his body in quick pants for the second time that week. But this time, it wasn't the pain that kept him from breathing, but the fear of what Hanson now knew, and what he was going to do with the newfound knowledge.

Let me know what you think!

-K