Thank you for all your comments and reviews. Based on suggestions, I've just allowed anonymous reviews.
x-x
"This is a really bad idea," Trip said, keeping pace with Malcolm as he walked the perimeter of the exercise yard. Trip jerked on his arm, stopping his movement, and glanced to the guard towers above them. "They're too damn smart. And they're always watching." He nodded toward the camera hovering over the yard. "There are monitors everywhere. There's no way that you can sneak away and get in there without them knowing that you're gone."
"We have to find a way." Malcolm crossed his arms over his chest. He stared at the door of the asylum. "There has to be a way in there."
Trip took a step forward, closing the space between them. "At least let me go with you."
Malcolm shook his head. "Two of us would really be pushing it. One of us, alone, at least has a chance. And it must be me." At Trip's disbelieving expression, he explained. "Afterwards I'll need to be able to sneak to town, probably by hitching a ride, and so I'll have to blend as much as possible." He looked up at the taller man. "I never thought my lack of height would ever be an advantage, but there you have it, Trip."
Trip looked resigned. "In town...you remember where we tossed our communicators?"
Malcolm smiled in answer.
Trip turned to look at the asylum door. "So, how?"
x-x
Malcolm squatted behind the counter in the mess, placing stacks of clean dishes where the servers could grab them. As he stood, he scanned the crowd for Trip, finding him at a table with other prisoners. Although conversation buzzed around him, Trip remained isolated. No one spoke to him, or even met his eyes.
Malcolm returned to the dish room to get another stack of plates. By the time he returned to the main section of the mess, Trip was already leaving. Malcolm watched as Hemsej and his group stood and followed Trip. When Hemsej passed the guard at the door, the guard gave him a brief nod.
Malcolm's heart skipped a beat, and he muttered a soft swear as he jumped the counter and tried to follow. He heard the guard say something as he rushed by, and then felt himself lifted bodily and slammed to the ground, the guard standing threateningly above him.
Malcolm scrambled to sitting. "Those men" was all he was able to get out before the guard hit him with a shock stick.
x-x
When Malcolm next woke he was lying on his bunk, his entire body singing from the force of the shock he'd received earlier. With a groan, he rolled himself onto his side, blinking rapidly in an attempt to clear his vision as he tried to see into Trip's cell.
He heard Trip's soft voice. "Malcolm?"
Malcolm rubbed a shaking hand across his eyes, then shut them in frustration. That was actually better, so he kept his eyes closed for a moment, trying to get his bearings.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah," he whispered, his voice raspy. Taking a slow and careful breath, he opened his eyes again. Still blurry, but a bit better, he could just make out Trip sitting on his bunk in the adjoining cell. He blinked again and his vision came clearer, revealing Trip there, his face mottled with fresh bruises.
"I'm so sorry," Malcolm said after a long moment.
"For what?"
Malcolm indicated Trip's injuries with a wave of his arm. "Some security officer."
"This is not your fault," Trip said, leaning towards the wall that separated them.
"My fault," Malcolm said, stumbling over the words. "I'm supposed to be able to defend you, and all I can do here..." He dropped his voice to a whisper. "All I can do is stand by and watch while you get the crap beaten out of you. My responsibility, and I can't - " He cut himself off, shaking his head and closing his eyes.
x-x
From there Malcolm could only watch as Trip's beatings escalated. Although Malcolm would catch derisive comments from the guards being directed at Trip, and the occasional look or nudge from a prisoner, Hemsej and his cronies were now only threatening Trip out of Malcolm's view. Worse, it seemed that Malcolm's suspicion that they'd enlisted some of the guards to their cause was true, because despite the constant presence of guards and the many monitors about the prison, it seemed there was no place where Trip was safe.
Malcolm knew that it was only a matter of time before Hemsej or a guard injured Trip in such a way that the damage would be permanent.
Malcolm had lost track of the days, but he know that they'd only been there a short time. There was no way that Trip would be able to survive his entire sentence.
Malcolm had to act, and he had to act soon.
x-x
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