“I thought we’d be in here together … I thought I’d have you for eight of my nine years.”

“I’ll visit you, write to you, I swear.”

Ollie turned around and pointed his finger at Rory. “I want nothing from you.”

His face had reddened, and Rory’s eyes started stinging when he saw Ollie’s getting waterlogged.

“I’m sorry—”

“Sure, you are … you get to go home, get to walk out those gates, and go back to your life, and your family, and I’m left here to rot.”

“Ollie…” Rory pressed his hands together. “I really am sorry, I—I can’t tell you enough.”

Ollie wiped aggressively at his face. “You know what…”

“What?”

“I wish you bled out in that cupboard. I wish Pauly sunk that knife into your heart.”

His words knocked the air from Rory’s chest, and he bowed forward. Ollie turned, opened the door, then slammed it behind himself.

“He doesn’t mean that.” Captain whispered.

“He does, and sometimes I wish it, too.”

“Don’t say that…”

“Are you not gonna yell at me, wish me dead?”

Captain shook his head, then murmured. “No, you have to own your choices. That question about me working undercover suddenly makes sense.”

“You were right, it wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t worth hurting Ollie, lying to you, betraying Sebastian. I told you I can be evil, too.”

“You’re not evil, Rory. You did what you had to…” Captain held out his hand. “It was nice meeting you.”

“Really?”

Captain smiled, and Rory clutched his hand.

“Promise you’ll look after Ollie.”

“I will, I swear.”

“And you’ll take care of yourself.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Rory squeezed Captain’s hand harder. “I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be… I get it, I really do.”

Captain dropped his hand, gave him a brief smile, then turned away. He closed the door softly behind himself, and Rory collapsed on his chair. He held his face in his hands and rocked back and forth.

The door opened, and Rory knew the governor was standing behind him. “Are you ready to see Sebastian?”

Rory lifted his head. He wasn’t ready, he’d never be ready, but he had to do it.

“Yeah.” He grabbed his letter off the desk and got to his feet. “Let’s go.”

****

The governor opened the hatch, then stepped away. Rory kneeled on the floor, and when Sebastian’s face appeared in the opening, it took all his willpower not to break down in front of him.

“Rory? What the hell?” His eyes were round with worry, and he searched Rory’s face for an answer. Rory ducked his head.

“Hey…” Sebastian mumbled, reaching through the hatch.

“Hands inside.” The governor muttered.

Sebastian huffed, then retracted his hand. “What’s wrong?”

“What Pauly said was true.”

Sebastian leaned away from the hatch.