Chapter 15 - Caught Margot's POV I now sat alone towards the edge of the assembly room , legs folded up on one of the cold plastic chairs , nursing a lukewarm bottle of water like it was a lifeline . My thumb worked over the crinkled label , peeling the edges absentmindedly as I just waited . Cara still hadn't come back yet , and I often questioned whether I had been gone for this long for my own debrief ... it felt like it had been forever ! She had been unluckily called just minutes after I had returned from my own chat , the two of us only exchanging a brief glance not even words as we passed by each other like ships in the night . - - I was now left alone with my own thoughts tormenting me . Dangerous , spiraling , chaotic thoughts . All swarming around the one and only Coban Santorelli . I couldn't stop replaying the name in my head . Santorelli ... was he perhaps Italian? I couldn't stop picturing that grainy security image either , with the crumpled body lying at his feet and the way the guard would slap the folder down onto the table like a silent warning sign . My stomach churned as I recalled the guard's words trafficking . gang affiliation , suspected mass murder , drug And he's your responsibility now ... I took another sip of the water , grimacing at the flat taste but knowing that I had to take advantage of it whilst it was free . Then , suddenly , out of nowhere , a new anxiety struck me as I gasped , one I hadn't even thought to ask in the middle of my flustered panic earlier . How old is he ?! The question hit me like a slap . Why didn't I think to ask that ? But why didn't the guard just tell me ? Did he maybe know that it would have freaked me out ?! 1/4 3:13 pm PS Chapter 15 - Caught What if he was old ? Like really old ? A fully - grown adult man with grey hair and sun - damaged skin and prison tattoos older than my entire existence ? How was I was supposed to " emotionally rehabilitate " a forty - year - old man with blood on his hands who was no doubt facing a mid - life crisis being stuck behind bars ? The idea itself sounded ridiculous and totally laughable ! Little five foot nothing me ? Teaching an old dude how to be a better person ? Sure ! That could never work ! There has to be some science behind this whole project , right ? The idea alone made my skin crawl . The power imbalance , the discomfort ... the sheer absurdity of being tossed in a cell with an older guy . Nah ! They couldn't do that ! Pairing freshly turned eighteen year olds with much older dudes ? There had to be some thought process behind this to prevent such pair ups ... I buried my face in my hands , groaning quietly into my palms at my newest concern . It all still felt so unbelievable and untrue ... " Well , my guy's name is Leon , and I can just imagine already that he's got one of those jawlines that could cut through glass , " a syrupy voice drifted from across the room , bursting through the fog of my anxiety like a pin . I lifted my head slowly , gaze locking onto a group of familiar girls , the ones wearing the mint - green the same ones from earlier , all now huddled together on some chairs by the ship window . uniforms - One of them , a girl with thick blonde curls and manicured nails , was leaned in like she was sharing the world's juiciest gossip . " And guess what he's in for too ? " she practically purred . " Drugs , gang ties , and aggravated assault . The real bad boy trifecta . " She claps suddenly , as the others break out in to excited screeches as if on queue . I watched on as they all gasped and giggled like she'd just described a celebrity sighting ... " Oh my god , serious ? " the redhead beside her fanned her face with mock exaggeration . " That's actually so hot . What age is he ?! " She gushed , as I involuntarily leaned closer as though it would help me to hear the already loud girls , more . 2/4 3:13 pm P DD Chapter 15 Caught Had she been told an age ? " He's twenty - seven ! Older than us which is what we had hoped for ! The guard told me that he's never had a ' real connection ' before , " the blonde continued , swooning . " Like , he needs me to help him feel something again . Isn't that just ... ugh . So raw ? " I stared at them , dumbfounded . What the actual hell was this ? I was over here freaking out and yet they were so ... ecstatic about it all ? They were talking about violent crimes like they were designer handbags . Comparing felony charges like status symbols . Giddy over sociopaths and armed criminals like they were dating app matches with edgy profiles . - Something sour rose up in my throat . I didn't mean to stare , I really didn't but I just couldn't help it . My eyes were locked on them like they were a train wreck happening before my very eyes in slow motion . But suddenly , the blonde caught me . She blinked , then narrowed her eyes . " Uh excuse me ... can we help you ? " The others instantly turned toward me , following her gaze , as I snapped my open mouth closed and looked away instantly , heart lurching . Shit , they caught me gaping ... " Do you have a problem or something ? Staring at us as though we've grown three heads ? " the redhead asked next , her tone sharp and smug at the same time . " Probably jealousy , let's be honest ! " The blonde mutters , as the others laughed . I blinked down at my water bottle , face suddenly burning before I frantically shook my head . " Ehh ... no , I was just lost in a daydream , I didn't mean to stare at you all ... " I muttered , barely audible and hoping that it would be enough to move on . " Oh , she definitely has a problem ," the blonde added . " Probably annoyed she got assigned someone boring I bet ? You're giving total inmate envy , girl . " She flipped her hair with a scoff , as I had to keep from groaning at her pathetic reasoning , But I wouldn't dare ... I wasn't a fan of confrontation , especially on my own without Cara ... Laughter bubbled from their corner as I shrank back in my seat , wishing I could disappear into the floor . I clenched the bottle in my hands , resisting the urge to launch it at their perfectly glossed faces . 3/4 3:13 pm P DD Chapter 15 Caught But I didn't move . I didn't bite back . It wouldn't help me in any way here . " Whatever guy gets landed with her will be fucking gutted anyhow ! " I heard one say in a ' faux whisper ' , as though she was trying to be quiet but knew that I'd hear her anyway . I stayed quiet . Took another shaky sip . Tried to breathe through it and avoid further eye contact . " Right ? I'm so glad we chose this colour too , you did say that only the desperate ones would go for pink ! " A brown haired girl speaks out next , as they continue to turn towards me - desperate to catch me staring at them again , but I refused . Let them laugh at me .... Let them act like this was all just a game ... They don't even realise what they have signed up for yet ... - Because when the reality of this all hits them the bars , the locked doors , the violent inmates - I had a feeling those giggles would fade real fast . This wasn't a game . " Was that a bruise under her eye too ? I didn't know she had already been in there with them ! Who knew you could get a head start to meet the inmates ! " The blonde snorts louder this time , as I swallow the lump in my throat knowing that the bruise was clearly still noticeable . Crap ... the concealer didn't last long ... probably due to my profuse sweats ! Where the hell was Cara when I needed her ?! Please hurry up ... Chapter Comments 14