The Prison Project Chapter 42 - A Lesson Margot's POV I hadn't moved from the corner desk since he left . Not really . - Sure , I'd changed into the cleanest thing I could find a crisp white tee and my grey sweats that hung loosely on my hips , the neck of it growing damp thanks to my half - dry hair dripping water down my back . - I hadn't wanted to sit on his bed again - hadn't dared so I opted for the desk chair instead , legs folded up underneath me like a child waiting to be picked last in gym class . Eventually , my eyes drifted over the array of books on the above shelf . A small , battered collection that seemed more decorative than personal . But still , there was one - a thick , weathered paperback with a cracked spine that caught my attention . - I stepped up to grab it down ... I didn't recognise the title , but something about it seemed almost ... safe . Like it belonged to a different world , one where people worried about late library fees and chapter endings . Not violent outbursts and being humiliated naked in front of someone who the day before had opted to protect you . I was staring at the back of it , lost in the blurb , imagining myself slipping between the pages and disappearing into its story ... when I heard the door click open again . My spine stiffened instinctively . I turned my head slowly - as if hoping it might be someone else , maybe Leo again It was obviously Coban . He was back . - but no . He entered without a word , his shoulders tight and purposeful , eyes scanning the room with that same unreadable energy he'd left with . There was no sweat this time - no shirtless intimidation . He was dressed again , but not relaxed . Never relaxed . He saw me . Cleared his throat . I tensed under the sound like it was a warning shot . " Laundry needs done , " was all he said . No greeting . No apology . No mention of what happened earlier . Like the towel scene had been some fever 1/5 3:22 pm PSDD . Chapter 42 - A Lesson dream I'd imagined . Maybe I wished I had ? I nodded carefully , choosing my breath before I spoke . " Ok , I put it all in the box over there , " I murmured , keeping my tone soft- measured like someone handling a wild toddler . - I stood slowly , not wanting to seem reluctant , moving across the room toward the box I had repurposed earlier . But before I could reach it , his arm shot out stopping me with a firm hand to my hip . " I'll get it , " he said . - His voice wasn't sharp . It wasn't tender either . It was neutral - like a blade kept sheathed ... for now . " Just follow me . " He instructed , and I only nodded . No questions . No resistance . Just follow him ... Was carrying the box for me his way of an apology ? It was a pretty shit one if so ! He grabbed the box with one hand like it weighed nothing and moved toward the hallway , not even checking to see if I was behind him . But of course I was . My socked feet padded silently after him as we slipped out into the common area of our block - as he didn't exit the room completely , only crossed over to the other side , kicking open a door I hadn't noticed before . It was quieter than usual in the block . Where was everyone ? What time was it ? Did something bad happen again ? I didn't dare to ask Coban what had happened in Block C , I didn't even want to know ... Coban led me inside of the room , the positive scent of laundry detergent flooding my senses like a luxury spa retreat , The laundry room wasn't what I had expected . Did every cell block have one of these ? I wondered . It was a wide , industrial space with exposed pipes . Rows of four machines lined one wall , some ancient , some newer , and all of them working loudly . Coban dropped the box beside one and turned to me , finally holding my gaze again . 2/5 3:22 pm P DD Chapter 42 - A Lesson " Separate it , " he said simply . " Lights , darks ... you aren't that dumb , are you ? " He pauses in his explanation to ask . " I can do it , don't worry . " I spoke gently , taking on a forced calming tone , before I dropped down to my knees and started sorting through it , grateful for the task , even if my hands were shaking from having him towering over me again . It was pretty easy , since mostly everything was white , black or grey . For a while , there was only the sound of fabric shifting and machines turning . Then , I felt his presence settle down on to a chair in the corner behind me not hovering , not looming , but still there . Watching every move I made . " I wasn't going to hurt you earlier , " he said suddenly , voice barely audible over the rumble of the dryers as I paused . I froze , a pair of socks still clutched in my hand , debating whether or not I had heard him right . " I didn't actually hit you , " he added , as if that somehow redeemed everything else he had done ... Grabbing my jaw , grabbing my hair , pushing me , exposing me ... I didn't know how to respond to him and so I just kept folding instead , humming once at his words . " I scare you , don't I ? " he said next . Not a question but a fact . I finally looked up , twisting around slightly to glance over my shoulder at him . He was leaning forward , elbows rested on either of his knees only a few feet away , jaw tight . " Tell the truth . You were scared . " He pushes on , as I blink , unsure of where this was going , Don't lie , remember the rules ... " Terrified ." I correct , suddenly mortified that I had even said it , tensing in the event that I could set him off ... His brows drew in at my words , before he huffed out a breath of air . " Well I don't mean to , " he muttered after a moment . " That's not the point . " " Then what is the point ? " I asked quietly , before I could stop myself , drawn in to his weak attempt at an apology . His eyes flared - not with anger , but with something else . 3/5 3:22 pm PS Chapter 42 - A Lesson Conflicted ? Wounded , even ? Nah ... " To keep you in line , " he said . " To keep you alive . " Alive . As if I weren't already halfway dead in here with him . " You ... you made me feel like nothing , " I said , the words slipping out with a tremble . " You pulled the towel off of me like I was just some object you could humiliate . Like I wasn't even a person . " I swallowed , unsure of where the words were flowing from . Certainly not from my brain ... His stare dropped to the floor , almost shameful . " You needed to remember what this place is . That it's not a game . Not a slumber party . " " And do you need to be the monster for that ? " I asked , softer now , blinking hard against the sting of tears . He looked at me again . " No , " he said finally . Silence again . But something shifted in it this time . It wasn't rage . It wasn't cruelty . It was ... something else . " I wanted to show you how easy it would be for one of those other guys to take your sanity ... to take your purity ... especially when I'm not around , like last night or this morning . " He explained , his tone hushed as he eyed the door for passer byers , but nobody came . I blinked at him . " I didn't like it . " I swallowed the lump in my throat and admitted , as he nodded once . " That was my point . " He stated , offering a dark glimpse in to how his thoughts operated . Neither of us said anything else ... Instead , he stood and reached for the clothes beside me - machine . surprisingly helping me to load them into the A peace offering ? Perhaps ...