keeper 7 Chapter 8 - The Port Margot's POV The port stretched out before us , a sprawling maze of towering cargo containers , rusted fishing boats , and the steady hum of industry . The scent of salt and diesel clung to the air , mingling with the distant cries of seagulls circling overhead . But despite making it here , we had no idea where to go next . Cara and I slowed to a stop near a row of metal benches facing the water , both of us scanning the area with increasing confusion . People bustled around us - workers unloading crates , sailors moving between vessels - but nothing stood out as an obvious meeting point . " You see anything ? " Cara asked , shifting the strap of her backpack . " Nope . " I exhaled sharply , already feeling the weight of exhaustion creeping in again . " Maybe we missed something in the email ? I fished out our paperwork , quickly fumbling through the old email chain until I found it - the message confirming our acceptance into the experiment , complete with vague details about our arrival . Upon reaching Meadowbank Port , you will be met by a representative of the program . Please wait for further instruction . That was it . No description , no clear location , just a promise that someone would find us . " Seriously ? " I muttered , frowning down at my screen . " That's all we got ? " Cara sighed , rubbing her forehead . " Great . Love that for us . Is this shit even legit ?! " We stood there awkwardly , shifting from foot to foot as we tried to look like we weren't completely lost . 1 could feel the glances of a few passing dock workers , their eyes lingering just a little too long , probably wondering what two girls like us were doing loitering around a damn industrial port . And then , just as I was about to suggest moving somewhere less obvious , a voice cut through the noise . Here for the project by any chance , ladies ? " Both of our heads snapped up . The man standing before us looked like he had walked straight out of a nightmare . He was tall and built like a bouncer , dressed in a crisp black uniform that should've made him look professional - except it didn't . The sharpness of his jawline , the coldness in his dark eyes , and most of all , the thick scar that ran from his cheekbone to his jawline made him look like the last person on earth we 1/6 3:11 pm PS Chapter 8 The Port wanted to be dealing with . I stiffened instinctively , my fight - or - flight instincts kicking in . Cara , beside me , was frozen as well , her lips slightly parted in what was probably the same mix of shock and fear that I was feeling . The man's eyes flicked between us , clearly amused by our reaction . " Well ? " he prompted , arms crossed . " Are you here for the project or not ? " Cara was the first to move , nodding so fast I thought her head might snap off . " Yes ! Yeah , that's us . " I swallowed hard , managing a weak , " Uh - huh . " The man's expression didn't change . He just gave us a slow once - over , as if assessing whether we were worth his time . Then , without another word , he turned on his heel and started walking . Follow me . " I exchanged a quick glance with Cara . Was this it ? Sure , he was in uniform , but nothing about him felt particularly safe . If anything , he looked like the kind of guy you'd cross the street to avoid . Cara hesitated . " I mean ... we could just , you know , not follow the terrifying man with a scar across his face . " I let out a slow breath . " And do what ? Turn around and go back home after all that ? " She frowned , clearly debating it . But she knew as well as I did we were already in too deep . It was now or never . With that , we fell into step behind him , weaving through the docks as the distant crash of waves echoed around us . The deeper we went , the more isolated it became . The public areas of the port faded behind us , replaced by towering storage containers stacked high like a fortress . Seagulls perched on rusted beams , watching us as we followed our silent guide past forklifts and abandoned pallets . I kept my head on a swivel , noting every turn , every detail , just in case we needed to bolt . 2/6 3:11 pm P DD Chapter 8 - The Port Cara must've been thinking the same thing because she edged closer to me , lowering her voice . " Okay , I know we agreed to this whole thing , but is it just me , or is this giving major ' human trafficking psychotic killer ' vibes ? " I elbowed her sharply , muttering , " Not helping . " Ahead of us , the man didn't react either he hadn't heard , or he just didn't care . - Then , as we rounded a final corner , I saw it . A massive navy blue transport ferry loomed in the water , docked at the very edge of the port . But this wasn't just any ferry . This thing was built like a fucking fortress . The entire deck was lined with guards- actual , uniformed guards , armed and standing in perfect formation . A few other people in important - looking suits were scattered near the loading area , talking amongst themselves . The sight of it made my stomach drop . " Holy shit , " Cara whispered beside me . " Are we going to war or something ? " I didn't answer . I was too busy trying to process what I was looking at . We had expected something shady . But this ? This was military level shady . The man leading us came to a stop and turned to face us , expression unreadable . " This is where you'll be boarding . " I forced myself to swallow the lump in my throat . " And ... where exactly are we going ? Which prison ? " His lips twitched into something that almost resembled a smirk . " You'll find that out soon enough . " My pulse hammered against my ribs . There was no turning back now . Cara and I stood there , rooted to the spot , staring up at the massive prisoner transport ferry . The waves 3/6 3:11 pm P Chapter 8 - The Port lapped against the hull , the low groan of metal and water mixing with the distant cries of seagulls . The entire thing looked like a floating tank , reinforced with thick steel barriers and lined with high - powered floodlights . This wasn't some casual science experiment ; this was full - scale security . And we were about to step right into the middle of it . " Well ? " The scarred man crossed his arms , watching us with thinly veiled amusement . " Second thoughts ? " My mouth was dry , and I had to force my voice to work . " No. " " Good , " he said , his expression unreadable . " Then follow me . And don't fall behind . " He turned sharply and started toward the docking platform without another word . Cara exhaled , rubbing her hands over her face . " I cannot believe we're doing this . " " Too late to back out now , " I muttered with a weak shrug . Cara shot me a sharp look . " I was kinda hoping you'd say something more reassuring ... " But I didn't have anything reassuring to say . Instead , I just started walking , forcing my legs to move even though every instinct in my body screamed at me to turn around and to run . The closer we got , the more details I could make out- massive , reinforced doors that led into the lower decks , thick chains securing parts of the ship , and rows of small , reinforced windows high up on the upper levels . And then there were the guards . Not just a handful- dozens of them . Some posted at the entryway , others stationed along the perimeter of the dock , all of them heavily armed and watching everything with a cold , calculated stare . They didn't acknowledge us , didn't react to our presence , but I felt their eyes tracking our every step . This wasn't normal security ... " Okay , this is officially the scariest , most fucked up thing I've ever done . " Cara admitted , shuffling closer in to my side as I gulped ... I didn't respond , my stomach twisting into knots . The fact that she , of all people , was scared , made my pulse race . The scarred man led us up a metal gangway , the platform rattling beneath our feet as we stepped onto the ship . 4/6 3:11 pm P DD Chapter 8 - The Port The moment we crossed the threshold , I felt the atmosphere shift . It was colder up here . - Not temperature - wise though the salty sea breeze had a definite bite - but in the feeling of the place . It was sterile . Clinical . Something about the air just felt wrong , like stepping into a building that had seen things no one ever talked about . We were led into a stark , metallic - walled corridor with bright , fluorescent lights that buzzed faintly overhead . The walls were bare except for a few numbered signs , each marking different sections of the ferry . The scent of disinfectant clung to the air , so sharp that it burned at my nose . Where was everyone else ? We couldn't be the only two signed up ?! The scarred man finally came to a stop near a set of doors , turning to face us . " Wait right here . " Before we could respond , he knocked twice , sharp and precise . The door clicked open from the inside , and a second uniformed man stepped out- older this time , with short silvering hair and a crisp white lab coat over his uniform . His sharp eyes flickered between me and Cara before he nodded once . " They're the last two ? " he asked . The scarred man nodded . " Yeah , must be . I found them just now . " The older man studied us for a long moment , then motioned for us to step forward . " You'll be processed before we set off , " he said . " Follow me . " Cara gave me a pointed ' what the hell does he mean , processed ? ' look , but I ignored it , too focused on keeping my breathing steady . Because now that we were here , standing inside this place , feeling the weight of its security pressing down on us ... I wasn't sure if we'd made the biggest mistake of our lives . It was real ... all too real ! 5/6 3:11 pm The Prison Project