Rick's POV

Shifting over on the uncomfortable prison bed, I beg for sleep to take me and rescue me from this living nightmare.

Turns out prison is unforgiving on supposed murderers.

Upon arriving, I'd been searched and beaten. My face still sports an array of bruises from the encounter. My glasses have long ago broken and been confiscated. My clothing consists of a simple orange prison uniform, but even that has been torn in places and soaked with blood.

Soon enough, I found that beatings were a regular occurrence in this prison.

While being unloaded from the run-down prison bus that had shipped me to this hell hole, I'd caught brief glimpses of soaring barbed wire fencing and alert guards at every secure tower. Not allowing me time to gawk, my guard had jabbed me in the back with the barrel of his rifle.

The message had been clear as I walked past the army of smug guards.

This was their territory and I would be playing by their rules.

To my horror, the guards weren't the only ones who had taken pleasure in causing me misery.

The inmates at this prison didn't take well to newbies.

The moment I was released from the cruel clutches of the brutal guards, I learned a whole new level of pain. The inmates had surrounded me and I instantly realized how much I looked out of place. The other inmates were huge, tattooed and had a gleam in their eyes. A gleam that came from cold blooded killing. I was laughed at before being verbally and physically beaten an inch from death.

Passing out, I had somehow ended up back in my cell's hard bed.

Lying there now, staring at the blank concrete wall, I feel my heart rate slow.

Maybe death would come for me sooner than I thought?

Shifting more, worried about my only faintly beating heart, my teeth grit at the needle-like pain shooting up my bruised ribs.

Would death truly be a relief from this pain?

My thoughts suddenly turn to Reagan and I suck it up. This was all to keep her safe, as long as she was safe I would suffer through any pain.

I couldn't leave her.

She didn't know....and I couldn't tell her.

At least not yet.

Talking to her on the phone had partially eased my suffering, but only for a short while.

When I'd spoken to her though, she had seemed...different?

Worried now, I grimace, she could sometimes be reckless.

She was my sister and protecting her was my job.

Protecting her. That had been my job from day one.

My job.

My thoughts abruptly flit to a week before I had been arrested. A week before everything went to hell.

*****************

I whirl around alarmed by a sudden noise before shaking my head at myself for being so paranoid.

Nothing was there.

No one was there.

Continuing across the vast university courtyard, my eyes dart back and forth, from shadow to shadow. The usually green grass of the courtyard now appears to be dark smudges, the night sky swallowing up all light with greed.

It was close to midnight, as I had stayed out longer than originally planned.

The chilled wind picks up and I shiver in my light sweatshirt. Fidgeting with my glasses, the silence of the courtyard causes goosebumps to course down my arms.

I've almost reached my dorm room, when I'm pushed from behind, straight into a wall.

My face scrapes painfully against the rough cement and I wince. My glasses just barely avoid being crushed. Putting a hand to my face, it comes away stained a deep red.

Stained with my blood.

Furious, I turn to face the person who had pushed me.

Catching sight of the person, my anger strengthens further.

Sterling.

He stands there looking arrogant as ever, an easygoing smirk on his too pretty face.

His eyes flick to my bloodied hand and no regret flashes through his eyes.

A monster incapable of emotion.

His deep enchanting voice grates against my ears. "What's up Ricky? Long time no see...."

You could say that again, it had been years.

My voice is cold as I speak, my face still throbbing from pain. "What do you want, Sterling?"

Sterling lets out a laugh and I can't help but notice how easily he blends into the college atmosphere.

Young, careless, and arrogant.

Sterling's voice seems to take on an almost chiding tone.

"Why Ricky, turns out there's been a change of plans."

My heart drops and I feel slightly sick.

What?

My eyes narrow, as I struggle to keep a blank face. "You said I would be left alone."

Sterling shakes his head. "Oh Ricky you better than anyone should know there is no escape."

He continues, sounding almost gleeful.

"We need you to do something."

"No." I answer immediately, even as I know that he isn't asking me a question.

Sterling gives me a smirk. "I was hoping you would say that....makes things so much more....fun."

I'm immediately on guard.

Sterling's definition of fun involved pain and blackmail.

He is suddenly in front of me. Close enough that I can see his chilling pale eyes. Pressing his arm against my throat, I begin to panic slightly as my breaths become shallow from lack of oxygen.

"So Ricky boy, it's been a few years....how's that sister of yours? Reagan is it?"

Rage courses through me at the mention of Reagan's name. It would be a cold day in hell before I let this bastard get ANYWHERE near her.

Sterling grins obviously pleased by my reaction, and continues in an almost thoughtful reflection.

"Now she's probably become an amazing young woman, just turned 18 I believe?" He sighs as if recalling a pleasant memory. "What a lovely age, so many things happening. Experiences, memories, so many....accidents".

I gulp as Sterling's arm cuts off my airway even further.

Fear courses through me. Fear for Reagan.

"We wouldn't want anything to happen to precious Reagan, now would we....? So many dangers for young girls in today's world...."

My throat constricts further until I can barely whisper.

"What do you want Sterling?"

Sterling chuckles as though my question amuses him and he abruptly lets go of my neck.

Stumbling forward, frigid air rushes to my lungs and I cough.

Sterling brushes off his hands before shooting me a Mad Hatter like grin.

"Why Ricky, you're going to help me murder someone."