Chapter 5: Behind Bars
761 Words
⸻
The sound of metal clanging shut echoed through Regal’s chest.
Loud.
Final.
Unforgiving.
She stood still for a moment, staring at the cold bars in front of her like they didn’t belong to her reality.
But they did.
They very much did.
“Move,” the officer behind her said.
Regal swallowed hard and stepped forward into the cell.
The air felt different here.
Heavier.
Like hope didn’t exist in this place.
The door slammed shut behind her.
That was it.
No more courtroom.
No more sunlight through her apartment window.
No more pretending this was temporary.
She was in detention.
Her fingers curled slowly at her sides as she took in her surroundings.
Small space.
Two bunk beds.
One thin mattress already occupied.
A woman sat on the lower bunk, watching her.
Closely.
Regal felt her chest tighten.
“New girl,” the woman said, her voice low and rough.
Regal didn’t respond.
She walked slowly to the empty bed and sat down, her movements stiff.
“You the one from the news?” the woman continued.
Silence.
“I don’t watch TV,” Regal muttered.
The woman chuckled.
“Don’t have to. Your face is everywhere.”
Regal looked away.
Her stomach twisted.
Even here.
She couldn’t escape it.
“Murder case, right?” the woman pressed.
“I didn’t do it.”
The words came out automatically.
Tired.
Worn.
The woman studied her for a moment.
Then shrugged.
“They all say that.”
Regal clenched her jaw.
Of course.
Why would anyone believe her?
The silence that followed was uncomfortable.
Heavy.
Until—
“You should be careful.”
Regal looked up.
“What?”
The woman leaned back slightly.
“People inside… they hear things.”
A pause.
“People outside too.”
A cold chill ran down Regal’s spine.
“What are you talking about?” she asked quietly.
The woman didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she glanced toward the cell door.
Then back at Regal.
“That case of yours?” she said. “Feels bigger than you.”
Regal’s heartbeat quickened.
Again.
That same feeling.
“You got enemies you don’t even know about,” the woman added.
Regal’s fingers tightened on the edge of the bed.
Her mind flashed—
The man in the courtroom.
Watching.
Silent.
Dangerous.
“I didn’t do anything,” she whispered.
The woman let out a dry laugh.
“Doesn’t matter.”
Silence fell again.
But this time, it felt worse.
Much worse.
⸻
Hours later___
The guard’s voice cut through the quiet.
“Regal. You’ve got a visitor.”
Her head snapped up.
A visitor?
Only one person came to mind.
Her heart started pounding as she stood and walked toward the exit.
The hallway felt colder than before.
Longer.
Endless.
Until, she saw him.
Standing on the other side of the glass.
Sebastian Cole.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Like he didn’t belong in a place like this.
Relief hit her so suddenly it almost hurt.
“You work fast,” she said as she sat down across from him.
Sebastian picked up the phone on his side.
“So do they.”
Regal grabbed hers.
“I thought you said you’d help me.”
“I am.”
She frowned.
“Then why am I in here?”
Sebastian held her gaze.
“Because this is exactly where they want you.”
A pause.
The words sank in.
“They?” she repeated.
Sebastian leaned slightly closer.
“Listen carefully, Regal. This case isn’t just about a dead man.”
Her grip tightened on the phone.
“I figured.”
“There’s a man involved,” Sebastian continued. “Powerful. Careful. And very dangerous.”
Her breath hitched.
She already knew who he meant.
“I saw him,” she whispered.
Sebastian’s eyes sharpened.
“I know.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Tense.
“Then get me out of here,” she said, her voice lower now. “If you know what’s going on—get me out.”
Sebastian didn’t respond immediately.
Then—
“I will.”
Her heart skipped.
“But when you get out,” he added, “you don’t go back to your old life.”
She frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means,” Sebastian said calmly, “you work with me.”
There it was again.
The offer.
“But this time,” he continued, “it’s not optional.”
Regal stared at him.
This wasn’t just a job anymore.
This was survival.
And deep down, she knew it.
- Writer
