Chapter 23 - Rejection

• He doesn't move, not even a muscle, it almost looks as though he is not breathing, I call his name softly, but even that small sound reverberates around the prison, and still he doesn't move. After a moment that feels like aeons though he does finally speak.
• "I told you to call me Beta, Ace is for people of rank only," he opens his eyes and turns his head so he is looking at me with disgust shining clearly in his eyes, instinctively I bow my head a little, and then realising what I had done I giving myself a mental shake and reminding myself that I am better than this, that I deserve better than this, I raise my head and hold it high. "Have you come to discuss our arrangement?" He asks, moving to sit on the edge of the cot in a single fluid motion.
• "In a manner of speaking," I say, and I am surprised but proud of how calm I sound. As though we were 2 normal people having a civilised conversation.