The Weight of the Setup
After the contraband incident, the whole block looked at Jayden differently.
Some saw him as reckless, already marked. Others whispered about him like he was dangerous, unpredictable — the kind of kid who might snap at any moment.
Spider thrived on it. He slithered through the yard with his sly grin, spreading little rumors that always seemed to circle back to Jayden.
"Scrap's got connections."
"Scrap's running with Spider now."
"Don't cross him unless you want trouble."
Jayden hated every word. He wasn't Spider's pawn. But the more he denied it, the less anyone believed him.
---
The Circle Tightens
Rico hadn't forgotten either. His bruises were gone, but the smirk on his face was sharper than ever.
One afternoon, Jayden caught him in the corner of the yard, whispering with Spider. When Rico's eyes flicked over to him, the message was clear: enemies were linking arms.
Dre noticed too. "That's bad news," he muttered. "Spider's a snake, Rico's a wolf. Together? They'll try to tear you apart."
Jayden clenched his jaw. "Then let them come."
"No," Dre warned. "That's the fire talking. Patience, remember?"
But patience felt harder every day.
---
The Pressure Cooker
The guards didn't help. After the setup, they watched Jayden closer, waiting for him to slip. Every little move earned him sharp warnings.
"Hands out of your pockets, Carter."
"Eyes forward, Carter."
"Don't test me, Carter."
It was like they already saw him locked in the hole again, or worse.
At night, the silence pressed heavier. Even Dre's voice through the wall wasn't always enough to quiet the storm.
Jayden sketched on scraps when he could, pressing lines so deep they almost cut the paper. Fire, rats, wolves. His notebook was filling with enemies.
---
The Provocation
The breaking point came during dinner. Rico's crew boxed him in at the table, Spider lounging on the edge like he owned the room.
"You hear the word?" Spider drawled. "Scrap's got fire but no brains. He'll be gone in a month."
Rico leaned in, his grin wide. "Maybe sooner. Depends how fast he cracks."
The laughter around them was sharp, cutting. Jayden's fists clenched on his tray. The fire roared so hot it felt like his skin would split.
Dre's eyes locked on his across the table, calm but firm. Not yet, they said. Not like this.
Jayden forced himself to breathe. Forced himself to swallow the fire. But his eyes burned with a promise.
"This isn't over," he muttered.
---
The Shadow of Violence
That night, Spider slipped a whisper as he passed Jayden's cell.
"Tomorrow. Yard. Don't be late."
Jayden didn't answer. But the fire inside him already knew — tomorrow, something was going to burn.