The Trap Snaps Shut
The rec room door clanged shut behind Jayden, and the air grew heavier, hotter. The hum of the fluorescent lights above buzzed like insects.
Spider lounged against the wall, his grin slick as oil. Rico rose from his seat, shoulders squared, eyes sharp with hatred. Two of Knox's boys shifted in the back, silent muscle, waiting.
Jayden's chest tightened. He wasn't stupid — he knew this wasn't just a fight. This was a message.
Spider's voice cut through the tension. "See, the fire-boy thought he could walk alone. Thought he didn't need protection. But here's the thing…" He tapped his temple. "…nobody survives Lockdown alone."
---
The First Hit
Before Jayden could answer, Rico lunged. A fist cracked against his cheekbone, snapping his head sideways. Pain flared white-hot, his lip splitting open.
The fire roared to life. He swung back, his knuckles colliding with Rico's ribs, forcing a grunt out of him.
Spider laughed. "There it is! That fire I've been waiting for!"
Another blow came from the side — one of Knox's boys, his fist burying into Jayden's ribs. Jayden staggered but didn't fall. The fire demanded more.
---
The Storm
The room erupted in chaos. Fists flew, feet stomped against the linoleum. Jayden ducked one swing, countered with a brutal uppercut that sent Spider stumbling back.
But the numbers pressed in. Rico slammed him against the wall, fists raining down. Jayden blocked one, two — then drove his knee into Rico's gut, shoving him off.
His body burned with adrenaline, pain and fury mixing into one unstoppable current. He wasn't fighting for respect anymore. He was fighting to survive.
---
The Breaking Point
One of Knox's boys grabbed him from behind, locking his arms. Spider stepped forward, knife-sharp grin glowing in the flicker of the lights.
"Fire burns out eventually," he hissed, drawing back his fist.
Jayden struggled, the hold tightening around his chest. Panic flared — a flash of Layla's scream, the echo of the hole, Dre's voice whispering: Pick your battles. Fight smart. Survive.
The fire inside him exploded. He stomped hard on the boy's foot, twisted, and slammed his head back into his nose. The grip loosened. Jayden spun free just as Spider's punch flew — it clipped his jaw but not clean.
Jayden countered, driving his fist into Spider's face so hard the grin vanished.
---
The Guards
The noise drew the guards at last. Boots thundered, batons smacked against doors. "Break it up!" they barked.
But in the chaos, Jayden wasn't done. He grabbed Rico by the collar, slamming him onto the table. "You don't own me!" he roared, his voice ragged, fire blazing out of him.
A baton cracked across his shoulder, sending him to the ground. Hands cuffed his wrists, yanking him back. He struggled, chest heaving, but the fight was over.
Spider wiped blood from his lip, glaring down at him. Rico smirked through a swollen jaw.
The message was clear: this war wasn't finished. It had just begun.
---
The Aftermath
They dragged Jayden to the director's office, his face swollen, ribs aching. The director's expression was stone.
"Again, Carter? You think this is a game?"
Jayden spat blood onto the floor, glaring up at him. "This is survival."
The director's eyes narrowed. "You're on the edge of permanent transfer. One more incident, and you'll be shipped to a max-security facility. You think you've seen hard? You haven't seen anything yet."
---
The Fire Within
Back in his cell, cuffed and aching, Jayden lay on his cot staring at the ceiling. His body screamed with pain, but the fire inside burned hotter than ever.
He whispered into the darkness, more to himself than anyone else:
"I'm not theirs to break. Not Spider's. Not Rico's. Not even this place's."
Through the wall, Dre's voice came low. "You're still here. That's the win."
Jayden closed his eyes, blood drying on his lip, the echo of fists still ringing in his ears. He wasn't broken. Not yet.
But Lockdown had made one thing clear: surviving wasn't enough anymore. He had to find a way to win.