The mont Liam stepped outside the factory building he didn’t slow down.
He simply bent his knees slightly and launched himself upward.
Boom!
The concrete beneath his feet cracked as his body shot into the air like a missile. A split second later enormous wings burst from his back and spread wide across the sky. The powerful flap sent a violent gust of wind through the surrounding streets as Liam soared higher and higher.
Cold air rushed against his face.
The city stretched beneath him like a giant maze of roads, buildings and lights.
His eyes narrowed.
"Let’s see where you are."
A transparent blue screen appeared before him.
His system interface.
Maps.
Locations.
Nas.
Data scrolled rapidly before his eyes.
The information Danill had sent arrived only monts ago and Liam imdiately fed it into the system. Within seconds a blinking marker appeared on the map.
Target located.
The prison sat near the edge of the city.
A large governnt correctional facility surrounded by high walls, surveillance towers and multiple security checkpoints.
Liam’s eyes locked onto it.
Then he accelerated.
Whoosh!
His body disappeared into the clouds.
anwhile...
At the prison.
Nothing seed unusual.
The guards followed their routines.
Prisoners moved through their daily schedules.
Breakfast had co and gone.
Work assignnts were being carried out.
The prison yard was active with groups talking, exercising and conducting business that had absolutely nothing to do with rehabilitation.
From the outside it looked normal.
Inside was another story.
Especially in Cell Block C.
Because that was where Ivan lived.
Technically he was an inmate.
Realistically he was a king.
Everyone knew it.
The guards knew it.
The prisoners knew it.
Even the prison administration knew it.
Ivan had money.
More importantly he had connections.
Dangerous connections.
The kind that reached beyond prison walls.
The kind that made people suddenly forget rules.
His cell wasn’t really a cell anymore.
It was closer to a private apartnt.
A television sat against one wall.
Extra furniture filled the room.
Food arrived whenever he wanted it.
Phones sohow found their way into his possession despite being prohibited.
People who annoyed him disappeared.
People who pleased him prospered.
Nobody questioned it.
Because everyone knew Ivan wasn’t so ordinary criminal.
Officially he was serving ti for murder.
Unofficially everyone understood he was protecting soone much more important.
And because of that he enjoyed privileges nobody else could dream of.
At that exact mont he sat comfortably inside a private bathroom attached to his section of the block.
A cigarette hung lazily from the corner of his mouth.
Smoke drifted upward.
His expression was relaxed.
Almost bored.
Blurp.
Blurp.
Blurp.
Water splashed violently nearby.
A young prisoner struggled desperately inside a bathtub.
Three large inmates held him down.
One gripped his shoulders.
Another controlled his arms.
The third forced his head beneath the water.
The young man’s legs kicked wildly.
His body twisted in panic.
Bubbles erupted from the surface.
The bathroom echoed with muffled thrashing.
Several inmates stood around watching.
Nobody intervened.
Nobody spoke.
Everyone knew better.
Because Ivan was conducting business.
And when Ivan conducted business people stayed quiet.
Eventually Ivan removed the cigarette from his mouth and exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"Enough."
The single word imdiately changed everything.
The three n obeyed without hesitation.
They lifted the prisoner’s head out of the water.
The young man exploded upward.
"Gasp!"
Air rushed into his lungs.
He coughed violently.
Water poured from his nose and mouth.
His entire body shook uncontrollably.
For several seconds he couldn’t even speak.
The experience of nearly drowning had completely broken his composure.
"Please..."
Another cough interrupted him.
"Please Ivan..."
He bent forward as more water spilled onto the floor.
"You need to believe . I had nothing to do with your ring. I didn’t take it. I swear."
Ivan watched him quietly.
The young prisoner continued desperately.
"I swear on my mother’s life."
Nobody reacted.
Nobody believed swearing on family anymore.
Not in prison.
Not here.
Ivan slowly stood from his chair.
The room instantly beca silent.
Even the other inmates straightened unconsciously.
He walked forward until he stood directly over the kneeling prisoner.
The young man looked up.
Fear filled his eyes.
Pure fear.
Ivan studied him for several monts.
Then he sighed.
It sounded almost disappointed.
"Why do you have to make this difficult for , Andrei?"
His voice remained calm.
Gentle even.
Which sohow made it worse.
"I liked you."
He crouched slightly.
"Hell. You were my favorite."
Andrei’s eyes widened.
Hope flickered briefly.
But only briefly.
Ivan continued.
"I trusted you."
Another puff of smoke escaped his lips.
"I gave you status in this place."
His voice remained soft.
asured.
"I gave you protection."
A pause.
"I gave you power."
The bathroom remained completely silent.
Nobody dared interrupt.
"I made sure nobody touched you."
Ivan shook his head slowly.
"And this is how you repay ?"
Andrei’s face turned pale.
"No. No, that’s not what happened."
"It isn’t?"
"No."
Ivan raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
"I didn’t steal anything."
Andrei’s voice cracked.
"I swear."
"You swear a lot."
"I was set up."
Ivan laughed quietly.
A few inmates forced nervous smiles.
Nobody wanted to be the only one not laughing.
"You were set up."
"Yes."
"By who?"
Andrei opened his mouth.
Then froze.
Because he didn’t know.
And even if he did know he wouldn’t dare say it.
The prison had rules.
Not official rules.
Real rules.
The kind that kept people alive.
Accusations required proof.
Without proof accusations got people killed.
Seeing Andrei hesitate, Ivan nodded slowly.
"I thought so."
"It’s true!"
Andrei shouted desperately.
"You know , Ivan."
For the first ti emotion entered his voice.
"You know ."
His eyes grew red.
"You know I wouldn’t steal from you."
The room grew tense.
Several inmates looked away.
Because for a second Andrei actually sounded convincing.
Ivan remained quiet.
Then he placed the cigarette back into his mouth.
His expression beca unreadable.
"I thought I knew you too."
The words hit Andrei like a hamr.
His face fell.
"Ivan..."
But Ivan had already made his decision.
Or perhaps he had made it long before Andrei entered the room.
Nobody knew.
Nobody asked.
Ivan straightened his jacket.
Then he spoke softly.
So softly that it almost sounded casual.
"Drown him."
The three large inmates imdiately grabbed Andrei again.
His eyes widened in horror.
"No!"
He kicked violently.
"No no no!"
His voice echoed through the bathroom.
The n dragged him toward the bathtub.
"Ivan please!"
His panic intensified.
"I didn’t do anything!"
Nobody moved.
Nobody helped.
Nobody even looked surprised.
Because in this prison Ivan’s word was law.
And when the king issued an order...
People obeyed.
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