Chapter 21: The First Crack

The cold air slaps me in the face as soon as I step outside, reminding me just how isolated and unforgiving this place really is. Frigid Rock lives up to its name, alright. The wind howls around the corners of the concrete buildings, carrying with it the scent of salt and something else, something metallic and ominous that I can’t quite place. Maybe it’s just the smell of fear clinging to this place, seeping into the walls like a bad memory.

I pull my coat tighter around me as I make my way back to the main building, my thoughts still swirling from my encounter with Sev in the yard. There’s something about him that unsettles me, that makes me question why I’m really here. But there’s no time to dwell on that now. I have work to do, data to collect, inmates to observe.

As I step into the building, the warmth hits me like a physical force, a stark contrast to the biting cold outside. The guards nod to me as I pass, their expressions unreadable, but I can feel their eyes on me, watching, always watching. It’s something I’m going to have to get used to—the constant surveillance, the feeling of being under a microscope. It’s unnerving, but it’s also necessary. I have to remember that.

The briefing room is buzzing with activity when I enter, the monitors lining the walls displaying live feeds from various parts of the prison. The team is gathered around the main table, their faces tense as they review the morning’s footage. Dr. Reed is there, of course, her sharp eyes catching mine as soon as I walk in.

“Liberty,” she says, her voice cutting through the hum of conversation. “How did it go out there?”

I hesitate for a moment, my mind still replaying the scene in the yard, Sev’s intense gaze boring into me, the way he seemed to see right through me. “It was… informative,” I finally say, taking a seat at the table. “There’s a lot to take in.”

Dr. Reed nods, her expression unreadable. “This is just the beginning. There’s a lot more to observe, a lot more data to collect. We need to establish a clear baseline before we can introduce any variables.”

“I understand,” I reply, though my thoughts are still tangled, my mind still racing with everything that’s happened so far. “I’m ready to continue.”

“Good,” she says, her tone brisk. “Because the next phase is going to be even more challenging.”

I nod, but my heart skips a beat at her words. What exactly does she mean by ‘challenging’? I’ve barely gotten my bearings, and already it feels like the ground is shifting beneath my feet. But I can’t let that show. I need to stay focused, stay in control.

Dr. Sterling, who’s been reviewing the footage from the morning, looks up from his notes. “We noticed some interesting interactions in the yard today,” he says, his tone thoughtful. “Particularly between you and Sevastyan Mikhailov.”

I feel a flush creeping up my neck, but I force myself to stay calm. “I’m here to observe all the inmates, not just him,” I say, hoping my voice sounds steady. “But he does seem to command a certain… presence.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Sterling mutters, flipping through his notes. “He’s the leader of one of the most dangerous gangs in the prison. His influence over the others is undeniable.”

“He’s also highly intelligent,” Dr. Reed adds, her eyes narrowing slightly. “He’s not someone to be underestimated.”

“I’m not underestimating him,” I reply, though a part of me wonders if I am. “I’m just trying to understand what makes him tick.”

Dr. Reed leans back in her chair, studying me with that piercing gaze of hers. “And what have you learned so far?”

I take a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. “He’s a strategist, always calculating, always aware of his surroundings. He’s not just a brute force—there’s a mind at work behind those eyes. And he’s… observant. He notices things, small details that others might overlook.”

Dr. Reed nods, her expression thoughtful. “Interesting. We’ll need to monitor his behavior closely, see how he interacts with the other inmates. He could be a key player in this experiment.”

As if on cue, one of the monitors flickers, drawing our attention. It’s a live feed from the weight yard, showing Sev and the other members of the Sevens as they continue their workout. The camera zooms in on Sev, capturing the way his muscles strain under the weight, the intensity in his eyes as he lifts the barbell with ease.

“He’s definitely a force to be reckoned with,” Sterling says, his voice tinged with something that almost sounds like admiration.

“He’s dangerous,” Dr. Reed corrects, her tone cold and clinical. “And we need to remember that.”

I nod, though my mind is still swirling with thoughts of Sev, with the memory of his gaze locked onto mine, the way he seemed to see right through me. There’s something about him that draws me in, something that makes me want to understand him, even though I know it’s dangerous.

But I can’t afford to get too close. I have to keep my distance, keep my focus on the experiment. I have to remember why I’m here.

As the day drags on, the tension in the room builds, each of us lost in our own thoughts as we review the footage, take notes, and discuss the next steps. It’s exhausting work, mentally and emotionally draining, but it’s necessary. We’re dealing with some of the most dangerous men in the world, and we can’t afford to make mistakes.

Finally, as the day begins to wind down, Dr. Reed calls for a break. “We’ll reconvene in an hour,” she says, her voice firm. “Get some rest, grab something to eat. We have a long road ahead of us.”

I nod, grateful for the break, though I’m not sure how much rest I’ll actually get. My mind is still racing, still caught up in the whirlwind of everything that’s happened so far. I head to the small kitchenette in the corner of the room, hoping a cup of coffee will help clear my head.

As I’m pouring the steaming liquid into a mug, I feel a presence behind me. I turn to see Captain Hayes, his expression as stoic as ever, though there’s a hint of something in his eyes—something that almost looks like concern.

“Everything alright, Professor?” he asks, his voice low and even.

I nod, though I’m not sure I believe it myself. “Just a lot to take in,” I say, offering a small smile. “But I’m managing.”

Hayes studies me for a moment, his eyes searching mine as if trying to gauge the truth of my words. “This place… it can get under your skin,” he says quietly. “Make you question things, doubt yourself.”

I sip my coffee, the warmth of it soothing against the cold that seems to have settled in my bones. “I’m starting to see that.”

He nods, his expression softening just a fraction. “Just remember why you’re here. Don’t let this place get to you.”

“I won’t,” I reply, though I wonder if I’m already starting to crack.

Hayes gives me a curt nod, then turns to leave, but something makes me stop him. “Captain,” I say, my voice hesitant.

He turns back, one eyebrow raised in question.

“Have you… have you ever seen someone like Sev before?” I ask, the question spilling out before I can stop it.

Hayes is quiet for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considers my question. “I’ve seen men like him,” he finally says, his voice low and serious. “Men who are dangerous, who know how to manipulate, how to control a situation with just a look. But Sev… he’s different. There’s something about him that I can’t quite put my finger on. Something that makes him more than just a typical inmate.”

I nod, a chill running down my spine at his words. I was afraid he’d say something like that.

“Be careful around him, Professor,” Hayes warns, his voice firm. “He’s not someone to be taken lightly.”

“I know,” I reply, though the truth is, I’m not sure I fully understand the extent of the danger Sev poses.

With a final nod, Hayes turns and walks away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I take another sip of my coffee, letting the warmth spread through me, but it does little to chase away the cold that’s settled in my chest.

This place is starting to get to me. The isolation, the constant surveillance, the knowledge that I’m surrounded by men who are capable of unspeakable violence—it’s all starting to wear on me. But I can’t let it. I have to stay strong, stay focused. I have to see this through.

The hour passes quickly, and before I know it, we’re back in the briefing room, reviewing the footage from the afternoon. The tension in the room has ratcheted up another notch, each of us on edge, our nerves frayed from the constant pressure.

As the team discusses the next steps, I find my thoughts drifting back to Sev, to the way he looked at me in the yard, the way his presence seemed to fill the space around him. There’s something about him that’s different, something that sets him apart from the other inmates. I can’t shake the feeling that he’s more than just a prisoner. There’s a depth to him, a complexity that makes me want to dig

deeper, to understand what makes him tick.

But I have to be careful. I can’t afford to get too close, to let myself get drawn in by him. He’s dangerous, and I have to remember that.

As the day finally comes to a close, I find myself back in my small, cold room, the wind howling outside the window. I’m exhausted, both physically and mentally, but sleep doesn’t come easily. My mind is too full, too restless, the events of the day replaying over and over in my head.

I lie there in the dark, staring up at the cracked ceiling, my thoughts drifting back to Sev. I can still see his eyes, the way they locked onto mine, the intensity in them that sent a shiver down my spine. I can still hear his voice, soft and dangerous, like a knife sliding through silk.

There’s something about him that I can’t shake, something that makes me feel like I’m standing on the edge of a precipice, about to fall into something I don’t fully understand.

But I’m here now. There’s no turning back. I’ve made my choice, and I’m going to see it through. No matter what.

As I finally drift off to sleep, one thought lingers in the back of my mind, a thought that sends a chill through me even in the warmth of my bed.

I have no fucking clue what in the hell I’m doing here, or how I’m going to last through the next couple of months. Damn it.