Chapter 131 Coban’s POV

The walk back from the infirmary was quiet—the kind of quiet that left you alone with your own thoughts, at times becoming the worst kind of company.

The girl, Sarah, was currently still alive. That was good, for everyone’s sake. But he had said ‘barely,’ which made me nervous.

Margot’s footsteps were soft behind me, lost in her own thoughts, as I turned back occasionally just to check that she was keeping up. She was too soft for this place, too sheltered from the brutality that a prison brings. But yet… after a testing first week… she still chose to stay. To give me more time. Another chance.

We made it back to the cell, and I dumped the stolen goods into the desk drawer, proud that I had managed to make the doctor trips less frequent now.

Margot’s voice pulled me back to the present as she spoke out from behind me… “Coban, do you really think she’ll survive that? Is there a chance? After what you saw?” She swallowed and whispered, as I sucked in a steady breath, turning to meet her gaze.

“I think the fact she is even still alive right now is a miracle… because I’ll be honest, I did prepare for the worst after seeing the state she was in…” I admitted, going off the masses of blood I’d witnessed the poor thing lose.

“So… it’s better than what we could’ve hoped for? There’s a decent chance then, right?” She pressed on, fingers wringing together with nerves as she sought comfort in me for some odd reason.

I couldn’t help but squint back at her slightly, studying the way her doe-like eyes fell onto me as though I were her great protector. The one she looked to for guidance and comfort around this place. It would never feel normal, to have her see me in a different light after everything I’d said and done to her. After who I was as a man. But yet, here she stood…

“Yeah, there’s a chance, but all we can do is wait it out and hope for the best.” I nod firmly, as she offered a small smile of hope, almost managing to shatter my heart completely.

For her sake, I hope the girl pulls through… I really do… but it was too early to be sure.

Before anything else, the familiar chime from earlier began to blare around the prison speakers for the second time today, the sound already starting to irritate me…

“Hello inmates and volunteers, it is now twenty minutes until our first large group meeting today! Please make your way towards your nearest guards who will guide you on where to go. We look forward to introducing our first project challenge to you all and we know you will be up for the test! Just a reminder, that this meeting is a mandatory part of the project and anyone skipping this will be removed. Have a great day!”

The chirpiness of her tone already irritated me with its subtle hints of sarcasm, as though we were merely lab rats placed here for her entertainment… Which I guess we were.

“Better go…” Margot sighed, pulling a hand back over her hair as I huffed and reached out for her.

“You stay with me,” I state as she nods knowingly.

The corridors were already busy as we stepped out, the sound of sighs and complaints from mostly the men hitting off the concrete walls as the guards began rounding everyone up like cattle. Margot kept close, her shoulder brushing mine every few steps, eyes darting nervously at the others who were filing out of their blocks too. The air felt heavier than usual. Stale.

I could feel the shift. Something about today wasn’t just another exercise in control. The way the guards were standing straighter. The way their hands hovered near their weapons instead of folded behind their backs. Even the smug ones looked tenser than usual.

Whatever “challenge” was coming, it wasn’t going to be a good one.

When we reached the first checkpoint, a pair of guards waved us through after signing off our names, their eyes lingering on me longer than necessary.

“Santorelli,” one muttered under his breath, like a warning.

I ignored him, rolling my eyes at the attempt instead.

We stepped into one of the larger hallways—the kind usually kept off-limits—and I realised they were herding us all in the same direction, with the space growing tighter as more people filled it. The sound of shuffling grew louder the closer we got to the double doors at the end of the corridor as I became alert and fully aware of our surroundings.

Margot’s hand tightened in mine. “What do you think it’s going to be about?” she whispered, her voice barely carrying over the noise.

“I don’t know,” I brushed her off casually, though my gut twisted with suspicion. “But whatever it is, it won’t be for our benefit, it will be for theirs.”

Her gaze flicked up to me, eyes wide, and I gave her a small nod, the only reassurance I could offer. “Just stay close. Don’t wander off. No matter what happens, you keep your eyes on me. Got it?”

She nodded quickly. “Got it.”

When the doors finally opened, the flood of bodies moved forward, spilling into what looked like a central hall—a massive, echoing space with a raised platform at the far end. Guards lined the walls, their faces blank but watchful.

It reminded me of a courtroom. Or a slaughterhouse, maybe?

But I instantly spotted the same suits from last night stood up front—the same two bastards who’d called me in to “negotiate.”

Our eyes met across the crowd. The taller one gave me the slightest nod of acknowledgment, like he knew exactly what I was thinking…

“I can’t see Cara or Leo…” Margot said, as I guided her to a spot near the back, just close enough that I could still see the stage, but far enough that I could move her if things went sideways.

She sat down stiff beside me, chewing on her lip. “They look so calm… like they’ve done this before,” she muttered.

I followed her gaze to the suits. Calm wasn’t the word I’d use. Calculated, maybe. Predatory. Arrogant.

Long minutes passed before the shorter one eventually stepped up to the mic as everyone settled, his voice magnified across the hall.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” he began, far too pleasant for what this was shaping up to be. “As mentioned this morning, today marks the start of our first group challenge within the Prison Project. This will help us determine compatibility, cooperation, and… resilience.”

That last word hung in the air like a knife.

Beside me, Margot’s shoulders tensed.

“Resilience?” she echoed quietly. “That doesn’t sound good.”

But I didn’t answer.

Because I already knew she was right.

And I don’t think anyone, including them, were ready for the shit storm they were preparing to stir up around here…