Chapter 6
Chapter 6 You’ll Never Get Out of Here
By the time Lyra reached the cafeteria to pick up meals, barely any staff lingered inside.
Frusded
“Lyra, how’s your first day on the job treating you?” a middle–aged cafeteria worker asked warmly, soft eyes fixed on the quiet, sweet–faced girl.
Lyra offered a faint smile and nodded.
She kept moving her hands fast even as she acknowledged the woman, sorting through forty meal
containers.
Once she finished counting the lot, she waved goodbye and wheeled her supply cart back out into the hallway.
All the other cell block attendants had already returned to grab their own lunch by this point.
Lyra mentally tracked the time and quickened her pace.
“Whoa, hold on a second p>
A figure stepped straight into her path.
“Lyra, you’re only just heading out now?” Jessa stared at her in clear shock.
Lyra flashed an embarrassed little smile.
Concer Concern softened Jessa’s features. “Are the Sentries in Building Three giving you a hard time p>
Lyra thought it over–they weren’t actually that terrible.
She scribbled a quick note on a slip of paper and held it out.
“I’m still new to the routine, so delays are normal. I’ll pick up speed in a couple of days, don’t worry. I’ll get everything done properly p>
After reading the words, Jessa clapped a gentle hand on her shoulder, touched by her work ethic.
It was rare to meet someone this diligent and responsible.
“Times are rough right now, nonstop fighting out,” Jessa said quietly. “None of us regular folks get the easy life Guides have, but a steady paycheck to get by on is more than enough for me p>
Lyra nodded hard. That was exactly how she felt.
She didn’t covet anyone else’s luck, nor did she belittle her own place.
Jessa pulled her hand back. “Hurry on then. I’ll save you some food p>
Lyra nodded again, smiling gratefully, and pushed her cart toward Building Three at a jog.
Jessa watched her rushing figure retreat and sighed softly.
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Chapter 6 You’ll Never Get Out of Here
She had never expected to stumble by accident upon such an honest girl.
arrived at Building Three. She no longer needed to stop and jot down supply requests from the Setries, so her movements grew far smoother and faster.
A service window slid open, and Lyra set a meal tray inside.
Arthur opened his mouth to speak, but Lyra’s footsteps were already fading as she moved on to the next cell before he could get a word out.
Kyren glanced at the waiting meal tray but stayed slouched back in his seat without moving/
His spirit animal, a red–bellied black snake, coiled forward of its own accord, wrapped its hody around the tray, and dragged it over to him, flicking its tongue in a silent hiss to urge him to eat.
Kyren squeezed his eyes shut and muttered under his breath. “What’s even the point of any of this p>
Trapped here like a prisoner was too much for him.
He would’ve rather died fighting on the front lines.
At Cell 103, Gideon Langley took the meal tray from the window.
“Thank you p>
He turned and retreated into his cell without another word.
Lyra paused for half a second, then kept rolling the cart down the corridor.
When she reached Cell 112, Marcel peered through the clear plastic lid of his tray and spotted the vegetable he hated immediately. His tone sharpened with irritation.
“Carrots again? I told you I can’t stand these things p>
Lyra froze, ready to turn back for a replacement–but every pre–portioned tray came with the same standard sides, carrots included.
Marcel loomed close behind the service window.
Lyra couldn’t make out his full face, only the slim, tapered curve of his waist as he crossed his arms, ready to throw a fit.
She quickly slid a handwritten note through the gap.
Marcel’s annoyed pale blue eyes dropped to the scrap of paper in front of him.
“I’m so sorry. It’s my first shift, and I didn’t know your dietary dislikes. Can you wait a moment? I’ll run back to the cafeteria and swap this tray out for you if that’s alright p>
The humble, polite tone of the note eased his temper a little.
He leaned lazily against the cell door frame, voice dripping with spoiled arrogance.
“Go on then p>
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Chapter 6 You’ll Never Get Out of Here
Lyra spun on her heel and sprinted straight back toward the cafeteria.
The Sentries in the nearby cells heard her hurried footsteps and glanced toward the hallway.
From the floor above, Draven drawled a lazy remark loud enough for everyone to hear. “Wow, some people really get special treatment, huh? All it takes is one complaint, and the girl drops all of us to run errands for him p>
Marcel’s jaw tightened instantly. “What’s with the sarcasm p>
Draven feigned total innocence. “How was I being sarcastic? I was flattering you, Mr. Silk p>
The mocking lilt in his voice only aggravated Marcel further. “Shut your mouth p>
A deep, gruff voice boomed out from Cell 201, Rook. “You hate Draven that bad? Tell that girl to unlock my cell, and I’ll tear him to shreds for you p>
Marcel didn’t bother dignifying him with a response, just ignored the offer entirely.
Draven perked up, amused. “Hey, Rook, you finally making sense for once? Did your hyena give your brain back? ”
SLAM!
“Draven, you piece of trash p>
Curses and the hyena’s barking sounded together.
Lyra burst into the cafeteria, rushing straight over to the cafeteria worker and gesturing urgently for a new tray without carrots.
The woman scanned the note Lyra held out and frowned in confusion. “What’s the trouble p>
Lyra explained again, “A Sentinel doesn’t like carrots p>
The cafeteria worker shot her a strange, complicated look.
No attendant before Lyra had ever cared what the dangerous prisoners did or didn’t want to eat.
Staff always just slid the standard trays through the windows–eat it or starve, no exceptions.
No one else would race all the way back just to swap a meal for them.
Still, she met Lyra’s earnest, pleading gaze and relented, giving in only because the girl looked harmless and sweet–natured.
“Here you go, off you run p>
Lyra bowed repeatedly to show her gratitude.
Before she could leave, Jessa spotted her from where she sat eating lunch
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“Chapter 6 You’ll Never Get Out of Here
“Lyra p>
Ly’s feet skidded to a halt.
Jessa assumed she’d finished all her deliveries and waved her over. “Come grab your food, it’s still warm
Lyra shook her head helplessly, holding up the replacement tray and jerking her chin toward the cell block doors outside.
Jessa tilted her head, confused. “You forgot one p>
Lyra feared every tray would turn cold if she wasted another minute talking.
She signed a quick, rushed apology and darted back out of the cafeteria.
Jessa watched her go, thoroughly baffled.
The noisy cell block fell quiet for a split second when they heard Lyra’s returning footsteps.
Lyra reached Cell 112 and handed the new tray through the window.
Marcel checked the contents, relieved to see no carrots left inside.
He noticed Lyra gasping for breath from running back and forth, and mumbled a stiff, awkward line.
“…Thanks p>
Lyra offered a soft smile and moved on to pass out the rest of the meals.
At Cell 120, Felix pressed his face right up against the service window, staring at her like a phantom lurking in the shadows.
“Must’ve worn yourself thin running all over the place,” he purred. “Your cheeks are all pink and flushed. I wonder if you’d taste crisp and juicy like a fresh apple if I took a bite p>
Lyra kept her expression flat and stern. His words sent a chill down her spine, but he couldn’t step foot outside his cell to touch her.
She set his tray roughly through the window and headed straight up the staircase to the second floor without another glance.
Felix didn’t take offense at her cold demeanor at all; he just grinned widely, grabbed his tray, and retreated back into his cell, laughing.
At Cell 201, Lyra opened the service window carefully, then stepped back a safe distance right away.
Sure enough, a massive hyena head snapped forward, baring its teeth in a vicious snarl.
Rook glowered at her from inside the cell, voice thick with rage.
“You dare make me wait this long? You got a death wish?
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“Did I say you could leave earlier? Who gave you the guts to ignore me? You got a death wish, huh p>
Ly pushed the meal tray further through the window, wordlessly asking if he intended to eat.
The hyena curled its lips back in a threatening snarl.
Once he finished ranting, Rook spat out a vicious warning.
“Watch your back. Don’t let me get out of this cell p>
Draven, in the adjacent cell, seemed to live for riling Rook up. His lazy drawl carried clearly through the walls.
“Relax. You’ll never get out of here p>
With that explosive temper of his, there was no way Rook could keep his psychic pollution levels from spiking.
What a joke.
He’d drive himself fully feral long before any chance of release ever came.
Bang!
Enraged, Rook began kicking and slamming his fists against the cell walls hard enough to shake the metal framing.
Lyra seized the distraction to slide the tray fully inside his window and hurry onward.
Draven’s overly bold teasing was annoying at times, but she had to admit, he always drew the worst of the Sentries‘ anger onto himself–and that bought her much–needed breathing room.
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Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.