The Prison Project Novel

keeper 77 Chapter 78 - Potential Margot's POV The sound of boots striking concrete , followed by a deep male voice yelling something unintelligible , dragged me up from a dense fog of sleep . " Let's go , females ! Thirty minutes ! Up , dressed , and lined ! " I blinked hard , startled and confused , my brain lagging behind my body . My arms stretched instinctively above my head as my back arched against the thin mattress . I groaned softly , not quite ready to return to reality . The cell was filled with the muffled sounds of shouting and doors being slammed open down the corridor .

The usual morning chaos . But somehow , this time , it all felt far away . Distant . Like a dream I hadn't fully let go of . The sheets were warm , the pillow still smelled like him . Then I saw him . Coban . Already up . Already showered . His shoulders flexed as he pulled on his black shorts and reached for a clean white vest from his shelf . Water still clung to his damp hair , dark strands sticking to his forehead before he raked them back with his fingers . He caught me staring . " You needed that rest , clearly , " he said casually , glancing over his shoulder .

- I sat up fully , my spine still stiff , trying to piece together the events of yesterday the panic , the kiss , the breakdown ... and the way we'd just stayed there , tangled up in each other until sleep pulled me under like a tide . He was right . I must've needed it . I hadn't realised how completely drained I was until now . My limbs felt like lead and my face still ached slightly from the pressure of dried tears . I watched him move around the cell with that same quiet control he always carried , and guilt slid through me like a knife . God , I'd really lost it yesterday .

And the worst part was ... I liked it . The kiss . The way he touched me . The way it felt like everything else , 1/4 3:33 pm P SDD . Chapter 78 Potential - my past , the walls , the cameras , the guards just disappeared when he looked at me like that . But I ruined it . Just like I always did . He hadn't made another move since . No teasing . No smug smirks . Not even a hint of interest . Just civil . Cool . Collected . And it stung more than it should have . " Margot . " His voice snapped me from my spiral . " Huh ? " I blinked at him , heat creeping into my cheeks .

" I asked if you're listening to me . " His brow lifted as he shoved his laundry into the sack near the door . " You're in your head again . " " Sorry . What did you say ? " I cleared my throat , trying to shake off the fog . He ran that same hand back through his hair , still damp . " I said ... you gonna miss me today ? " The corner of my mouth lifted before I could stop it , a short laugh slipping out . " Sure , " I said with a smirk , shaking my head . But then his expression shifted ... And then came the second part ... " No , for real though ...

do you plan on telling them I'm a fucking bastard who deserves to be locked life ? " he asked , not joking this time . " Because I'd rather the heads up if you are . " The air changed . My chest tightened . up for I swung my legs over the edge of the bed , the cold concrete meeting my bare feet . " No ," I said instantly , my voice stronger than I felt . " I don't plan on saying anything like that . I don't think you deserve to be in here for life , Coban . " He glanced at me , his jaw shifting slightly like he wasn't sure how to take it .

I used his name deliberately , hoping it would land somewhere deeper than the surface , " You don't mean that , " he muttered , waving it off like it was too dangerous to believe . But I stood , closing the distance between us by just a step or two . Enough for him to notice . " No , honestly . I do , " I told him . " You're not a complete bad guy . Sure , you've done bad things , but ... " I hesitated , then nodded , committing to it . " I think you can get out of here . You've got more in you than just ... this place . " 2/4 3:34 pm P SDD .

Chapter 78 Potential He snorted faintly , dismissing it the way he always did when anything sincere crept too close to his skin . " You don't even know the half of what I've done , Bella , don't get ahead of yourself now ... " I swallowed hard at the sheer thought , but stuck by my gut anyway ... " I don't need to , " I said softly . " I see who you are now and I think there's potential . " That one made him pause . Just for a second . " Potential ? " He mused , as I nodded eagerly .

But instead of saying anything else on my word choice , he turned away , busying himself with his laundry like it was suddenly the most important task in the world to him . I let out a long breath , the air heavy with everything that had gone unsaid . Maybe I was trying too hard to fix things after yesterday . Maybe I just didn't want the fragile connection between us to crack and disappear completely . He could be terrifying . Controlling . Impossible . But he was also the only reason I hadn't fallen apart completely in this place . He kept me in one piece . And that counted for something .

I turned toward the bathroom , hearing the yells from the guard still outside our cell block . My fingers trembled slightly as I reached for the handle , forcing myself not to look back . Inside the bathroom , I turned on the shower before turning to stare at myself into the cracked mirror ... The girl looking back at me seemed exhausted even after a lengthy sleep . Bruised . Raw in a way no makeup could even attempt to cover . But she was also still standing . She was still here . " You've got fifteen minutes left . Let's not give them a reason to drag you out of here ...

I'll need to kill the pigs . Coban called from behind the door in an attempt to joke , as I nodded despite the fact he couldn't see me . I moved quickly to climb under the warmth of the shower , washing away yesterdays remaining sweat , tears and grime ... I scrubbed my scalp with shampoo , cleaning my grease coated hair , before smothering every ounce of my skin in lathers of scented soap . 3/4 3:34 pm P DD Chapter 78 Potential Satisfied , I climbed out , towel drying my head before dabbing at my wet skin next . Good enough ...

I grabbed my toothbrush , coated it in paste , before beginning to scrub . Half way through , I heard Coban's voice meet my ears again from the outside ; " Only five minutes left ... you're such a woman ! " He groans , which makes me chuckle to myself . Who could blame me ? I hadn't showered or brushed my teeth last night after the state I wound up in . It was deserved in my opinion ... I finished up at the sink , tugged on my fresh underwear and clothes , before turning to exit - carrying the dirty ones to the laundry pile . " You good ?

" He questioned , knowing we were about to be separated for the day . " I am , are you ? " I nodded , as he all but mumbled back somewhat of a response . If I knew any better ... I'd say the man was nervous ... Chapter Comments 3 6 Write Comments SHARE 4/4