The Prison Project Novel

Coban's POV It wasn't just a dream ... It was more than that ... Every detail was perfect , from the stench of cigars and whisky to the darkened walls of our old homes study room where my father would host most of his meetings . The voices came first . Muffled at the edges , sharp in the center . " Don't dare fucking embarrass me like that again ... do you understand how fucking stupid you look , barging in here like a needy child ? You are a fucking man now Coban , so why don't you fucking act like it ?! " My father's voice . I knew that tone before I even opened my eyes .

Sharp , jagged , poisoned . The one that could cut through bone without ever needing a blade . I was back there again . A freshly turned sixteen year old . Standing in the doorway of his office where the smoke of cigars always hung low , where men in expensive suits sat around the table like gods deciding who would live and who would die . I hadn't even said anything that day . I'd just stepped too far inside the threshold , just close enough that their heads had turned , the discussion stalled , my father's control slipping by a thread . He hated that more than anything .

" Get the fuck out ! " he barked . But I froze . And freezing was enough to seal it for me . " Are you deaf ?! " He reiterated , standing from his position in warning . " I'll deal with you later ! " He spat , and that was exactly what he did ... When the study had cleared of men , he called for me to return . 1/5 Chapter 93 The slap came first . Hard . Jarring . Snapping my head to the side . The humiliation burned hotter than the sting as I stood defenceless and scared against the father who at the time , was double my size .

Then he stood back , unbuckling the thick leather belt from around his waist with slow precision , dragging it free with that hiss I still heard regularly in my nightmares . " No son of mine will make me look like a fucking fool ! You are a man now Coban , don't humiliate me by acting like an ignorant child ! " He snapped , before the belt cracked down across my back , the strike forcing me to my knees . A second blow came across the back of my head . White stars exploded in my vision .

Another lashed across my shoulders , hot fire splitting skin , iron filling my mouth where I bit my tongue to keep from crying out because I knew crying would only make things worse ... He didn't stop ... Strike after strike . That humiliation ... that pain ... that weakness against him ... it carved into me so deep that it never left . And here it was again , reminding me of why I hated him so much . I could feel the leather tearing into my flesh like it was yesterday .

Could smell the tang of blood dripping down my neck , the burn of shame in my throat as he called me weak , useless , a disgrace to his name . w My fists clenched in my sheets , but it wasn't the sheets I felt it was the rough rug under my palms , soaked in spit and sweat , and his boots in my peripheral as he circled me like I wasn't his blood but an enemy that needed breaking down for answers . And then hands . On me . Grabbing me . 2/5 3:39 pm P DD Chapter 93 Shaking me . Before I finally snapped . In the dream , in the memory , it was him .

His hands trying to shove me down , keep me broken . My fury roared to life like gasoline on a flame . I wasn't that boy anymore . I wouldn't be weak again . I flipped hard , pinning him beneath me . My palm closed around his throat , fingers tightening with years of rage pouring out all at once . Finally . Fucking finally . I had him where I wanted him . My father . The monster . The bastard who had carved me hollow my whole damn life and remained the puppeteer . He was now under me , and this time he wasn't sneering , wasn't towering over me - he was mine to destroy .

I pressed harder , teeth gritted , my chest heaving with something between fury and relief . His face reddened , his mouth opening in a strangled gasp . Too easy . After all these years , too damn easy . His legs kicked out and his arms began to slap me for release but I held on ... Before I felt it ... something was wrong ... A scrape ? Scratching at my arms desperately ? Nails ? Long nails clawing at my arms ? Digging into my skin ? My father didn't have long nails ... he wouldn't fucking claw me . He'd strike . He'd spit . He'd sneer . 3/5 3:39 pm PSDD . Chapter 93 He'd never ...

My vision faltered . Blurred . The haze began to thin , the edges of the memory dissolving . And beneath me ... it wasn't him . It wasn't him at all . It was Margot ! My Bella ! Her face ! Her lips parted in a silent plea . Her eyes wide , wet , filled with terror . Her skin flushing purple under my grip as she choked beneath me . My entire body froze , horror detonating inside my skull . No. No. No. My hand dropped away like her throat had burned me . I staggered back , air tearing from my lungs as the truth slammed into me . I hadn't been killing him . I had been killing her . Margot ...

The girl who had been shoved into my cage . The girl who still looked at me with fear every day and often something else that I didn't deserve . The girl who made a deal to help get me out of here .... She rolled onto her side , coughing , retching , dragging air into her body in jagged gasps . Her tears streaked in the low light , her body trembling as she clutched her throat with white knuckles . My chest heaved , the sweat pouring off me now ice cold . My hands shook , staring down at them like they belonged to a stranger . " Fuck ! " The word ripped from me raw , sharp . 4/5 3:39 pm PDD .

Chapter 93 I couldn't hold it in . " Fuck ! Fuck ! " I roared again , slamming my fist into the wall so hard the sting shot up to my shoulder . Pain grounded me , but not enough . I hit it again . Until the skin split across my knuckles and blood smeared the stone . I couldn't look at her . Couldn't look at the bruises already forming beneath my fingertips on her neck . Couldn't look at the fear I'd put there . Goddamn it ! I'd sworn I'd never be him . Sworn I'd never lay hands on someone weaker just to feel stronger . Sworn I'd kill before I let myself become the man who raised me .

And here I was . Becoming him ... Margot's broken sobs filled the silence , and when I finally forced myself to look , her eyes were on me . Shaking . Wide . But not just terrified confused . Searching . I staggered back , dragging a hand down my sweat - damp face , guilt choking me now worse than any belt ever had . " I didn't- " My voice broke , raw and useless . " I wasn't ... I thought you were- " But the words wouldn't come . No explanation would be enough to explain why I'd hurt her like that and for nothing too ? It was useless . I'd fucked up . 1 had nothing to give ...

Because how the hell could I undo what I'd just done ? Chapter Comments 07 Write Comments