Release

A flash of something, almost surprise, passes through Ryder's eyes at Katie's reaction. Was she playing him? Was she really that upset?

He opens up his mouth to retort, but nothing more will come. Instead, he just drops his shoulders in surrender and waves her off. He didn't know up from down anymore, let alone know how to handle a woman, least of all one like Katie.

Spinning on his heel, he stalks from the break room and down the hall. But reaching the infirmary, he didn't want to go back in. His eyes drift down the hall to the stairway. He didn't know what Katie had meant by going downstairs.

Glancing over his shoulder, Ryder changes his route...


The clock showed that it had been several hours. The downstairs had remained quiet, leaving one person alone, while upstairs, no one had known where he'd gone.

The punching bag swung again as Ryder's fist hits it one more time. He was drenched in sweat and didn't care. The stitches in his shoulder had been torn and blood had seeped through his shirt, but he ignored it.

Another fist goes flying, this time accompanied by an angry growl. It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair. Hope built up for years had all crumbled in one single blow. He sees Brian's eyes again. Another fist slams into the bag. He hears the shot again. The bag spins on its rope. He sees Carson and another hard hit lands.

But soon... soon, all energy is spent. Ryder lifts his fist for another punch, but it falls weakly to his side. His knuckles were bruised and bloodied and he didn't even notice. He was too numb to care. All hope of his lifelong venture was over. He'd been uprooted. He'd almost been killed. And all for what?

Stepping back, he leans against the wall, out of breath, the sweat pouring down. Slowly he slides to the floor. At first, the stinging sensation stays behind his eye. But as the first tear rolls down his cheek, the others can't be stopped.

Pulling his knees up to his chest, Ryder curls up in the corner, the tears running freely. He'd lost his brother. He'd lost his home. He felt like murdering Carson. He felt like letting himself die. He felt miserable and alone.