It shouldn’t have come to a surprise to Marcus what happened. In his exhaustion however he had been dumb enough to slip up. That was what would happen when you had been tased, arrested, questioned, searched, then strip searched, finally booked and only then to be thrown in a cell with a Bratva all in one day. Despite the fear, despite the terror of leaving things unsaid, Marcus had been unable to keep his eyes open. And that was the very reason why he woke suddenly in the night with a hand around his throat.
The feeling of having the life choked out of him was nothing new for Marcus, sadly. His eyes shot open taking in the sight of his new cellmate over him hands wrapped firmly around his throat. It only made so much sense considering this asshole was in here because of him. And now- now he had Marcus handed to him on a silver platter, all thanks to CToS and it’s records of who was here why. And why would the guards pass up putting him in here with the largest man in the Russian Gang?
Instantly he his hands moved for the male’s wrist trying to apply pressure something that did little given the sheer size of the fingers. Wincing he throat began to burn and his eyes watered, trachea aching, the real idea entering his head that he could snap his neck. Darkness began to creep on his vision and reaching up Marcus wrapped his hand around the male’s forehead. Shoving it up and pushing it hard against the top of the bunk bed. There was a loud thunk as the male’s head hit and then Marcus brought his knee up slamming it into the male’s stomach. Kicking him back he shoved himself up, despite every bit of his lungs burning, moving forward to slam a punch against the male’s skull something he had to half jump to accomplish.
The noise drew the sound of a guard but halfway to the cell the officer seemed to have stopped. It struck Marcus later as he sat on his bunk watching the unconscious Bratva for any signs of movement that the guard had thought Marcus was being beat not the other way around. The realization made his stomach churn as he stared down at his already swelling knuckles, his other hand stroking along the bruises that stung his throat. Day one had been bad and already he had thought that until he got his jail ordered glasses he was already at a disadvantage. Now- now he knew he had a much larger one.
He was trapped in here with nothing to defend himself but his own two hands against every gang the city had to offer. Including the cops. Something told him in the back of his mind he wasn’t going leaving here in anything but a body bag. A negative thought he normally never allowed but that night- it never left his mind.
02.
The next day was worse, if that was at all possible. His throat had been so sore he hadn’t been able to speak. And when they had come to his cell the next morning and found the Bratva, who was still out from the flurry of blows Marcus had given him, he hadn’t been able to argue. And so he had been dragged out and taken for his arraignment. It had been quick and in his injured haze he swore the judge had barely explained his charges before he was off again. This time he didn't go back to his cell and the man who was no doubt ready to kill him again. No, the officer who had lead him through the various prison doors explained. He was to be taken to solitary for the day.
It was there he had been informed that when he was released into the general population he wouldn’t be allowed to come into contact with anything involving technology. That alone seemed like a laughable joke to him, considering the doors themselves were wired to the network and so he had laughed. Bitterly in the face of the officer before retorting about not being sure how the fuck that would even be possible. We’ll find a way the man had assured him before slamming the door. And it was in that cell that Marcus spent the longest day of his life staring at the ceiling as his body ached for him to move, to climb, to run- to be free. Mind churning on the very real idea that Wrench, Vi, Sitara, Josh, Ray, Naomi- any of them could be in custody or worse.
Rolling on his side he pulled the shitty pillow over his ears and tried to block out the thoughts. The memories of yelling at Wrench and Vi and yet- yet they continued endlessly in his head. Just like the pain in his throat it wasn’t fading in the slightest. It seemed like this was the worst his life could get, trapped behind giant walls with no way of knowing how his friends were and no way of knowing if he’d ever be free again. All while Dusan sat in some high shitty ass corporate office laughing at him and yet- he had been wrong again.
03.
He realized this on his first day in general population as he was held against a wall by two Auntie Shu’s as a Tezca landed blow after blow on him. There was a small crowd, one that involved the office tasked with following Marcus to keep him away from technology, all who watched. No one made an effort to save him even the guard who just kept his eyes turned away. If anyone saw this Marcus knew it would be and instant way out of jail but he had the feeling the cameras didn’t reach over here.
It was something he couldn’t think much on between the reign of blows. Before the next one came his attempts to free his arms got weaker. Exhaustion was setting in given his little to not sleep the night before, his injuries from the first night and now this? He hadn’t even made it to the cafeteria to eat before he got jumped. How was he going to survive this? How was he going to get out of here and help?
A particularly hard blow brought him from this thoughts and for the first time he yelled out in pain. Unable to deny the searing heat in his gut, fuck what if they were going to beat him to death? Hanging his head he tried to gather his breath wincing as the man drew back for another blow. Right before it hit he heard some yelling and he looked up panting as his lungs struggled to draw air. The Tezca was on the ground and the Shu’s were dropping him to move away not wanting to be a part of an alliance. The reasoning? The giant Bratva was on top of the Tezca wailing on him.
Sliding down the side of the prison wall that lead into another block Marcus realized between pained gasps, they were fighting over who got him. And he hated to see the winner.
“Holloway,” Snapped the guard as he moved pressing the top of his shoe against the side of the hackers leg. “You done catching your breath and ready to go to your job?”
“Thought we were going to the,” Marcus had to take a shaky breath before he continued his smart ass remark. “-cafeteria sir?”
“Clearly you got your breakfast just then, come on before the other guards break this shit up,” There was a smile from the officer one that was easily feigned for caring. He knew better, or maybe he had always been this paranoid. Or perhaps the guard was already so far on Marcus’ bad side for watching what he just had. “Unless you want to be in solitary again.”
That got him on his feet and Marcus, despite the pain surged forward, wanting to be wherever it was he was going to ‘work’. Given he wasn’t allowed to be near techonology he figured it was going to be good. But anywhere was better than the four walls and small room of confinement. Even if all his body needed was to lay down and heal, his mind needed work.
If needed anything but to think about what was outside of the walls waiting for him.
