CHAPTER 5 — The Dead Man in Cell Block D
The prison went into emergency lockdown.
Doors slammed.
Alarms screamed.
But Emma stood completely still.
Raven whispered,
"Who is that?"
Emma's voice was low.
"Victor Hale."
"The man who created the network I destroyed five years ago."
Raven turned pale.
"I thought he died."
"So did I."
Suddenly, the cafeteria monitors flickered on.
A man's face appeared.
Burn scars.
One dead eye.
A smile that made every inmate step back.
"Hello, Ghost."
Victor laughed softly.
"You took my empire."
"So I built a new one inside your prison."
Emma realized the horrible truth.
The corruption was not just officers.
It was the entire system.
Victor had been controlling judges, lawyers, prison staff, and criminals from the shadows.
And Emma had walked directly into his trap.
The screen switched to live footage.
A young woman was locked in an underground medical room.
Emma's breath caught.
It was her younger sister.
Lena.
Victor's voice became colder.
"You have ten minutes."
"Give yourself up..."
"Or she disappears forever."
For the first time since arriving at the prison...
Emma looked afraid.
Raven saw it.
And quietly said,
May you like
"You saved us."
"Now we save her."
