2026-11-10 04:11:23The screaming continued for several minutes.
Luke sat upright on his bed, listening, It wasn't the first time he's heard someone scream in pain. During his military service, he had witnessed men suffer injuries that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. But this was different. There was something unsettling about hearing it inside a prison where nobody seemed willing to intervene. "Go back to sleep, young lad." Ezekiel's voice came from the lower bed. Luke looked down. "Do you know what's happening, old man?" "Probably." "Probably?" The old man turned over. "People get hurt here every night. You'll get used to it." Luke remained seated. "Shouldn't someone call the guards?" Ezekiel laughed quietly. "Call them for what? These is Blackgate, lad." "But someone is being attacked." "And?" Luke stared at him. Ezekiel opened one eye. "Listen carefully. There are three kinds of people in Blackgate. Those who hurt others, those who get hurt, and those who have learned how to avoid both." He closed his eye again. "Decide which one you want to be." Luke said nothing, he eventually lay back down, but sleep didn't come easily. --- The following morning, a loud buzzer woke the entire block. Luke opened his eyes. "Wake up! Breakfast!" He climbed down from his bed and found Ezekiel already sitting at the table. "You're awake early," Luke said. "I've been awake for an hour." "Why didn't you wake me?" "Because you looked peaceful." Luke shook his head. "Where do we get breakfast?" "Dining hall. Follow the crowd, and don't stand in anyone's way." Luke dressed, then they left the cell together, the corridor was already crowded. Prisoners moved in different directions, some heading towards the dining hall while others gathered around the walls. Luke noticed that certain inmates walked in groups, others moved alone, nobody seemed to walk without a reason. "Do you know why they are gathering there?" he asked. Ezekiel followed his gaze. A group of prisoners had gathered around a small table. One man was exchanging a packet of cigarettes for something wrapped in paper. "Trading." "Isn't that prohibited?" Ezekiel chuckled. "According to the prison handbook, yes it is." "And the guards?" "Some take their share, others simply don't care." Luke watched the exchange. "What's being traded?" "Food, cigarettes, medicine, information, protection. Almost anything you can think of." "Protection?" Ezekiel stopped walking. "Do you think everyone in this place can defend themselves?" Luke glanced at the prisoners sharply. "No." "Then you understand." They continued towards the dining hall. --- Breakfast consisted of bread, boiled eggs, and a cup of tea, Luke collected his portion and followed Ezekiel towards an empty table, before he could sit, a prisoner approached. "Old man." Ezekiel didn't look up. "Morning, Collins." The prisoner was a thin man with a crooked nose and several tattoos covering his neck. He looked at Luke. "Who's this?" "My roommate." Collins smiled. "New arrival?" Luke nodded. "What's your name?" "Luke." "Just Luke?" Collins stared deeply into Luke's pupils clearly amused. "That's enough." Ezekiel interrupted before something else could happen. Collins laughed. "Careful. People who refuse to introduce themselves usually have something to hide." Luke sat down. "Maybe." The prisoner's smile faded slightly. He looked towards Ezekiel. "Victor wants to see you." "Tell him I'm busy." Ezekiel began eating. "He's not asking." Ezekiel slowly lifted his eyes. "Then he should learn how to ask." Collins stared at him for a moment, then he shrugged. "Your choice." He walked away, Luke waited until the man was out of earshot. "Who was that?" "Someone who talks too much." "Mind telling why these Victor wants to see you?" Ezekiel took a bite of his bread. "Probably wants something." "Something? It doesn't have a name?" Ezekiel gave Luke a deadly stare for half a second, the action sent a powerful fear down Luke's spine. Luke smiled a bit, then he changed the topic immediately. "You speak to people like that without worrying about the consequences." Ezekiel smiled. "Perhaps I'm too old to worry." --- After breakfast, Luke decided to explore the courtyard, he needed information, he needed to understand the prison's structure, its people, and the resources available to him. Most importantly, he needed to know what could get him killed. He walked along the edge of the training area. Several prisoners were exercising, some lifted weights while others practiced boxing. A few supernatural inmates were engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Luke stopped to observe, one of them was Garrett, the werewolf was fighting another prisoner, a heavily built man with dark skin. Garrett blocked a punch and struck his opponent across the jaw, the man staggered before he could recover, Garrett grabbed his shoulder and threw him onto the ground. The surrounding prisoners cheered. "Again!" someone shouted. Garrett laughed. "Come on. Get up!" His opponent struggled to stand. Luke watched carefully. Garrett was strong, but his movements were not perfect. He relied heavily on his physical advantage and often left his left side exposed after throwing a punch. It was a habit, a dangerous one against someone capable of exploiting it. "Enjoying the show?" Luke turned, a young prisoner stood behind him. He was around twenty-eight, with short black hair and a small scar beneath his chin. "Just watching." The man followed his gaze. "That's Garrett. One of Raven's boys." "I know." The prisoner raised an eyebrow. "You've been here for one day and already know him?" "Hard to miss." The man laughed. "I'm Marcus." "Luke." "You're the military guy, right?" Luke looked at him. "Who told you?" "People talk. Especially when a new prisoner arrives with a military record." Luke returned his attention to the training area. Marcus lowered his voice. "Let me give you some advice. Don't get involved with Raven's people." Luke glanced at him. "And what about Victor's people?" Marcus laughed. "Those ones are worse. At least werewolves will usually tell you when they want to fight." Luke almost smiled. "Noted." Marcus studied him. "You don't seem frightened." "Should I be?" "Everyone should be." Before Luke could respond, a loud crash came from the training area, Garrett had knocked his opponent down again, this time, he didn't allow the man to stand—he planted a foot against his chest. "Stay down." The man coughed. "Get off me." Garrett leaned forward. "What was that?" The prisoner tried to push him away. Garrett raised his fist. "Enough!" A familiar voice interrupted. Luke turned. A broad-shouldered man stood near the entrance of the training area. Raven Darius. "Garrett. Leave him be." Garrett immediately stepped back, the injured prisoner rolled onto his side, Raven looked down at him. "Get him to the medical unit." Two men approached and carried the prisoner away, then Raven turned towards the gathering crowd. "Training is over." Nobody argued, the prisoners dispersed, Luke watched the werewolf king walk away. Marcus shook his head. "That's why nobody wants trouble with him." Luke said nothing, he simply continued observing, from a hidden corner someone was carefully. 
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The Old Man's Secret
By midday, Luke had learned more about Blackgate than he had during the previous evening.There were no official shops, but almost everything could be purchased.Some prisoners controlled food distribution, others handled medicine and restricted items, a few operated information networks, collecting details about inmates, guards, and outside events.Money was useful, but it wasn't everything.A prisoner could have millions waiting outside and still be powerless if nobody inside respected him, Luke found that particularly interesting.Influence was not always connected to physical strength, sometimes it came from controlling what other people needed.He was examining a group exchanging cigarettes when someone blocked his path."You're the new guy."Luke looked up.A large prisoner stood before him, he was bald, heavily built, and wore a sleeveless shirt that revealed thick arms covered in scars."Yes.""Name's Briggs."Luke waited. Briggs pointed
The Rules Of Survival
The screaming continued for several minutes.Luke sat upright on his bed, listening, It wasn't the first time he's heard someone scream in pain. During his military service, he had witnessed men suffer injuries that would haunt them for the rest of their lives.But this was different.There was something unsettling about hearing it inside a prison where nobody seemed willing to intervene."Go back to sleep, young lad."Ezekiel's voice came from the lower bed.Luke looked down."Do you know what's happening, old man?""Probably.""Probably?"The old man turned over."People get hurt here every night. You'll get used to it."Luke remained seated."Shouldn't someone call the guards?"Ezekiel laughed quietly."Call them for what? These is Blackgate, lad.""But someone is being attacked.""And?"Luke stared at him.Ezekiel opened one eye."Listen carefully. There are three kinds of people in Blackgate. Those who hurt others, tho
The King's Of Blackgate
His cell was located near the end of Block C.The guard unlocked the door."You're here."Luke stepped inside.The cell was small but clean. Two metal beds stood against opposite walls, with a narrow table between them and a toilet separated by a low partition.An elderly man sat on the lower bed, he had grey hair, a lean frame, and a worn face. His prison uniform looked older than Luke's, and a thick book rested on his lap.The man didn't look up."New roommate?" he asked."Apparently.""Name?""Luke Callas."The old man turned a page."Ezekiel Graves."Luke placed his mattress on the empty upper bed."How long have you been here?""Long enough."Luke glanced at him."That's not an answer."Ezekiel chuckled."You're right. But it is the only one you're getting."Luke examined the room."Are you alone in this cell?""Not anymore."There was something unusual about the old man.He spoke calmly, almost lazily, but
Welcome To Blackgate
The transport vehicle came to a stop, Luke raised his head.For the past four hours, he has been sitting inside a cramped compartment with six other prisoners. His hands were cuffed, his ankles chained, and a thick metal barrier separated them from the armed guards.Nobody had the strength to speak much during the journey, as each carried his own burden with him.But now, something had changed, he could hear the heavy rumbling of machinery outside, a moment later, the rear doors opened."Everybody out!"A guard stepped inside, holding a rifle.Luke stood with the others and stepped down, the first thing he noticed was the wall, It was enormous.Thick concrete stretched across the landscape, rising so high that he had to tilt his head to see the watchtowers above it. Electric fences ran along the upper sections, while armed guards watched from behind reinforced windows.There were no ordinary prison buildings in sight, only concrete, steel, surveillance equi
The Road To Blackgate
She placed the document on the table."This is a copy of the financial records from his company. I believe they're connected to what happened."Luke looked at the document carefully, It was one of the reports Daniel had been investigating. He slowly raised his head."Where did you get these?"Victoria said nothing, Luke's expression changed, He understood something then, this wasn't a misunderstanding, it wasn't a mistake either—Victoria has been involved from the very beginning.The woman standing before him had helped destroy his life, and she knew exactly what she was doing, and still he had no clue as to the reason behind it all.---Three Weeks Later.The courtroom was filled with journalists, legal representatives, military officials, and members of the public.Luke stood inside the defendant's enclosure, he had lost weight, his beard had grown slightly longer, and the expensive suits he once wore had been replaced by prison-issued clothing.His lawyer had spent weeks challengin
The Face Of Betrayal
Luke slowly turned."Dead?""Yes, sir. He was found in his residence this morning."For a moment, everything around Luke seemed to become distant, first his father, and now General Hayes. Two people he knew personally, both dead within hours."Daniel, what's happening?" Tears welled up in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall, by his side his knuckle was already turning white."I don't know, sir. But there's something else."Luke closed his eyes briefly, wishing all these was nothing but a nightmare, unfortunately it wasn't."Go ahead.""The police have issued an internal notice connecting you to the general's murder."Luke's mouth fell, the shock in his eyes could not be hidden."What?""They're looking for you, Sir."Luke looked towards the police officers standing outside his father's residence, suddenly, several of them began moving in his direction."Daniel, listen carefully, all these is the handwork of someone. Someone is setting me up.""Sir—""I don't know who it is yet,
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