Time stretches painfully as the guard makes the call, his voice low and clipped as he relays the request. I can’t hear the response, but the way his lips press into a thin line tells me enough.

When Shaw hangs up, he looks at me, his expression unreadable. “He refused.”

The words land like a blow, knocking the air from my lungs. I force myself to stand tall, to keep my composure, but inside, I’m unraveling. “Did he give a reason?”

The guard shakes his head. “Didn’t have to. He just said no.”

My hands curl into fists at my sides, my nails biting into my palms. This was a mistake. I should have known better than to think he’d make this easy. Ghost isn’t the type to show mercy.

And I hurt him in a way no one else ever has.

“Please,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “Tell him it’s important. That I need to speak with him.”

Shaw hesitates, his eyes narrowing. “Dr. Andrews—”

“Please,” I say. “Just… try again.”

He exhales heavily but picks up the phone once more. As he dials, I press my hands against the counter, bracing myself for the answer I already know is coming.

And when Shaw finally hangs up, shaking his head, that flicker of hope dies entirely. “Ghost said no,” he says quietly. “I’m sorry.”

For a moment, I’m frozen, caught between the sting of rejection and the mounting determination to not give up. Finally, I exhale and lean closer to the guard, my voice calm but firm.

“You need to take me to him anyway.”

Shaw frowns. “Dr. Andrews, he’s made it clear—”

“I know what he said,” I snap.

The guard’s frown deepens, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. His arms cross over his chest, and his posture stiffens, a clear signal he’s about to shut me down again.

I adjust my expression, inserting concern into my voice. “Listen, I got wind of a situation with Ghost. That’s why he’s refusing to see me.”

The guard’s brow furrows in confusion. “What kind of situation?”

I hesitate, just long enough to make it seem like I’m reluctant to divulge sensitive information. “I can’t go into detail. But it’s the kind of thing that, if left unchecked, could be disastrous. And if that happens, it will impact the entire facility.”

I catch the twitch in his lip, and the slight tilt of his head that signals intrigue. I’ve almost got him.

Shaw nods slowly. “Ghost has been threatening to kill more people…”

“More people?” I repeat, my stomach churning. “What are you talking about?”

Shaw sighs, his hand resting on the counter, his expression grim. “Ghost killed an inmate last night. Snapped his neck through the bars of the guy’s cell. Just like that.”

Shaw snaps his fingers, and I flinch.

He continues, lowering his voice. “After the fight, we tried to put Ghost in solitary, but it didn’t go as planned. He maimed one of the guards—broke his wrist and dislocated his shoulder. The guy’s lucky it wasn’t worse.”

“Oh, my God.”

“He’s still in there,” Shaw says, “far from the other prisoners. He’s isolated, but it’s not doing much good. The tension’s building in this place because Ghost doesn’t make threats without intending to carry them out.”

Ghost is escalating. Solitary confinement might keep him physically separate, but it’s only fueling the turmoil inside him.

“You’re right to keep him away from the others, but isolation won’t de-escalate this,” I say. “If anything, it’s making him more volatile. He needs help.”

“You think you can get through to him?”

“I know I can.” I meet his gaze with unwavering confidence that’s a testament of my acting skills. “I’ve done it before, haven’t I?”

Shaw exhales heavily, his doubt evident, but I catch the flicker of consideration in his eyes. I seize the opening, wrapping my tone in urgency. “If you don’t let me try, the alternative could be disastrous. Just let me do my job. I would hate to see you, or anyone else, get hurt.”

Shaw’s jaw tightens, his skepticism giving way to unease. “We’ve got measures in place for that kind of thing. Ghost knows the consequences if he steps out of line.”

I nod, acknowledging his point, but press forward. “Measures are reactive, Officer Shaw. This needs to be handled proactively. You’ve read his file. He’s not impulsive; he’s calculated. If he’s planning something, it’ll start subtle, almost unnoticeable. But by the time anyone catches on, it could be too late.”

Shaw studies me, tapping his fingers against the counter in a rhythmic pattern. Finally, he blows out a breath, fixing me with a pointed stare. “All right, Dr. Andrews, you can talk to him. But if anything feels off, I’m pulling you out immediately.”

I keep my expression composed and professional, despite my knees getting weak with relief. “I understand. Thank you, Officer.”

He grabs his keys and motions for me to follow. “This way.”

The walk through the plain hallways is agonizingly familiar. Each step feels heavier than the last, my resolve wavering with every turn. What in the hell am I going to say to Ghost? Will he even listen?

Shaw leads me deeper into the prison, past corridors I’ve walked countless times. The further we go, the more oppressive the atmosphere becomes. The lights overhead do nothing to erase the shadows in every corner.

“This area’s been cleared out,” Shaw says over his shoulder, his voice echoing in the empty space. “Only a skeleton crew assigned here. Too dangerous to keep him anywhere else.”

I nod silently. The usual low hum of voices, the clang of cell doors, and the muted shuffle of inmates are missing. The silence is unnerving, punctuated only by the buzz of electricity and the faint sound of our footsteps.

We stop at a heavy steel door marked with bold yellow letters:

SECURED ISOLATION UNIT. AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.

Shaw punches in a code, and the lock releases with a heavy click. “Stay behind me,” he says firmly, stepping through first.

The air here is colder. My eyes are immediately drawn to the thick yellow line painted on the floor, running parallel to the rows of reinforced bars. Shaw points to it with his flashlight.

“That’s the safe zone,” he says.

I stop just short of the line, my toes an inch away.

“Don’t get too close to the bars,” he continues, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Ghost is smart. And fast. If he gets his hands on you…” Shaw trails off, his meaning clear.

I force myself to nod again, even as my pulse races.

The guard leads me down the row, past empty cells that remind me of hollowed-out tombs. The walls here are thicker, the bars reinforced and the floors spotless. This place has been stripped of humanity, designed solely for containment.

Shaw stops in front of a cell, his hand resting on the baton at his hip as he glances at me. His expression is unreadable, but his posture radiates caution. “Dr. Andrews, I’ll be right down the hall. If you yell, I’ll hear you.”

I nod, my throat dry. “Understood.”

“Don’t cross the line,” Shaw reminds me, his voice low but firm.

I don’t respond. My attention is locked on the man in the cell, his presence filling the space like a tangible force. The echo of Shaw’s footsteps fades into the background, leaving me alone with Ghost.

CHAPTER 46

Ghost is sitting on the edge of the small cot, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands clasped loosely together. He doesn’t look up, his focus fixed on a point on the floor.

“Ghost,” I say softly, my voice trembling.

He doesn’t respond. Doesn’t move.