Chapter 178

“I know.” He looked mournful.

“Man,” I said.

“You have had a rotten day.”

“Not really,” he said, putting his thumb down.

“At least, not as bad as it would have been if you hadn’t been here. If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead.”

He noticed that I’d come through the door marked WARDEN and asked,

“Did you get in trouble or something?”

“No,” I said.

“The warden just wanted me to fill out some forms. I’m new, you know.”

“And as a new prisoner,” the novice said severely,

“you ought to be made aware that loitering in the halls is not allowed. Both of you had better get to your cells.”

I apologized and took back my pass.

Bryce very chivalrously offered to show me where my next cell was, and the novice went away, seemingly satisfied.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Bryce said,

“You’re Camilla, right? Jake told me about you. You’re his new stepsister from New York.”

“That’s me,” I said.

“And you’