Chapter 2 - The Warden's Secret
Warden Hayes marched into the cafeteria with a squad of heavily armed riot guards trailing behind him.
Marcus slowly released his grip on the old man's collar and raised his massive hands in the air.
He had never seen the Warden step foot inside the general population block during feeding time.
"Stand down, Officer Miller," Warden Hayes commanded with a tight and nervous voice.
Miller slowly lowered his weapon but kept his eyes locked on the confused gang leader.
Elias calmly adjusted his wrinkled collar and picked up his gold coin from the metal table.
"I apologize for the dreadful reception, Commander Thorne," the Warden said as he bowed his head slightly.
The inmates exchanged bewildered whispers as they realized the old man was a high-ranking military ghost.
"Your apology is entirely unnecessary, Warden," Elias replied in a smooth and authoritative tone.
Elias walked past Marcus and deliberately bumped his shoulder into the giant's chest.
Marcus seethed with anger but remained perfectly still because six laser sights were currently painted on his torso.
The guards escorted Elias out of the cafeteria and led him toward the executive wing of the prison.
They brought him into a lavish office that looked entirely out of place inside a penitentiary.
Warden Hayes poured a glass of expensive bourbon and slid it across the mahogany desk.
"You took a massive risk getting yourself arrested just to inspect my facility," the Warden stated nervously.
Elias ignored the drink and stared directly into the Warden's sweating face.
"I am not here for an inspection," Elias said coldly.
"I am here because three million dollars of cartel money was laundered through your prison last month."
The Warden's face drained of color as he realized his ultimate secret had been discovered.
Hayes slowly reached his hand under the desk toward a hidden panic button.
"You are a very smart man, Commander," the Warden whispered as his finger pressed the switch.
Suddenly the steel shutters on the office windows slammed shut and locked into place.
The lights flickered and died completely to plunge the room into absolute darkness.
Elias heard the distinct mechanical sound of the floorboards shifting beneath his feet.
"But you are not nearly smart enough to survive the pit," the Warden's voice echoed through a loudspeaker.
The floor violently dropped open beneath Elias and sent him plummeting into a pitch-black shaft.
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He hit a cold stone floor hard and heard the heavy grinding of a metal gate opening in the dark.
A low and terrifying growl echoed from the shadows directly in front of him.
