The Prison Project (by Bethany Donaghy) novel Chapter 203

Margot’s POV

The shower felt like heaven.

For the first few seconds, anyway.

Warm water poured over me, cascading down my shoulders, my back, my chest – washing away the stale feeling of the past few days, the hospital smell, the tension that had clung to my skin.

I closed my eyes, letting out a slow breath as I tilted my head back into it.

God… I needed this.

But then…

The sting finally hit.

Sharp and sudden.

Unforgiving.

A quiet hiss slipped from between my teeth as the water struck directly against the bruises scattered across my ribs and sides, those areas seeming the worst.

“Shit…” I muttered under my breath, instinctively shifting my stance.

It didn’t help much.

Everywhere hurt.

Not unbearable.

Not like yesterday.

But enough to remind me that my body had taken a hard beating.

Still…

I stayed under the stream.

Because the warmth was worth it and for the first time in days, I felt clean again.

Human again.

Carefully, I reached for the shampoo, lifting my arms slowly – wincing as the stretch pulled at my ribs. Even something as simple as washing my hair felt like a difficult task.

Like my body was resisting every movement.

But I forced my way through it.

Fingers working through my hair, massaging the shampoo into my scalp, trying to ignore the ache building in my shoulders.

“Come on…” I murmured quietly to myself.

One step at a time.

I rinsed.

Then repeated.

Then moved onto soap – using more than I probably needed, scrubbing carefully but thoroughly, determined to wash every last trace of everything that had happened.

By the time I was done, my skin felt raw.

Sensitive.

But clean.

Completely clean.

And somehow…

That alone made me feel a little stronger.

A little more in control.

I stepped out slowly, grabbing one of the large towels and wrapping it tightly around my body, the soft fabric a welcome contrast against my sore skin.

Then I moved to the sink, grabbing the toothbrush, squeezing on toothpaste, and brushing my teeth with slow, careful motions.

Routine.

Normal.

Grounding.

Exactly what I needed.

But then-

“Crap…” I muttered suddenly.

Clothes.

I hadn’t brought any in here.

Of course I hadn’t.

With a small sigh, I adjusted the towel and moved toward the door, unlocking it before stepping back out into the main space.

And the second I did-

Coban turned.

His entire body going completely rigid at the sight of me.

Like he’d just been hit with something he wasn’t prepared for.

I froze slightly under his gaze.

Because the way he was looking at me…

It wasn’t casual.

It wasn’t even just concern.

It was something heavier.

Darker.

“…everywhere…” he said quietly.

Almost like he hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

My stomach tightened.

“Bruises…” he added, shaking his head slowly. “They are fucking everywhere…”

I shifted awkwardly, instinctively tucking a damp strand of hair behind my ear.

I knew what I looked like.

I didn’t need the reminder.

“It looks worse than it feels,” I said quickly, moving past him toward my things.

But he didn’t buy it.

“Bullshit,” he shot back immediately.

Of course he didn’t.

I let out

small breath.

“Seriously… it’s going to be okay,” I tried again, softer this time.

But he groaned, dragging a hand down his face, frustration radiating off him.

“Do you remember any of them?” he asked, his voice tightening. “Any faces? Anything? I want to know who did this!”

I paused.

Because I already knew where this was going.

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