Chapter 3 — The Rehabilitation Assignment

Sophie

Sophie Lane adjusted the strap of her radio as she moved purposefully down the corridor, her boots clicking softly against the cracked linoleum. The dim fluorescent lights above flickered sporadically, casting uneven shadows on the walls. She passed by a cluster of guards speaking in low, clipped tones outside the cellblock, their conversation dissolving into the monotonous hum of the prison. The faint buzz of tension lingered in the air, a constant reminder of Crestview’s oppressive atmosphere.

As she approached the rehabilitation room, Sophie hesitated. Her gaze fell on the chipped paint of the doorframe and the crooked “Rehabilitation Program” sign above it, its intended promise of new beginnings marred by years of neglect. She reached up, almost instinctively, to touch the cool, familiar weight of her silver bracelet. It grounded her, reminding her of her mother’s belief in hope and the purpose that had led her here. She wasn’t here for accolades or to enforce the status quo—she was here to do what little she could to bring a glimmer of humanity to the system. Still, her reassignment to this forgotten corner of the prison felt like a demotion, pulling her away from the dynamic yard shifts where she’d felt she could make a real difference.

Her fingers tightened briefly around the bracelet. No part of this place should be dismissed as unimportant, she reminded herself. Even the smallest steps mattered. Exhaling slowly, she pushed open the door.

The stale scent of dust and aged plastic greeted her. The room was exactly as she’d expected from the outside: rows of mismatched chairs arranged before outdated computers, their yellowed casings tucked against the peeling walls. The whiteboard bore the faint, smeared remnants of “Opportunities Await!”—a faded message of encouragement that now seemed more like a bitter joke. Sophie’s throat tightened at the sight. This neglected room mirrored the broader state of Crestview, a place where people were stripped of hope long before they even had a chance to find it.

“Well, look who’s here to save us,” came a dry, sardonic voice from the far end of the room.

Sophie turned, her eyes landing on a wiry man slouched in a chair with studied indifference. Liam Callahan. His piercing blue eyes, sharp and assessing, locked onto hers, and the faint smirk tugging at his lips didn’t quite hide the guardedness in his expression. He held a gnawed pencil loosely between his fingers, spinning it absently. The rolled-up sleeve of his orange uniform revealed faint scars along his forearm, reminders of whatever battles he’d fought before this one.

“Hello, Mr. Callahan,” Sophie replied evenly, her tone calm and measured as she stepped further into the room. “I see you’re already getting started. That’s good.”

Liam raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. “Getting started? You mean staring at this relic of a computer and placing bets on when it’ll self-destruct? Yeah, I’m making incredible progress.”

Sophie ignored the jab, closing the distance between them while keeping a respectful space. Her deliberate movements conveyed quiet authority. “The program is designed to teach useful skills,” she said, her voice steady yet laced with a trace of warmth. “Coding, data entry—things that could help you when you leave here.”

“When I leave here,” Liam echoed, as if the words themselves mocked him. He leaned forward slightly, his tone turning dry. “Sure. Maybe I’ll use those skills to build myself a digital shovel. Dig my way through the firewall.”

Sophie allowed herself a small, knowing smile. “Maybe you could. Or maybe you could use them to build something better.”

The flicker of surprise in Liam’s eyes was brief, but Sophie caught it. For a moment, his smirk faltered, and something akin to discomfort flared in his expression. Then the sardonic mask slipped back into place.

“Big words, Officer Lane,” he said, spinning the pencil between his fingers as if to deflect the moment. “Too bad you’re aiming them at the wrong crowd.”

“I don’t think I am,” Sophie replied softly, her resolve steady as she let her gaze sweep over the outdated machines. “The resources here aren’t much, but they’re something. And something is better than nothing.”

“Well,” Liam drawled, his tone dripping with mockery, “color me inspired. Guess I’ll get right to work on that ‘something better’—just as soon as this ancient relic decides to wake up.” He gestured at his computer, its screen stuck mid-boot with an endlessly spinning cursor.

Suppressing an amused smile, Sophie knelt beside the machine. “Let me see if I can help with that.”

“Oh, please do,” Liam said, leaning back in his chair with exaggerated grace. “I’m dying to see your magic.”

As Sophie worked on the temperamental computer, she felt Liam’s eyes on her, sharp and unrelenting. He was studying her, dissecting her movements like she was a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve. Her pulse quickened, but she kept her focus steady. She’d read his file. She knew his story—a hacker who had exposed corporate corruption, only to find himself imprisoned when the fallout hurt people he hadn’t intended to harm. The other guards dismissed him as a troublemaker, manipulative and dangerous. Yet there was something more here, Sophie thought. Something sharper and more layered than the rumors suggested.

The computer finally sputtered to life, its outdated operating system coughing into existence. Sophie stood, brushing her hands against her uniform. “There. It’s not perfect, but it should work now.”

Liam tilted his head slightly, his expression inscrutable. “Huh. Maybe you’re not as useless as the others.”

Sophie raised an eyebrow. “High praise, Mr. Callahan. I’ll take it.”

“Don’t let it go to your head.”

Before Sophie could respond, a voice cut through the air. “Looks like you two are getting along already.”

She turned to see Miguel Torres leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed and a faint smile playing on his face. His warm brown eyes held an amused glint, and the outline of his dove tattoo peeked out from beneath his rolled sleeve. His presence was calming, a quiet reassurance in an otherwise stifling environment.

“Callahan giving you trouble, Officer Lane?” Miguel asked, his tone light but edged with knowing.

“Not at all,” Sophie replied, glancing briefly at Liam. “Just… testing the waters.”

Miguel chuckled, stepping into the room. “That’s one way to put it.” He shot a pointed look at Liam. “Ease up, hermano. She’s not the enemy.”

Liam’s smirk faded slightly, though he didn’t respond. Miguel clapped a hand on his shoulder, the gesture both grounding and brotherly. Then he turned back to Sophie, his voice softening.

“Most of us don’t take this program seriously,” Miguel said quietly, his words meant for Sophie alone. He rolled up his sleeve further, fully revealing the dove tattoo. “But some of us… we see the value in what you’re trying to do. Even when it’s hard to believe in much.”

Sophie’s eyes lingered on the tattoo for a moment. It was a simple image, yet it held profound weight in this place. The small bird in flight seemed almost defiant against the bleakness surrounding it. She felt a surge of gratitude and nodded at Miguel in silent acknowledgment. “Thank you,” she said softly, the words carrying more meaning than she intended.

Miguel offered a faint smile before stepping back. “I’ll leave you two geniuses to save the world. Just don’t lose sight of what really matters.”

As Miguel disappeared down the hallway, Sophie turned back to Liam. He was staring at the computer screen now, his expression unreadable. The silence between them stretched, heavy with unspoken possibilities.

Sophie moved to the whiteboard, picking up the eraser. The remnants of “Opportunities Await!” smudged into oblivion beneath her hand. After a moment of thought, she picked up a marker and wrote in neat, deliberate strokes: “Small steps lead to big changes.”

She felt Liam’s gaze on her again, heavier this time. When she glanced over her shoulder, his expression had softened slightly, an almost curious light in his eyes. For a fleeting moment, they held each other’s gaze.

“Something better…” Liam murmured under his breath, almost as if testing the words.

Sophie allowed herself a small smile before turning back to the board. This wasn’t going to be easy. But she was ready to try.