The following afternoon, Elian finally stepped outside the cell for work assignment.
It had been a full day since Ronald's collapse. A full day since Elian's failed escape attempt.
Alessio had kept him locked inside the entire previous day, no work, no leaving, just the two of them in that small space with tension crackling between them.
Now, walking through the corridors toward the laundry department, Elian's first thought was Ronald.
Was he okay? Had he survived? Was he recovering?
Elian needed to know.
He spotted an inmate he vaguely recognized, someone who had been in the gym that day, who had seen Ronald convulsing on the floor.
"Excuse me," Elian approached him quickly. "Do you know anything about Ronald Reagan? The guy who was poisoned? Is he---"
The inmate's face went pale. His eyes darted away immediately, looking anywhere but at Elian.
"I don't know nothing," he muttered, already backing away.
"Please, I just need to know if he's---"
