Review, Planning, and a Revelation

The silence of solitary confinement wrapped around Garrett like a heavy blanket, pressing in on him but failing to smother his thoughts. He sat on the cot, his back leaning against the cold concrete wall, his sharp yellow-blue eyes staring at the faint sliver of light creeping through the tiny window near the ceiling.

Isolation. They thought it would break him.

Instead, it had given him something far more valuable: time.

Garrett’s mind churned as he replayed his session with Miranda Wong. The AudioTuring device had been a revelation—a tool he’d used to flip the balance of power. But the longer he thought about it, the more questions gnawed at him.

How did it really work? Was it purely audio, or could it be more? Could it be embedded in music, something Miranda might listen to repeatedly without realizing its effect? What about visual elements? Could it influence her through images or subtle patterns?

“Fuck,” he muttered, shaking his head. He’d been so focused on manipulating Miranda during the session that he hadn’t pressed her for more information. That had been a mistake—a mistake he couldn’t afford to make again. He needed answers. The device was his key to power, and Miranda was the only person who could give him the knowledge he needed.

But it wasn’t just the device. Miranda herself was becoming more important. Not just as a tool, but as a connection to the outside world. If he wanted to expand his influence, he couldn’t rely solely on her sessions. She had to become his agent beyond the walls of Havenbrook.

And to do that, he needed communication. A phone.

Getting a phone wasn’t impossible, but it wasn’t simple either. Contraband came at a cost, both in resources and risk. Miranda couldn’t smuggle one in for him—it would be too obvious, and any suspicion cast her way could ruin everything. No, it had to be someone else. Someone within the prison system. Someone who wouldn’t be scrutinized.

The rattle of the slot on his door interrupted his thoughts. A tray of food slid through, the motion rough and careless.

“Dinner time, Cucky,” Bree’s voice called mockingly from the other side. Her tone was laced with amusement, and Garrett could picture the smug grin on her face.

He didn’t respond, but he moved toward the door, picking up the tray. As he did, he caught the faint sound of Latoya’s voice, and then Bree’s, their conversation drifting into the quiet hallway.

“God, I can’t wait to see Miranda tomorrow,” Bree said, her voice filled with excitement. “She’s such a fucking dream, you know? I swear, Latoya, I’m going to get her into bed one day.”

Latoya snorted. “Good luck with that. You’ve been trying for months.”

“I’m telling you,” Bree continued, undeterred, “it’s going to happen. She’ll fall for me eventually. And when she does, I’m rubbing it in Cucky’s face. Can you imagine? Him, pining for her while she’s all over me?”

Their laughter faded as they walked away, the sound echoing faintly in the corridor.

Garrett sat back down, the tray untouched in his lap. Bree’s words replayed in his mind, a slow smile spreading across his face. Bree wasn’t just brash and arrogant—she had a weakness. Miranda.

If he could manipulate Miranda further, he could use her to influence Bree. Bree’s obsession with Miranda could become the perfect lever, forcing her to act without even realizing it.

And why stop there?

The idea unfurled in Garrett’s mind, dark and satisfying. Bree thought she could flaunt Miranda in front of him, rubbing it in his face. But what if it was the other way around? What if he bent Miranda so completely that Bree had **** but to watch? What if Bree, so smug and cocky now, became his little Cuckqueen, reduced to sitting on the sidelines while he took what she wanted most?

The image made him grin. Bree, helplessly watching as Miranda submitted to him, unable to do anything but seethe in humiliation—it was perfect. And she wouldn’t even realize she was playing into his hands until it was too late.

Garrett leaned back against the wall, his thoughts drifting to the clock ticking away in the background of all his plans. Nine months. That was all the time he had left until his release, right as the school year ended.

Nine months to turn Havenbrook into his playground.

By the time he walked out of those gates, he wouldn’t just be another inmate set free. No, he’d leave behind a legacy of control and chaos—a facility entirely under his thumb. From the staff to the inmates, they’d all be part of his web, whether they realized it or not.

Nine months wasn’t a prison sentence. It was a deadline. And he was right on schedule.

The silence of the cell wrapped around him once more, but it wasn’t oppressive. It was energizing. It was a gift.

He whispered to himself, “Thank you, you silly woke bitches and your degenerate excuses of sons. You think I’m caged, but you’re the ones trapped with me.”

His plan was clear. His next session with Miranda would be the key to uncovering the device’s true potential. He’d learn more about its capabilities and begin embedding himself deeper into her mind. And as for Bree? He’d let her obsession work against her, turning her fixation into a weapon she wouldn’t even realize she was wielding.

He exhaled slowly, his grin widening. “One move at a time,” he murmured to himself. “And soon, they’ll all be mine.”