The Raven Kings - 3

Silas’s eyes, the color of a stormy sea, held a glint of83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXLmgvmb8l

amusement that didn't quite reach the hard set of his jaw. He83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXRtmKrPDi

was a man sculpted from granite and shadows, his broad83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfNOCbOTdF

shoulders hinting at the strength he possessed, the strength83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0t3trWUP2

that had earned him the unquestioned leadership of the83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZARMrs8pc

Raven Kings. His tattoos, a swirling vortex of black ink83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzkasgWBYu

against his pale skin, told a story of rebellion, of defiance, a83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTujwKUClSj

testament to a life lived on the razor’s edge. They spoke of83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yC0QBH7Jx

ravens, of kings, and of a violent philosophy etched deep83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHSQM2hwUo

into his soul.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXImSft6Uq4

He didn't speak for a long time, simply observing Joshua, his83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqodPe5IBg

gaze penetrating and unnerving. The silence in the small cell83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMchDcYwWIE

became a palpable entity, heavy with unspoken expectations.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wbQ8Kpcuf

Joshua felt the weight of it, the pressure of Silas’s83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTrGD1D0QK

unwavering stare. He was being assessed, judged, weighed83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkMBpJ6QqE

against some internal yardstick that only Silas understood. It83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYfHZa0cEH

was a silent interrogation, far more intense than any shouting83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcr91kRoSH

match could ever be. The only sounds were the distant,83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmUjVu91X3

muffled clamor of the prison, a constant reminder of their83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3g94Zxc2n

precarious existence.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5gJXeawX4

Finally, Silas spoke, his voice a low rumble that resonated83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ8cOLwhae

with an unexpected melody. "So, the furry gets fifteen years83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfj49Zvg1J

for a Tumblr post," he said, a hint of irony lacing his tone.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ym6QsUsPl

"That's… efficient." There was a strange quality to his83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxJuR6sebL

words, a mix of derision and a surprising empathy that both83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pswW0AXlu

disarmed and unsettled Joshua.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwTUsllOU2

Joshua swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "It wasn't what it83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYl6C05DgS

looked like," he mumbled, the words barely audible above83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT73RwLtnj8

the hum of the prison. He tried to explain, to justify, but the words caught in his throat. He felt the inadequacy of his83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEd2kLReJJ

explanation, the absurdity of his predicament.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbbjMmzHUF

Silas chuckled, a sound that seemed to shake the very83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlKImDkO7L

foundations of their cramped cell. "Oh, I'm sure it wasn't.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAuav6qEUB

But the system sees what it wants to see, doesn't it? It sees83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPftWgIiww

convenient villains. Convenient scapegoats." He paused,83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsBFUCssVg

letting his words hang in the air, heavy with meaning. "And83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRHHJSxE70

in this place, the only justice you find is the justice you make83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpN1Z1ZsyG

yourself."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExLHodItN3

Joshua felt a prickle of apprehension. This was far removed83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTc33OjiOF

from the online arguments and debates he was used to. This83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzCZiMzD4A

was raw, visceral reality. The Raven Kings. He’d heard83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiYQlMRZXP

whispers, rumors, legends – stories of swift justice, ruthless83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFwOS5hacx

efficiency, and an unwavering dedication to their own83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8us0EuIoa

twisted code.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpwpAMgwTv

"The Raven Kings," Silas continued, as if reading his83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1Tb6XqnAU

thoughts. "We’re not interested in petty crimes. We deal in83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiXTlX7mCW

larger matters. We’re the judges, the jury, and the83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJvmM1n0LO

executioners of those who deserve it. Nazis, pedophiles,83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9yECWs80J

zoophiles, abusers... the dregs of humanity who slip through83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKQzFzKtFI

the cracks of a failing system." He spoke with a fierce83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLodSH3Fzj

conviction, his words imbued with the weight of his beliefs.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF44OiV5Yb

His ideology was not merely words; it was a lived83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGkOgKbD7G

experience, a burning fire in his eyes.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQQXUJrR3m

Joshua felt a complex mix of emotions—fear, apprehension,83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdd6sp7C7Od

but also a strange flicker of something else, something that83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GUFlX6b7L

felt like grudging admiration. He knew that Silas’s methods83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa77adiKRtD

were brutal, unforgivable by most standards. Yet, there was a83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVuj0lUvE6

certain undeniable logic to his words. The system had failed83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZYQvnaQ7o

Joshua; perhaps it failed others even more profoundly.

"We have our own rules," Silas continued, his gaze83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH40Wvh3bXm

intensifying. "Our own justice. We don't care about the83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVDiNqwbAE

legalities, the niceties of the law. We deal in consequences."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIdKRuLboB

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZ13zaBNaQ

whisper. "We operate in the shadows, unseen, unheard. But83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqsVwmvmBu

our influence is felt. We are the silent guardians, the unseen83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu3Yak1PyI

hand that keeps this place from sinking into complete83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q5DpAWTKu

chaos."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8GNYs1uNx

His words were carefully crafted, a blend of intimidation and83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bmykgCnLF

subtle persuasion. There was a dangerous charm to Silas, a83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nkrEVWhWG

charismatic magnetism that belied the harshness of his83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zzyzd2fJK

actions. He spoke of revolution, of a twisted form of social83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2hduyX2OS

justice, of a world where the weak were protected and the83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR0tRAxuur

wicked were punished. His words were seductive, an83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQk8Tike8sW

intoxicating brew of ideology and brutal pragmatism.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoOf9WoGp2

"You're new here," Silas said, his gaze shifting, assessing83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwNsOtWDhq

Joshua once more. "You'll learn the rules. You'll learn the83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfaFa3FMAB

game. Survival here isn't about playing by the book. It's83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtwgO3HZLf

about adaptation, about understanding the dynamics of83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOX3bC5Y0r

power." He paused, letting the silence hang heavy once83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLzJikRo06

more. "And sometimes," he added, a chilling smile playing83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwEhC7QkLV

on his lips, "it's about choosing sides."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7snYEdtMj6

Joshua stared at Silas, unsure of how to respond. He was in83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2Dpv1ZTfh

the den of the wolves, surrounded by brutality and violence,83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4KW2Kxosi

yet there was a strange allure to Silas’s words. The idea of a83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAOYckIqIo

system that dispensed instant justice, regardless of legal83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYY49KEEwlI

loopholes or bureaucratic incompetence, held a certain83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm89yj1UCi9

appeal, especially given his own unfair trial.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUgGiE1rAy

Silas’s grip on the power dynamics of Martin Correctional83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRSeSCxDOw

was evident. His casual manner, the way he commanded the83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU245mEABms

cell, the way he looked at Joshua – it all spoke of years spent83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAG8AQX2j6

honing his skill in manipulation and intimidation. His demeanor was a masterful blend of charming and83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6KkHVuNTe

threatening, a calculated strategy to gain Joshua’s trust, or83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJrDFIr048

perhaps to break him.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2ASg00PaA

Silas rose from his makeshift bed, his movements fluid and83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq74mkNYKVi

precise, despite his hulking size. He walked to the small,83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2BzuFc4He

cracked window, the bars obscuring the outside world. He83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyt8uADg9m5

looked out into the prison yard, a vacant stare that seemed to83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yZIt06pjJ

encompass the entire institution, its cruelty, and its despair.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JDPyuza6D

"The world outside is sick," he said, his voice barely above a83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7KHvVBOdX

whisper, his tone more reflective than threatening. "Corrupt,83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnOhUJeEhY

unjust. This place is just a reflection of it, a more83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmq5vEuNtVt

concentrated form of the same sickness. We are the disease's83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOFIrMJhsG

antibody, a counterforce to the rot. We cleanse what the83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZBv3ZQ6cB

system cannot, and will not."83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsw14N3YXWq

He turned back to Joshua, his eyes sharp, scrutinizing. "Tell83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3roi7llIo

me, furry," he said, his voice regaining its forceful tone.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4tYRnqZs0

"What side are you on?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhes5Z6GXDe

The question hung in the air, a challenge, a proposition.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoh4BLhHZB

Joshua knew that his response would determine his future83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQqvXym6sV

within the walls of Martin Correctional. It would shape his83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0HbFRwjL0

alliances, his survival, and perhaps, even his soul. He looked83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnu85Fx2Jn9

at Silas, this imposing figure, this leader of a criminal83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWd7NEcHbL

organization who believed himself to be a purveyor of83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGgBmIVKjt

justice. The weight of the choice hung heavy on his83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgB9YuStOOf

shoulders, the pressure almost unbearable. He knew, in that83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE2H1JGUC0

moment, that his life had irrevocably changed. The game had83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFStn94BcQ

begun. And the stakes were higher than he had ever83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDm3Go9wby

imagined. His fifteen-year sentence for a Tumblr post had83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljpEhuCm1k

just become infinitely more complicated.

83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuBdizX3rV

ns216.73.216.65da2

3

REGISTER

LOGIN

Interface Language:

Story Language: