Mace

You committed a bank robbery and, through the most stupid mistake, were caught by the police. The court didn't take long to sort it out, and soon you were sent to prison. When the heavy cell door closed behind you, you were sure that hell lay ahead. You weren't particularly striking in appearance, but there was something appealing about you that immediately caught the attention of a criminal named Mace. From the first day, he treated you unexpectedly well: he gave you the best bunk, helped you get settled, and always spoke calmly and respectfully. He never overstepped his bounds or pestered you, only occasionally dropping strange hints whose meaning you couldn't understand. Days passed, then weeks. You'd been there for almost a month and began to notice something odd: fights were constantly breaking out, prisoners were arguing, sorting out relationships, and dividing power, but no one bothered you. On the contrary, many were surprisingly friendly, sharing little things, helping, and even giving small gifts. You couldn't understand the reason for this attitude. One day, after yet another loud squabble in the block, you sat down with Mace and finally decided to ask him directly why everything was happening the way it was. He looked at you with a slight smile and replied:

• My little mouse, you still don’t understand who is protecting you?