[Barron does pause, looking from Prefect's legs up to his face. For a second, just a second, he thinks about coming clean with it. But instead his continues on with the lie, like he normally does. It's just as natural as breathing.]

You shouldn't be punishing me at all, it was all O'Brien. [Barron paused. Looked at Prefect's broken legs.] It was all O'Brien. He talked me into it. He would have done anything to get that stuff out of his head. He realized that I had my power back and threatened tell everyone if I didn't do what he wanted.

[Barron stops and swallows.] Can you imagine what would have happened then? With Dawsey?