Hayden wasn’t sure what to believe.
“Right-o, you,” Tim said as the pair of them reached the bottom of the stairs. “This place is gonna be your second home for a while. Get to know it.” He pointed at the canteen area. Pointed at the metal tables. People sat around them, eating, smiling and laughing together. They didn’t look at Hayden. And Hayden wasn’t sure why that was. Were they really engrossed in conversation? Or were they just actors playing a part? Building the false sense of security?
If so, why?
“Tell you what,” Tim said, patting Hayden on his right shoulder.
Hayden winced.
“Ohh. I am sorry, fella. Hurt your shoulder?”
Hayden shook his head. “Just a bruise.”
“We can get it checked out in med bay after your induction if it’s really botherin’ you. Might as well. Never saw the point of suffering in silence, y’know?”
“I’m fine. Honestly.” Hayden forced a smile. He hoped it didn’t come across as unnatural as it felt.
Big Tim chuckled. Tilted his head at the door in front. “Induction’s through there. Shouldn’t take too long. Just wanna get to know you. Learn what makes you tick. And vice versa. That okay with you?”
Hayden stopped at the door. The sound of chatter surrounded him, clouded his thoughts. The smells from the canteen seemed unnatural. He felt like he was dreaming. Like this was some sort of bullshit dream.
Maybe walking on would be the best option. Maybe living in a place like this wasn’t so bad after all.
Locked in with himself or locked out with them ?
Was this place really as much of a hellhole as Miriam made it out to be?
Was this “wall” really as safe as she claimed?
Was it even real?
Hayden turned. Walked through the door in front. The light of the prison contrasted with the dull, gloominess of the corridor.
“Just up ahead. A few people waiting in there for you. Cheers for being… well, decent company. I’ve met worse.”
Hayden saw it.
He saw the windows on his left. Dusty. Inside, old CRT screens. Looked like they hadn’t been switched on in years.
The corridor.
The corridor Miriam told him to do it in.
To take Tim out.
Take his keys.
Get back to her and help her escape.
“Well, go on,” Tim said, chuckling. “We’re not attached at the waist, thank the Lord. Just ahead. Through the next door.”
Nausea built inside Hayden. Tim’s voice sounded so loud. He felt the change in air temperature hit him acutely. The tastes in his dry mouth grew more intense.
He reached into his pocket.
Reached for the sharpened piece of tile.
Either put it through Tim’s neck and get out of this place.
Or walk on and survive.
Walk on and survive.
Walk on and…
“Oh,” Tim said. “Almost forgot. Summat you were s’posed to do before you got to induction. Ain’t that right, number seven?”
Hayden turned around.
He couldn’t say a word in response.
Tim was pointing a pistol at him.
He wasn’t smiling anymore.
“Drop that weapon of yours and kick it over here before I fill you with lead. You’ve been ratted out, you scheming sonofabitch.”
Chapter Eleven
“ G o on , number seven. Make this nice and easy for yourself. Roll the fucking weapon over this way.”
Hayden stared into Tim’s glaring eyes. He couldn’t speak. He didn’t know what to say, just that he wanted to go back to his cell, to hide. Fuck. Miriam. She’d double-crossed him. He’d taken the fucking tile and she’d double-crossed him.
“It—it’s not what it looks like,” Hayden started.
Tim stepped closer to Hayden. “I don’t give a ruddy damn what it looks like. Your cellmate told me about that weapon of yours.”
“She—she gave it to me!”
“Oh I bet she did,” Tim said. “I bet she did. Just like you’re gonna give it to me right now. Then we’ll have a talk with management. A proper talk. How’s that sound?”
Everything moved so quickly it didn’t seem like it was real. Hayden hadn’t asked to be in this place.
“Right-o, you,” Tim said as the pair of them reached the bottom of the stairs. “This place is gonna be your second home for a while. Get to know it.” He pointed at the canteen area. Pointed at the metal tables. People sat around them, eating, smiling and laughing together. They didn’t look at Hayden. And Hayden wasn’t sure why that was. Were they really engrossed in conversation? Or were they just actors playing a part? Building the false sense of security?
If so, why?
“Tell you what,” Tim said, patting Hayden on his right shoulder.
Hayden winced.
“Ohh. I am sorry, fella. Hurt your shoulder?”
Hayden shook his head. “Just a bruise.”
“We can get it checked out in med bay after your induction if it’s really botherin’ you. Might as well. Never saw the point of suffering in silence, y’know?”
“I’m fine. Honestly.” Hayden forced a smile. He hoped it didn’t come across as unnatural as it felt.
Big Tim chuckled. Tilted his head at the door in front. “Induction’s through there. Shouldn’t take too long. Just wanna get to know you. Learn what makes you tick. And vice versa. That okay with you?”
Hayden stopped at the door. The sound of chatter surrounded him, clouded his thoughts. The smells from the canteen seemed unnatural. He felt like he was dreaming. Like this was some sort of bullshit dream.
Maybe walking on would be the best option. Maybe living in a place like this wasn’t so bad after all.
Locked in with himself or locked out with them ?
Was this place really as much of a hellhole as Miriam made it out to be?
Was this “wall” really as safe as she claimed?
Was it even real?
Hayden turned. Walked through the door in front. The light of the prison contrasted with the dull, gloominess of the corridor.
“Just up ahead. A few people waiting in there for you. Cheers for being… well, decent company. I’ve met worse.”
Hayden saw it.
He saw the windows on his left. Dusty. Inside, old CRT screens. Looked like they hadn’t been switched on in years.
The corridor.
The corridor Miriam told him to do it in.
To take Tim out.
Take his keys.
Get back to her and help her escape.
“Well, go on,” Tim said, chuckling. “We’re not attached at the waist, thank the Lord. Just ahead. Through the next door.”
Nausea built inside Hayden. Tim’s voice sounded so loud. He felt the change in air temperature hit him acutely. The tastes in his dry mouth grew more intense.
He reached into his pocket.
Reached for the sharpened piece of tile.
Either put it through Tim’s neck and get out of this place.
Or walk on and survive.
Walk on and survive.
Walk on and…
“Oh,” Tim said. “Almost forgot. Summat you were s’posed to do before you got to induction. Ain’t that right, number seven?”
Hayden turned around.
He couldn’t say a word in response.
Tim was pointing a pistol at him.
He wasn’t smiling anymore.
“Drop that weapon of yours and kick it over here before I fill you with lead. You’ve been ratted out, you scheming sonofabitch.”
Chapter Eleven
“ G o on , number seven. Make this nice and easy for yourself. Roll the fucking weapon over this way.”
Hayden stared into Tim’s glaring eyes. He couldn’t speak. He didn’t know what to say, just that he wanted to go back to his cell, to hide. Fuck. Miriam. She’d double-crossed him. He’d taken the fucking tile and she’d double-crossed him.
“It—it’s not what it looks like,” Hayden started.
Tim stepped closer to Hayden. “I don’t give a ruddy damn what it looks like. Your cellmate told me about that weapon of yours.”
“She—she gave it to me!”
“Oh I bet she did,” Tim said. “I bet she did. Just like you’re gonna give it to me right now. Then we’ll have a talk with management. A proper talk. How’s that sound?”
Everything moved so quickly it didn’t seem like it was real. Hayden hadn’t asked to be in this place.
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