I didn’t know what I was expecting once we entered the prison, but so far, it’s just as I imagined it would be if I had to ever had to enter one in the past. A short distance away was a desk with two guards; one at the front desk and the other sitting at the metal detector area.
Both guards looked up when they heard the door open and for a moment, I thought they were going to comment or make a face about my outfit. Instead, they looked away as if everything was normal.
Do people come in these strange outfits often?
I thought that we were about to approach the guard at the desk, but right as neared it Adam suddenly turned left and walked towards the solid-colored wall. I was about to ask what he was up to until the supposed wall opened to reveal an elevator.
“What the hell?!”
Adam simply stepped inside the elevator as if nothing was wrong.
“Come along now. If you don’t hurry up, you’ll be late, and he doesn’t like it when people are late.”
Once I entered the elevator and doors closed, I asked the first thing that came to mind.
“Who’s he?”
“Your first patient, Alice. A person who you’ll be meeting soon, please try to make a good first impression.”
I pouted at him for dodging the question.
He’s making it seem like I’m not good with people. At the cafe I used to work at people loved talking to me as I ringed up their orders especially when it was slow. The owner even teased me saying that I was one of the reasons why they had so many regulars now.
I’ll show you, you fucking jerk.
The elevator doors opened to reveal a wide hallway with several doors on each side. There were similar suit wearing people walking up and down the hall; some were even going in and out some of the doors several times. I wasn’t sure why I didn’t think that there wouldn’t be so much activity in here, but there was and it kind of blew me away.
As we made to what I can assume our room, I bumped into someone’s shoulder. I turned to apologize that the person in all white kept walking like nothing happened. He didn’t even bother turning around; just kept follow that one person in the business suit like he was his shadow.
A paused wondering if I should say something or not.
“Alice, why are you just standing there? We need to get a move on.”
I didn’t like his tone, but he’s right. No point crying over spilled milk, if I see that guy again, I’ll try talking to him.
It didn’t take us long to get to our door after that.
“Here we are.”
Adam took out a card and swiped it on the small machine attached to the wall next to the door then typed a code into it. The door entered and the first thing I notice is some chairs in front of a two-way mirror.
As I get a closer look inside, I see a small white-haired boy sitting on the opposite side of a metal table. He was the cutest thing, I’ve ever seen!
He had matching white, floppy bunny ears attached to his head. He wore a long sleeved, button up jacket with black pants and a thin black ribbon around his neck. Underneath the jacket it looked like he was wearing a white button up shirt and a striped pattern under bust corset.
He looks like a little gentleman.
So cute! He must be cosplaying!
The cute white-haired boy was glaring at his yellow pocket watch that he was holding in one hand while impatiently tapping his fingers on the table with the other. It looked like he was waiting for someone, maybe his parents? Do they work here?
“Hey, Adam, why are we here? I thought I was going to be one of these so called prisoners today.”
No response.
I turned towards him and saw that he was looking attentively at the boy.
“That is the prisoner, Alice.”
I started to laugh nervously at the joke. There’s no way that kid is an inmate at this place.
“And here I thought you had no sense of humor. Now seriously where’s the real prisoner?”
I didn’t expect him to laugh with me, but he could have at least smirked or something. As my laughter downed quickly, it really dawned on me that Adam wasn’t kidding and this cute, little kid was really a supposed inmate to this place.
But he’s so young what could he have possibly done to be sent to such a place? He can’t be any older than ten or eleven years old!
Once I that thought entered my mind, I turned back to look at the seemingly innocent boy again, but this time looked at him through a different light.
“Don’t be fooled, Alice. While being an employee here, you’ll learn that most things aren’t as they appear.”
As if on cue the boy looked away from his watch and towards us with his bright yellow eyes that looked as if they were trying to pierce my very soul. The way he looked straight forward made it seem like he could actually see us.
But that’s crazy, right?
This is a two-way mirror. There’s no way he could see us, right?!
Stop it, Lonnie! All your doing is scaring yourself right now!
Trying to maintain a facade of calm with the boy’s yellow stare directed our way I asked,” May I know what this boy is in prison for?”
“That’s classified.”
He didn’t even hesitate in his answer.
“Classified?! Why is knowing something that basic classified information? If he’s one of the people that I’m going to be looking after then-”
Adam cut me off before I could really get into my defensive rant.
“Information concerning the inmates here especially the ones in the Wonderland ward are at need to know basis. Your current position doesn’t put you in that category in which you should still be able to perform your duties effectively even without that kind of information. Your job is to socialize with them and keep them as calm as possible, is that clear, Alice?”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Hell no, it’s not clear at all!
I wanted to say that, but Adam had that ‘no nonsense’ look firmly across his face. So, I settled with saying as much through my eyes. Our silent face off lasted for about a minute, before I gave up and quietly agreed with him.
Without another moment to spare, he opened the door that was separating me from the mysterious little boy inside. The moment I stepped through the threshold I paused as I could feel the very air inside the room change.
It felt electrified.
The boy was looked over at me with a bored expression. I took that as my cue to take a seat at the table and give off a friendly and calm impression.
“Hello. What’s your name?”
The boy didn’t respond.
I opened my mouth to say something else, but he beat me to it.
“Your late.”
His voice sounded like a child trying to sound more like an adult. I couldn’t decide if I found it cute or disturbing at the moment.
“O-Oh I’m sorry. A lot happened today and it’s my first day here; talking to you and all. I should have said this sooner, but my name is-”
“I know who you are and I know why your here.” He said.
The boy’s voice held a weight that made me pause. I could feel a sudden chill in the air as my body started to tense up.
I kept a perfect facade of calm as I asked him,” You do? Well then, please enlighten me.”
The boy stared at me for a moment with those unique yellow eyes of his and slowly leaned forward over the table. “You’re our new toy for us to break.”
What in the hell does that mean?!
I want to ask more from Adam, but he’s made it clear that he won’t. Will this kid tell me though?
“W-What do you mean?”
I mentally flinched at the fact that I stuttered.
The look in his eyes changed to a very curious and annoyed look. I’m not sure to make of his sudden change.
He tilted his head slightly to the side.
“They didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what? Were they supposed to?”
I tried to keep my tone as calm as possible to avoid any more stuttering. I had a feeling that if he knew that I was secretly shitting my pants then things are going to get worse.
I want him to elaborate on what he said earlier, but he seems to like beating around the bush. I can’t tell if he’s doing it to try to scare me off or not, but I really need this job and I need to show that I won’t back down.
“If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. It just that-”
“Mr. White.”
I almost didn’t hear him and had to catch myself to process that he said something to me.
“What?”
He rolled his eyes.
“My name. Around here they call me, Mr. White.”
At last, something to work with!
“Looks like their being really cautious this time. In any case, you pass…for now.”
Mr. White giggled at the last part.
Huh?
“Wait, I don’t understand. What do you mean,’ I passed?”
I’m so confused. What is going on here? What’s with this kid? He’s not making any kind of sense and he’s not answering any of my questions either.
His eyes started to glint with mischief as he gave me a sly smile.
“Don’t understand? Isn’t that the best part? It keeps things interesting.”
My head was starting to hurt by just talking to him. I was about to ask more questions until he lifted his pocket watch and opened it to look at the time.
“Well, will you look at that, we’re out of time. But we’ll see each other again...eventually.”
At that moment, Adam’s voice came over the intercom telling me that this session was actually over and that I should head out. But how could it be over so quickly? We never agreed on a set time and Mr. White has been dictating the entire conversation.
I feel like I’m the inmate and he’s the actual worker.
I didn’t realize how long I was fuming in my chair until I heard Mr. White’s voice.
“Why aren’t you leaving? This conversation is over and have places to be, so hurry up and leave!”
My anger started to boil over, but there was a little voice in the back of my mind screaming that I was in danger and that I should leave as soon as possible. Then, Mr. White looked at his again and his eyes grew a bit wider.
The look in his eyes was filled with so much hatred that my anger faded slowly to fear and that little voice screaming that I was in danger was now blaring at full blast.
“Are you deaf? Get out already! If I’m late for this then you’re going to be very sorry later. Leave!”
Mr. White’s sudden violent change in behavior was enough to kick my brain in high gear and I ran out of the door. That short sprint had me out of breath as I slumped against the wall.
I could hear Adam’s voice through the haze of my swirling thoughts.
“Probably should have warned you that Mr. White is very affixed on time and hates it when someone interferes to his ‘schedule’.
Oh really, I wouldn’t have guessed that.
I sat up a bit straighter against the wall.
“That’s why I asked you to tell me certain things that I need to know about them before going in blind, you bastard!”
I didn’t care if he fired me or made me do overtime for calling him a bastard. That’s stuff I needed to know and because he didn’t think it was fit to tell me that whole session went straight south real quick.
“Noted.”
Adam regarded me coolly before heading to the exit door.
“Where are we going now?”
“We’re heading out, so they can escort Mr. White to his cell.”
He opened the door to reveal four guards waiting patiently outside. The moment we left the room the guards went inside the room we came out of.
Once back inside the car, I couldn’t help but replay that conversation with that weird ass kid repeatedly. I never felt so intimidated with a child in my entire life. Which begs the question, what did he do to get sent here in the first place?
The more I think about the more I want to know and the more I don’t at the same time. This is becoming even more frustrating because no one around here feels like answering any of my questions.
“I know I already asked this, but where are we going?”
“That meeting was the only thing scheduled for today. I’m taking you back to your cabin, so you can use the rest of the time today to get settled and rest.”
The rest of ride was quiet even though my mind was spilling questions out both of my ears.
The car stopped and I made my way to get until Adam stopped me.
“Tomorrow onwards, you’ll be supervised by one of my peers. Someone will come to pick you up every day at nine o’clock sharp. Also, there is a phonebook next to the phone in the cabin which includes my number as well in case there are any problems, or you need anything.”
Without any word of any kind of goodbye, he looked out the window; silently dismissing me. This guy really needs to learn some manners! It wouldn’t have hurt him to say goodbye at the very least. I bet he’s not that popular with the ladies.
I left the car and didn’t bother to give him a goodbye or word of acknowledgement as I did so. Not like he would have cared.
As I got inside, I didn’t even bother to pay attention to the car as it drove off.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“This one has a bit of a temper, doesn’t she?” The voice said with a snicker.
“Is that all you got after watching her all day?”
I hate dealing with this ‘woman’ if you could even call her that. But when comes to things like this she’s better than any well-trained spy.
Her voice sounded closer.
“Ah come on, Adam, don’t be like that. You know I can see way more than any of you can.”
I gritted my teeth.
“Don’t call me that.”
I felt a firm sensation over my chest as if something or someone was caressing it.
“Aw, why can’t I call you that? She does all the time.”
I grabbed where I assumed her wrist would be and, in that moment, she dropped her invisible act and appeared beside me.
“She’s an exception. I already tolerant it enough from her, but I’m not going to hear it from you, too.”
I squeezed her wrist a bit harder to get my point across.
Her smile only turned into that grin that made my skin crawl.
“Ooohh, your so mean to me today. I love it!”
She tried snuggling up closer to me, but I pushed her off. I knew better than to give into her advances. I’d seen what happens to the poor bastards that give into temptation when she’s around. Their fates were not pretty.
This one likes playing with her food.
She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. The movement making her cleavage a lot more noticeable which I made sure not to even take a glance at.
“Getting back on topic, is her attitude the only thing that you even bothered to take notice of?”
She giggled.
“Of course not, but I won’t know for sure until I talk to her or see her in action myself. I can tell that she’s both frustrated and curious at the same time about this whole situation. Maybe you can swing that little tidbit in your favor?”
“Hmmm.”
That little fact could work. She’s clearly an open book and was even willing to challenge for information even though it could have gotten her fired or penalized. But she might be a little to open to read.
“Alice almost failed with, Mr. White, only because of lack of certain information. We need her to be able to work with him and others for as possible to keep the peace around here.”
“My, my you didn’t act like this before. It almost sounds like you care. is she your type?” She teased.
I gave her an ice cold glare.
“Of course not you fool. I personally don’t care how this will go for her, but I’m pretty sure that your aware that if Alice doesn’t succeed in keeping the peace around here then…”
I paused as I didn’t want to even consider the consequences.
“It’ll be my ass in the hot seat.”