“What… what are you talking about?”

I leaned forward in my chair, pressed my lips up against the microphone and held the phone as tightly to my ear as possible. “I said; me, Alex, the guards, the workers, all of us…we are all going to die in here!”

I woke up this morning thinking I’ve got big problems, but I’m sure to find a way out of them. The governments’ given me coordinate to a shipment. It’s got to be some sort of gadget or weapon or map that can help me and the kid get out of here. And now that the terrible two’s have arrived, I’ve possibly got another mess on my plate to sort out. I was quick to the bathroom this morning, but so was others. I noticed the great deal of effort everyone was putting into keeping their distance from me. At first, I thought I was only imagining things, and then I notice the two showers next to me were empty, yet people were waiting to shower. I got out the shower and went to the grooming area. I took a glance at myself in the mirror.

Well, I guess I should be grateful that he didn’t recognize me.

My mind flashes back to when I recalled my vision and when I just realized who I saw dying.

(Last night’s incident)

“Yeah, what’s it to you?” the man I recognize as Eason Wells says.

Oh right, how could I have forgotten?

I dyed my hair, shaved my beard and put in contacts, of course, he wouldn’t recognize me; luckily.

“Nothing. Excuse me.” I tried to walk away without doing further damage, but the truth quickly hits him.

“Hey, you…” He called out to me. “How do you know my name?”

Damn it, he realized!

I turned around slowly in an attempt to buy some time and then added a smirk to my face.

Come on, think Nick! Think!

“It’s funny; you’d think I wouldn’t recognize you when you’ve gone to such extreme measures to cover your face. What’s with all the hair?”

“Excuse me?” I threw him off.

“My sister, she went to your high school; Justice Truce High.”

“Yeah? What year?” he inquired, trying to catch me in a lie perhaps.

“Oh, she graduated in 2114. You…”

“2111.”

Yeah, I know. I also have a pretty good idea of why you’re here.

I’ve got to end this now, he is not the sort of bad news I want to get entangled with right now. “Anyways, I saw you play at a couple of games I came to, the crowd loved you.”

He seems convinced enough…

His guard's been lowered; his face clearly wasn't as tense anymore.

“Yeah, they did. But don’t be acting like you know me, you feel me. The Eason you saw on the field out there is long gone. You understand what I’m saying.

Yes, actually I do. Having worked for the Safety and Security Department for over 5 years now, I know exactly what you’re saying.

I squinted one eye then shrugged both shoulders, “No problem man.” and walked away.

Coming back to the present, I finally have all my clothes on. Today I have no time to waste; I’ve got to find that shipment and figure out a way out of here. I was just about to leave when I felt something was off. The bathroom was relatively empty, yet there were so many pipes running. All the showers were on full blast and the steam created by all the hot water is almost blinding. I looked over both my shoulders, and I could count the number of guys are behind me, not to mention two of them were leaving so that leaves one. I turn to grab my shoes and then out the exit but the feeling persists. Something definitely going on. And I don’t intend to stick aro…

Wait, is that Alex?

I strain to see through the steamy mist created in the shower to identify the figure a couple stalls down. As my eyes adjusted, I can definitely make out Alex’s figure.

What is he still doing here? And why is he being guarded, no, caged between three guys in the shower area? Some more guys are coming in; some of them are just standing in the corners pretending to be doing something. This one guy, in particular, isn’t even pretending at all. He’s just standing there waiting. Waiting for what? And then it hits me.

They’re waiting for me to leave!

Oh shit!

This is not how I wanted to spend my morning. Alex turns around and is finally up to speed with what’s happening. He glances at me and our eyes meet. I’ve got my shoes on, there is not much time left for stalling. He gets out the shower and grabs a towel. I’m able to catch glimpse of his face as I skim around the room with my eyes to check for any incoming threats. He looks afraid and appears to be shaking…

“Yo Alex, how much longer do you expect me to wait?”

He looks up and quickly catches on to what I’m trying to do. He momentarily hesitates and he considers whether or not to accept the out I’m offing. He swallows his spit then shouts back, “Unlike you, I think it’s important to wash my body with soap and water!”

I laughed then quickly responded. “Whatever man, just hurry!”

Well at least I can say this for him, the kid has wit.

I set up camp at the door and waited for him to get dressed and put on his footwear. For that entire duration, no one left the bathroom and he experienced a minor deterrent on his way out. The glances were enough to make their intentions clear, they’re not over what he did yesterday and they intended to make him pay.

We walked out of the shower and headed towards the lunch room in silence. When we finally got there, we each picked up a tray, got food and walked over to the nearest empty table and sat down.

“Thank you.” He gave out.

“For what…” I asked.

“You know fall too well what I’m talking about; they were going to murder me and probably make it look like an accident.”

“Why so negative? The nice gentlemen could’ve just wanted to have a friendly chat with you. For all we know, the 'steam' could have just been there to set the mood. You ever thought of that huh?”

Instead of a response, he just looked at me with a straight face narrowed eyes.

“Not a fan of jokes, huh…” I continued.

He sighed then took a bite of his sandwich and a drink of his orange juice before saying, “They’re not going to stop you know. I broke their precious little rule and for that, they’re going to make me pay.”

He’s right, I thought. They probably won’t stop trying to kill him. But the real question is why I am helping him. I’m starting to think that I want to die.

I stopped eating to look sideways at him “Then I guess we’ll just have to stick together then won’t we.”

“Hey, look who it is!” A voice interrupted. “I’m glad to see you’re still with us. You had me worried for a second there.” This unfamiliar face slid right in between me and Alex and my blood began to boil.

I slowly removed the unwelcomed hand he had so neatly placed on my shoulder before asking “Do I know you?”

“This is Duran.” Alex quickly responded. “And that’s guy number 2; I didn’t care for his name.”

I looked up to see the old timer from the shower just moments away from sitting down before us with a tray of food. “The name’s Raymond and my, my, my… haven’t you two made a name for yourselves. In less than 48 hours you’ve managed to become the most feared and the most hated individuals in the prison.”

“No guessing there, as to who’s who?” Duran jokingly nudged my arm, “Am I right?”He snickered.

“So what, everyone’s out to get something or us?” I asked the old man while tilting my head to the side.

Duran smiles slightly and responds, “Well, yes and no. There had been an order to things before you came here and so far, it seems neither of you wants to play by the books. So while there is much talk of wanting to kill you, there is also much talk of wanting to join you. We’ll just have to see how things play out now won’t we.”

Is that so?

“Yeah, what’s it to you?” Alex inquired. The stench of his distrust towards Duran and Raymond was so strong it burnt my nostrils. Yet, at the same time, he seemed somewhat accommodating, as if he liked having them around for information. Duran finally took a seat beside Raymond, and I was able to learn what happened yesterday while I was on lockdown. Two of the guys from the shower incident was executed, on counts of a second strike.

Yikes…sucks for them.

The other guy, plus the two that joined them in the lunch room were placed on first strike probation, including the leader Yaku. The Prison is in a state of flux at the moment, and it would appear I have made two new acquaintances. Of course, I don’t trust them, but they’ve been here a while, they probably have a lot of useful information, especially Raymond; this relationship might prove useful.

Today was my first day on the job. The factory makes up about 30% of the prison and is operated on two levels; Sublevel 1 and the ground floor. There are three areas: shipment Delivery and Clearance, Inventory and Manufacturing. Alex works in manufacturing and I’m down in Inventory, but I’m not too concerned about him as it would be very stupid for anyone to try anything in the work area; especially in manufacturing where there are so many guards and cameras.

Working in inventory allows me some level of freedom as it is only given to those with menial offenses; the real criminals are given the harsher tasks with strict supervision. The computer generates on the monitor, a list of stocks that needs to be checked in at a certain time and then prints out the sheet for each Inventory clerk. The shipments bring in the material for manufacturing and I get to examine the structure of sublevel 1 each time I head down there.

Each shipment room requires a passcode to enter, which is automatically entered in by the A.I once you’ve ticked it as the next item on your list. There are cameras pointed at every single door with an additional camera inside every room except the bathroom.

Even if I find the room, there’s no way to get in and out of it, without being seen; unless the cameras and the A.I are powered off. And the cameras only shut down, when work is over and we’re all sent back to our cells.

How am I going to do this?

At lunch, I locked myself in a bathroom stall to think instead of going to lunch with the others. It always helps for me to find a quiet secluded area when I need to concentrate on solving a problem.

“Is that when it happened?” Alaya reached out for answers.

“Yeah, that’s when I saw them.”

*Thud* *Bang*

“I’m going to ask you again, and you better not have the same answer. Why is there radio silence?”

“I don’t know anything!”

I hoisted my feet above the ground and covered my mouth and nose with my left hand while balancing myself on the toilet seat to prevent myself from being found. I was able to lean a bit forward and peeped out the creases of the bathroom door. Although admittedly shocked, I was not surprised. I had already known there was something strange about their appearance here. But wait, is that… a guard?

“What do you mean you don’t know?” The twins both stepped up and gripped the guard by an arm each, and to my amazement, they literally hoisted him off the ground and held about 5 in the air. The guard was not a lightweight by any means. He was a pudgy man weighing about 260lbs. Suffice to say they should not have been about to lift the guard and hold him with what appeared to be relative ease.

“I said I don’t know anything, I swear! I just came back from vacation, it doesn’t even end until next week, and I’m not supposed to be here.”

“Yeah, well neither are we.”

Twin number 1 stretched out his right arm and pressed down hard on his U.I then placed it to his mouth and spoke. “Come in, the shipment has been delivered. Requesting details for departure; I repeat, requesting details for departure.”

*Static*

They both turned to him then echoed. “Nothing…”

“I don’t know what’s happening, I swear.” The guard pleaded.

Having apparently heard enough from the guard twin number 1 tosses him to the side an punched a hole straight through the wall.

What the fuck…

They came over him and he whimpered from freight. “You have 24 hours to come up with a Solution, or we’re going public!” snarled twin number 1.

The second twin picked him up and brushed off his uniform, “If they think for a second that the Briston twins are going out with the rest of these scumbags, they better think again!”

I heard their footsteps get quieter and quieter as they begin to leave.

“Clean this mess up!” was shouted back to the guard and then the door was shut.

PRESENT TIME

“So, what do you think? Am I being paranoid?

Alaya took a deep breath. I heard the distress in her voice as she struggled to get her next words out,“I think… You should get the hell out of there… now!”