TWO

One would think the commandant would feel sorry and would at least pardon the other guy but the reverse was the case. The commandant had commanded that the filthy thing be removed instantly from his sight while he lashed out more painful strokes on the next man.

I had wondered then what joy seeing people die brought to the officers.  They had looked unaffected when this happened and only then did it dawn on me it was a usual occurrence.  Even some prisoners beside me acted like nothing grievous had happened unlike me that had not been able to sleep well after the occurrence — his last cry kept resounding in my ear.

I just couldn't get the sickening image of the lifeless body out of my mind: his bloodshot eyes bulging out and his tongue rolling out.  I had even caught one other prisoner stifling a laugh while angry strokes fell on the bare back of the next offender.

The evening of the day this occurred,  I had heard from the conversations of the officers keeping watch by my cell, that another death: suicide, had occurred so I knew instantly that someone had died when I heard the deafening noise from the next cell this day. There was always a cry to announce new death.  

I slammed my palms to my mouth as I fought the urge to throw up. I wasn't in the comfort of my house to throw up whenever I liked. Though some of the officers were friendly towards me, one had looked me funny when I had asked for a bowl to throw up the previous day. He had looked me in the eyes and had asked that I threw up right in the cell room.  

I rested my back to the cold wall and brought my knees to my chest.  A tear slipped from my tightly shut eyes and landed on my dry cracked lips. Another slithered down my cheek and I made no effort to wipe it away. Though I tried to shut it all out,  Veronica's cries filled my ears. I wished I could take her pains away but as it was, I couldn't even help myself. I was stuck in a darkened room with limited food and water. My movement was restricted and guards watched me day and night. 

My heart began to thud loudly in my chest when I heard some movement around me. From the squeaking and hissing, I knew what it was. I turned my head to the direction of the noise, hoping to catch a glimpse of the rodent but all I was greeted with was darkness. It was moments like this I needed light badly; the thought of a rodent climbing my body brought shivers down my spine. I had realized right from my very first stay that I wasn't the only occupant of the room. Other creatures such as this one lived with me — I had heard a croak the previous day while I was asleep. Thoughts of these creatures coming close to me made me freeze.  Just how much more could I take?

I began to regret instantly my behaviour earlier. I had forgotten ill-smelling watery beans did nothing but attract creatures of all sorts.

Trying to detect the direction the rodent was moving to, I sat still — not wanting to make my presence known — but when I felt a hairy feel on my foot, I lost it, jumping and screaming at the top of my voice. 

The shuffling of footsteps approaching my cell told me I had raised an alarm for nothing. The sudden flash of torchlight into the room hurt my eyes so much, I covered my face.

"What is it?" It was the fierce officer I had asked for a bowl the previous day. 

I looked at my hands, thinking of what to say. I knew it would infuriate him further if I told him I made that noise because of a rat in my room. 

"Can't you talk?" He spat and I shivered.

"I had a bad dream." I stammered and he looked at me like I had said the most absurd thing he had ever heard. 

He shook his head and glared at me. "What do I do with these rich kids? First, they get a whole room to themselves and then, they ask for a baby sitter?" 

It was a rhetorical question but I answered anyway. 

"I never asked for a baby sitter." I didn't like the way he was talking to me.

A look of surprise crossed his face and he advanced to me, caressing the pistol by the side of his belt.  I knew he couldn't shoot me but seeing him caress the steel made my heart thud. Though this was my first time in prison,  I had heard so much about the brutality of the policemen around here. They could do so many things and get away with them.

Trying not to look intimidated by the huge man, I maintained my stance but when he got so close to me, I involuntarily took a step back and my back came in contact with the wall.  My stomach did a flip-up when I caught the smug smile forming by the side of his lips. He leaned forward and stared right into my eyes. His breath reeked of all things awful: ranging from alcohol to cigarette, I almost choked. 

"You better watch your mouth when you speak to me, young man! Your father might be wealthy but in here, I'm the boss. Understood?" 

I tried to look away from him but what I didn't expect was to be hit on the jaw with the edge of the gun. I yelped.

"Understood?" He repeated and I nodded this time. 

"Good!" A sardonic grin spread across his face and as he walked away, I had to restrain myself from rushing towards him and biting off his ear. 

I fell to the ground after he had left, my face buried in my palm. I would never have had any cause to be here had I not come across the path of a devil; my perfect life was crumbling in front of me. I could still remember the events that led to this; they were ever new in my mind. They featured in my dream and haunted me. Who would have ever thought the perfect Daniel whose life was the envy of others would reduce to this? Why did I ever meet Tony?

I let my tears flow as the events that led to this came crawling back into my memory once again.