Page 157 of Chemistry: The Chemist

Without haste, I stood on my feet and rotated my arms to keep my muscles from locking. I stretched my entire body, waiting until my back popped twice.

“Come on, Childers. I’m not waiting all day.”

You’re free to leave.

Don’t let him leave.

Conversing inside was like nails on a chalkboard. Instead of entertaining the pointless human, I began redressing at a snail’s pace. My shirt slid down my arms with ease. I pulled the freshly dried white socks over my bare feet. Without them on during my sets, I had more leverage and a better grip. After getting my shoes on, I brushed the wrinkles out of my sheets.

“This motherfucker,” the CO hissed, kissing his yellowing teeth.

When there was nothing more to be done in my cell, I turned around, faced the back wall, and placed my hands in the slit designed for trays and cuffing inmates.

89203259128499.

I was no longer a person according to the government. I was a fucking number.

“Open!” he called out, taking his eyes off me for a few seconds too long.

Wrong move.

I stepped away from the bars with my wrists cuffed. The door opened eight inches exactly by the time my arms rotated, ending up in front of me. I reached out into the hallway, and brought Chubbs, the CO, into the cell, using my cuffs to apply pressure on his throat.

“Scream and I’ll break it.”

“Yo. Alright. Alright. Man. Please. I have a fucking kid, man. I have a daughter.”

“Does she know her daddy is a bitch?” I asked, shoving him forward and back into the hallway where the cameras could see him.

Partially satisfied, I stepped into the hallway after him. Dramatically, he leaned forward, holding onto his neck.

Humorous. I laughed, finding him comical.

“You’re a sick ba–”

“No, Chubbs. I am a killer. And I will kill, no matter the environment. Keep fucking around and you will find out.”

Without another word, he continued down the hallway, leading me to what felt like doomsday.

Good.

The small, nearly empty room I entered was familiar. Three times before I’d been dragged inside. Each time, I was questioned by another official of some kind, from another branch, with hopes of cracking me. They wasted hours of their days because even with a lawyer present, I had nothing to say. If they had charges to bring against me, then I’d make them do their fucking jobs.

Giving them a case when theirs was barely intact was out of the question. With the evidence they had against me, the most time I’d see on the inside was four years. That could change, but for now, I wasn’t too worried. They were very lucky they’d even gotten four months out of me. I was simply sitting so the attention would remain on the subject in custody and not be dispersed among my sisters.

I’d remain in custody as long as it meant them staying free. Keeping them busy building my case gave them very little time to build anything against my girls. Exasperated with the impromptu visits, I had a seat at the table and waited to be cuffed to it. To my surprise, I was released from the cuffs and left alone in the room. This could only mean I was getting a privileged visit.

Who the visit was from, I didn’t have an idea. My lawyer wasn’t scheduled to visit me for another three weeks. Because I refused to mumble another word to the staff I knew was on the other side of the door, I got comfortable and let the wait begin.

Six-hundred-and-fourteen seconds later, the door stretched. I didn’t budge. Footsteps closed in, stopping in front of the empty chair across the table. It wasn’t until my guest was seated that I recognized exactly who they were.

“Here to replace council this evening. We have quite a bit of business to discuss.”

Priest sat a few inches away, disguised behind thick glasses, a folder full of unnecessary documents, a briefcase, and a suit. My lips curled upward slightly as I leaned back in my seat.

“Shall we begin?”

“We should.”

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