Page 53 of Babalon

“My apologies, I am just roaming around, getting a feel for the layout.”

“Yeah—” I start, but then paused for a moment, noting all the details about this kid. From the unruly nature of his black hair to his sunken grey eyes, even the tattoos that peek out from the neck of his jumper. He is young, I can tell, but when they’re in here at this age it’s usually for one of three things. Conspiracy, assault, or murder, which I can see him committing all of three.

“Yeah, it’s an interesting one. The library is down this hall, and then there’s nothing but storage after that. Everything is boarded up and locked away so you’re better venturing down the other corridors.”

“Noted.N0S4A2? Good book. When you get done with it, maybe we can exchange notes. I read that one when I was in my last joint.”

“Uh, what are we a goddamn book club?”

“Watch your mouth. You don’t take the Lord’s name in vain.”

Ooookayyyyy, one of those.

“Sorry,” I quickly apologize.

“Apology accepted. I’ll see you around.”

My eyes follow the guy as he wanders away, his hands reaching into the front of his jumper like he is wearing a jacket and needs to warm up his fingers. Something is definitely wrong with that one. I’m not sure if I want to figure out what it is either. You learn real fast who to avoid and who to toy with, like the Pyro. He is funny but the second he gets that gleam in his eye, you better run.

Back in my cell, I spring up to the top bunk and get in. Leaning against the cinder block wall near my pillow, I flip to chapter one and let my eyes skim each word. I have a hard time concentrating at first, but eventually, it pulls me in, and I have cleared through ten or more chapters.

Ronald finally comes back into the cell, then it’s a good thirty minutes when Zurita walks by and proceeds with count. Hestops at our open cell door and glares at me, like he knows something I don’t, but I do not pay him any mind.

Some things aren’t worth my attention.

When the lights flick out, I close the book and set it down by my pillow and slide under my covers. Pulling the blankets up to my hips before staring through the dark, letting my mind stew. The too-thin mattress feels like the most comfortable thing I have ever slept on, now that I have experienced seg. Even the block was quietening down early, like we are all beyond exhausted with the caged life we have lived through or that we are gearing up for something.

As I drift off, the last thing I remember is the whispers and that inmate’s sunken grey eyes.

Chapter sixteen

Nadia

Present Day

There are two types of people in the world, those who only need one alarm to wake up, and those who set five. Each with different music, just so they can hear it and hope that they get up in time.

I am the latter.

It’s the third time ‘Comanche’by In This Moment has played before I roll over and slap my phone off the nightstand. The hunk of plastic thudding against the floor only to start blaring the next song.

“Ughhhh, shut up! I know, I know!”

While I live alone, and it may seem odd, I talk to my belongings like they have minds of their own. Sometimes, I feel that my phone does, and it mocks me just for fun.

Throwing my blankets back and swinging my legs over the side of the bed, my arms reach high over my head for a long stretch. A few audible pops here and there relieve the tension in my shoulders and upper spine while my bare toes skim the shaggy black rug that I have running down the length of my bed.

It’s five in the morning and I have to be clocked in for shift change at seven. I’m on the day shift this week, and I believe it switches over to night shift tomorrow—which is what I prefer, but I can check the schedule when I get to the prison, lest I am wrong.

Getting up early has never been my forte but the swap allows all the officers to have some sort of life outside of the prison. I don’t have much of one, but I got to see Ivy and Wren last night for a girl's night that ended on a weird note more than anything. Oliver is out of the country on another parental-funded vacation; they still haven’t divorced so Oliver’s steadily milking it for everything it is worth.

Here I am, trying to find the silver lining. It’s somewhere out there.

Dropping back onto my bed, I stare up at the ceiling for a little while longer. I have about ten more minutes before I really need to get up.

Drawing in long, deep breaths, I now how calm I feel lately. Some of the lingering distaste I have for the earlier part of my life is beginning to fade and I don’t quite know why. But I will not start complaining about it; it’s nice not having that ever-present cloud lingering over me anymore.

When my phone starts playing Gojira, I jump and shuffle back to the edge of my bed. Sliding off it, I snatch up my phone andturn off all of my alarms. If I hear them play one more time, I may just throw the thing out my window instead.

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