My Cold Days

Ch. 13

The guard escorted me down the hall and took me to the entrance of the facility. The doors opened and the sun hit me. It was so bright outside. I squinted as it took time for my eyes to adjust. I was in awe of the light. I hadn't actually been outside since I was incarcerated. I hadn't been outside in 1,423 days. 

I stepped out and felt the fresh snow beneath my feet. I forgot what this feeling was like. However, I was given no time to take this in and the guard barked at me to get into the back of a limo. I wondered why I was being transported in such a lavish vehicle. Perhaps it was so no one would notice a prisoner being transported. I got into the back alone. The guard sat in the driver's seat and started the car. 

I looked out the window and noticed him. He was walking over with the green eyed vigil. He was now dressed in the same uniform as the guards. He no longer wore his dirty hoodie or ripped jeans. Soon, he and the other guard mounted the vehicle in the front row. He was between the other two guards. 

I wanted to reach out, but there was a glass barrier between me and the front row. He turned back for a second to make sure I was secured then turned back. His gaze was so stoic, so serious. He didn't seem to hint any concern at me. He was doing his job. That was all. 

"Jack..." I whispered, hoping he would say something. But he didn't. He didn't even look back. Whoever that man was sitting in the car, was not Jack. No, rather, Jack was not the man in the car. Jack was just a facade. He didn't exist. The man sitting before me was Jack Davis. Nothing more and nothing less. 

The truck started moving. I looked back to face the prison. The sight was one that I had only seen once on my way in. Now, I was faced this building on my way out. This prison was my home for the past 1,423 days. As much as I hated it there, I couldn't help but feel like I had just lost something. I never once expected to leave this wretched place, believing I would rot here. But as I gazed upon the grey stone walls for the last time, I felt a single tear escape my eye. This phase of my life was now over. 

Believe it or not, those days in the prison were the simplest times for me. All I had to do was sleep and wake. Sleep and wake. Sleep and wake. Even when he came to me, all I had to do was speak with him. Now, there was more than sleeping and waking. 

~

An hour on the road had passed and a snow storm began to blow. The driver slowed down, unable to clearly see the road ahead of him. Knowing there was a barrier between the front and back row, one of the guards rolled down my windows. The cold air began to fill the space around me. Snow hit my face. It was too cold in the back for me. I could feel my arms shaking as I desperately searched for warmth. I heard the guards laughing from the comfort of their warm seats. 

"Roll them up," I heard Jack Davis say. 

"Don't worry, JD, the cold air won't get to us past this glass," replied one of the guards. 

"I said roll them up." Jack Davis's voice was much more firm this time. 

"Oh come on, it's just a joke, JD." 

"It's sir to you two."

"But, JD-"

"I said sir! You don't want me to report to my father that you two were disregarding his orders do you? You were instructed to carry out a humane and orderly transportation." 

The blue eyed vigil made the mistake to keep talking: "With all due respect, it's just a joke. I doubt the warden will care, JD." 

Jack slapped him. "Call me JD one more time." No response. "That's what I thought. And don't think I'll forget that stunt you pulled with the rope, George. I should put that in my report."

"Copy that, sir."

So his name was George. Come to think of it, I had never learned the names of any guards I had seen in prison. Jack Davis continued. 

"Now. roll. up. the. windows."

The driver complied. The wind stopped rushing in and hitting my face. Part of me felt inclined to thank him, but I realized that Jack Davis was only carrying out orders. This had nothing to do with how he felt about me. 

I was surprised by what a commanding presence Jack was. Ugh, I just couldn't get used to calling him Jack Davis no matter I badly I wanted to reject that nickname. He seemed much stronger and in control that he ever was with me. How was he capable of putting on such a convincing act? To get that close to me for that long? He fooled me. I thought that everything he told me was true. What reason did I have not to believe him?

The more I thought about it, the more questions arose. Why was he there to begin with? What did he want from me? Why was I being transported out of the prison? I tried not to think about it too much. I figured I'd be given some answers soon. Or, at least I hoped I would. No, I didn't really care. I just wish I had died a few weeks ago and froze to death in that stall. Somehow, this betrayal cut deeper than anything had before. It hurt too much to bare. I wished that I could somehow succumb to the sweet joy of never getting to wake up again. Oh, how I yearned for the days when things were simpler. I just... wished I never existed.

Soon, the limo came to a stop. We arrived somewhere that appeared very similar to the prison on the outside. It was made of stone piled on high, but it seemed much grander somehow. The building was much larger and it was completely surrounded by armed soldiers. I don't remember seeing that many soldiers in the prison. I was worried that I had just arrived at some other prison. I was worried I'd have another 1,423 days to be spent somewhere worse.

We were parked in front of the main entrance. I noticed that the doors were made of metal. This place seemed much more heavily fortified than the prison. Soon, the blue eyed vigil, or George as I now know him to be, opened my door and told me to get down and walk behind him. I complied, worried he'd drag me around with that rope again. He stopped in front of the metal doorway. Jack walked past him and spoke to the other guards. 

"Open the gates and notify the general." The guards complied and the doors opened. Jack walked forward followed by George and the green-eyed vigil. I wonder what his name was. I followed them, unsure of what I would see inside. Probably more prison cells and walls. I thought I might see even more crazies. Probably the worst of them. But I was wrong. 

I walked in to see lavishly decorated walls. The decor seemed to resemble that of an almost medieval time. Any silk or curtains were a deep shade of red and I noticed many women walking around. They seemed to be maids or servants. Part of me was relieved to see that this wasn't a prison, but more like a castle or fortress. I turned to see more guards walking behind me, each of them armed with guns. I realized that Jack was the one leading all these men. He must have a high rank as a guard. No, he mentioned a general. Jack must be an officer in the military. After climbing a flight of stairs, we arrived at a room. Jack opened the door to reveal a comfortable looking room. The bed wasn't made of wood, but seemed like a perfect place to rest. This was different to what I was used to. Even before prison, I just slept on the second level of our barn. I noticed there were no windows, though. It seemed there was some level of consistency. 

Jack moved the other vigils away and addressed me directly: "This is where you will be staying.  You have two hours to bathe, dress, and get ready. When that time is up, there will be guards to escort you. Please note that there will be armed guards outside your door so make no attempt to run." 

Jack scanned my face, checking for understanding. It's almost like he expected me to thank him or something. I decided I wouldn't talk to him until I had a decent explanation of what was going on. Without a word, I turned my face away from him. I could tell out of the corner of my eye, that he was hurt by this. But he deserved it. No one else could see his face, but me. He didn't let anyone else see the pain in his eyes, but me. However, I payed no attention to him. He didn't get to convince me of his innocence again. I realized then that he probably didn't have any siblings. That he didn't kill his brother. He was a liar and I wouldn't stand for it. 

I shot a glance at him that said "shut up and go away." I could tell that he was hurt by my harsh glares, but I didn't care. He abruptly turned and closed the doors behind him. I was alone again for the first time in weeks since I had gotten a new "cell mate". I followed his commands and started getting ready.