D-2925: Jumpercable

three: cellmates

(Disclaimer: there is a conversation in this chapter that is word for word a conversation from a TikTok audio. Thought I'd say that so no one thinks I'm stealing content or something.)

...

"Hey, I'm Mikey." I say to the grumpy d-class, extending my hand. He looks me up and down with a look of disinterest.

"Why are you here?" he asks, his voice soaked in a tone I don't know how to place.

"I'm... sorry?" I reply, feeling strangely defensive. Archie crosses his arms and lean towards me, tilting his head to the side and clenching his jaw as if he's focusing on observing me.

"You're not from a prison. You don't act like it. Did you sign up?" he laughs quick and harsh, the kind of laugh that has no sound but air quickly gets pushed out of your chest, "If you did, you're an idiot."

I clench my fists and exhale shakily. "That's," my voice quavers, so I take another breath to steady my voice. Something about this guy makes me uncomfortable, "That's none of your business."

Linden, who has been reading on their bed, closes their book and rests their head on their fist.
"Archie, stop being rude and leave them alone."

Archie turns a little red in the face and glares at me before leaving our cell angrily.

Linden walks over to me.
"Ignore him, most of the d-class here are death row criminals. That's explanation enough on why they act like they do."

I nod a little.

...

"The ocean is a soup!" I giggle, sitting on Linden's bed after lunch.

"Yeah, you're gonna have to walk me through that one, Mikey," Linden states, smiling in amusement.

"What does it take for a soup to be a soup?"

"Well, we need water, salt, vegetables, and, me personally? A little bit of meat."

I tilt my head forward and raise a brow, waiting for them to notice. Their eyes widen and they gasp.
"Oh my god, the ocean is a soup."

We both turn to our cell door as it opens and a man dressed in a lab coat walks in.
"D-2925, please follow me for your first test."