South Side - A Prison Break Story

8. The storm - part 1

Isabelle

The rest of the week went according to Michael's plan.
The hole in the breakroom was nearly finished.
Now, he had to face the next obstacle.
"I'm going to start breaking through the wall tonight," he said as he lay on the bed.
I was bored and decided to braid my hair.
I looked at him through the mirror and caught him watching me.
He realized I had caught him and quickly averted his gaze, focusing on his hands.
I had to fight the urge not to laugh.
It was kind of cute.
Unlike Bellick, he looked at me in a way that made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. He gazed at me admiringly, as if I were a breathtaking piece of art.
"Let me guess, I'm supposed to stand guard?" I asked.
I saw that I had thrown him off.
Was I the first smart woman he had ever met?
"Would you want to?" he asked cautiously.
"Don't be silly," I said, "of course I will."
I grabbed the hair tie from the sink and tied off the small section of hair I could no longer braid.
I turned around and looked at him.
He was observing me, I realized.
Did he think I couldn't handle it?
"I can stand watch for a few hours," I said, trying to convince him.
He still didn't seem convinced.
"Plus, I'm not afraid of anything."
Almost nothing, I thought to myself.
"Then it's settled," he said, giving me a smile.

It was 10:30 PM when the guards finished their patrol.
I heard Michael climb out of bed beneath me, followed by the sound of screws being loosened.
Ever since the mysterious conversation between John and Bellick, I've been on edge.
Tonight wouldn't be much different.
I could hear the wind howling against the small window high up in the wall.
It looked like a storm was brewing.
Please, just let it be rain, I silently begged.
"Isabelle?" Michael whispered.
His voice pulled me out of my thoughts, and I looked in his direction.
"Yes?" I responded, questioning.
"I'll be back before the last patrol of the night."
"You'd better be," I said, pretending to be stern. Even though it was dark and I couldn't see him, I knew he was rolling his eyes.
"Take care of yourself," I whispered.
"You too," he whispered back.

It was almost one in the morning by now.
In an hour, the last patrol of the night would take place.
I sat with my knees pulled up, leaning my back against the wall, listening to the howling wind.
It had been raining like crazy all this time.
Just when I thought the one thing I feared most wouldn't happen, it did.
Thunderstorms.
I had been deathly afraid of them since I was a child. I flinched when a flash of lightning briefly lit up the room, and I shrank when I heard the thunder strike.
I felt my heart pounding rapidly in my chest, and I noticed my breath growing quick and panicked.
Not now, I thought, please not now.
Slowly, I felt my body starting to shut down in an attempt to shield me from the terrifying storm.
My muscles seemed to seize up, and I pressed my hands against my face to protect myself from the bright flashes of lightning.
I felt my body slipping out of control, and before I knew, I was plunged into a dark void.