Equilibrium

JEFF

After being check into the prison fully, an officer and I entered the common area. The gate clicking closed behind me once I stepped inside.

I walked in and the men stared at me, fresh meat I suppose.

"What are you looking at?" I snapped at a guy nearby, he has facial tattoos and was sitting with a group of guys playing cards.

"Well well look what the cat dragged in" Another guy said with long hair, he stopped his sweeping of debris to look at me.

The officer, ushering behind me laughed under his breath and I turned my face to the side.
"This is funny to you?" I said snarky.
"Keep walkin' Dahmer" The officer said and I shrugged following him into a cell block.

"Listen I'm gonna give you the rules once okay? I expect you to follow them"

I stood in the middle of the cell block with my back towards the officer, looking around it was barely anything, the bed looked like cardboard.

"Turn around"

I spun around smiling, making sure to let the officer know I didn't give a shit. None of this bothered me, I accepted my fate even if I didn't do anything to that woman and Ted did, it didn't matter I knew it was all gonna bubble up in the end.

"Here are some general prison rules enforced in the cell block area, keeping in mind that rules can vary depending on the facility if you get sent to a different one and your behavior here"

The officer sighed giving me a serious looking before stating.

"1. Respect Authority

2. Follow Daily Schedule

3. Maintain Cleanliness

4. No Contraband

5. Limited Personal Property

6. Respect for Other Inmates

7. No Unauthorized Communication

8. Follow Visitation and Communication Rules

9. Limit Noise and Disturbances

10. Participate in Required Programs

11. No Gambling or Trading

12. Exercise Self-Restraint and Self-Responsibility

These rules are designed to keep order, ensure safety, and help maintain a respectful and controlled environment." The officer finished and I winced as he spun me around harshly and undid my cuffs.

I blinked rapidly, taking in this information with a grain of salt, obviously people broke these rules. When I arrived earlier I could see people gambling.

"Do you understand and acknowledge these rules?" The officer said firmly and I nodded going to sit on my bed on the left side watching as he shut and locked the door.

Suddenly, the door was being forced open and I looked up from staring at the floor to see the same officer staring down at me.

"Dahmer you have a call"
"I.. what?"
"Do you wanna take the call?" The officer barked in annoyance and I shot up following him out of my cell block and he grabbed my arm.
"Slow down"

I walked in pace with the officer and he grabbed my bicep, like a parent ushering a child away.

I was taken into an area with a bunch of phones on the walls with people using all them expect for one in the back, the officer ushered me to that one and stood off to the side.

"You have five minutes" He said coldly looking away with a dead look in his eyes.

I nodded feeling unease, wondering who was calling me. I grabbed the phone and pressed it to my ear, leaning against the wall.

"Hello? Jeff?

My eyes widened and I glanced to the officer who was now watching me.

"It's you" I whispered in disbelief trying to keep my voice down, my heart fluttered in my chest hearing his voice.

"Jeff oh my god I can't believe you turned yourself in this is such a mess"
"It's fine are you okay?"
"It's fine? It's not fine" Ted argued and Jeff smiled into the phone.
"Are you okay?" I whispered into the phone.
"I.. I'm fine I found somewhere to hide out for now" Ted said and my stomach dropped, I could tell he was being discreet for some reason maybe he was in trouble.
"Do you have visitation?" Ted questioned as I started playing with the chord of the phone.
"Jeff?"
"I don't know I probably do"
"I'll find a way god I want to..." Ted then shuffled around and lowered his voice. "I wanna kiss you I can't believe this"

My cheeks felt hot and I glanced over to see the officer tapping his wrist to call close to time.
"I don't have long but we'll talk again soon okay?"

Silence fell between us on the phone for a while and suddenly, Ted let out a shaky breath.
"I'll try and visit if I can manage it"
"Okay.." I whispered.
"You're not gonna say anything are you?"
"Come on you think I'd give you up?" I said genuinely and Ted laughed nervously.

Within seconds, the call dropped and I looked to see the officer hit the hang up button.
"Times up Dahmer, time to meet your cell block mate"