Ghost of Joshua

In Jail

It was for the second time that day that Aaron was rudely awoken from his sleep. He looked up with blurry vision and barely made out a ginger blob before he was dived on.

For once, it wasn't violent.

The ginger blob was hugging him and in shock, he hugged back whilst hauling himself up. When he rubbed his eyes, the dreary white walls became clearer. A security guard stood above him and Brighty.

"Are you even paying attention to what I'm saying? Hello? Is there an Aaron in there?" Brighty knocked on Aaron's head.

"What? Sorry. Let me adjust to the cruel light of day first..." He replied with a deep and croaky voice.

"I said 'For goodness sake, what have you done this time? I've been worried sick!'" When he took in his surroundings, he realised Brighton had pink, puffy eyes. Her voice was weak. Her cheeks were blotchy and stained.

"Have you been crying? I'm fine! Don't worry about me. You need to help me get out of here. Where are the others?"

She wiped her eyes defensively and sniffled. "They're in the waiting room. They only let one person in at a time. Run me through what happened last night one more time."

When he finished speaking, her mouth was left open just as wide as the first time she'd heard it. She collected her thoughts and sat on the lumpy mattress next to him. The burly guard looked down at them cautiously.

"Right." She began after a long pause. "Do we even know who the victim of this murder was or where it happened? Do you know anything about the case?"

"Nobody has bothered to speak to me yet. You'd have to ask someone yourself." Aaron shrugged. "They wouldn't listen to me-."

"Excuse me? Sir? My friend Aaron is being accused of a murder when he has been told nothing about the case. Isn't that unfair?" Brighton looked up into the guard's eyes. They were faded with age; he looked exhausted.

"What do you want me to do about it? I'm just expected to watch over you." He replied with a snotty look.

"Find somebody who can tell us something! Isn't that obvious?" She stood to face him, speaking with an aggressive undertone.

"Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to calm down." He raised his voice which had alerted Josh and Imogen, who's voices could be heard from down the hallway.

"Woah, woah, woah! Excuse us, Officer, what's going on?" Imogen started.

"I'm afraid you aren't allowed to be here. I have to ask you to leave." The guard turned around to face Josh and Imogen, arguing with them and leaving Brighton and Aaron a moment of peace amongst the noise.

"We could rugby tackle him?" Aaron suggested.

"Don't be stupid," Brighton replied. "That's not a bad idea but I'd prefer to handle this in a way that won't get us both tazed. We need to find someone who can tell us about the case- WILL YOU ALL PLEASE BE QUIET?"

The argument fizzled out and Aaron pulled the guard's tough fist away from Josh. "Can we please be sensible? I'd like to know exactly what I've been accused of."

The guard cautiously picked up his  walkie-talkie and muttered something through his teeth which didn't make sense to any of them. He held an active stance. "Somebody will be here shortly. If you wouldn't mind?" He gestured to Josh and Imogen who just sighed.

"I hope you don't mind, but I dragged my girlfriend along with us. She's still in the waiting room. See you soon, Brighty." Josh shrugged and walked away with Imogen as Brighton and Aaron said goodbye.

"Don't worry. I'm staying with you." She smiled reassuringly at him with a hand on his arm. "We'll find out what's going on here and we'll get you out. Trust me."