20 Reasons to Let Go

[ Reason Thirteen ] - Voices in the Wall

Kendal's POV

After her meeting with Cady, Kendal was escorted to a small, dingy cell that sat in a quiet corner of the prison.

"You'll be following a prisoner's routine schedule until sometime tomorrow, when we pull you out for questioning." Trudy said gruffly, holding firmly onto Kendal's arm, "Understood?"

Kendal nodded curtly. Then something occurred to her, "Um... where are my parents?" She stuttered.

Trudy gave Kendal an apologetic look, "I'm sorry, kid."

Unsure as to what this meant, Kendal swallowed the lump that sat in her throat and remained silent. Trudy turned her back on Kendal as she shuffled in her pockets for her keys.

I could run, Kendal thought, glancing in the direction of a nearby exit. I could run right now, dodge the guards, jump the fence, and I'd be free.

"Free." Kendal said the word aloud, and it tasted foreign on her tongue.

Trudy arched one eyebrow, turning back to Kendal, "What was that?"

"Nothing." Was Kendal's automatic reply.

Trudy watched her suspicious eyes, "Good. Let's keep it that way." She grumbled, then leaned forward to whisper in Kendal's ear. "I'd watch myself if I were you. Even the walls listen sometimes."

Kendal shivered, and the cell door shut abruptly with a clang. She winced at the sound that announced her official imprisonment.

On the other side of her bars, Trudy marched off, her boots clicking on the concrete floor as she went. Kendal watched with watery eyes until she disappeared around the corner.

Then she was alone.

Kendal had been alone before. She had sat alone in her room not even two weeks ago, after a quarrel with her mother. She had watched the butterflies in the grass at the park without a soul to share the moment with.

But this was a different kind of alone. This was the kind of alone that starts in your stomach, then wreaths its way up into your lungs, cutting your breathing. Next it surrounds your heart, twisting and pulling until you bleed.

Until finally, it goes for your mind. It reaches with dark fingers and takes control of your brain, whispering into your ear all of your misfortunes. And you listen, because what choice do you have? You listen, because if you did not, there would be only silence.

Kendal's mind began to wander. She thought of Cady, and Shane, and the kids at school. But most of all, she thought of her parents.

Why hadn't they come?

Didn't they want to see her?

Troubled by this, Kendal sat down, hugging her legs to her chest. Maybe they didn't want to see her. Maybe, they believed the stories.

Murderer.

Kendal began to shake.

Murderer.

A hallway clock ticked loudly.

"Aghhhhhhhhhh!" Kendal screamed as an image of Leyla's dead body flashed in her mind. She pulled at her hair and closed her eyes, afraid.

She sat like this for a long time, rocking back and forth. On and on.

Until, suddenly, a comforting voice broke the steady rhythmic ticks of the clock, "Hello, voice from the wall." It said.