Blood Iris

Chapter Four

Once I was out of sight and locked up again, I cursed myself for losing control. I couldn't do that again. I needed to stop caring so much. It it only ever lands me into trouble over and over again. I'd never get out of here now. It would probably be at least another year before I was allowed out.

I began counting the seconds until they came for me.

After 1500 seconds, I nodded off to sleep.

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It was morning when I woke. I knew because of the loud bell that echoed throughout the building. I waited and waited, but it was an hour before the officers came to get me.

They cuffed my hands behind my back and the two guards led me to an office. My steps faltered as I saw which office it was. It was the office, the one I had heard whispers about. It was said that once you visit, you never come back. Either it was for good behavior and you were sent home, or you were sent somewhere much worse. I'm pretty sure I wasn't here because of my good behavior.

I was led through the door with his name, "Matthews", embossed on it, with partial resistance. One part if me didn't want to accept my fate, that I would be trapped here for longer, but part of me was glad I would be here longer, so I wouldn't have to face the real world for a while. The horrible real world I had been trapped in for so long. It was like I only moved from one cage to the next. Hopefully I would eventually find some freedom somewhere. Once I got out of here, that is.

Officer Matthews, the man sitting behind the desk, was in his mid 40s. He had dark hair and dark eyes. I knew I should be scared of him, but something in his eyes made me want to trust him.

"Come in," the man gestured to the seat across from his, "sit down please."

I sat down slowly and silently, not looking in his piercing eyes that could see everything. I just wanted to get this over with. The man leaned back in his chair, holding what I could only assume was my file. A short one because I had no records of my existence before I got here. The gang made sure of that. He spent at least five minutes just sitting there looking at the file which couldn't have had more than a paragraph on it. Meanwhile I tried to hold my leg still to keep it from shaking nervously. Was he trying to get me to say something? Was he trying to get me to act out? Why wasn't he speaking?

Finally he looked up. "So," I didn't look up, afraid he'd see something. Fear? The truth? "Victoria, I've looked over your file. You are affiliated with the Blood Iris gang?"

I didn't answer. I didn't want him to hear the terror that those words inflicted on me. I was just trying to escape that horrifying gang and he probably thought it was my choice to join them. I'm sure the police recognized our gang symbol tattooed on my ankle. This is their way of claiming their gang members, and once they claim you, there's no escaping. That's another reason I didn't want to leave here too quickly. Once I got out, there was almost no chance I could leave that behind me. They would hunt me down and torture me until I was broken and brainwashed, too scared to go against them or leave. I was lucky I got arrested. I would at least have a few months respite, now even more.

"Victoria?" He asked, more pressing than before. "Tell me, are you a member of this gang?"

I took a deep breath, clearing all emotion from my face. I looked up, focusing my intense blue eyes onto his dark probing ones, "Yes."

He nodded, still not taking his eyes off mine, "Is that why you attacked the girl in the cafeteria? Was she part of an enemy gang?"

I didn't know what to say. If I said no, he would ask why I attacked her. I didn't want anyone to know. If they knew, they could hurt me. Especially the gang. If you have a weakness, they will find it. But if I said yes, it could put Alyssa in danger, and as much as I hated her, I would never wish the wrath of the Blood Iris on anyone. It was either her or me. I chose to keep silehnt. I decided I wouldn't answer. I couldn't look into his eyes either, they might see too much. I focused my gaze on my hands, twisting with anxiety in my lap.

"Answer me!" Officer Matthews was starting to get frustrated. Good, then he'll give me my punishment sooner.

I kept my gaze downward.

He sighed. "I hate to do this, but if you won't answer me, I'll have to sentence you to six months of solitary confinement. It's protocol. I can shorten it to four if you give me the information I need."

I still didn't answer. Six months wasn't too bad. I could do six months, couldn't I?

He shuffled the two papers in the file, trying to buy me some more time, but I wasn't answering. I'd take the six months over the lifetime of guilt for hurting anyone, even if it was indirect.

"Ok. Starting tomorrow, you will be transferred to solitary. You will have six months until you will be free to go, on account that you check in once a week for two weeks."

I was glad. Seven months of freedom. I guess it was sort of twisted, in a way, finding my freedom in a cage. But I would do almost anything to get away from that cruel world. I was lucky, most members didn't even last that long. I knew once those seven months were up, I would be hunted down mercilessly unless I somehow got far away.

He sighed wearily. "Dismissed."

I was taken to the holding cell for the night.