Blood Iris

Chapter Five

The first month went the slowest. I had nightmares every night about the gang finding me and torturing me. It scared me out of my wits and I always woke up screaming. Once I got into a routine, I began to feel safer, all alone in my cell. The nightmares became less frequent, nearly nonexistent by the fourth month.

I decided to make the best of the hours and hours I had alone. I decided I needed to be strong if I ever got out of here because they would hunt me down, it was only a matter of when. I spent hours every day, doing any kind of exercises I could think of. The rest of the time I spent plotting and planning a way out of the city, far away from any trace of the horrible place.

They let me out twice a day to use the bathroom, which had no windows and they would lock securely until I was done. I thought it was really unnecessary, but if it made them feel safer, I didn't really care.

I would try to meditate every day, together rid of the traumatic memories, but I could never do it for more than 20 minutes. Some nights I couldn't even sleep because I would be up all night, jumping at the imaginary visions my mind would make up. If it weren't for the rigorous exercise routine I made myself do everyday, I would have gone mad the first two months.

Many people did go mad. I could hear the screams and cries and wailing of other kids through the small opening at the door where they slipped my meals in during the day. Sometimes I would listen through the hole while the others screamed, just to reassure myself that I wasn't as crazy as them.

After the third month, they let me go outside. I was still alone outside, but it felt wonderful. I ran around the fence for the whole hour I got to be outside. It refreshed me so much, that I didn't have a single nightmare for two whole weeks.

After that I was allowed outside three more times over the last two months. I took advantage of every second.

By the last month, I was ready to be out of there. It was starting to drive me crazy. It was harder and harder to sleep as the time drew nearer to my release. But I made myself sleep so I would be well rested when I got out. I was allowed out of my cell a couple times so they could tell me the terms of my release.

The last night was the worst. Though I was excited to finally get out of here, I wasn't sure if the gang would wait the two weeks that the police were watching me, or pounce as soon as I was alone. The anxiety gave me the worst nightmares that last night. I was allowed a call the last day there. Since I didn't have any family or friends, I called the train station to get their schedule for the week.

I was given my belongings: a handful of cash and my old clothes. I was also given the number I was supposed to call this Friday and next Friday.

I counted the cash as I walked out. $427. Not much, but it would last me the two weeks I had until I was on the run.

I took a bus to the nearest bus station from the prison. I found places to get new clothes. I also found a train station that would get me as far away as possible from here, where I knew the gang wouldn't find me. I knew they probably had already found me, but I figured if they hadn't confronted me yet, they would wait until the Saturday after I made my last call. By then I would hopefully be long gone.

For the next two weeks, I planned and planned. I would take the train Saturday morning as far away as it would take me. In the meantime, I ate at the homeless shelter, and slept in the park at night. In the large city of Chicago, there were a lot of other homeless people, so I had no trouble finding places to go at night.

I made the last call on Friday night. This time instead of a random officer, the man who interviewed me picked up. I remembered his voice well. It sometimes haunted my dreams.

He made specific inquiries about where I was and what I was doing. I was so tired and hungry that I just gave him lame excuses that made it sound like I was doing well. Finally he asked about the Blood Iris gang. Immediately I stopped talking. He asked two more times before I assured him I was safe and that no one was coming after me. He must have been smarter than I thought because he didn't believe me. But eventually he let it go because there was no way I was telling him anything. If they weren't on my tail by now, telling authorities about them would surely kill me.

After he finished interrogating me, I hung up and went to the nearest store to pick up some last minute supplies. In addition to my usual bland attire, I added some long socks to hide my ankle with the tattoo. I figured that would keep me safe for a while. Maybe a night. But I was leaving this city in the morning, so that would be good enough.

I returned to my trusty park to begin the long night ahead of me.