Tainted

Chapter 4: 😑

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the annoyingly overused elevator music. A satisfying bell rung, interrupting my attempt at blocking everything out. I opened my eye slowly, as a surprisingly amusing scene was revealed right before my eyes.

Food was everywhere, covering the used-to-be white walls.

Everyone was screaming at each other.

Guards were threatening inmates while holding them back from through a fence.

Inmates were breaking down tables and other necessities.

I couldn't help but smile widely, this was my kind of scene; complete chaos. I went over to area where you'd grab your lunch. Usually, there was a line, but I cut to the front by bending under the pole railing that indicated that if you were inside of the two rails, you were in a line. I found a cafeteria lady hiding under a table as I leaned over the table to search for anyone.

"Excuse me~ I'd like the chicken tenders please!" I yelled at her, startling her.

"What? Right now-" she then realized it was me, and immediately went to the back to presumably find what I wanted.

Minutes later, she came running towards me, hands balancing a plate full of microwaved food and a carton of chocolate milk. "Here you are, sweetheart." she said, panting.

"Thank you.." I leaned closer towards her, trying to interpret her name that was written messily on the name tag. "..Ms. Olive!"

Olive wasn't her last name, it was her first name. Honestly though, her parents must've hated her, naming her Olive and all. She probably hates herself too.

After grabbing the only fork that wasn't devoured by rice and sauce, I strolled straight towards the one table that wasn't messed with. I sat down awkwardly, trying to get comfortable on the cold seat. My attention changed from the cold seat to the abrupt scene that unfolded right before my eyes.

"Wonder how this started.." I muttered, as I silently watched the brutes fight their own battles.

Without me realizing it, I'd already finished my lunch, but completely ignored my chocolate milk. The fight was complicated and cliche-ingly repetitive. It had become boring, and I didn't plan to get even more bored than before.

I got up, leaving my tray but opened my milk and brought it with me. I strolled over to the middle of the cafeteria, meaning being in the middle of the fight as well. I eyed down everything, the inmates, the guards, the grossly spread out lunch on the floors and walls.

Sadly, I dropped my chocolate milk in attempt to drink it. The sound effect was totally dramatic and unbelievably loud.

For some odd reason, everyone stopped fighting once they noticed me in the middle, standing in a milky brown liquid. I stood awkwardly, unable to decide on what to do. I looked around, seeing that everyone had their attentions on me.

..Fuck this situation.

As fast I dropped my chocolate milk, I walked out of the middle in approximately the same time. When I turned around suspiciously since there was an awkward silence, what came to a surprise was the guards and inmates were talking in peace, picking up their mess.

I walked back to my room with my feet cold, wet, and doused in a milky brown liquid that trailed behind me each step I took.

Gross and cliche.. that fight.

Though, I guess I can't complain. I wasn't really interested when it went on for what seemed like forever and when it ended.

~

I woke up, with my sheets stained with a light brown. I didn't get up at first, but instead, I laid back, and stared at the ceiling.

"Today iss.. well I don't fucking know because I don't have a fucking calendar in this bitch." I said, mainly to myself. I sat up, remembering what Mr. AxeMan had previously said.

I walked over to the window, still slightly half asleep.

"Come up, you whore.." I muttered softly to Mr. AxeMan. Last time, he didn't come immediately. Guess I'll have to wait. Again. I sat down on my bed once again, feeling the fading warmth that I had left during my time of sleep. I leaned against the wall and brought my knees up to my face to rest my head on.

Might as well waste my time with even more sleep..

Almost falling asleep, I heard a soft knock against my door. I didn't bother to look who it was, and I stayed in my position.

"I'm coming in." I sensed the door open and close, as the figure strolled into my room.

I lifted my head, revealing Axeman walking over to me.

"Are you alright, m'lady?" he asked, as he sat down next to me.

I brought down my knees, and scooted over. "I'm fine. Just, a bit tired, surprisingly."

"Ah, I understand. I brought you breakfast, it'd be complicated if you went down. We.. have lots of work today, but I don't want to drag you along. You have to come completely energized." He explained. "Did.. you read everything?"

"No. I couldn't. Sorry.. I'm not a fast reader. I've never really read anything in a while.." I said, eyeing down the breakfast tray that sat on his lap with hungry eyes.

"That's alright. When we leave, I'll read everything to you."

"Leave..?"

"Do you honestly think staying here is going to be good for you? They're keeping you here, just to gain money. If they honestly cared about you, you wouldn't be here in terrible conditions, sitting in boredom all day, struggling to get by."

I looked away from him, thinking about what he'd just said. "Where would we even go? We have no money, no food or anything. How'd you get the documents anyways?"

"We'd be.. away from here. We'll solve the money and food problem. I.. gained the documents through ways that I shouldn't describe to you."

"Did you fuck the Doc?" I asked, genuinely curious if he had.

"N-no. I'm not exactly.. like the gardener, you see. I'm also.. pretty sure I'm not gay."

"Pssh. I doubt that. Axeman, I don't mean to be.. rude, though I usually am, but I'm not comfortable with going away with you so suddenly. I don't even know you, or if you're even trustworthy. To be clear, I'm saying you're as suspicious as those men in white vans that drive around giving bleach filled candy bars to children for free."

"That's.. happened before?"

"No, but it could."

"I'll.. wait for you.."

"Why?"

"...Simply because.. you seem pitiful."

"Fuck you. Being pitiful means you're weak, you calling me weak?" I said, getting highly offended.

"No, let me explain. You've been here for a while, even I don't even know how long. Do you?"

"..I guess not.. continue."

"I've always noticed you.. looking out the window. Your eyes always trailed others, as if that was the only way to do anything. So, I decided to find out about you, you know, like a stalker and all. I found out things, and I want to help you."

"That's still shady as hell. Though, I suppose going with you wouldn't be too bad. If I died on the streets, starving with you, I wouldn't mind.. because.. it's still better than being here. Being here.. is like.. living in a world where you know your future isn't bright. My memories haven't come back. I haven't gained anything but fake trust and beef of people that I honestly don't give a crap about. I'll go with you."

I looked up at him, and his eyes turned soft and his smile grew. "Then, let's go."