I awake to the sound of squeaking footsteps. Alarmed, I shoot upright on my mattress, wide eyes locking on the door. It unlocks and swings open, the sounds of shoes sliding on the floor and bodies scuffling. After much of the annoying noise, two kids stumble in and the door is slammed closed. The sound of the door locking comes right after. What the heck is happening? One kid, a boy, whirls around and rams the door with his shoulder, again and again and again until the other kid, a girl, grabs his shoulders and yanks him away. They look around for a moment before their gazes land on me. I stare back, curious. Be careful. You don’t know what they’re here for. My mind reasons. I’m immediately put back on guard, watching them cautiously. They’re tensed, bodies hunched slightly and hands slightly balled into fists. As if they could beat me in a fight. I scoff. Their identical green eyes never stray away from my own gaze, not even blinking. That’s a first. Red rims their eyes, almost the color of their fiery hair. They’re both about the same height and are wearing t-shirts and shorts. The girl exchanges glances with the boy while making subtle hand gestures. My eyes dart back and forth between the two, scrutinizing them through narrowed eyes, trying to decipher them. So they’re those kind of people. After a few tense seconds, the girl nods and turns her gaze to me again. “Hello. I’m Alexandra, but you can call me Alexa. This is my twin, Alex.” she introduces hesitantly, attempting a smile while watching me expectantly, a hint of caution in her eyes. I hold them under my own amethyst gaze for a minute, smirk growing as they stand near the door rather awkwardly. How amusing, watching them squirm. I haven’t had fun in such a long time… I muse, my eyes still bearing into them. There often aren’t any new kids, and those that do come here have their own cells in which to rot in. “I’m Ever.” I reply coolly. Alexa and Alex slowly advance towards me, taking my answer as an OK for them to come near me. Not very bright, I see. “Don’t come closer, if you don’t mind.” I stiffly say. They freeze, fear practically radiating from them. Oh, I already scared them. My lips draw down in a mock pout. The pair drop to the ground where they stand. Wise choice. “So, what’s it like here?” Alex asks after a few minutes, cutting through the uncomfortable silence, voice raw and gravelly. “You’ll see soon enough.” Is my reply.
I lie back down and stare at the run-down ceiling, tracing the cracks. Or at least trying to. Early rays of sunlight shine onto my face, blinding me. I move my head into a patch of shade and out of the corner of my eye, I see the siblings look up at the ceiling also. “Is there anything more horrible than this?” asks Alexa quietly, directing the question to her brother. “Oh, the horrors are just beginning.” I comment drowsily, drifting off into a dreamless sleep.
