In Too Deep

1

The House of the Rising Sun by The Animals

As soon as I open my eyes I wish I didn't. I toss my legs over the edge of my bed and sit up. I stretch and crack my bones. My neck especially. Sleeping on this metal bed does not have many advantages to it.

I rest my forearms on my knees and hang my head between my shoulders. I need to get out. It's been too long.

I let out a yawn and stand up.

"What time is it?" I ask myself and look around my room. I walk towards the glass wall that looks out into the hallway to see a guard walking by.

I wave my arms around as if they were standing far away and as soon as his eyes land on me he rolls his eyes.

"What now Joker?" he asks me and I stare into his eyes.

"Did Suzy steal your blankets again Tommy because it seems that you woke up on the wrong side of the bed" I say concerned.

"Keep it up and I won't let you out for breakfast" he says to me and begins to walk away but I bang on the glass.

"I'm sorry let's start over. Good morning Tommy how's the wife" I smile and hold my hand up to my ear.

"Guess I'll just get straight to it. What time is it?" I ask him.

"Same time as always Joker. 6:45 am" I snap my fingers.

"Not time to shower yet huh?" I cross my arms and walk towards the back of my room.

"Downright shame. I need to take a leak" I look up to see the sky beginning to get brighter with copious amount of clouds in it. The windows are obviously not fully accessible. It is barricaded with metal bars.

"Hold it. Only fifteen more minutes" I look to my left and watch him walk away from my peripheral vision.

I look back to the window and watch a few birds fly by. Nothing like walking up at the crack of dawn.

There's not many buildings around here. There's not much anything around here to be honest.

I wrap my hands around the metal bars on my window and pull. I laugh as I notice it begin to break off from the wall.

"Leaving is so much easier than staying gone" I rest my forehead against the bar and close my eyes. Stupid bat.

✯

I'm pushed into the rec room and I straighten myself as I walk towards the table.

I sit down in front of the Mad Hatter. He smiles.

"Where's Croc Hatter?" I ask him.

"Where the sun don't shine and it's covered in grime" he chuckles.

"Guess he's not coming up" I look around the room to see the usual nut cases.

"Let's play a game" I look up and spread out the cards in front of me.

"Pick a card" He grabs one and holds it up to his mouth.

I grab the cards and shuffle them back into one pile.

I place my hand over my eyes, "Don't show me the card but show someone else" I say and I hear him giggle.

"Shove it back into the deck after you're finished" I feel him slide the card back in and I begin to shuffle.

I bend the cards and they jump out falling down onto the table. In the midst of their fall I grab a random card and hold it in between my fingers. I fling it back to Hatter and he grabs the card.