Next Generation (Paused)

3

April 27, 2202

Fremont County, Colorado

My head is pounding as I lift myself up. When I open my eyes, a light so bright, nearly blinds me and for a moment, I wonder if this is how Jesus felt. I grunt as I close my eyes once more.

"You're up?"

My eyes snap open at the unfamiliar voice and I promptly get up as I spot the figure a few feet away from me.

"I thought they put me in a cell with a dead guy," he jokes lightly.

I squint my eyes at him, studying his calm posture. He is a fairly light skin dude, but with a strong, muscular built. "Cell?" I ask, my voice hoarse as I look around. We are in a room with a bunk bed built into the wall. A night stand with two drawers is standing obeditantly at the end of the bunk bed. In the middle of the room, they have two standard chairs with a small table between them, one occupied by the individual. They have a deck of cards resting on the table. What kind of cell is this? It seems too..normal even though, the furnitures is built into the wall or floor. "Yeah, they changed you and everything." I look at my attire and see that I am in a military green khaki like clothing.

My mind fog starts to withdraw and that's when I freak out.

"Who are you and where am I?" I ask harshly.

His eyebrows furrows as he notices how my attitude changed, "I'm Magnus and welcome to Colorado."

Colorado? Why am I in Colorado? How did I get here? Memories of last night flood my thoughts, "Where is Tonya?" I whisper quietly while staring at Magnus. He looks confused as he leans closer to me. "What was that?" I grab his shirt and push him against the concert wall. I feel a pinching pain in my legs, but I ignore it. "Where the hell is my daughter!" I bellow as I search his eyes. He stiffens as he stares in my eyes before raising his arms in defense. "A-aye man, I didn't even know you had a daughter!" He stutters. I hear the cell door open and turn my head before something stabs me in the side. I feel a burning sensation spread inside of me and start getting dizzy, loosening my grip on the guy. I fall on the ground and hold my head as the world spins. I see too many faces in front of me and I fall back completely, blacking out again.

≻───── ⋆✩⋆ ─────≺

"Hey man, time to get up."

I keep my eyes close as I try to gather my thoughts. I feel something nudging my shoulder and I growl. "You ain't a German Shepard. It's time for lunch." I ignore Magnus and act like I'm sleeping. He sighs and it grows quiet in the room. I wait a second longer before opening my eyes, only to nearly jump out of my skin. Magnus is just staring at me quietly and I quickly sit up. I swear he left. "Now come on," he presses, "we don't have all day." He walks out of the cell and I exhale, hopping off of the lower bunk. I look around the hall as I follow Magnus. The colors of the walls aren't as plain as I thought it would be. They are painted an almost navy blue and have random, but inspirational quotes with different fonts and drawings besides the quotes, or acting with the words. "Not as plain as I thought either," I catch Magnus glancing at me as we continue to walk to the cafeteria.

"I heard from some other guys here that some kids wanted to make prisons more positive, so when prisoners get out, they can blend more into society or something like that. I guess the state heard their call and got creative." I nod at this and we fall into a silence once more. We make it into the cafeteria and wait for our trays of food. The area is pretty noisy as we try to find a place to sit. I spot an empty table and sit down at it, Magnus copies my actions. I poke at my brown rice and gravy and can't help but to think about Tonya. How did I even get here? Who were those people? Where could she be? Is she safe? Is she...even alive? I close my eyes at the thought and wait for the sting in my heart to pass. No, she's alive, I know she is.