Life As The Enemy

Released

I stare in my palms as I sit on the floor. Two other guys that look way older than myself just sit across from one another. I haven't found how long I been here. My eyes were drowsy, my throat felt raspy like a ash tray. Slowly, I could swear it was like I belonged here. The officiers switched shifts. Out of boredom, I managed to remember my grandfather's pocket watch and time the shift change. Three hours. For every shift. I didn't request for anything nor did bring any unwanted attention to myself. Just as I was about to fall asleep, the sound of the door bell ringubg loudly awoke me before the officer grabs me by my forearm and escorts me to another room. He places handcuffs across one of my wrist and locked the other end of it to a bar on the table where I was stationed to sit. The officier then proceeded to sit down before he gestured something to the mirror behind me. The red dot on the camera stops flashing before I turn around to a back hand to the face.

"Now, you're going to tell me why you were walking in that neighborhood! Drugs? Hmm...or maybe you were casing a house to rob with your friends of friends?" He yelled at me

My cheek felt like a belt had swept across my face with a warm fuzzy stinging sensation. My thoughts were racing for answers before he jumped out of his chair and threw it across the room, narrowing missing me. He walks to my side of the table with his mustache in my face before he forces me to stand up and kicks my chair out the way.

"Tell me why you were in that neighborhood!" He continues to question me

He slaps me again on the same cheek before slamming my head against the table, making me slip into an unconscious state. The world around me blurred before me.

"That's enough! Give him a break and go take a break. " A voice says

I could hear footsteps as I lay on the ground, dazed.

I wasn't sure where I had gone or why I was a target jn this scenario. As far as I knew, nobody was coming to get me. Now remembering what my parents taught me about this very scenario. Only to state my name and date of birth. Not to say a word until a lawyer or them shows up. In this case, the pressure was intense. I was willing to say anything to leave this foul monstrously evaded place.

"Hey. Hey, it's okay. I'm not here to hurt ya. I'm just here to get a few answers if you'd be willing answer some of my questions." A voice said as I came to.

My head felt like major headache. And my face no longer had that warm sensation. My vision and hearing was adjusting. Not even paying attention to what he had said.

I look at him still trying to focus as I start to panic. And get up, moving as far back as the table would allow me. Only to find out it was connected to the floor. The voice belonged to a thirty or fourty year old man with a grey like beard and green brownish eyes. He had this welcoming smile that could fool any woman within his radius. The type a senior jazz musician would give. He looks to the floor and grabs a soda can before sliding it towards me, then fiddles in his front vest pockets and unhooked the keys to the handcuffs. I rub my wrist as the handcuffs were uncomfortably tight.

"So kid. Start from the beginning. What happened?" He asked

I was very hesitant of what to say. Whether I would say anything at all.

"You know, your parents are waiting for you in the lobby. We told them it'll only be a few minutes." He said

My throat was dry, my palms sweaty as thoughts raced in my mind.

"I was in my neighborhood with my friends because we were all going to have a sleep over at his house-" I start to say

"Who's house?" The detectivd asked as he scribbles something down

"My friend, Peter." I said

"Okay, then? What happened?" He asked

"I was about to turn into a cedar block and an officier had been following me for the past two minutes. So I looked behind and he got out of his car and started to question myself, nobody else. It is peculiar." I said as I was trying to remain neutral

My heart steadied a bit before I calmed down.  The detective, still scribbling in his notepad. He noticed I was looking at him writing beforeh e said with a chuckle.

"Oh, nothing to worry about. I'm just documenting. So, you weren't there to sell drugs or case a house to rob?" He asked, still scribbling

"No. No officier. I had just got back from school." I stated to him as I nodded.

He looked at me for a not before continuing to scribble.

"I heard that you were planning to sell drugs to those people." He said

I knew he was lying. It was written on his face, but my doubt got to the best of me before I said.

"I don't sell drugs nor do I confine with them." I said

The detective then holds up a folded piece of paper and unfolds it before he reads

"Assailant had in possession, one inhaler, a small baggie of marijuana and a pocket knife." He read before showing me the report

"The pocket knife was never in my possession. It was my friend that was a gift to me. And the inhaler is for my asthma." I said as I attempted to clarify

He stops writing befire whispering

"Look, kid. I don't think you're guilty. Honestly I believe you were just in the wrong place. You probably got a girl to get home to, right?" He said with a smile

I nodded no as I slumped and looked at my wrist.

"What? A nice fella like you don't got no girl?" He asked in a questionable, surprised manner

I almost began to frown before another officier came in.

"Sir. The parents came to the precinct. They want him now." He said as he gave me side glances.

The detective gestures him to leave befire getting up and walking me to the lobby. My father looked very dissapointed but my mother was furious. I look up my see my aunt with her arms crossed before she says.

"Officier, your entire precinct is not following protocol. Not only did you interrogate a minor, you used physical means of interrogation. My client is not to be interrogated any longer and I require your notes and tapes right now." She says

I continue to look downward before father puts a hand on my shoulder as everyone else stares at him with grunt. He swallows hard before he pats my shoulder, gesturing me to leave. As we walk out, more officiers shove him. H ignores them before whispering

"We'll talk about this at home. Get into the car while mom and I handle this." He says before I start to walk out