The Kiss of Death [Dave East]

05

MARCUS' EYES TRAILED ALONG THE WORDS inked onto the white paper in his book. He laid on his bunk, ignoring the jokes that his cell mates were cracking. Their laughter died off, Marcus was almost relieved until he seen why. Switch Blade stood at his cell door, an angry look on his face.

"You've got balls." Switch Blade said. Marcus nodded appreciatively, placing his book down. "Thanks man." Marcus responded going back to reading almost immediately. Like a car playing with his food, Marcus toyed with him, sitting up. "One more thing though!" Marcus waved Switch Blade over. He stepped into the cell cautiously. Marcus reached behind his bed frame, revealing the syringe he used. "Take it." Marcus said. Switch blades eyes widened as he shook his head no. "Marcus, are you crazy?" Cruz asked, shocked that he'd even ask of that.

There were loud slamming sounds and before any of the inmates knew what was going on, yellow smoke filled the pod. "On the ground! Everyone on the ground!" Voices yelled. "Take this, and the fall for it. Or I kill you, right here, right now." Marcus threatened him, holding the syringe up. "Don't do it! He's bluffing. Marcus give it to me!" Cruz argued, aggressively reaching for it. Marcus quickly shot him down, shaking his roommate off of him. "No you're not taking it, you have a daughter." Marcus spat. Switch Blade looked conflicted, though he didn't have much time to think because men dressed in riot gear flew up the stairs, large guns in their arms. "Nigga we don't have time! Take it!" Switch Blade jumped up, ripping the syringe from his hands, sliding it into his track pants pocket.

Marcus sat up straight while his cell mates and Switch Blade immediately flew to the ground.
An officer came into his cell, her eyes strung in Marcus who wasn't laying on the floor. She didn't say anything but grabbed him by his ankle, yanking him to the ground. "We said on the ground!" She yelled as he groaned. She plowed through the cell, throwing the mattresses around, going through personal items. "Clear!" She yelled once done. "You Four! Up! Come on! Let's go!" She screamed. Marcus stood up, moving past his friends so that he was in line behind Switch Blade.

"What the hell is going on?" One of his cell mates asked. They were lead past the other cells, forced down the stairs and to the lower deck where the rest of the officers stood all lined up. Mattress and other items were falling from the sky as the other officers searched and ruined cells. "An inmate died yesterday. Alby Flores, 34 years old. He three more years before his sentences was served." The warden was now speaking. He looked fairly young for his mid 40s. Well groomed beard, his hair didn't go past his ears, a tan complexion and his eyes were a piercing green colour. His face wrinkled of stress.

Marcus, along with the other inmates were standing on their knees, hands behind their heads. "A syringe went missing from the doctors office." The warden stopped in front of Marcus, staring at him. The young dark visionary looked calm on the outside, but the voice of doubt in his mind was rattling his nerves. "It happens to be the murder weapon." Warden Reyes stated. "So I'm going to give you all one chance, to come clean about the murder." And as predicted, no one came forward. Everyone remained quiet, staring at either the falling items or the ground. "Bring out the dogs!" Reyes yelled. The inmates all watched the automatic doors opened, two guards came in with K9s held on a leash.