A Broken Heart That The World Forgot (ON HOLD)

Chapter 3: Hefty Plates

I wake up the next morning before dawn, I've learned to wake up before we are supposed to so that no one has a reason to come into my room, because I don't want people snooping, I don't trust them to not tell the boss what I have in my notebook. I put on my usual black skinny jeans, dark grey tank top, black leather jacket, and black army boots. Colorful, I know. I walk across the cold wooden floor and open the door revealing an even colder hallway, locking my room behind me. I walk by Henry's room and I hear him snore through the door. We are two of the few people that have our own private room. That's either because we have served the boss for a long period of time, which is Henry's case, or because the boss favors us, which is my case. The rest of us have to share rooms, depending on the size of the room there can be as much as fifteen people per room, all sleeping in old bunk beds. I actually have a double bed but it is the boss's second old one. Henry's is the latest one besides the one the boss sleeps in, obviously.

There are a little over 100 of us in this four story building. On the first floor is the large kitchen and main meeting room. The second and third floors are just bedrooms, bathrooms, and a few storage rooms and meeting rooms. The fourth floor mostly taken up by the boss's bedroom and office. But about a third of it is taken up by the main storage room where the boss keeps most of the drugs and money. But he has his own private storage room that connects to his bedroom that only the boss and Henry have gone in. Of all the people in the building, I am the only girl. I guess the boss doesn't want more females because he doesn't want any romance going on between any of the workers, or prisoners as I call us (only to myself of course). 

I walk down stairs and enter the large kitchen where Cook is busy making breakfast. I like Cook, he's very goofy and funny despite our surroundings. His is an obese man with a Santa Claus belly that jiggles when he laughs and it's quite amusing. He has one of those warm and cozy voices that can instantly make you smile. His grey hair and matching scruffy facial hair are the only thing to give away his age because he is totally wrinkle-less. 

"Good morning." I greet him and his mint green eyes instantly make contact with mine and he gives me a sweet smile.

"And good morning to you, Miss Juniper." he says to me. That's the nickname he has for me, Juniper. The reason being is because that's where they found me. Five years ago, I ran away from my life of judgement and controlling. But I had no where to go. Without knowing any better, I went to the outskirts of town, and was hiding in a Juniper bush outside our building when they found me and took me in. At first it was a lovely place, everyone adored me and didn't care about my personality, but then once I got older they trained me, hard. They prepared me for the things that I do today, but you can't really prepare someone to kill someone else. That just can't happen. But the rest of that story is for another time. 

I chuckle at  his name for me. "You still call me that. Why?" I ask, sitting on a stool on the opposite side of the counter he is working on.

"Reminds me of better days, back then. When you didn't have to do what you have to do." his voice is full of sympathy and sadness.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. But I don't really have a choice."

"That's the worst part of it." 

"I don't know, pulling a trigger and taking the life from someone is pretty awful."

"I know, baby girl. You'll get out one day. If anyone's gonna get out, it'll be you for sure. Someday you'll escape this prison."

"That's what I told her." I hear Henry's voice enter the room as he walks over and sits by us, crossing his arms and resting them on the faded white counter.

"I don't think so guys." I say looking down.

"I do, you got the spirit and the drive. And the boss trained you personally as well as Henry. You could beat him." Cook says.

"And what happens when he shoots me."

"Shoot him first." Henry replies.

"Guys, you know that wouldn't work." I tell them, referring to the boss's full body bullet proof suit. He even wheres a bullet proof helmet.

"Other people have tried." Henry reassures.

"And what happened to them?" I ask, but my tone tells them I already know the answer but I'm just trying to prove a point.

"They...umm....he..." they both say hinting that he killed them. We all stay silent for a bit.

"Someday, Juniper. Someday." Cook says as he begins to fry the first of six large bowls of eggs.

"You want any help Cookie?" I offer.

"Sure, you can chop up these watermelons." Cook replies, pointing at seven big watermelons. I get up and wash my hands before grabbing a large knife and cutting board and the first watermelon.

"I'll help." Henry says and does the same and moves next to me.

"Thanks guys."

As the sun continues to rise more and more people shuffle in and sit at the large dining table. The boss eats in his own private quarters in which Cook brings him his meal.

"What's for breakfast today?" one of the dudes at the table ask.

"Eggs, pancakes, and watermelon." he answers and they all seem to moan in anticipation of the good food filling their hungry bellies. "Alright come and get it ya pigs." Cook announces as he leaves the kitchen to take a hefty plate to the boss.