Accused

3

~3

Michael's POV- One week later

The swelling has gone down a lot. I'm able to talk now. Jessica is really nice. She's probably the best thing about this hell hole. I haven't been able to call my wife yet. She's probably worried sick. I wish I could just talk to her.

"Um, Jessica?"

"Yes, Michael?

" May I call my wife?"

Jessica laughs.

"Michael, it doesn't matter how sweet you ask the question, its not going to happen. Sorry."

I groan.

"Groan all you want, still not getting near that phone."

I laugh. Then I realize I'm in a prison.

"Jessica?"

"Yes?"

"Do you know where I'm going when I leave here?"

Her smile went away. Not good.

"I know you go to cell block C."

"What type of people go to cell block C?"

She takes a deep breath.

"Well, really bad people who did really bad things."

"But I didn't do anything! I just want to go home. I don't like being called something I'm not."

Her expression showed sadness. Like she felt bad for me. I look at the ceiling. I'm getting nervous about having to go there. I start to panic. I can't breathe. My mouth is dry. I feel light headed. Jessica noticed my behavior and ran over to me. She sat me up and looked into my eyes.

"Michael, Michael. Calm down. Look at me. Breathe. Breathe. Here."

She handed me a paper cup of water. I take it and sip on it. My breathing eases down. My mouth isn't dry anymore.

"You ok?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Here."

She hands me a cellphone.

"Is, is this yours?"

She nods. "I just thought you'd like to talk to your wife now. Its on my phone, so the warden won't know."

"So, I can call her?"

"I think you should before you kill yourself..." She laughs nervously.

I just stare at her.

"Too soon? Sorry, I make inappropriate jokes at bad times."

I nod. I dial my wife's number.

"Hello?"

"Trisha."

“Michael? Are you ok?”

“I'm fine.”

“I can't believe, you of all people, would do such a thing.”

“Baby! No! I didn't do it! I swear!”

I saw Jessica taping her pen. Is she listening?

“Michael, there is evidence! Your DNA was found inside one of the women! They recognized your voice, in a voice lineup. ”

“That's impossible! I, I didn't do it! Baby...please, you gotta believe me.”

“There's too much evidence. I'm sorry.”

*click*

She hung up. I stare at the phone. She doesn't believe me.... Jessica stands up and looks at me.

“You done?”

I nod. She grabs the phone, but won't move away. She cleared her throat. I look at her.

“You gonna let go?”

I looked down and realized I was holding on to the phone still. I slowly release my grip.

I mumble, “Sorry....”

She takes the phone and goes back to her desk. A security officer walks in.

“Is he ready, Ms. James?”

She nods.

“Ready for what? What's going on?”

Jessica turned toward me.

“Today's the day you go to your cell block.”

No!

“What?”

“I didn't realize it was going to happen this early.”

I slowly get up. The security guard grabs my arm and pulls me. He leads me out the door and down a hallway. I can hear inmates talking and yelling. My heart starts to beat faster and faster. We approach a door with a big C on it. Oh God.. The guard hits the door.

“Gary! Open up!”

The door makes a loud puff noise and slides to the left. The guard pushes me forward. We enter a small security room. I see monitors monitoring everyones movement in the cell block. There's an older guy sitting at a screen monitor. He must be Gary.

Gary asked, “Fresh meat?”

“My name is Michael!”

The guard holding me squeezes my arm tightly. I wince at the pain.

“Shutup. We don't give a damn about your name. To them,” he points out the window to the cell block, “You're known as fresh meat. And maybe, eventually, someone's bitch.”

The guards laugh. Oh no. I'm going to die in here!

“Alright, enough. Time for you to see your new roommate. ”

Gary opens up the bar door leading to the cell block. The guard pushes me to move forward. We walk down the stairs, as the inmates stare at us. Well, mostly at me. I keep my eyes ahead and keep a straight face. I'm trying to look tough. He leads me up some more stairs. We walk down to the last two cells. I look into the second to last cell. What I see makes my heart skip a beat.