The Words on the Walls

II - b

I knew that, outside of the room, there is a guard on each side of the door. And in two opposing corners of the room there is a hidden security camera. Right where the two walls meet the ceiling.

I know how to hide simple actions from the cameras. You learn quickly after living here for a year. So when I looked down at my open journal and saw a rip where the two pages met the spine, I positioned myself so my back blinded the camera behind me from the book. The other camera would be more difficult. I placed my left elbow above the rip. In the center and near the top of the pages. I rested my forehead in my left palm. I ran my right hand fingers across the page as if I were reading. Everytime my finger traced the part of the page near the rip, I widened the tear. 

Inside the binding was a pen. I must have hidden it there before the incident. I switched elbows. My right forearm was in a better position to block the spine of the book from the camera than my left. My left hand fingers traced my words. Forgotten words from a forgotten day. I gently pulled the pen out of the binding each time my fingers reached the inner side of the page. A younger me, but smarter than the other ones, had chosen this pen well. It was smaller than normal pens, and easy to hide in the palm of a hand. It was clear, allowing the black ink to be visible.

I eased the pen out of the binding and let it rest in the center. Invisible to anyone's eyes, save mine. The door flung open. I didn't move. Oherwise they would suspect something. I lifted my head. I tucked the pen into my palm, masking the movement by closing the journal. 

"Time's up." A young, almost hesitant, voice said. Only then did I turn around. The guard holding the door open with one arm had not been one of my escorts to this room. He was standing outside of the room. As if he was afraid to enter the room. As if he was afraid of me.

I stood up from the chair and slid the journal off the table. I held it at my side. 

He nodded to it. "L- leave it here." I kept it at my side. 

"You're young. And unfamiliar." I titled my head to one side. That usually creeped them out. He stared blankly into my eyes. They usually didn't do that. They usually never made eye contact. They would avoid me at all costs. Even paying each other to get out of guarding me. 

"You're new." I stared back into his eyes. They were dark brown. I hadn't moved from beside the table. He waved me out the door. Stupidly, I obeyed. 

I placed my eyes on the tag stiched onto his uniform. "1401." I gave him a smile, but didn't allow it to reach my eyes. "Welcome to the Institue for Mental Unwellness. I assume you're my new guard."