Sinister [Jason McCann]

Thirty-Nine

Jason’s POV --

 

Ten minutes.

 

I had a total of ten minutes to make a call and when choosing to request this, I never imagined the amount of difficulty that could attach itself to my desires. I could call Ace but there wasn’t much to discuss and the results the same if I were to call Brody. Scarlett, someone I thought could be nothing short of reliable, has disappeared into thin air. I guess that’s why we’re taught to choose those we befriend wisely.

 

I stood beside the phone, staring at and beyond it. Two minutes go past and a series of raising my hand to grab the handset then lowering it due to uncertainty, follow along. I guess the truth of the matter is that I had no one to call so this would simply be an excuse to have much needed alienation from the rest of the world behind that door. Leading my gaze to the small window upon the door, I see the police officer waiting outside. Often, he looks from his left to his right and if those two directions weren’t his many priorities, he’d look downwards and I supposed he must be using his cellphone.

 

Flustered, I twist my body to face the phone. My indecisiveness would result in the failure to make any calls. My brain was beginning to nag at me, warning me that by the time I come to a definite resolution; my time would be up. Still, even with knowing that a timer was ticking away, I couldn’t think of anyone to call for any particular reasons.

 

Normally you’d call someone to catch up on everything going on outside of this hell hole. You’d call to see how everything’s going with their personal lives, if you cared that much, or just to have a normal conversation with someone who understands you perfectly. I’ve been locked in this building for a solid five and a half weeks, closing in on a month. Since then I’ve managed to keep myself caught up on everything within my circle. From what I’ve learned, Ace and Brody would be under house arrest for the following month until further notice within the law--I would consider it as two months but counting the mouth that I'm sure to be in here for, ties along with a month of their house imprisonment. Probation was sure to be set up between the two as well. Along with that, they’ve been constructing away to bail me out but without the business in our back pockets, the money we each have saved would need to be used accordingly. I’ve been told that Lea’s parents would be in rehab until signs of improvement and for the most part, Lea’s father will be what forbid any chances of their family reuniting.

 

Through Lana, I find out that Lea’s been undergoing counseling but indication of depression isn’t a challenge to fathom. Now, I’d be lying if thoughts of calling Lea hadn’t crossed my mind at any point. I knew, however, that a thought so ghastly would only dig me into a deeper ditch. It’s a shame that I’m only human which makes it nearly impossible to refrain from simply wanting to speak with Lea.

 

Somehow, within the course of sinking into my head, my back slid down until I was sitting against the wall with my knees propped up against my chest. I swallow down, feeling a dryness in my throat that I longed to quench with a cigarette, blunt or cigar. My arms steady themselves onto the tops of my knees, hands dangling lifelessly. My time was running out and yet I sit on the ground, staring at the sad excuse for tiled walls. Not wanting to exit this room without exchange even the slightest form of small talk, I pick myself up and take hold of the handset. As I’m dialing the first six digits of Ace’s number, the door opens and makes a sound that bounces off the walls.