Escape Plan

The Announcer

I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I squirmed in my bed and flipped over facing the wall. Another tap. I groaned in my sleep. "Ms. Alyssa" a voice whispered. I opened my eyes and turned around to see total darkness until my eyes adjusted and zoned in on a man, Adam. he said it again. "Ms. Alyssa" he whispered. I sat up and looked at him with an annoyed expression on my face, although he probably couldn't see it. I looked past him at the door and a small amount of light came in. He stared at me expectantly. "Come on, you're gonna be late!" He whisper yelled. Then I realized I was the announcer in a prison far far away from any human habitation, and a wave of hopelessness washed over me. I got up and grabbed a bin that was filled with 5 replicas of the same outfit under my bed and grabbed a t shirt, and a pair of jeans. Then I grabbed a fresh pair of underwear, a bra and my old black converse from my suit case. I attempted to tip toe to the bathroom as quietly as I could. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Adam leaning against the adjacent wall looking up and down the dorm. I opened the door to the bathroom then closed it and turned the light on. Despite the fact that this was a prison, the bathroom was immaculate. I mean people spend all day cleaning it every day so that's not a shocker, but over the years this bathroom still looks brand new. I made sure the door was locked and I changed into the uncomfortable drab clothes that made me just like everybody else. I don't want to wear these clothes I want to be MYSELF I want to be ME!!! I am Alyssa! I walked out into the darkness as my eyes adjusted and I looked in the direction of Adam who was motioning for me to follow him. He scanned his lanyard and we walked out into the dim light.

We stepped into an elevator and took an awkwardly long ride up as he tapped his shoes on the ground and I pretended to be interested in what was outside of the elevator. "How's your wrist?" He asked suddenly breaking the silence. He looked at my cast then into my eyes. "It's fine" I answered casually. "I have to take a lot of pills but, I guess that's just what you expect when you get abducted and taken to a prison." I said with a tinge of annoyance in my tone. "Well, this actually hasn't happened before." He said defending the prison. I can't believe him! But he works here so I guess that makes sense. Ugh! What am I saying none of this makes sense!!! I shouldn't be here! "Why are you defending this place?!" I said angrily, this isn't right! This is child labor!!! The youngest group here is the purple group, and they're only EIGHT!!! I was filled with anger and I counted down from 50 as I listened to the sorry excuse that came out of his mouth. "Well, I... we, well we kinda need people to take care of this place." He said as we walked down the hallway. HE didn't even sound sure of himself. This man is ridiculous! "Why is this place even open?! Why does it exists!! What the hell is wrong with you and the other people running this place?! I mean, are you mentally ill?! You know you can go to the nurse for that! Oh wait she probably can't treat you she'll probably just kill you, ya know like the rest of us!!!!!!" I spat out in pure frustration. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest, the adrenaline running through my veins. My face was probably red. He stayed quiet the rest of the way until we were right outside of the announcer's room where Mr. Jay waited for me. He grabbed my arm and I tried to free myself but he didn't let go, I turned around and looked at him. If I wanted to, I could knock him out in an instant. When I was seven, the foster caretaker signed everyone up for jiu jitsu. She thought it would be a good idea. She was right, when I was ten, I went to the grocery store with a different foster care taker and I got lost. A man tried to kidnap me but I kicked his manhood and knocked him out. I smiled at the thought, I was frustrated at Adam already and it might get out of hand if I tackle him, I mean all he did was speak, he must actually be mentally ill to grab my arm and dare to speak to me again. "Watch your temper." Was all he said and he turned around and walked away. I watched him for a while and thought about what he meant. I don't need to watch my temper I decided as I walked in. I walked over to a desk and sat in the spinny chair. In front of me was strawberry yogurt and toast. Correction: burnt toast. "Eat." Was all he said. I ate the food as I looked over the lines. I felt Mr. Jay's piercing stare behind me, and I realized creepy grin was back. I was instructed to put on headphones and a microphone was positioned In front of me, I pushed my food aside and looked at the lines I was supposed to say. I heard somebody's voice in my headphones, an unknown voice that asked if I was ready but didn't give me time to answer. It counted down from 10 and then at 0 a sign on the wall that said, "ON AIR" lit up and I looked at my lines. I wasn't gonna say these. I shouldn't be here. "Good morning everybody!" I said chirpily just as the paper instructed. But what I said next wasn't so nice. "And welcome to hell!" I said just as chirpy.