Chapter fifty nine
Asides Butcher and Alan, the rest had stepped away and scurried off, almost as though the voice was familiar to them all.
Merely out of curiosity, I looked through to study the man who happened to scare them so much. The first surprise came to me when I realised he was a fellow inmate.
With a mane of ebony black hair somehow nearly trimmed, the old look his face gave off was a bit contradictory. If asked, I'd carelessly conclude he was in his fifties without the need for a second glance.
"Here to play Jesus, Dylan?" Alan looked annoyed for obvious reasons. He faced this Dylan man but remained on his spot, so did Butcher. How could someone be that feared by just standing there?"
" Get out!" He responded, tipping his head towards the doorway.
From below, I watched the show, eager to see both men's reactions to that command. Sharing one last glance at each other, they slowly stalked away. Not before tossing the burning plank to a place near my body though.
I flinched and sucked in a harsh breath. Meeting Dylan's solemn glare, I patiently waited for that moment he'd offer to help me up.
However, all he did was stand there and glower like I'd committed a crime with my mere existence. Seconds later, he was walking away along with the rest of them.
Ow…kay.
If you wanted to help someone, help the best you could. Fine, he saved my life, but how was I supposed to walk now?
Sighing, I laid face up on the cold floor, my body aching and my face red and sore. That was how I planned to stay until another angel came by who'd actually help me up.
I was not the kind to believe in miracles, but I thanked God Dylan or whoever he was came along.
***
"So, who's this Dylan guy?" Simon crossed his arms over his chest. His face had something like admiration and gratitude to it. "I mean…why did he save your life?"
"He was the final piece of the puzzle I was searching for," I replied. "Popping into the story at the best time possible."
"Wow…" said my brother, "…you almost died there."
He had fear and unbelief on his face, an almost unmistakable feeling I could read. "His timing was perfect."
"I know right!" Jade was jumpy and enthusiastic. Her eyes looked like they would pop right out of her sockets. "Did a second angel come along?"
"Nay," I said. "I had to force myself to limp to the open after a couple of hours. My insides still burned of dehydration. My head ached and my nose still bled. As slow as I was, I'd finally made it out and unto the basket ball court."
***
Cyrus had been the first to sight me.
From behind the small building, I could hear him yell my name over and over from the other side.
Sports had ended a while ago, leaving the vast space empty without a hay ball. However, at my absence, he'd returned to search. I'd been listening to him yell my name for the past three minutes, almost certain he was going to give up on me anytime soon.
With my knees sore, leaving the power house was a load of work and time, bring tears to my eyes with every step I took.
"Jeffery!" This last one was more of a gasp than a yell when he finally sighted me. It was a narrow miss, honestly. Without further ado, Cyrus rushed over to me and dug his arm under my shoulder for support, using another to grasp me as I nearly buckled over.
I was thirsty and it almost hurt. Gasping, I let him pull me away with no idea of where the destination might be. My vision was unclear, my thoughts mixed up and I was on the sloppy verge of totally passing out.
"Who did this to you," I think I heard him say. When no response was granted even after the second time, he gave his attention into returning me to harbour.
The main thing I wanted _scratch that_ needed right now was a bucket of water and a whole can of pain killers.
At the doorway leading to the stairway, a handful of policemen rushed towards us with the aim to help. I was forcing myself to stay conscious so I could force out a few words. Words that would let them know I was never going to share a space with Alan. Ever!
However, I'd failed in that; because soon, as I was surrendering into the ready arms placed before me, unconsciousness came like a cloud.
***
8 months, 1 week, 5 days;
The clank sound of the closing gate was the only audible thing for the next minute. Although barely empty, the hallway was quiet, with little sounds blasting off the walls as echoes.
A row of fluorescent bulbs along the ceiling gave an eerie, yellow glow to the clear tiles underneath my feet.
I'd noticed it with my eyes on them the whole time, walking forward without a single limp now since three months ago.
My healing process was slow with poor medication within the prison walls. While Emily and Simon had dropped by now and then to help with some smiles and jokes, Noah had never shown up.
Something about going through a bad phase of depression after having heard the news.
I was upset. Well, I had been, granted the fact no one could under my pain better than my brother did.
Three months with no word from him sounded like a form of betrayal. Well, today appeared to be the end of it.
There was a row of telephone booths along my right side, blocked out from its complement booth by a glass plane.
As Deputy Bones led me through, I received nods from various guards stationed at every three meters. Wasn't there any bit of privacy in this space?
With each trial I passed through in prison, my immunity crossed borders. My favourite bonus was the fact that I didn't have to eat that fudge anymore.
It was high class. My new roommate was an Asian who gave more time to his meditation than he even cared to notice I existed; which was specifically what I'd wished for.
After the weeks long labour placed on Alan and co, the sight of me was enough to make faces pull. Never had they attempted to threaten me ever again.
The only sign left of my attack was a bruise on my brow, just the right marking I needed to feel like a real prisoner. In fact, I felt jolly all of a sudden; Noah had called in to speak with me after three months! What more could I ask but that?
Booth 162 stood at the end of the right row, flanked by unused or dysfunctional telephones with just the right amount of privacy I needed.
With a swoosh and effortless action, I swayed into the seat and beamed when I looked through the narrow plane of glass and found my brother behind it.
His eyes were obviously bulgy from tiredness and lack of sleep while he stared back at me. But, he was there anyway.