Chapter 6 Shady

Shenell's POV

I had myself curled up like a child on the hard metal bunk in my cell. Unfortunately, the police officer who locked me up had lied. He said Detective Harris was going to come and attend to me in a few hours, but it’s already been two days, and I haven’t seen anyone yet—except for the young-looking guy who brings me dinner at night. He must be the staff in charge of serving meals to the prisoners… or maybe he’s the chef.

I’m scared that I might remain here forever.

I've been locked up inside this small cell room for two nights now—for an offence I didn't commit.

I have cried too much so I decided to rest a little bit, but it's never comfortable here. It's a metal bunk and it has no mattress on it, how on earth is a human supposed to sleep on this thing?

I slept on it anyway! Just that the sleep wasn't a deep one, just a quiet way to escape crying too much again.

I lay still on the bunk with my eyes faintly open, but I can see nothing. The cell room was always dark to the extent that the only time I get to see my own hands is during the dark break. Once the sun sets and night arrives, everywhere becomes so dark, I bet a shrine will never be as dark as it used to be here.

There's only one tiny light bulb hanging inside the hallway close to the corridor, making the whole cell floor look like a haunted place.

I don't care, I wish it's even haunted, and some ghosts can come and take me out of here. Well, I know that's clearly not happening.

My cell is inside-inside, deep in the corner where the darkness was thicker than anywhere else.

I swear, it’s beginning to feel like the police officer from two nights ago—the one who brought me here—must have hated me so much that he purposely locked me in this cell at the far end of the floor.

Maybe they’ve even forgotten about me. Maybe nobody remembers that I’m here. But it’s only been two nights. I can hang in for one more night… but if no one comes to get me, I swear, I’ll scream. I won’t stop screaming until I announce my presence and someone finally comes to get me out of here.

Where's detective Harris even?

Why would he let them leave me here without doing anything about it?

While I was still laying on my back on the bunk with my eyes barely open, I began hearing faint noises…like footsteps…like someone dragging their shoes very slowly.

I was surprised who it could be that was coming…it's not yet time for dinner yet, so I was certain it's not the chef. So who?

My lashes fluttered weakly as I opened my eyes fully. I slowly sat up on my bunk, confused for a moment, then I waited for the footsteps to draw near.

It did draw near, then I realized it was just one of the officers walking past the hallway. It wasn't just any officer, it was that same one that brought me to this very cell room two days ago.

The one that hates me for no reason.

The moment I recognized him, I swear, I thought he was gonna come pick me out. But shockingly, he barely even glanced at my dark cell that was at the far far far end of the corridor. Nobody barely notices this cell room, it's such a curse.

I slowly walked to the cell room door and stood there quietly. But I wanted to scream as well, I wanted to scream and tell the officer to bring his ass over here and get me out of this shit hole.

But I didn't do it. I only thought about doing it.

I didn't know what I did wrong, but I can tell that this particular officer hates me.

The officer walked past my cell without glancing at my side for once. Though, I can understand. It's really really dark in here, and no one can see me from the hallway, except they come really really close like they want to come give me a handshake.

The officer finally walked past my cell, but something strange happened.

He suddenly stopped, turned around, and walked back again—then he paused and had his head up like a competent soldier.

“What is he doing?” I thought. Maybe he's on a cell parole check. Maybe not.

Well, I didn't make a sound, I remained quiet as I watched him silently from the darkness I was hiding.

Then the backdoor of the cell floor creaked open and I began to hear heels clicking on the concrete floor, the step keeps getting closer and closer, sharper and sharper. That's a woman's heel, I can tell.

Then it hit me like a wave—my mother-in-law.

My eyes widened in disbelief.

My heart jumped a million times when I saw my mother-in-law walk up to the officer like two contractors waiting to strike a deal.

My hand flew to my mouth to stiffen a cry. I don't know what my mother-in-law is doing here, or worse, what she's doing with the officer who hates me for no reason.

My heart almost stopped beating the moment I saw them exchange glances, then a mysterious handshake.

“What are those two doing?” I thought.

“Do they know each other?” I can't stop thinking.

I quickly pressed myself against the wall so they wouldn't notice that I was awake. Nobody can see me from this darkness anyway.

As usual, Mrs. Carter, my mother-in-law, was standing with so much authority in her posture. She's always like this; acting like she owns and controls the world. If she really has the power to control the world, then why did she let her son slip into his murderer's hand? Why couldn't she protect her son?

The whole corridor was dimly lit, but my cell was far, far darker… making Mrs. Carter’s arrival seem even more shady than it should have been.