Chapter 115
- Thoughts began to swarm my mind about those who had occupied this cell—or any of these cells—before me. Were they all criminals or monsters? Did they deserve this treatment, much like my father? Or were they innocent individuals brushed with the same fear of the unknown as I was? My gaze shifted to the rusted sink adjacent to the toilet, where I noticed a new comb, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and toilet paper. Then, onto the cot—one I knew I wouldn't be sleeping on.
- Occasionally, I could hear the thud of footsteps reverberating from the other side of the gates at the end of the cellblock. These footsteps echoed in the walkway as guards conducted their checks on the inmates. The jingling of keys reverberated down the long corridor, playing a nauseating melody in my ears. The air was thick with the stench of sweat, mold, and raw sewage, reminiscent of smoke from a thousand cigarettes. My eyes watered with a desperate longing for freedom. It felt as though the walls were closing in around me, tightening their grip in a way I hadn't experienced since my school days, though that felt like an eternity ago.
- Neither Xavier nor I belonged behind bars like caged animals, but my father, in contrast, certainly did—and that was a relief. Fortunately, he had fallen asleep a while ago, although I had lost track of how long it had been. Time crawled at an agonizing pace, slower than a snail's crawl. If it hadn't been for the night checks, I wouldn't even realize that I had only spent a day in this dreadful place. When the cell doors slammed shut, entombing me within, I couldn't speak for anyone else, but it felt to me like being confined in a time capsule—a deprivation of everything essential for both mental and physical health. If I were found guilty, I hoped they would expedite the sentencing and execution process, as I feared I might spiral into insanity like my father if I remained in this hellhole. At least at home, I had access to food, sunlight, and fresh air. This place felt like a biochemical hazard.