((There will be chaos.))

((There will be chaos.))

((Blueprints of the future…Blueprints of the future.))

((Hey, wake up.))

((Is he dead?))

((No, he’s just a bit woozy. It's the channel. Just give him a hard nudge.))

*SLAP*

“Ahh!” I felt the brazen force of a heavy palm spread across my face.

“What the fuck?” I clenched up then shouted out.

“I said a hard nudge, not a punch you psycho.”

“Who are you calling a psycho?” Jason snapped.

Todd quickly took hold of the situation by restraining his brother. “Norma, don’t call him a psycho. You know how he gets.”He scolded.

“And you,” he turned to Jason, “that was a little more than a nudge, don’t you think?”

Jason quickly shrugged his brother and turned to the glass of the transport. “Next time, do it yourself. We don’t have time for babysitting. Just hurry up and tell us how we’re getting out of here before that bomb explodes.”

I remember now…

We exited the engine room and entered the channel. The old abandoned transport system of the prison. They were replaced with drop elevators over two decades ago. This part of the prison is abandoned but clearly still operational? Well, somewhat…

“You must have dozed off due to the presence of chemical poison in the air.” Norman clarified while operating the channel from up front. “It won’t kill you. It isn’t strong enough to cause serious harm, but it will affect your senses and make you a bit drowsy so try to stay alert. We're almost there.”

“A little heads up would have been nice.” I cheekily remarked.

Wait, why are they not affected? All three of them are fine. “You three, you’re already vaccinated, aren’t you.”

Todd gave me a look of confirmation then rested back down into my seat.

I felt the poison slipping into me once again. My body slowly unwinded and drifted off into another realm. It felt like marijuana dipped in jalapeño sauce. My mind was floating, while my body was on fire.

My body stiffened out of fear then secluded to a place of comfort. Subconsciously, I drifted to last night...

Oh, last night…

JAN 7 7:06 PM

CELL P13

I felt his body gently shake, like a reflex withdrawal then relapsed back down into my arms. He sat still for a good couple seconds, overcome with emotions, he was completely at loss for words or reaction. After staring blankly at the wall for about two minutes, he slowly got control of his mind and started to grasp reality. He groped to find words.

“What… what are you doing?”

I slightly rose up; my chin still slightly buried in his shoulder.

“I don’t know…” I muttered. “I just… I just wanted to hold you.”

I ran my hand through his hair until they were completely submerged within his roots. I exhaled deeply then brought my head up slowly to his neck then kissed it gently. He quivered. I traced my lips from his neck up to his chin then paused. He looked frightened.

“Are you afraid?” I asked.

“No.” He softly responded.

I pressed my lips lightly against his. He let me. And then I kissed him, gripping his head even tighter than before in order to really sink into it. He trembled beneath me.

Alex…