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The Story:
Every night, I patrol the perimeter of the courtyard. My sisters still try to make fun of me for becoming a security guard. It isn’t the most lady-like profession, but it’s nice being able to give them all a look that stops their Botoxed lips with fear.
It takes more than a fierce look here. Rule Prison is aptly named for its one and only rule:
“NO ONE MAY EVER ESCAPE.”
And no one ever has. The prison’s architect claimed there was one way to escape, but he took that secret to his grave. Still, the allure of being the first is too much for a twisted mind, and they do what it takes to get here, just for the opportunity to try.
But Rule is reserved only for the worst of humanity. Getting here is a one way trip, and you can’t be here unless you’ve proven you have no soul.
The east side is quiet on this windless night. Some prisoners are in the courtyard, but they’re all talking softly.
I walk past the blinking light. Every minute it blinks off for five seconds. Maintenance crews are too scared to fix it because they’d have to go into the courtyard, so it remains an icon to those inside.
The light goes off with a “Clunk!” noise, and I’m in darkness for five long seconds.
“Clunk!”
It comes back on, and a woman in an orange jumpsuit is standing by the fence with her head tilted down, eyes up, staring at me with a nasty grin. I leap backwards and point my rifle at her.
“Back away from the fence! Now!”
She actually could be at the fence, but I am mad at her for startling me.
“Do you want to know a secret?” she said through her toothy grin.
“I don’t wanna hear anything but the sound of your footsteps walking away from this fence!”
The prisoner scoffs at my threat and stands there grinning but not moving.
“We can stand here all night, but my finger might just slip on the trigger. Back up!”
More staring. Almost a minute has passed, and she speaks again.
“Believe me, you’ll want to know my secret.”
“What?” I say merely to get her to walk away.
Her brows furrow, making her expression all the more sinister.
“I’m the architect’s daughter.”
“Clunk!”