Early morning in Superjail. The sun raised over the uber-huge jail, it's light touching ever little nook and cranny of the overly child-like buildings. For the inmates that were lucky enough to have a window in their cells, it was one of the 'nice' things to wake up to in the place; nice for a moment until something really horrible happens. That was to be expected on a day to day basis. As for the staff of Superjail, mornings were nothing more then your usual 'getting up and going to work' scenario. Alice & Jared were normally the first to be seen walking around the halls, and Jailbot would sometimes not go into sleep mode during the night depending on the situation. As for the Warden, he got up whenever, and no one had anything to say about it. However, on this day, noon had pass, and there still wasn't a Warden to be seen.
Jared sat in the break room - which seemed to be a misnomer, as he never was truly given said 'break' - writing down one or another piece of data on one or another piece of his seemingly-perpetual flow of paperwork; his hands moved quickly and his pencil was nothing more than a blur that whizzed across the paper. In actuality, his mind was on something else entirely. He looked nervously at his watch, still writing rapidly with the other hand. 12:15 sharp. Still no sign of the Warden. 12:17 - still no Warden.
Jared's pencil snagged and snapped. He flinched at the sound, jumping an impressive half-inch off of his seat. Looking down at the now-ruined property visa, he allowed himself to catch his breath. He dropped his pencil onto the round table, pushed in his chair, gave a jittery sigh and decided to check on the condition of his late employer.
Two flights of candy-colored stairs later, Jared finally had made it to his master's quarters. He gently put an ear to the door. He didn't want to say anything in case the Warden was simply sleeping in, so he grasped the doorknob and squeezed in close, parallel to the door, to hear any sign of stirring.
The only sound that could be heard was what sounded like the Warden tossing and turning in his bed, with some occasional moaning and groaning.
Jared listened intently in his bunkered-down position for over a minute. The Warden definitely did not sound like he was simply sleeping. Jared pushed the door open just a crack, making sure not to make any noise. One could never be too careful with the Warden.
Jared witnessed his boss still in bed, but his covers were twisted and thrown about, along with his pillows and under sheet. He was laying on his back without a pillow under his head, with one hand resting palm up on his forehead. He looked sweating and uncomfortable. He didn't seem to notice Jared peeking in either.
Jared took a cautious step forward, but then threw that out the window and simply dashed towards the Warden's bed - quickly, but quietly, his little feet making nary a sound, though the same could not be said for his heartbeat. He began to put his hand up on the Warden's bed, but stopped himself. Verbal was best.
"S-s-ir...is everything alright...?" He spoke in a volume lower than his usual, just in case.
At first Jared's words didn't register. There a slight delayed reaction as the Warden's eyes shot open. He took a few deep breaths before turning his head to see who was in his bedroom.
"Jared? What the hell are you doing in my room?" His question was meant to sound angry, but it come out more tired and dazed then anything. He rubbed his forehead, making another groaning sound.
Jared's voice quickly shot up to its normal tone. "P-pardon my intrusion, sir, but...you haven't come down yet and it seems that you don't seem to be yourself so I came to check on you...and..." His words came out frantically but they were grouped together sloppily. In all honesty, the poor little man had no idea what to say.
Warden just looked at his accountant with a irritated sneer. He sat up on his bed and glanced the clock sitting on his nightstand. It was reading a little past 12:30. Even that seemed late for him.
He signed before looking back at Jared. "You can leave now Jared." He said in rather flat tone; not very 'Warden' of him at all.
Jared awaited his response, nodding at nothing in particular until the Warden spoke. "Right away, sir. Do you...er, want me to bring you anything?"
Warden gave Jared that 'look'; the one that said, 'do it now, or else'. "No, Jared. Just..." He stopped, shaking his head slightly. He rested his forehead in his hands.
"I just have a bad headache. Get out!"
"Y-y-es, I understand..." Jared began to back away slowly, but the Warden's 'do not disturb' glare made his slow act quickly quicken in pace. He very nearly slammed the door in his rush, but caught it and quietly put it into place with a faint click.
Jared wiped the sweat off his forehead and began to walk to his office to finish his work. 'That way,' He thought, 'I can keep a closer watch on my boss.' As he trotted down the warped hallway, Jared couldn't help but feel that something in the Warden's eyes showed more than a simple headache. It wasn't unlike him to try to shrug off such things, but, when left unattended, they could cause him to snap. When he snapped, Jared usually wasn't far behind.
Sitting down neatly in his office chair, Jared resumed writing.
A few minutes had already passed when Jared was forced to leave his room. Warden flopped back down on his bed, staring up at the top of his canopy.
It was more then just a headache. He barely got a wink of sleep last night. His head pounded with a numbing pain and he felt warm. At first he dismissed it as nothing, but it's been lingering for hours now. He rolled out of bed, his knees hitting the floor with a dull thud. He stood up, and he felt woozy. He placed his hands on the side of his bed so not to fall over. "...Shit." He muttered to himself.
He felt his forehead then headed to his personal bathroom on the other side of the room. He got a good look in the mirror. He took off his glasses, which he normal never takes off, and stared at himself for a good long while. His eyes were milky and glazed over. His skin was more pale then usual. After a while, he leaned forward and rested his head on the glass, his breath fogging up the mirror.
'...Something ain't right' He thought to himself.