Stage 01: Not Exactly A Wonderland
"You're slacking- come on, move it!"
The woman who was watching us all move in our procession barked like a dog, sending the person in front of me tripping over their own feet. I paused, considering whether I should help or not, but mere seconds later I knew it would be suicidal to stop- here, you only looked out for yourself. That was what they'd told me on the journey. It seemed like that kind of place, anyway, as if there was nobody left in the world who would take you in. After all, we were just criminals- who would want us?
My eyes flicked from one face to another- what crimes had they committed? Someone with a ripe scar etched across his cheek scowled threateningly at me when our views locked, and quickly I looked away. There was no doubt that I was the youngest one here. It was evident that everyone had been out of school for several years, whereas I was only in my sixth year of Mizuhana High. If I weren't here, I would be in geography now… I'd never liked the subject- in fact I detested it- but I would've given my soul to substitute here for there. It was so cold, like even the warmth of the sun had fled. The plain grey suits we had been placed in gave us little protection, so as far as I could see, everyone was shivering. That didn't stop the woman overlooking us from opening her mouth and ordering us to move faster every few seconds.
This was Deadman Wonderland, the notorious prison that resembled a fairground from the outside, where the inmates were forced to take part in games to please the public. Being Japan's only privately- owned institute of detention, it relied on funding from the crowds of visitors that flooded the stadium stands every day to see prisoners sacrifice their dignity to entertain the screaming audiences, who would hack and cackle at the acts like scavengers round a decaying carcass. That much I knew about the terror that I was about to be thrust head- firsr into.
"Hey lady, you've got a nice cleavage."
The sudden silence that fell was almoat tangible-you could feel it filling up the room, halting everyone's movements as they stopped and stared at the one who had spoke, a man standing directly in front of me. The way he'd said it had just been so... Blunt. There was no other way to describe the words he'd spoken.
Twenty pairs of eyes turned towards the woman apprehensively, awaiting her next move. For about half a minute, there was none, but then she stirred and leaned onto one hip.
"Hmm?"
The footsteps that ensued were slow and purposeful, and I could tell that she was enjoying the sound of the heels colliding with the floor. It struck me with fear- I felt a deep terror for the one who had spoken, as if it was me who had said it. My lungs filled with air as I held my breath, awaiting what was to come.
"So, is that what you think?" The woman's face was merely an inch away from the man's, but it wasn't as though he could've done anything to hurt her- he was chained tight, and she was armed with a pistol that I had no doubt she'd use when the situation called for it.
No sound came from the man- he just stared hard into her eyes, defying her bitter stare with one of his own.
All of a sudden the woman drew something that resembled a sharp metal stick from where it had been hanging on her belt and pushed it into the man's stomach. I saw it burst through the other side, sending a few spots of blood to meet the ground. The man's face was that of shock- perhaps he knew something like this was coming, but didn't expect the pain. The metal bar remained sheathed within him for a few moments before it was pulled back sharply, allowing the man freedom of movement once again. It was almost unreal and somewhat dream- like, the way the blood sprayed from his stomach, staining the clothes of the woman in front of him. Yet still he made no sound, only swayed drunkenly and fell onto his front in a pool of glossy red that was expanding gradually from his body.
I, too, found myself colliding with the cold floor, dizzy as though I'd just been spun round several times. Perhaps I had- the world was rotating, gyrating, pulsating as I lay, feeling a twisting pain developing within my chest. It only took a few seconds before the warm liquid met my gasping lips, and then everything faded.