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THE DAY AFTER
21. Property.
[SONIC, Stephen Zacharus]
You know what the funny thing about prison is?
It's like Hell… only with plastic trays.
I fucking *hate* prison.
It's lunch time right now. Go figure. I'm standing in line in the cafeteria, waiting for the bitchy prison cook to shovel a portion of processed, gooey shit for me. I could have sworn I saw that stuff squirming on the guy's plate in front of me…
I hear my so-called meal plop onto my own plate.
"Thanks," I sneer at the woman, and I'm on my way.
I seat myself as usual-at the corner of some distant table, away from everyone else. The other guys are probably saying that I think I'm too good for them are some shit, but I don't care. I hate every single living organism in this fucking shithole, and I'll be damned if I'm forced to play their games simply for social benefits.
Oh, yeah--and did I mention that Tails didn't spring me last night like he was supposed to? No, wait, we discussed this already. Nevermind.
"Hey, Hedgehog. We want a few words with ya."
I recognize the voice.
*Shit*.
Vector takes a seat across from me, surrounded by the rest of his damn Chaotix gang. They look pissed.
"I'm not in the mood to talk right now. We can talk some other time."
"Wrong, Hedgehog," Vector says, leaning in close. "We'll talk *now*. You've got yourself some explaining to do--like when the hell your buddy's planning to spring you outta here. You said that we were bustin' out fucking *yesterday* and nothin' happened. What's the deal here?"
"Just cool it, Vector," I say, gritting my teeth. "I'm sure he has a perfectly good explanation for…"
"Don't give me that bullshit," the crocodile growls impatiently. "You been *lyin'* to us, haven't you? Go on. Admit it. There's nobody coming to bust you out, is there?"
What the hell?
"Now hold on just a goddamn minute…"
But Vector isn't finished. "That day in the weight room you just made it all up--something just crazy enough to keep us from kickin' the living shit out of you."
"The fuck I did," I spit, standing up. "Fuck, YOU were the one who..."
"You sit your ass down, Hedgehog. We're not through with you yet."
The other Chaotix are silent--standing threateningly behind Vector, glaring at me, cracking their knuckles.
Why does all the bad shit have to happen to ME?!!
"Listen, Vector, you've got it all wrong…"
Nothing I say is going to make a bit of difference, of course; Vector has already decided what he wants to believe. Hell, he's not even paying attention to me. It takes me a few moments to realize what has caught his interest.
My Walkman is clipped to the belt loop of my uniform-headphones around my neck--regurgitating some random station that I'd dialed to just before coming here.
No. Fuck no.
You're not taking my music from me, you fucking reptilian shithead.
"We might be able to reach an agreement after all, Hedgehog. Hand over your 'phones and we might leave you alone for a few days."
My answer comes thoughtlessly, venomously. I regret it as soon as the words leave my mouth.
"Suck my dick, you cheap motherfucker."
And the next thing I know, Vector has me by the throat and pinned against one of the barred windows. Half a dozen guards come rushing up with nightsticks. One of them even has a shockprod, I think, but to tell you the truth, I'm paying more attention to the alligator's goddamn death grip. I can't fucking BREATHE…
"Vector," a guard says, nightstick ready, "cool it. Step away from him. We don't want any trouble in here, okay?"
"There's no trouble," Vector says. He grins, pocketing my Walkman and putting on my headphones. "No trouble at all, boys. Just taking back my property. Ain't that right, Hedgehog?"
He lets go, shoves me against the wall, and then turns and walks away like nothing ever happened.
This can't be happening.
He took the only thing that's kept me from going insane in this shithole.
He took what was helping me get to sleep every night.
He took the gift that my best friend--my ONLY friend--gave to me so that I could remember him between visits.
And that asshole just grabbed it off of me like it was some goddamn toy.
Well, fuck him.
FUCK HIM.
I'm not going to let him get away with that. NOBODY takes my shit, FUCKING *NOBODY*.
I run at him with everything I've built up and tackle him from behind.
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER!! THAT'S FUCKING *MINE*, YOU SCALY ASSHOLE PIECE OF SHIT, I'LL FUCKING *KILL YOU*!!!!!!"
The other Chaotix are wise to keep out of my way as I slam the shit out of their buddy, socking him in the mouth and kneeing him twice in the nuts. I pin him onto the ground, kneeling on his chest, and start punching him in the face like I can't fucking stop. I can hear the guards rushing over--feel their nightsticks collide into my arms and ribs and back--but I won't quit. Suddenly, I feel this screaming pain in my side that shoots and convulses through my whole body: the shockprod probably. I can't stop, though, can't stop can't stop can't stop can't stop…
A few teeth clatter to the floor.
There's blood on my hands now. A lot of blood.
I manage to slap that fucker's head against the linolium a couple times before the guards finally manage to separate us. Then I feel something crack against my skull.
NnIgHtStIcKcKckKcakdaasdfalksjfasdfsdflkjsssshhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttttttttttttttttttt……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Everything's starting to black out now i thinkie i go sleepy okaynightnight.
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