Crazy
(Day 48: Friday Afternoon)
When Evie gets out of the cab she stares at the long and thin, single level building. The stone is grey, but the parking lot contains blue posts and there are green hedges surrounding the entire place. She walks down the sidewalk, along and up towards the metal doors, before she walks on inside. Ben said to find the desk guy. She looks around from the people waiting in the blue plastic chairs, to the vending machines and the restroom sign, before looks back over to the other side and sees the man behind the clear separator. She can't tell if it's made of plastic or glass, but as she walks closer she can clearly see the informative posters and taped up papers.
"Don't move!"
Evie turns around to see who it is, but as soon as she does the bang is heard and when she looks down the blood can be seen staining her clothes. She covers her abdomen with her hand, before she slowly looks back up at the man in uniform. "What," she begins to say.
"Quiet," the officer commands, as he continues to hold the gun straight out at her. "Drop your weapon." Evie searches over herself, but from what she can tell she has nothing which could be considered a weapon. All she has is her leather purse hanging on one arm and her phone being held in the other hand. She eyes her phone for a moment in suspicion. He can't be serious. She lifts her arm up as she starts to cough. "I said don't move!" She continues to cough, tasting the iron in her mouth, and as she attempts to breathe she finds it increasingly difficult. "Drop your weapon now," the tan man commands. She tries to speak, but she can't. "Now!" Evie stares at him, her heart racing as she feels the cold sweat on her face. "Last warning!" Evie drops the phone from her hand, but that's it; at that same moment he shoots again, and this time it feels like an eternity when the bullet hits her. She feels it make pressure on her forehead, it drill through her skull, and then that's it. All that's left is the dark.
"Hey. Are you okay?"
After Evie hears the woman's voice she slowly opens her eyes to reveal the blond. She groans, as the pain still resides with her; however, when she moves her hand from her abdomen no blood is seen. "What happened?"
"I'm not sure," the woman comments, "but I think you fainted."
Evie sits up, "Where's my phone?" before she finds it slid under one of the chairs. She takes a look at it, and she's grateful to know that hardly any time has passed.
"Maybe you should get a snack and then sit down," the woman suggests.
"No." Evie begins to stand, "I need to see my friend." but then she looks at her for a moment. "Thank you."
She smiles, "Your welcome." before Evie watches her return to her seat next to the sleeping baby in the yellow carrier.
Evie turns away and looks back at the desk guy, before she walks up to him and waits for him to get off the phone. "What can I do for you?"
"A friend of mine is being held here," she informs. "I need to see her."
"What's your friend's name?" he questions.
"Mal," Evie quickly responds.
He looks up at her in horror, "As in Mal Bertha, the king's girlfriend?"
"That would be the one," Evie frowns.
He looks over her, "What are you?"
"What do you mean?" she half smiles.
"Your species," he explains. "What are you?"
"Human," Evie quietly answers, before she opens her purse to find her wallet. "Ben said I'd need some ID," before she hands it to him, "but I've never been to a hospital before."
"Neither did that kid yesterday," the guy comments as he looks her up on the computer. "But at least he looked human." He eyes her suspiciously, "Why's your hair blue?"
"Because my mom can be a royal pain," Evie answers, but that doesn't seem to be good enough for him. "She shoved my head into a bucket of bleach, and now it looks dead. That's why I dye it." He doesn't speak, "Can I see my friend or not?"
He hands her back her ID, "Take a seat. Someone will be out in a minute to take you to her." and then she tries to smile before going to sit down.
Evie takes out her phone again, before she enters the password and goes to her text messages. She clicks on Ben's name. They're letting me see her. I'll let you know how it goes. A few minutes pass before she gets a response. No need for details. Just let me know how she is. Evie texts back, "K." and it's not long after she puts her phone away that she hears her name.
When she looks up she sees the guard at the double doors, and when she walks up to him he comments, "I've been instructed to walk an Evie Queen to Mal Bertha's cell."
"That's me," Evie attempts to smile.
The blond guard nods, "Follow me." and Evie does as she's told. They go through the blue doors and head down the narrow hallway. She didn't think it was possible, but the place looks even grimmer now than it had before. At least from the outside they covered the grey brick with greenery and that the waiting room had been decorated with brown tables, blue chairs, and multicolored vending machines with posters on the walls. Here it was just bleak. You can hear the water running through the exposed pipes, and the white floor is dirtied with shoe prints. "Your friend is being held in block C. As a high security area, you will be required to turn over all electronic devices, remove any jewelry or wristbands, and leave your bag behind until you leave. You are not allowed to take in any books or playing cards, and you are not allowed to supply the prisoner with a long toothbrush, two-layer toilet paper, or any clothes. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Evie comments, but then she questions, "Why not toilet paper or cards?"
The guard laughs, "People get very creative in here. Strong toilet paper can be turned into a sharp weapon, and playing cards can be turned into bombs. Or so I'm told. I've been lucky enough not to have experienced anything so inspiring."
Evie nods, "It's probably better that way." but then she halts at the sight of the black haired guard with the slate grey eyes. "It's you."
The guy guarding the metal door eyes her, "Excuse me?"
"You're the one," Evie recognizes. "You're the one that killed me."
He raises his eyebrows at her, "I'm sorry to break it to you sweetheart, but you're still very alive."
"No. It was you. I know it was you," she confidently comments. "You're the one that shot me." She looks over him in confusion, "Where'd your gun go?"
The blond guard walks back to them, "Is there a problem here?"
"He's the one that shot me," Evie accuses, but the guard shakes his head as though he has no clue. She reminds him, "It was in the stomach. You yelled for me not to move, and then when I turned around you shot me. You told me to drop my weapon, but I had no weapon."
When his mouth gapes the blond guard turns to him, "Do you know what she's talking about?"
He purses his lips and shakes his head, "No. I don't."
"You killed me," Evie nearly yells. "I know it was you. You did it." She turns to the blond, "He has to pay for what he did."
The black haired man excuses, "Clearly, the girl is confused. Maybe you should take her back and make sure she gets picked up."
"No," Evie insists. "I have to see my friend."
The blond guard raises a hand, "Don't worry. We'll get you to your friend." and with a final piercing look at the grey eyed man he guides Evie down the hall. "Come on." They continue down the hallway before taking a left, and in the middle of that hallway there's another metal door. "Place your belongings in the bin, please." Evie does as she's requested, but when she's finished the blond comments, "Your hair pins too."
She looks at him, "I'm not allowed to wear my hairclips?"
"They're made of metal," he explains. "She could turn it into a weapon."
Evie laughs, "Mal is a weapon. She doesn't need to make one."
"It's policy," he calmly insists.
Evie takes a loud breath, "Alright." before she removes her clips and the curls fall one by one. She smiles at him, "Happy now?"
He smiles before typing the code into the keypad, "Here you go." and when the door opens she walks inside.
Mal smiles, "Evie?"
Evie grins, "It's nice to see you too."
"I don't understand," Mal comments in disbelief. "They allowed you to see me?"
"I'm human," Evie raises an eyebrow. "That helps."
Mal lets out a breath, "I'm so glad to see you." before she hugs her through the bars; however, then she quickly releases her.
Evie sees the horror on her face, before she turns around and sees the guard holding the stun gun. She squints her eyes at him, "Put it to rest. She's not a threat to me." He reluctantly puts the weapon away, and then she turns back around and reaches for Mal's hand. "You're cold." She looks up at her, "I thought you were getting visitors."
"I am," Mal evenly confirms, "but it's not like I'm going to make out with Ben's mother or his lawyer."
Evie expresses her disgust, "Good point." before she seductively smiles at her. "It's a good thing I'm here, then." Mal laughs, before Evie places her hands underneath the hem of Mal's fluorescent orange t-shirt.
She looks up at the camera, "We're being watched."
"So," Evie entices as she guides her towards her.
"So," Mal smiles, half in unsureness and half in excitement. "What if people see? What if it's shown to—"
Evie uses one of her hands to place a finger over Mal's lips, "Don't worry. I got permission."
"What?" Mal disbelieves.
"He's more concerned about your survival right now," Evie smiles, before she guides Mal's hand to her neck and she breathes a shiver. "So, have me."
Mal smiles as she brings her other hand to Evie's cheek, "Whatever you say, princess." before she moves in and they kiss between the bars.
"She must be a really good friend for you to stay that long," the blond guard comments as visiting hours end and Evie exits the room.
"We had a lot to talk about." He nods as he shuts the door, and Evie starts to gather her belongings. "So, how does this work? Are you taking me back, or am I no longer a threat now that the visit is over?"
"We guide people for their own safety," he evenly responds, before he turns to her. "What about that other guard we saw earlier? You said he killed you?"
Evie rolls her eyes, "Don't worry about it. I was just being stupid."
He's quiet for a moment, "Tell me what you remember."
"Why?" Evie questions. "Clearly, it didn't happen."
"Or maybe it happened to someone else," the guard counters. "Maybe you were just being possessed by a spirit who wants people to know the truth."
"You believe in spirits?" Evie unsurely questions.
"Mermaids and angels are real," the guard reasons. "So, what? Just because ghosts aren't corporeal that means that they can't be? Genies barely are either."
"I see things sometimes," Evie disproves. "It's nothing."
"I'd still like to know," he comments, and then Evie watches as he takes out a notepad and pen. "What do you remember?"
She looks up as she thinks, "I was walking into the building, someone yelled for me not to move, and when I turned around to see who it was I was shot in the stomach. That guard had a gun pointed at me. He told me to drop my weapon, but from what I could tell I didn't have one." Evie shakes her head, "This is crazy."
"Go on," the blond prompts.
Evie lets out a breath, "I think I was coughing up blood. I couldn't speak. I couldn't breathe… And then when he shot me in the head it was over."
"What about your surroundings? Was there a calendar or a season?"
She slowly shakes her head, "It was just the waiting room… I don't know. Maybe one of the vending machines was missing?"
"Good," he nods as he writes it down. "I can work with that."
"What are you going to do?" Evie questions.
"Honesty," the guard looks at her, "there probably isn't anything I can do. I still want to check it out, though, so I can know if my coworker really is as shady as you suggest." Evie nods in understanding. "If you'd like, I can let you know if I find anything. But I would need your phone number."
She hesitates, "Uh, yeah. Sure." before she says it to him and he writes it down.
When he puts the items back into his jacket he comments, "Follow me, and I will take you back to the waiting room."
After they make it there and say goodbye Evie turns back around and starts to head out, but before she can the desk guy calls after her, "Miss. Hold on." She looks at him. "I forgot to have you sign in. I need you to sign your name on the visitor's sheet."
She smiles and walks up to him, "Of course." before she signs her name and estimates what time she got there before noting what time she's now leaving.
"Thank you," he cheerfully responds. "Have a nice day."
"You too," Evie comments, before she goes, walks out the door, and trails the sidewalk; however, when she makes it past the building she feels someone put a hand to her mouth and pull her into the shade.
He has her up against the brick, "Don't scream. Just tell me, who are you? Who sent you?" before he uncovers her mouth, but she fails to speak. "How did you find that information on me? Who told you? What game are you playing here?"
Evie stares at the black haired guard for a moment, "Are you real?" and then she watches as he looks off into the distance.
When he looks back at her he nods for her to leave, "Go on. Scram, before I change my mind." She continues to stare at him. "What are you waiting for? An invitation?" He points his finger towards the parking lot, "Get out of here you crazy freak."
Evie continues to frown, opening her mouth to say that if he weren't real he wouldn't have called her crazy, but then she decides against it and simply walks away instead. She pulls out her phone, calls a cab, and, as usual, she moves on as though it never even happened.
- Okay. So, these are like serious questions that annoy me that I can't quite seem to find the answers to: 1) What is the desk guy at the jail called? 2) Are the guards called officers or do they have a different title?... That's about it, I think. Let me know if you know. By the way, in case anyone is wondering how jail visits normally go... I was only in like elementary or middle school at the time, but I just remember seeing the person through a piece of glass and then using a phone to hear what they're saying. I think the visit was only about fifteen minutes before we were cut off... Actually. It might have been prison? I don't remember. Sorry.