"Warden, about--" I began to say, walking up to him, I dropped a few files, and I started to sweat. I can't believe I was going to do this. I just know I won't come out alive.

"Jared, I'm really in no mood to chat---"

"Bu-bu-but---" I stammered. I was sweating, and beyond scared, and couldn't he see it? How painful it was to be around him? How painful the truth was, and how painful everything was for me? It was suddenly worse than it has ever been.

"Please. I have work to do. That little catch I hired is starting to become a nuisance." He rubbed his forehead, then looked up with a gleam in his eyes, like he could sense I had something important to say. "Okay, wanna talk? What do you think? I mean, I hired her specifically for you." He said with a passion I didn't understand. "I mean, you don't seem to like her very much anymore; is she slacking in her duties?" He gestured with his hands, his eyes weary. "I really need your advice."

His mood swings were getting worse, I thought.

My heart started to thump, like it wanted release from its dark prison, likewise, the truth that dared not escape fully from my throat, all seemed to be trying to asphyxiate me in some way. "Well, sir, I mean, she's not slacking or anything. It's just that... well something about her... is..." I coughed. "A little off."

"Oh? Is that all?" Sarcasm.

I hate him sometimes.

"Um. No." I said in a meek voice.

"Then what? I see you looking at her sometimes. You don't seem ta like her very much." Zoom, his eyes search mine---

"Well, she seems to like you." I muttered, my eyes hiding from his search lights.

Something flickered between us again, but it was invisible, and barely noticeable. It was wishful thinking on my part to think there was anything anyway.

"That's what is becoming tiresome, Jared." And then he looked away, maybe thinking he said too much.

"Do you like her?" I blurted, covering my mouth, my skin warm and hot and cold and I wanted to leave that very instant.

He tapped his fingers, rapping them against his desk. "I---I think...well, she's... I guess I do." I swear he blushed.

"Oh." I desperately needed a cigarette hearing that.

"But." He sighed. "I like someone else too, and ya know," His hand reached for the back of his neck. "But that is besides the point."

I tried to cover my blush, but failed, still wanting that cigarette, suddenly craving my old teenage habit of Gitane's. I was so confused; why was he bringing that up?

He smiled at me. I think he did anyway.

"I think you should get rid of her." I blurted out again.

He eyed me like I was crazy, but somewhere inside, it looked like that was something he desperately wanted to do. "Why is that?"

"Well, sir, you do know its strictly against Superjail's policy--" I said in a well rehearsed voice, and he knows we've gone over this too many times, mostly because of Alice. But I couldn't very well tell him what I really needed to say: 'Because she's a maniac, and she's not who she says she is, she's the Twins, and they are plotting against you, against us!'

"To 'date co-workers'..." He mocked. "I'm gonna have to change that some day..." He muttered. I think I smiled at that. Don't know why.

"But sir... if you really want my advice..." I started, and he looked at me. "You shouldn't trust her. You really shouldn't. If you're not going to fire her, then at least, be wary." I said with a quickness, my heart starting to jump again. It was screaming at me...

STOP TALKING!

If you really care about your life. . .

Stop!

But then I think,

That maybe I care more about his life, than I ever would mine.

I think he is my life.

"Okay, Jared. Okay. I will."

But I don't believe him.