Who's the real monster?

The stinging in my eyes began to wake me from a dreamless sleep. My stomach sank as the realization that my sunglasses were gone. Trying to lift an arm to cover my face let alone move my body proved to be in vain. Aside from stiff muscles that ached with every breath I took something like hard plastic was wrapped around my wrists and ankles. I couldn't move an inch. "Fucking prefect", I groaned.

Barely being alone with my thoughts for a moment was interrupted by the sound of a door being opened . The room was soon filled with the smell of Aqua Velva. I remembered the man who wore too much of that aftershave. He walked in with heavy boots to stop a few feet away from the bed I was currently on. Tilting my head in his general direction I asked, "You know I never got your name." He said in a gruff authoritative voice, "My name is Colonel Armstrong and you will call me as such unless you want to get shocked or severely punished."

I replied, "Shocked? What did you to do to me? I am not a pet." Armstrong replied, "You'll find out soon enough little missy." I was going to retort when the feeling of an electrical shock ran through my body.

When the shock finally stopped I inhaled deeply turning my head back to his direction and said, "Is that all you got Limp Dick?" Hearing something sound like a growl deep in his throat was muffed by the door opening again. A female voice said, "That's enough Colonel." He replied in a clipped tone, "Very well Director Anderson."

Knowing exactly who had come in due to the smell of cigarettes and name I asked rhetorically, "Aunt Patty is that you?" Her raspy voice sounded harsher due to the anger she was trying to keep contained, "The name is Director Anderson inmate Zero." It was her alright. "I guess life has been good to you since I was out of the picture, huh?", I asked in a monotone voice. Another shock went through me, this time for a shorter amount of time. Knowing I had struck a nerve I thought Already in the hole now might as well make it worth it. Moving my nose back down to Aqua Velva I barked at him. Feeling him glare daggers at me a smirk creeped onto my lips.

"I'll take it over from here if you don't mind Colonel", Aunt Patty said. He replied in the same monotone I used before, "Yes ma'am." The sound of heavily booted feet left the room. It was just Aunt Patty and I now. She inhaled before saying, "I'm sure the Colonel has already told you that there's a shock collar around your neck." With a shrug I replied, "That would explain the shocks I've had since waking." She continued, "There's a bomb in the base of your neck, it's also a tracker. We'll be monitoring your whereabouts and if you try to leave any of the areas that are restricted by a red line the bomb will go off based on our discretion. There is literally no escaping this time Tamara. Everyone here made sure of it."

Hearing the sincerity in her voice brought the smirk back to my lips. Just you wait, I'll make all of you suffer I thought. She didn't find the sight amusing and decided to shock me yet again. By the time she was done the sound of the door being opened again put me on edge. A few pairs of boots came marching in. From what I could hear there were anywhere between 3 to 4 people aside from Aunt Patty. Two sets of hands grabbed the handle rails of the bed, with the brakes being released they moved me out of the room.

Aunt Patty decided to give a speech while walking, "Along with the collar around your neck there is a bracelet on your right wrist. There are a total of 3 areas in this building; 2 of these areas are available to you and the other inmates. The areas are based on colors: Green, Yellow, and Red. Green is known as the general area for everyone to attend for example the cafeteria, rec room, a small bathroom down each hall, and a courtyard outside. The courtyard is a privilege that is earned after a month of good behavior. Once earned it's very easy to lose. You will be fed 3 times a day. There's a bell that rings for each meal. If you try to avoid eating we'll be forced to feed you in the solitary area. Both Green and Yellow have rooms for each of the inmates. The bracelet will make sure you cannot enter another inmates room. You are assigned to Yellow with a couple of others. Red is the restricted area. If you pass any red line the bomb will go off eventually. Everyone has to be in their rooms by lights out. A specific bell is rang and you'll have 30 seconds to go into it. Make sure you're in there by then. Or else." I had to taunt her, "Or what?" She ignored me and continued, "If at any time you are not worth our time we will dispose of you quickly." There was a malicious intent in her voice as she finished.

It was then that the bed came to a sudden stop. "The guards are going to take the restraints off. If you want your sunglasses back don't do anything stupid", she said. Stifling a low grunt I nodded my head once. While the guards were taking the restraints off it took every once of will power in me not to yell or jerk out of their grasp. I hated being touched by strangers. Especially by a creep like the one who was currently on my right. He let his fingers linger on my skin and squeezed before taking the restraints off.

Finally being able to sit up proved to be difficult. Thinking Someone must have kept me drugged for a while. Avoiding my right I swung my feet to the left side of the bed. Feeling the cold made me flinch as I steadied myself. A male voice spoke, "I'm dropping some slippers by your toes." Feeling them fall I slipped my feet in quickly. Turning my nose to the smell of cigarettes I lifted my hand palm up. "Sunglasses", I said to her. If Aunt Patty was one thing is this life she was a woman of her word. She made me wait for it though. The second something touched my hand I curled my fingers around the frame to make sure it was the pair I was caught with. Feeling that nothing was missing or cracked I put my glasses on to slowly open my eyes.

Seeing the age on Aunt Patty's face and neck made my day. Looking away from her I made sure to check out the one who was getting handsy with me. He looked to be around mid to late 3os, clean shaven, thin lips, around my height of 5 ft 9in, with dark beady eyes. There was a badge with his name on the left side of his chest, it read 'Waits'. He had an air of smugness about him. As I sized him up there was a smile he was desperately trying to hide.

With the sound of a key card being used a door I didn't notice opened. It moved upward to the ceiling instead of the tradition way of down the middle. "Welcome to the rest of your life", Aunt Patty said as someone pushed me through the threshold. Turning back around to see the door close completely in a matter of seconds. I slammed my fists against the doors in frustration. Feeling pain on my the back of my right hand I looked down to see a burn mark of the number zero. "Those fucks!", I yelled. Lifting my hand to get a closer look, the burn looked fresh. Must've been a day or two.

The sound of feet coming my way reminded me that I was not alone anymore. Looking to my left I saw someone petite with light long hair speed walking toward me. Standing my ground I kept my eyes on them the entire time as they got within arms reach. They appeared to be a young woman who was trying to be friendly. She lifted a hand for me to shake while saying, "I'm Hannah, you must be Tamara." Her voice was soft, like we were meeting anywhere else aside from a prison. Looking down at her hand I saw the same mark with the number 1 instead. "My name is Z, don't call me Tamara", I said with a bite in my voice.

Another pair of feet followed shortly behind. This person was about 6 ft flat with wavy chin length hair, broad shoulders, his eyes held both exhaustion and kindness in them. When he saw the tension between Hannah and I he introduced himself, "Hi, you must be the new inmate. My name is Ed and you are?" Before I could talk Hannah interjected, "Her name is Tamara...uh I mean Z." Glaring daggers at her I looked over to Ed and replied, "My name is Z, pronouns are they/them. Yours?" Ed responded with a pointed finger at himself first, "Mine are he/they and Hannah's are she/her."

Looking from him to her I turned around to walk down the opposite hallway that they came from. Ed was at my side quickly, "This place is bigger than it seems you can get lost in here quickly. Plus I see you and I will be in the same area." He lifted his right wrist to show the same bracelet I was wearing. I asked, "You're in Yellow, too?" He nodded with a quizzical look flashing on his face for a brief second.

Hannah came to my other side, "Yeah, he's considered dangerous. While I'm in Green, almost harmless." "So you're basically like a pet being cage trained?", adding a snide tone to my words left Hannah stunned in place. Leaving her there I heard Ed chuckle next to me before saying, "You're the first person I've ever seen leave Hannah speechless."

They and I kept walking down the hall in silence. Taking the time to pay attention to the walls and room on either side I didn't notice any visible cameras. Looking up to see that the ventilation was pretty standard here for such a high end place. "Just so I know in case anything happens. Are the sunglasses prescribed or?", he asked. I replied nonchalantly, "I have a light sensitivity, without these I'm technically blind." Deciding to tell him a half truth I knew that comment on 'Yellow' will come back to bite me later.

The sound of a bell rang for a few seconds. Hannah ran right past us. Thinking Looks like she's fast, must've ran track as well as being a cheerleader. Letting out a sigh I was glad she didn't do something dumb like shoulder check me. Ed said, "That's the bell for dinner. You missed breakfast and lunch today." Feeling my stomach growl at the sound of food I was surprised to still be standing after all this time. Following behind Ed I saw a line of people ahead of us. One person caught my eye immediately. They were around my height with short dark hair and what looked like a metallic mouth piece that was separate from the collar. They were at the tail end of the line looking from Ed to me.

Watching their hands move I recognized those as ASL signs. Looking at them fully I signed, 'Hi my name is Z.' With a look of surprise they responded with 'Hi, I'm Matt.' Then it was Ed's turn to be surprised, "You know ASL?" Looking away from Matt to Ed I replied, "Yes I've been practicing for over 15 years now." Signing back to Matt I asked, 'Are you deaf or hard hearing?' Matt replied 'I can actually hear the mask makes it hard to talk.' With a nod I asked using my voice, "Are you in the Yellow area as well?" Matt nodded his head in response.

Seeing that we were the last few people waiting to get food I motioned for both of them to turn around. Noticing the two guards at the entrance of the cafeteria I'd need to make a mental note of their shift change later. Watching Matt scan his bracelet before receiving what looked like a pile of gray crap on a tray. I sighed out loud thinking Better than nothing. Scanning my bracelet to see it work for the first time today I grabbed the tray. Noticing that Matt was as far away from Hannah as possible made it easy to pick out the table I was sitting at. Everyone else who was most likely in Green was surrounding Hannah and chatting lively. Not seeing the appeal of being anywhere near her I followed behind Ed to the table where Matt was at.

Once seated the hunger pain gripped my stomach like a vice. Lifting up a spoonful of this so called food it looked worse up close. Closing my eyes as I put the spoon in my mouth and swallowed. There wasn't a taste although it felt slimy going down my throat. Shoveling the rest of it down didn't bother anyone. Ed and Matt almost matched my speed of eating. Seeing that the mouth piece opened for Matt as he ate I tried not to stare. Finishing the so called food I watched to see where everyone took their trays before getting up to dispose of my own. Ed and Matt had already finished by the time I got up and they both followed behind me.

Barely leaving the cafeteria I felt a pair of eyes on me as the collar shocked me again. Turning to see which one of the guards was to blame. Ed and Matt each looped an arm over my shoulders to turn me around. Ed whispered close to my ear, "Don't engage any of the guards no matter what." Letting out a low grunt I whispered back, "Let me go now. Then tell me why." Matt signed 'Later'.

All three of us walked down the hall and made a right before I shook off their hold. I looked to both of them to ask, " Where's the Yellow area?" Both of them escorted me to a single door with a guard on each side. The word 'Yellow' was written above the entrance. Watching Matt go in first Ed motioned for me next. Seeing that it was a clear shot to the other area I lifted my wrist for the door to open. Walking through I saw Matt was sitting on the floor against a wall. Feeling the door open behind me I side stepped for Ed to walk through. They walked to sit by Matt's side. Making my way to sit in front of both of them I kept my distance.

Looking around to see the only exception between Yellow and Green was there weren't any guards here. Turning my focus to Ed and Matt I asked, "Why are there no guards here?"

Ed replied, "The guards are only in the Green area. Yellow is reserved for the inmates that are considered dangerous. This area only has our rooms and this little foyer."

"Why did you two keep me from finding out who shocked me", I asked.

Ed replied, "All the guards have a remote controller that can give any one of us a shock. They like to 'tease' the newcomers. It'll probably die down within a few days, longest has been a week. The notorious guard who likes to 'tease' is Edgar." Ed used used quotation marks on the word tease.

Noticing the slight shake Matt tried to hide after hearing that name made something in me stir. Looking from Matt to Ed I asked, "I'm guessing he's the guy who takes too much pride in his job?"

They both just nodded in response.

Better start making plans for him later.

"So this is where we need to be at by lights out?", I asked.

Ed responded, "Yes. Unless you want to be a bloody stain until the janitor comes to clean."

Feeling my brow furrow I asked, "What do you mean?"

Both of their shoulders slumped.

Ed said, "A special alarm is sounded before we have to go into our rooms. Something patrols the halls only at night. Even the guards leave the Green area. Only a handful of times have I heard the words 'Code Black' be broadcasted before the alarm."

Seeing the grim look in both of their eyes I asked, "Code Black?"

Matt talked for the first time in a distorted voice due to the mask still being in place, "When there's a Code Black it means The Thing from the Pit comes out to hunt. Everyone has 30 seconds to get into their room. You better pray that it doesn't get you during that time or that you're on the menu because you tried to escape. All anyone will remember about you is your screams."

"The Thing from the Pit? Has anyone ever seen it before?", I asked.

Ed finished the lecture, "No. Everyone here knows it's real. It's already killed a few people."

Seeing the terror in their eyes match the truth I heard in his voice. I thought to myself Looks like I'm not the only monster here, good thing I've learned some neat tricks. As if they could both see the gears in my head moving Matt said while pointing to his own collar, "These don't just give you a shock any time you try to use your powers. They also keep track of how many attempts you make before stopping. Then they take you to go see Nurse Ratchet."

Not seeing the point in either one of them lying I asked, "Nurse Ratchet? Like from that old movie?" They both shrugged. With a tilt of my head I decided to enlighten them on some movie trivia. "Nurse Ratchet is a character from a movie called 'One Flew Over The Coo Coo's Nest'. Jack Nicholson starred in it. He was in a mental ward and she was the head nurse. She was a cruel woman." Ed nodded from the comparison.

The sound of an ear splitting bell rang over head. Watching Ed and Matt scramble up from the floor I didn't need to ask to know that was the lights out alarm. Matt ran to the first door on the right side of the hall with a scan of his wrist he went inside quickly. The door closed right behind him as he entered fully. Ed went to the one right next to his. Assuming that the one after theirs was mine I scanned my wrist and a noise sounded. Scanning again the same noise went off. Going to the door opposite of the hall didn't make a difference. Running to the other door next to it made the same noise. It was then that I noticed Ed counting out loud. He watched me as I tried and failed over and over again. Looking back to them he said, "20, oh fuck it." Ed was reaching out to me when the door finally opened behind me. Taking a step in I watched as Ed continued to count from 25 upward as his door opened.

Once inside the door closed in front of me quickly. With a heavy exhale I sank to the floor. Feeling the adrenaline begin to leave me something banged against my door. Scrambling backward I looked around to see what I could hide behind or pushing against the door. There was a bed on the other side of the room, a folding door that was most likely a closet, and another door that probably led to a restroom. The banging stopped after I fully took in the room. Without knowing that I was panting I said out loud, "Thank you Grandma, Goddess, Lucifer, or whoever kept the door closed."

Letting my body fall to the floor I started to take in deep breathes to calm down. Looking up at the ceiling there still weren't any visible cameras around. Feeling my eyelids begin to get heavy I decided to sleep on the floor.

Slowly leaving my body I looked down to see that the collar didn't have any effect on me in this form. Taking a quick look at the door a shiver went through me. It felt as if something was beckoning me to it. No way in Hell am I searching this place through the halls I thought.

Moving to the vent on the ceiling I slithered into the system to get a lay of the land. After taking a few turns I saw Ed in his room pacing, probably thinking I didn't make it. Moving upward I saw that Matt was on his knees praying. "Please Heavenly Father protect Ed, myself, and now Z against the monster that stalks the halls at night. Please bless me and both of them as well", Matt said in a soft loving voice. Moving down into his room to see his eyes were closed and the mouth piece was taken off and placed by the door. Hearing him say the Lord's prayer with hints of an Irish accent. At the tail end of the prayer I left his room.

Back in the vents I moved away from the Yellow area. Traveling down I made sure to remember everyone's rooms. Moving further down the vents I saw Hannah's room last. She was holding a radio in her hands. The sound of a woman came on the line, "Hannah I heard that the new inmate just came in, over."

"Yes and she, my bad they have an attitude on them, over", Hannah replied.

"Just be careful honey, over."

"Always am, mom. Over."

"You should get some sleep honey, over."

"So should you mom, over."

"I love you Hannah, over."

"Love you too, over."

"Goodnight and sweet dreams, over."

"Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite, over."

Watching Hannah turn the radio off to hide it in her closest set my blood of fire. I knew she was up to something. I kept my eyes on her as she got ready for bed. Taking a moment to steady myself before doing anything rash. It'll be worth it later I thought.