Attempted Prisonbreak

The sky was pitch black. Only a hint of starlight tried to illuminate the surrounding landscape. A determined wind drove the bitter cold through the tightly woven fabric of our clothing and into our shivering skin. This was no night to be out even if it was necessary. It was obvious that others felt the same way since the parking lot was almost empty. The building was a large brick edifice, multi-floors high and stretched over a block in length. It was intimidating. A place I wanted to spend as little time in as possible. Unfortunately, I wasn’t given a choice.

The staff greeted me with pleasant professionalism, immediately seeing to my every need just before the pain began. I was instructed to remove my upper garments and replace them with a smock that had no ties or fasteners of any kind in the back. Fortunately, I was wearing sweatpants so nothing, but my upper back was exposed. Then I was branded with a paper QR Code stuck around my wrist. I was identified by that code for the rest of my stay. Next, I was wheeled into a room where a machine waited for me. The bed was neither comfortable nor uncomfortable, it was simply functional. Pictures of my brain were taken, probably to be used at a later date for some nefarious experiments. Photoshoot complete, it was time to be wheeled to my cell.

While rolling down long corridors I was able to sneak peaks into the cells of other detainees. In some cases, the room looked to be in better condition than its resident. Everyone I passed displayed the same forlorn look. It was obvious to anyone who took the time to look that we all wanted to be somewhere else. Only the people working there acted as though it was a pleasure not a burden to spend time here.

Finally, I arrived. My cell was welcoming enough, with a large window that gave me a view of the building next door, a television, and a private bathroom. I could live with this, or so I thought. Looks can be misleading!

Immediately after I got settled into what I thought was my bed the keepers told me I wasn’t allowed to leave my cage under any circumstances unless an attendant was called. If I did, alarms would sound and alert everyone on the staff. The bathroom door was four feet from my bed, but I couldn’t use it unless someone was in the main cell with me. Not in the actual bathroom, but in the main room. My response, to myself was, “Ya right, like that’s going to happen.”

Before I had time to think about the alarmed bed a tray of tubes was placed next to me and my blood was drained using an IV, placed in my arm by another attendant. I was surprised that so much blood could be removed and still stay alive. I imagine they removed all that blood to make room for the saline solution that was pumped into my body later. The pump was so noisy I asked them to move it away from my head so I could sleep, Sleep depravation is a form of torture if you didn’t know it.

Blood drawn, lights turned down, and alone at last, I tried my best to get comfortable and fall asleep. That’s when my bladder said not so subtly, “not so fast, buddy.” Ignoring the rules, I headed for the bathroom door. Lights flashed buzzers sounded and a stern female voice blared, “Remain in bed. Do not get up, the attendant has been called.” For three days my robot guard and I battled until I was finally released. I now understand that true freedom is being able to use the bathroom without asking for permission.