Prison Workout

A year later...

The chill of the prison tiles sent a shiver up my spine as I set myself into position. Hands gently pressed to the ground, I took a deep breath and began counting off my push-ups. The first ten felt like a breeze, but each number thereafter seemed to drag out for an eternity. My muscles quivered at fifty, and at eighty-five I struggled to keep my form steady. A single bead of sweat rolled down my forehead and stung my eyes, yet through sheer determination, I managed to reach one hundred and collapse onto the floor with a thud. It had been a year since they had thrown me in here, taking away all traces of liberty and replacing it with this hellish abode.

I slowly stepped up to the foggy bathroom mirror, my reflection blurring and becoming clearer as I made out the harsh ridges of scar tissue that marred my skin. I brushed a finger over the bumpy mounds covering my arms, back, and legs that mapped a story of physical violence and inner suffering. The image in the mirror no longer resembled me; I was no longer the innocent person I used to be but rather an ever-fighting warrior whose very smile seemed impossible nowadays.

The abrupt sound of a knock on the door caused my heart to jump, and I quickly changed into a pair of spandex shorts and an oversized white T-shirt. The door creaked open slowly, and Mary stood in the doorway with her glasses perched on the bridge of her nose. Her long, light blonde hair was pulled tightly back into a ponytail, and she wore a freshly pressed lab coat over her outfit. She studied the notes on her tablet intently while one foot tapped nervously.

Her face was like a stone and her blue eyes held no emotion as she stared into the tablet. "It's time for your next session," she said in a measured, low voice. Her gaze never wavered from the tablet.

Mary silently gestured for me to follow her, and we began our journey down the dismal hallway. We tiptoed past closed, metal doors, each with an individual nameplate attached. I felt my chest tighten at the thought of escape; after all, I had already tried it a few times before. I glanced around nervously, expecting a guard to jump out from the shadows at any moment. My mouth went dry as familiar images flooded my mind—the days I had gone without food or water as punishment for trying to flee. Shivers ran through my body as we continued down the hall.

Mary swiped her badge and the heavy steel door swung open, revealing a vast chamber with a hard cement floor. Dark red splotches of dried blood were scattered across the ground, and an unbearable stench filled the air. With a tap of her tablet, another set of doors opened, and a few men wearing swat gear entered the room pushing ahead of them a large wooden crate. Their eyes were wide with fear as they quickly retreated from the room after setting the crate down.

"Today will be your last test, Miss Bales," Mary said calmly, her finger hovering above the tablet screen. "Just so you are aware, the CEO will be watching today."

Mary pushed a button on the control panel next to the wooden crate and the lid slowly creaked open. Inside was an iron cage that was as tall as the room, and inside that was a creature from the land of Fae.

I felt my heart skip a beat as I took in the sight before me. Standing tall, it easily towered over me by at least five or six feet—barely fitting within the small room. Muscles flexed along its limbs, thick and grayish-green with two horns protruding from either side of its head, giving it the intimidating air of a raging bull or ram. Its protective tail encircled its body like an armadillo's shell, adorned with spiked tips on the ends that glinted menacingly. Razor-sharp teeth were exposed in a permanent snarl, revealing long crimson claws gripping tight onto either bar separating us as its breath steamed against the cold air.

But as fearful as I was upon beholding this beast, I couldn't help but admire how stunningly beautiful its scales appeared under light, reflecting hues of silver and deep emerald green. I swallowed hard, feeling completely terrified.

It had been a year since I first noticed them, and yet I still couldn't comprehend why no one else could see them. My captures were able to view the mysterious figures due to a magical barrier. But for me, it was different – I could see through the barriers of the domain and glimpse what lay beyond. Yet try as I might, I couldn't seem to make anyone else understand.

I learned of the creatures and their ability to change shapes from person to person, animal to animal over the year since I've been here. But who knew that the creature that killed Will that night was something so monstrous?

I watched with a strange combination of admiration and dread as the creature prowled the iron-barred confines of the cage, eyes blazing with rage and teeth bared. Its movements were quick yet graceful, like that of a lithe hunting cat. It stopped in its tracks and stared directly into my eyes.

Mary's voice echoed across the arena, shattering the silence. "Begin!" she shouted and the rusted gates swung open with a clank.

The beast lunged forward, its talons reaching for me and its maw open wide as if it were about to bellow a savage battle cry. I threw myself backward with mere seconds to spare, narrowly avoiding the attack. My eyes darted to my long sword leaning against the wall, and without a moment to lose, I scrambled over and snatched it up just in time to parry another strike.

I felt sweat drip down my face as I ducked and dodged the Fae creature's strikes. Its long, thin claws whizzed past my head, barely missing me, and its tail arced over me in a beautiful yet deadly pattern. The thing was incredibly fast - I could scarcely keep up with it. 

The creature stepped back to catch its breath, and I saw my opening. With a roar of determination, I lunged forward, plunging my sword deep into its chest. There was a sickening crunch followed by the creature's deathly scream echoing around us. As it slumped to the ground, dark red blood pooled around us in a macabre scene.

Panting heavily, I lowered my sword as Mary bellowed for the guards to take away the defeated creature.

I watched in silence as the guards dragged the Fae's limp body from the battlefield. Blood dripped from its wounds, staining the floor with a deep red hue, and faint groans of pain echoed through the chamber. My knuckles whitened as I clenched my hands together, still feeling the adrenaline that surged through me moments before.

My heart raced as Mary's cold eyes met mine. Her expression was grim and she uttered the words I dreaded, "Excellent work, Miss Bales. But you're not done yet." As if fate enjoyed watching me squirm, I knew exactly what this meant; in this prison, there was never an end to the suffering.

A guard emerged from a doorway, his boots clanking on the floor and his keys jangling with each step. Mary's voice was hard as steel when she said, "Today your real trial begins." I barely had time to turn towards her bewildered before a sharp sting at the back of my neck knocked me into unconsciousness. Once again, I'd been silenced by drugs.