Episode 3.1 - A Strange Guy

To establish respect in the death zone means simply to choke down the food.

Okay, I can do that!

I just have to be careful not to show anyone that I like the stuff.

Also, I don't know what to make of this time traveler Moriphos.

Somehow, I have the feeling that he's interested in me. At least I don't need to explain anymore why I'm here. His opinion seems to be that the guy – Torsos – is nuts anyway.

I've also gotten to know this Kaia better. She acts like she's the big and dangerous one, standing above everyone else.

But somehow she seems pretty lonely to me.

***

I'm sitting on my bed, Moriphos, who inhabits the cell behind me, is asleep. His cot is attached right next to mine to the bars.

Every now and then I think, if he wanted to, he could kill me. But I'm not afraid. It could have been worse for me. He seems quite nice.

Nora, to my right, lies on the bare floor. When she's awake, she presses her trembling body against the bars towards the aisle and my cell. Her bed is next to that of a guy who gives even me icy shivers.

A disgusting little, skinny guy who constantly grins at us with a mouth full of rotten teeth.

In the other cell, adjoining mine, lies a fat guy on the bed. But I haven't heard anything from him so far.

Now I take a closer look at the bracelet.

It's about two fingers wide, like the one Nora wears, golden and quite thin. They only differ in a small detail. While hers is made of smooth metal, mine is set with two rows of stones. Each row consists of red stones, between which two stones in a different color are placed.

In the top row, there's a green and purple stone, in the other row, there are blue and yellow ones, which stand out. They're all slightly further apart from each other in the rows but arranged differently from the top to the bottom row.

Do they have any meaning?

I absentmindedly run my fingers over the stones.

"Morning, Janine," Moriphos yawns from behind me.

I hastily hide the bracelet under my long sleeve so that Moriphos doesn't see it. Kaia made it clear to me how important it is that nobody sees it.

"So, the way you're acting could lead to some nasty thoughts," Moriphos calls out.

I look at him questioningly, then I gesture towards Nora. "These strange bracelets aren't really my thing." I smile at him. "They're kind of ugly."

"What this guy thinks about locking women up in here," Moriphos snorts. "I can watch out for you and the little one." The big man suggests, winking at me. "Before the guys here become even more intrusive." I sense concern in his expression. "For me personally, too many of them have thrown interested looks your way."

"Oh, and you haven't?" I ask directly. I smile at him.

I've noticed that the prisoners' gaze is constantly on me since I've been here. But what do I expect? After all, this is a strictly male prison. A fact that makes me realize how grateful I am to have a protector.

"I'd find it a shame if one of the guys here took advantage of such a pretty girl," he says.

"Thank you for your offer," I thank him. Moriphos really seems to have no ill intentions. "I think we could really use a protector here." A sigh escapes my lips.

"Just stay close to me," he asks me. "I'll keep the guys away from you." I smile happily at him. Nora will surely be very glad about that.

My gaze shifts to the blonde girl. I used to hate her. But I never wished something like this upon her. It's clear to me that I'll eventually get out of here. The only question is when. But what will happen to her?

I feel so sorry for her.

If I get the chance to talk to Kaia again, maybe I could ask her what will happen to us.

Another question comes to mind as I look at my neighbor.

"They say there's a shower here," I ponder aloud.

"Yes!" Moriphos replies. "I'm sure everyone here would love to shower with you!" He smiles at me. Apparently, he's trying to imply that there are no separate shower rooms.

"Someone told me I just need to talk to the guards about it," it dawns on me. I notice my mistake far too late. Both of us understand that such words can only come from one person.

Moriphos seems equally surprised. A little later, he looks at me confused. Then, when he instructs me to move closer to the bars, I feel uneasy in my skin.

Reluctantly, I follow his request and hope I'm not misjudging him.

He lowers his mouth to my ear and asks, "Does this fury offer guided tours in prison nowadays?"

For a moment, I'm speechless. What's the best way to respond? But I don't need to search long for an answer. I don't even need to lie to him.

"I think she just took pity on me," I ponder softly, so none of the other prisoners hear. "I'm just a poor little girl who's pretty helpless here."

"She's supposed to have feelings like pity?" Moriphos laughs. "Stop with these jokes." A concerned groan escapes him. "Don't imagine trying to make friends with anyone outside the prison. Especially not someone like Kaia. Even I couldn't protect you then." Moriphos ponders for a moment. "But maybe you should really try your luck with a guard."