Don’t Past Go, Don’t Collect $200

The cab ride to the outskirts of the city wasn’t exactly the most fun ride in the world. The beautiful glamorous city lights and billboards very quickly started to shift to grim, grey, and otherwise just run down and dingy as we started to drive into the other burrows.

“You are a bold man dressing up that pretty in a place like this.” The woman behind the wheel says with a small smirk, looking back at me in the rear view mirror. “Especially going into that prison, just that fancy lil watch of yours I’m sure is enough to pay some of these guys bail money.” She chuckles, and very quickly I felt nervous and self conscious about my every move.

“I’ll be careful.” I say in a calm and neutral voice, doing my best to try and make it all believable even to myself. “This isn’t my first time dealing with a more dangerous clientele.” I chuckled. But as I glanced out the window and got a view of the dark concrete building I was approaching my heart dropped even further into my stomach.

As the car stopped I handed my driver some cash and stepped out into the street. I heard a very quick chuckle from behind me as the driver flipped through the wad I handed her. “Understood big man…” Her last two words sounding a little bit sarcastic. “Thanks for the tip. Maybe if you make it out of here and we ride together again I’ll work your tip instead.” She laughs blatantly before speeding away, leaving me alone in front of the building.

After a couple seconds, and a few deep breaths, I held my head up high and walked into the building, keeping my eyes glued straight ahead as I passed by a small transport of prisoners… and given the yells I heard I’m assuming at least a few of them recognized my face.

As I stepped further into the building I passed the reception desk as I approached a woman who was standing alone, waiting seemingly, as she tapped her foot and glanced down at her watch. When she saw me though she put on a smile that was obviously fake, but professional. I don’t blame her though, who could smile in a place like this.

“Ms. DeVille?” I ask, reaching out and shaking the woman’s hand. Her grip was like iron, strong, unmoving, and powerful as she met my eyes with a gaze of someone who could scare the pants off the most hardened of criminals… no wonder why she was so respected as the warden here.

“Mr. Lee, we spoke on the phone.” She says, shaking my hand confidently. “You are here for Danny D, correct? We’ve been having a few… issues with him so he is currently in solitary.” She says hesitantly, before shrugging and then giving me a very quick smile, one that was actually pleasant as if she just now realized I wasn’t a prisoner she needed to scare to keep in line. “Please, follow me.” She says before turning around, uses her key card to unlock some double doors, and then heading further into the building where I quickly follow.

Walking through the cell blocks I did everything I could to keep my head forward and focused on Cherie, which she was a beautiful woman so it wasn’t too hard. But every once in a while my eyes wandered to the side as I caught a glimpse inside a few of the cells. Most of the men were cat calling Cherie, some, who I recognized, were giving me a couple glares, and a couple others were… well… we can just say that they were a bit lonely.

“I’m sorry about my coldness at the beginning Mr. Lee.” Cherie says as we continue her walk down the cell block. “I’m a busy woman, and dealing with these inmates can do a lot to a woman’s psyche. I hope you understand?” She asks, raising an eyebrow slightly, and I just nod.

“Of course. This must be a stressful job.” I say, and my words must have been enough to calm her down slightly more as her warm smile grew ever so slightly. “May I ask… what kind of trouble has Danny gotten himself into?” I ask, raising an eyebrow slightly, and I could see Cherie’s shoulders tense up.

“Danny had gotten ahold of some contraband and… may have turned his last cellmate into a woman. Not to mention a few others, including staff.” She says, rolling her eyebrows slightly at the thought. “We don’t know where he keeps getting them, so instead of removing the pills from him…” she says as she approaches a door labeled SOLITARY in big black letters over the frame. “We remove him from the rest of the population.” She puts her hand on the door handle and looks back at me, her face cold again. “Every interaction inside this room will be monitored by a group of security guards in the next room over, as well as filmed. However, we will not be able to intervene due to the contract that we have signed with X-Change corp to even let this meeting take place. That being said, are you sure you want to do this?” She asks, narrowing her eyes slightly.

“I’m sure.” I say, and with a small sigh Cherie opens the door, and motions for me to step into the hallway that lead to another singular door.