My shadow shoved my in the middle of my back into the small, cold room that served as the interrogation room. I sat in the metal, creaky chair and a pair of handcuffs were snapped onto my wrists. I sighed and leaned back in the chair while Agent Manning took the seat across the table from me. He steepled his fingers under his chin and smiled, looking as if he was going to laugh.

  "Yes, Agent Manning? Something you'd like to share with the class?" I asked, provoking him ever so slightly. Things were always more interesting when people were provoked.

  "Yes, actually. I was just taking note of some of our special guards here and I thought a few of them looked familiar for some reason. I thought I'd bring them in for yo to tell me if you recognize one of them." It was more than clear that Agent Manning wanted me to give away whoever my insider from the guards was with the "nasty beard".

  I rolled my eyes with a large sigh (provocation is my second language) and said, "let them in, then. And don't forget my bribe."

  Some of the guards would probably be offended to know that they fit my description of someone with a nasty beard. There were five of them, brows furrowed and confused as they walked through the door to stand on the side wall. Beards ranged from a greasy, red goatee to untrimmed, curly huge neards. One was styling a curling mustache and I thought it was showing of Manning's character that he chose that poor guard.

  "Your 'bribe' is you get a visit."

  It was as if Manning thought that was a good bribe. As if I didn't have ways to talk to people without visiting hours. I started at him, unblinking, willing him to understand that I would never give my guard away for a visit. Plus, who would I visit? It took Manning a good two minutes to sigh. He waved his fingers and my shadow slipped through the door. I relaxed in my chair, putting my feet on the table, and putting my cuffed hands behind my head. The ceiling was peppered with mold and one part was legitimately drooping down. I didn't even have to glance to know that there was a bucket full of water underneath the drooping cieling to catch the leak. Finally, my shadow crept back into the room, carrying a box of cigarettes.

  "Rumor has it, you're addicted." I cut my eyes back to Manning, my face still.

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  "Manning, you can't seriously think that I would give my guard away for a pack of cancer. I'm not going to tell you who it is. I'm not that easy to bribe. I thought you'd have something really worth it for me, but you're dumber than I thought. Dismissed," I waved my hand at the wall of bearded men as if I had the authority to really dismiss them. They hesitated and looked at Manning who gritted his teeth. He waved them, though a lot less prettily than I did, and they filed out of the room.

  It was back to me, my shadow, and Manning in the room. Boisterous laughter could be heard from the courtyard and part of me was convinced that it was Jenkins and Marvin, laughing at the fact that I wasn't back from my interview yet. Screw them.

  Manning, dying for a power trip after I'd taken away his authority and intelligence, said, "take your feet off the table, Molseveski."

  I let my lips spread into a smile, my teeth showing brightly at him. Instead of listening to him, I sunk deeper into my chair and readjusted my feet on the table. It looked like Manning was holding his breath or something. His face was red and a few veins were bulging. I think I was right since he let out a long breath and swore.

  "Language, Manning. Watch your temper." I removed my hands from the back of my head and shook my finger at him, tsking with my tongue.

  He swore a whole lot more.

  I was let out of the interrogating room with a promise of less food and no sun time for a few days. I'm pretty sure that's illegal and is a form of cruel and unusual punishments but it's not like anyone would care what they do to inmates at a prison like this. Plus, the sun might have been doing more damage than help to my pale, weak skin. It had turned red from one day out in the courtyard and was feeling dry and leathary. My hands felt skinny and cold where they were still clasped in the handcuffs. I had a feeling they wouldn't be coming off for a while.

  my shadow led me down a couple of hallways until we reached my new cell that I shared with three other men. He opened the barred door and I slipped in. And then my shadow followed me in. I looked at him with wide eyes,

  "You're not going to be in my room, are you?" I asked.

  My shadow eyed me. I guess that was all the answer I was going to get. Another guard locked the door behind us and I began to make my way up the ladder to my bunk. I was surprised when my shadow grabbed my ankle and clasped a manacle around it. The other half of the manacle was soon clasped around his own ankle. There was a long chain between the two that made clanking noises even when I so much as shifted. I heaved a sigh and went the rest of the way onto my bed, throwing my threadbare blanket over my shoulders and turning my back to my shadow.

  My back to my shadow, a manacle on my ankle and handcuffs on my hands, I let myself smile again.