Chapter 23

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"The demons wanted girls. Sugar and Spice and everything nice."

- David Berkowitz, an American serial killer who murdered six people in New York City in 1976–77. Known as Son of Sam, Berkowitz was arrested on August 10, 1977, 11 days after his last murder, and was sentenced to 365 years in prison.

Chapter 23 

The rain padded softly onto the prison driveway, washing away the blood of the man who had been shot five times through the chest while attempting an escape. The body had already been taken away by the time I arrived in the morning, hoodie strings pulled tight over my blonde waves.

I hadn't slept after my father left my room to make 'a phone call'. I just felt this incredible pressure on my gut, telling me that something terrible was about to happen. Nothing I did lifted the weight even slightly. Whatever this pressure was, it pulled me towards the prison in the early hours of the morning.

At first I thought it was the death that drew me to the prison. But, as the rain continued to soak through my clothes and wash the cement clean, the pressure didn't dissipate. Instead, its hands greedily pushed my belly harder as if to make a show of its presence.

A shiver crept its way up my spine as the cool water droplets began to sink through the material of my undershirt. I felt frozen in my spot as the rain began to fall heavily. 

The raindrops thudded on my hooded head and caught onto the end of my pointed nose, rolling off onto the ground at my feet. No inch of the ground was safe, the rain fell everywhere, turning everything a shade or two darker than it already was. I watched the earth change colour beneath my feet, fascinated at how quickly the world could change.

It was then I realized that if I stood in the rain any longer I would surly catch a nasty cold.

With a numb mind and body, I walked aimlessly to the doorway of the prison. I wasn't even sure if I was still employed under my father's name, as he had clearly taken me off the case and could have fired me entirely. But, with nothing better to do, I tried my luck, yanking open the large door with my sore arms.

Instead of being greeted by a rush of heated air, the room remained the same temperature as outside. The only thing that stopped me from turning entirely blue was the cease of rain once I had a roof above my head.

I shrugged my jumper off of my shoulder and hung it on the clothes rack next to the office ladies desk. With the controlled temperature, I prayed my body would adapt and left the saturated material behind. I didn't bother signing my name at the desk; afraid they would tell me to go home.

However, as I passed the desk, I expected to hear a shout of protest at my doing so, but instead was greeted with silence. In fact, no one sat behind the front desk at all.

That's odd.

I frowned, contemplating if I should call out to double check that no one was there. But then again, I also didn't want to hear anything negative about my career. I decided to shrug it off and continued my walk down the hall. Passing a final fleeting look over my shoulder, I again saw no movement behind the desk, or in the room behind it.

I itched to report their incompetence, but since my tape recorder was in the hands of my father, I would never get the chance.

As I walked the halls, it became clear to me how empty the prison was. Another shiver crept up my spine, this one not due to the cold. There should have been a guard stationed in each corridor, especially leading up to the cafeteria. I expected it to be lined with guards as I entered the vacant cafeteria, like there usually is, but not one uniformed man stood in the room.

I cautiously made my way over to the kitchen bench, seeking out a hot coffee to clear my head. The prisoners would have their lunch for another few hours, as it was still that awkward period of the day; half way between breakfast and lunch. 

I didn't like how uneasy I suddenly felt at the lack of guards. I had reported my fair share of guard absences in my time working in the prison, and never once has there been a time when the cafeteria was completely empty.

I pressed the bell on the kitchen bench, which was reserved for staff members requesting items of food and drink. The chime sounded throughout the hall, echoing of the furthest walls, sending yet another deep shiver through my spine.

The cook stammered out of the kitchen door in a huff, sweating and dripping with sink water and soap. If it wasn't for the bench between us, I would have surly been sprayed with water as she flicked the water off of her meaty fingers. She was a respectable lady, standing six feet tall, with shoulder length brown hair, which was always pulled slickly back into a constricting ponytail. 

She wasn't overweight, but her built size meant that she usually had to shop in the 'bigger' lady stalls or buy men's clothing. I didn't think it bothered her though, as her size and cruel sneer gave her the reputation of the woman to not be messed with. None of the inmates had even dared to be disrespectful to her after she shoved a mans face into hot soup after he insulted her height.

She sniffed as she saw me standing behind the bench, obviously irritated that I had disrupted her cleaning process. I understood, as even the slight change in my schedule would sometimes mean changing my entire day. A pang of guilt cut through my stomach as I did my best to smile and ask for a cup of coffee.

"Sugar and cream?" She asked over her shoulder as she began to make the coffee in a small machine on the bench.

"Yes thanks." I smiled, making sure I was being as polite as possible.

She gave me a small nod and began to assemble the delicious mixture into a foam cup. Her arms flexed as she squeezed the lid on, making me doubt whether the rumors of her age where true. People said she was well into her forties, but to me she looked just past twenty. She was surly fitter than half the guards in the entire prison and could probably protect me better than any of them ever could.

She handed me the cup with a straight face and I tried to give her my best smile as I thanked her again. As I lifted the lid off of my cup, the sweet aroma filled my nostrils with silent pleasure, warming my core instantly. I always thought coffee smelt better than it tasted.

I took a cautious sip as I reentered the hallway. It was hot, but drinkable.

Taking bigger mouthfuls, I unknowingly made my way towards my father's office, the rout so familiar and yet so alien. I wondered if he would be back into work, or if he had to spend another week at home.

A loud chuckle interrupted my thoughts.

A pair of guards came out of one of the security rooms, smiling and chatting loudly as they continued down the hall. Being the first security guards I saw in the prison, I followed behind them, hoping they could explain the absence of the other guards. Maybe I had missed an important meeting, but that still didn't explain their mass absence.

"I'm so glad their finally giving that guy the needle!" One of the guards shouted in excitement. "It's about time that another one of them was taken out of our hands."

I paused before I took the next sip of my coffee, unsure of what exactly I had just heard. I walked quicker behind them, desperate to keep up. But, just as I thought they were going to continue down the hallway, they descended down the only staircase that leads to the bottom level.

"Yeah, hope that bastard find some peace in hell." The other one cackled, slapping his friend on the back.

The situation finally hit me with its full force as I stepped off the last stair. They were here to see an execution.

No one was due to be executed for the next month, so who had been moved up on the list? 

My stomach dropped, as did the coffee in my hand.

There was only one person who my father would authorize an early execution for. 

There was only one person my father hated so much that he would authorize his death.

George. 

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Sorry guys, this was meant to be apart of a double update but i made the mistake of getting messenger and now I'm just getting so much spam from my friends hahah

I will try get the other part to this chapter up ASAP

I really apologise about my late updates, theres been so much going on with my life, some negative, that have really just affected me. 

Not to mention, I was about to sit down and write the other day but we had the hottest day ever it was 40 degrees and i was melting (we don't have fans or aircon) and this chapter was set in the rain. 

I also have my final year of school this year so things are going to get very hectic. 

I don't mean to make excuses but i just wanted to explain to you guys why I have been absent. 

If you don't follow me already, I usually post notifications on my wall of when updates will be or why they are late.

And like always, thank you for your support, all the people who still vote and comment (@Writing_Utensils and Fabulous-Diamond and @_nameless_wonder_ - shoutout to you guys for all your recent comments and votes, love you all :*) 

xx Charli 

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