Desire for Love or Freedom?

CW: Physical violence, gore, brief sexual content

“Alicia Johnson, 23 years old, five foot six, and charged with murder in the second degree,” the officer stated as he adjusted the cuffs behind my back. His smell of cologne barely overtook the scent of cigars he was trying to cover up. At least the prison gave out washed prison uniforms. The pale blue shirt and pants barely fit, making them snug on my body. At least the white sports bra and underwear they gave me fit better. I wouldn’t have to worry about this for long though.

The woman at the desk looked tired, with bags under her eyes, and annoyed by the stack of files sitting next to her. “Through the door and take a right,” her raspy voice seemed quiet against the buzzing of the now-opened door. The hallway seemed coated in beige paint with no windows or even a shred of color. Looking down, the marble floor highlighted old blood stains and shoe scuffs. The lingering scent of iron leaped to my nose; falling stable, but familiar.

Led inside another hallway with the echoes of murderers, predators, and worse villains than me, I wonder who will be the lucky one. Through the metal doors, the officers’ grip seems to tighten as if he is suddenly filled with fear. The sound of cell doors moving, along with the yelling of inmates, seemed never-ending in that prison. The same beige-colored walls as the hallway meet the high barred windows close to the ceiling. Women in blue jumpsuits seem to fill the empty spaces around us, and I can feel their eyes on my back. The officer took me to the farthest cell from the entry door and removed my cuffs before shoving me inside. “This is your new home, inmate. Better enjoy it for the next 25 years.”, his cold words didn’t distract me from his wandering gaze. His dark brows seemed to narrow at my body, scanning me from top to bottom. The desire he released into the air wasn’t hard to miss, and I knew this would be my chance.

“Does that mean you will be watching me for a while?”, I slowly approached him. His hand gripping the cell door tightened with every step I took. His teeth enfolded in yellow residue as they grazed his bottom lip. “Know your place, inmate.”, his words came out shaky, yet his posture never changed. I placed a hand to his collar and ran it down his chest just enough to feel his heartbeat. Racing. Perfect.“Why don’t you show me what my time here will be like?”, my words made him gulp down hard.

A yell from behind him brought him back to reality. In one swift motion, he shoved me back and closed the cell door. His attention went to a fight occurring in the center of the block. One woman attacking another with one punch here and another there. The cheering of other inmates almost drowned out the racing footsteps of officers coming through the door. I lean against the cell door, keeping my eyes on “my” officer. He tries to break up the fight, but doesn’t appear to be as strong as a woman’s rage. He’s thrown back, and the other officers pull the battered women apart. “Get up, Weston!”, one of the officers shout at him. He stumbles back to his feet and helps to put cuffs on one of the women. As the two women are escorted out, he turns back and looks at me. I follow his eyes out the door and as the metal doors slam shut, I know he is all mine.

Looking at the nearly empty cell, there is only a bunk bed, a sink, and a toilet. The cell appears not have anyone staying in there with me, but that doesn’t stop others from approaching me. “Hey, you! Pretty thing!”, a short-haired bulky woman leaned against my cell door with a woman at each shoulder. Her broad stature and size, however, didn’t intimidate me. I only stared at her without a response. “You deaf or something?” another one chimes in. They start to whistle and howl at me, but my expression never changes. After a minute or two, they get bored with me and walk away. They aren’t a concern of mine. It’s not like I haven’t dealt with people like that before.

That night, I lay on the top bunk staring through the cell door at one of the barred windows. The moonlight shines in and out as clouds continue to pass over it. The sound of snores from the other cells fills the silence. My attention suddenly turns to the sound of footsteps from outside the cell door. I begin to see a flashlight appear on the floor. I slowly climb out of bed and peer out of the bars to see Officer Weston. He appears to be sneaking around as if one wrong move will wake up the entire prison. He moves to my cell and locks his attention on me. “Now, where did we leave off?” his smirk tells me he isn’t here for games, and neither am I. “Why don’t you come on in, and I’ll show you.” I step back from the door and start to unbutton my shirt. It doesn't take long for him to grab his collection of keys from his pocket and fumble to open the door. He slides the door open and doesn’t hesitate to enter. The look in his eyes reminds me of a wild dog hunting its prey. How fitting.

He pulls off the blue shirt on my shoulders, revealing the white sports bra I was given when I came in. He leans in, kissing my neck and groping my body. His disgusting tongue traces down to my collarbone. I take my chance. I lean in and bite hard on his neck. I’ve waited all day for this, and now my escape is within my grasp. All I need to do is drain him and gain my freedom. His artery shoots blood everywhere, and I delight in the warmth coating my mouth. However, instead of a scream or groan, I begin to hear laughing. A laugh that sends chills down my spine. “Aww, little one. I can bite too.” his voice turns deeper, and my grip on his neck loosens as it seems he appears to grow. I release him and back away. His eyes turned bright yellow, and brown fur sprouted from his skin. How can this be? He rips through his clothes like they’re paper and his nails file themselves onto sharp like talons. A werewolf. My nemesis. In one solid swoop, he slashes at me with his claws, and I can already feel the blood pooling at my feet. I grip my stomach that has been gutted, and the blood in my mouth mixes with his. I fall to my knees and know that this is the end.