Keagan had finally lost it.
Surrounded by four white walls, there was nothing else to do but stare at them. To look at the paint that had started to chip off as time passed, or gouged by other prisoners - anything to pass time, slowly going mad, theorizing absurd meanings from the wall's blank stare.
"I think I'm going crazy," he muttered. He's been locked up in this room since his encounter with Thorn, hindering him from any direct contact with other humans, with an exception of his three meals a day.
Even the person delivering his food seemed to be awfully cold to him.
Keagan groaned again. "Fvck this. I've been here far too long. They should have come to a conclusion by now!"
He got up and walked to the opposite end of the room. His mind formulating a plan, an attempt to crash his body onto the door. Hopefully, the impulsive force will be large enough to break down those seemingly heavy doors.
"Well, here goes nothing."
He rushed towards the door and just a millisecond before his body hit, the door opened. As if the angels who were listening to his pleas of freedom finally gave in.
However, because he was going full charge, he didn't have enough time to stop himself from toppling onto whoever was behind the door.
"Oh my cheese crackers. Man, you are one heavy gorilla", the guy groaned in pain.
"Excuse me, are you comparing me to a primate?" Keagan asked, offended.
"Well, I'll assume you're one if you don't get off me."
Keagan stood up, not forgetting to deliberately add more weight as he pushed himself up. Obviously, his hands on the male's chest.
"You know, that's certainly a grand way to greet your doctor," the man wheezed.
"Doctor? Who the hell are you talking about? The only doctor I know is-"
"Choo?"
"How did you know my doctor's name? You-" Keagan retorted as he turned and threw a punch at the man.
Thankfully, the man dodged the deathly punch.
"Calm down, Keagan! I've only been absent from your life for a few months and you've already forgotten about me?"
Keagan gazed at the man. "Choo?"
Choo sighed in relief. "Oh thank god! I thought you've gotten amnesia."
Keagan lips trembled violently. Soon enough, he was bawling.
"Choooo! Why didn't you come for me earlier?? I've been craving for a human's presence for so long. I swear, my brain is about to get crazy!"
Keagan leaped into Choo's arms.
Choo gaped. Keagan is crying?
"I see, a bit alone time has finally taken a toll on you. It's very uncomfortable seeing you get all emotional, but I'm liking it nevertheless."
Keagan cried louder than ever. "How dare you make fun of me? I pay your salary!"
"Speaking about my salary, why didn't you inform me that you were caught? If not for the fact that I came to look for you because you haven't paid me for two months, I wouldn't have found out at all!"
Keagan stopped sobbing. "Tw-two months? I've been stuck in here for two months?"
Choo nodded.
"Oh my god, no wonder it felt like an eternity here! I thought I'd be here for a week only!"
Keagan sobbed again.
"Keagan, stop acting like a child!"
"Yeah, you're right. I should," Keagan pushed Choo away and wiped his tears.
"Cool, bipolar Keagan is here.I thought I won't be able to meet this side of you again."
Keagan rolled his eyes. "So, are you here to help me escape?"
"No, Keagan. I'm here to give you back your freedom, in a dignified way."
"Dignified? They're allowing me to go back? After all the trouble they went through, they're allowing me to go? But they clearly still have no clue what to do with me!"
"Well, they did about 20 minutes ago."
"What?"
"You heard me. C'mon let's go."
Choo pulled Keagan's hand forcefully.
"Wait! Choo, what about Fred and Bob? We can't just leave them here!"
Choo remained quiet as he continued walking at a fast pace.
"Choo! Are you deaf?"
Again, no response.
Keagan stopped in his tracks and refused to budge.
"Keagan, this is not the time to be stubborn."
"Then answer my question. What are they going to do about Fred and Bob?"
Choo clenched his fist. "Unfortunately, they weren't as lucky as you. Your brother pulled some strings to get you out. I believe your friends are now on their way to the prison, where they are most likely to spend their entire life there."
Keagan gasped. "Albert? Albert is doing all of this?"
Choo grunted in response. "Now, let's go."
"Wait!" Keagan stopped Choo once again.
"Oh for fvck's sake, Keagan! Stop acting like a princess and get a hold of yourself!"
"How did Albert find out about my situation?"
"Obviously through the news! You had no idea what it was like when news of you finally being captured did to the entire country. Everyone threw the grandest party ever!"
"I know I'd be all over the news. But, I know Albert literally has no time to see the news. He's always cooped up either in his office or in a surgery. So how did he-"
"It was because of you he started watching the news, you oblivious elephant!" Choo raised his voice.
Keagan's eyes were wide open. "I thought he would have forgotten about me."
Choo unclenched his fist. "No surprise there. You've always been selfish and cynical."
"Choo, if it was my brother who pulled me out of this hellhole, it surely means he has something up his sleeve. Tell me, what's the catch?"
Choo smirked. "He wants you to be hospitalized this instant. He wants you to remember, you're still a person who's suffering with a terminal illness. And most importantly-"
Choo placed both hands on Keagan's shoulders. His voice getting softer, close to whispering.
"He wants you to get better. Keagan, you're his only kin left in this world."