I shut my eyes tightly, desperately seeking peace from the harrowing events of the day. Alas, my attempt at solace was met with a chilling nightmare, wherein Gakuto's visage twisted into a sinister grin as if he harbored even darker intentions.
Every inch of my weary and battered body jolted into action, prodding my brain to rouse from its slumber. A pitiful groan escaped my lips, a testament to the lingering soreness and bruises that plagued me.
"That bastard won't even let me sleep... it's really annoying," Abruptly, my eyes fluttered open, greeted by an abyss of darkness that shrouded my surroundings. Yet, a sliver of moonlight filtered through a small crack in the ventilation, casting a gentle glow upon the confines of my cell.
The room was filled with the unmistakable sound of deep, resonant snores that echoed through the air…
As I cast my gaze upon the bed beneath me, I beheld the figure of Gakuto, seemingly lost in slumber. However, the resonating echoes of his boisterous snores left me uncertain as to whether this auditory symphony was a mere chance or a deliberate orchestration. I sprang out of bed, effortlessly using his stomach as a makeshift step before gracefully touching down on the floor.
Gakuto's groan of agony pierced the air, abruptly silencing his rhythmic snoring. He instinctively clutched his stomach, contorting his body to shield his face from my view. I had no desire to confront him, so I strolled towards the cell door.
The sound of a single click resonated through the room, breaking the silence…
"She had undoubtedly secured it, didn't she?" It was a momentous occasion - my inaugural attempt to escape the confines of my cell under the cloak of darkness. Even in the depths of sleep, my fellow captives were plagued by a constant restlessness.
Across from my cramped cell, where Shingo and Joe were confined, I could make out their silhouettes in the dim light. They seemed to be engaged in some sort of delirious conversation, their voices blending together in a hazy symphony. If it weren't for the thunderous snoring that filled the air, I might have mistaken their slumbering forms for insomnia.
"Eat! I want to eat again!... please Vice President, give me a more severe punishment!... let me lick the soles of your shoes!"
Another loud snoring…
Goosebumps instantly prickled across my entire body as the resounding boom, reminiscent of a cannon, reverberated through the dimly lit corridor of the cell. "That unmistakable voice can only belong to Andre," I muttered, a heavy sigh escaping my lips. It was no surprise that my nights were plagued with haunting nightmares.
Perhaps it is the sheer exhaustion that has propelled me to endure this arduous journey thus far. If I were to awaken each night in the same lonely state, I fear I would succumb to the despair and contemplate ending my life within these confining walls. I inhaled deeply, gathering my resolve, before knocking on the cold, metal door of the cell while calling the Vice President's name.
I can't help but feel a sense of unease as I observe the prison block, fully aware that she remains on high alert. The absence of any signs of movement or approaching figures only serves to intensify my growing apprehension. Initially, I entertained the notion of stifling my voice, but you know what? Fuck it…
"Vice President!... can you open my cell door? I want to go to the bathroom!"
Despite the noise that had filled the room, the boys remained blissfully asleep. However, as I cast a fleeting glance over my shoulder, I caught sight of Gakuto, secretly attempting to steal a glimpse of me. With a hint of defiance, I offered him a challenge.
'If you want to follow me, go ahead, I'll fuck you up.'
With a resounding thud, the sound reverberated through the room, causing a momentary pause in the air…
My ears perked up at the faint sound of approaching footsteps, gradually growing louder. From my vantage point at the far end of the cell hall, a beam of light from a flashlight pierced through the darkness, casting its glow in every direction. Its arrival coincided with her presence, and an unsettling aura seemed to descend upon the boys, silencing their chatter.
Meiko's weary face appeared before me, prompting me to instinctively shut my eyes as her flashlight mercilessly attempted to blind me.
"What are you calling me for?"
Despite her outward appearance of calm, an unsettling quality to her sleepy demeanor makes her more intimidating than usual. In moments like these, I find myself appreciative of the clarity with which my brain functions.
"I ask permission to go to the bathroom-"
"Tsk, you useless bastard, couldn't you have noticed the conveniently placed toilet right behind you?" Meiko proceeded to swiftly illuminate the area behind me with a beam of light, revealing an exposed lavatory adorned with unsightly marks on the walls, resembling the appearance of shit.
The noxious odor wafted through the air, assaulting my senses and causing a wave of nausea to wash over me. It was clear that Gakuto's neglect in cleaning up after himself was the source of this repulsive stench.
"You can't blame me. If my cell mates could keep it clean, I wouldn't bother you like this in the middle of the night."
Meiko appeared to grasp the essence of my unspoken words as her gaze shifted towards Gakuto, who lay on the bed. A frigid snort escaped her lips, foreshadowing the chilling words that followed. The sudden revelation sent waves of panic coursing through my veins.
"I couldn't care less, my dear prisoners. It's not as if you're here to revel in luxury, so put up with it."
Meiko's footsteps echoed softly as she strolled away from my cell, a sense of fulfillment emanating from her. Suddenly, a desperate plea escaped my lips, "Wait! Are you going to let me get typhus? If that happens, won't you be a bother to President Mari?"
A tight grip seized my heart as I witnessed Meiko's relentless stride. Yet, just as swiftly as her echoing footsteps resonated, they abruptly ceased, and she hastened back to my confinements.
The sound of metal meeting metal reverberated through the room, a sharp and distinct clank that echoed in the air…
As the cell door swung open, her delicate hands swiftly seized my collar, yanking me away with determined force. Not a word escaped her lips, yet the frigid transformation of her face spoke volumes. The icy demeanor that gradually settled upon her face revealed a simmering anger impossible to ignore.
The loud sound reverberated through the room as a sudden impact resonated against the surface…
As I flung myself into the bathroom, she positioned herself by the door, arms crossed, and impatiently exclaimed, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up!"
With deliberate slowness, I rose to my feet, my gaze fixed on the solitary toilet cubicle before me. With a mixture of curiosity and trepidation, I ventured forth, crossing the threshold into the confined space. Time seemed to stretch as I patiently waited, my ears straining for any sign of activity. Yet, to my surprise, not a single sound reached my ears.
She let out a disapproving click of her tongue. The words escaped her lips, laden with a mix of anger and hurt. The intensity of her emotions painted her face with a fiery hue as she directed, "You bastard! Are you trying to play with me!"
Instinctively, my hands rose to shield my face while I mustered the courage to speak, "Sorry, Vice President, I don't know what happened, but no matter how hard I try, my pee won't come out!"
Fortunately, my hand happened to be positioned in such a way that it partially obscured my face, preventing Meiko from catching sight of the mischievous grin that I struggled to conceal. My body trembled with anticipation as if it could not contain the excitement of what lay ahead should my plan come to fruition.
"That's absolute bullshit! I'll count to ten, and should your jest persist, I won't hesitate to make you drink this toilet water!"
In asserting her dominance, Meiko promptly nudged me, causing me to sit on the toilet with a sense of resignation. Even as she held my hands aloft, my troubled expression conveyed my helplessness in the situation.