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Prologue: The New Convict

"We all have a Monster within; the difference is in degree, not in kind."

-Douglas Preston, The Monster of Florence

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(California State Prison, Sacramento)

"Why are we checking on him at this time of day?" Jefferson, the prison officer, asked his partner.

"Because the governor himself told us to," his partner replied, taking the last sip of coffee and tossing the cup in the nearest bin.

"Isn't he the new convict who came in this Monday? What was his name? Anthony?"

"Antonio."

"He isn't another Kleptomaniac or something, is he? I am getting tired of them. I really don't fancy wasting time on those who steal because they have uncontrollable urges." Jefferson yawned lazily.

"Kleptomaniac? You've no idea what you are talking about," his partner shook his head in disbelief. "He is kept in a high security cell for a reason."

"We are going to high security cells? What are his charges?" Jefferson wondered aloud, stopping abruptly.

"Abduction, attempted homicide, drug dealing, trafficking...you name it and he's in for it." His partner said turning back, relishing his superior knowledge of the convict in question.

"Wow. Lads these days! Another street kid, is he?"

"Street kid," he scoffed and muttered under his breath, "Wait until you see him."

Officer Jefferson's sluggish feet started moving faster, renewed with a keen sense of curiosity and interest. They scrupulously walked over to the door of the elevator and Jefferson swiped his access card. The door made a familiar noise as they moved inside and with a jerk the elevator moved, soon after stopping at their destination.

As the automatic doors opened they saw a metallic board. Written on it in black bold letters were the words:

RESTRICTED AREA
Authorized Entry Only

The two prison officers smiled at the guards while they did the usual routine of handing over their weapons as well as their IDs, lest someone should misuse them. The guards nodded once they were done and gave them thumbs up.

"What's his cell number?" Jefferson asked, following his partner inside as the metal door closed with a reverberating sound.

"Fourteen." was the curt reply.

The officers raked the empty corridors of the maximum security prison cells. With surveillance cameras that had almost zero blind spots and an up-to-date alarm sensor system, it was virtually impossible to break out of that specific area.

As they stopped in front of the door which read '14', Jefferson urged his partner to move forward, "Go on. Unlock the hatch."

His partner lifted his hand and pressed it on the finger sensor pad until the little window opened noiselessly. "Would you like to do the honor?" He winked, eagerly anticipating his reaction.

Jefferson ushered his partner away and looked in the cell through the viewing window on the door. "Oh, my God," He gasped momentarily appalled, "Is h-he who I think he is?"

"The sole owner of 'The Beasts', yes he is," his companion said with utter glee.

Jefferson looked into the cell again rubbing his eyes. It couldn't be him. It just couldn't. Antonio Sanders was a legend. A business tycoon. A millionaire. And now he sat amidst four grey walls, in filth and dirt of the prison cells, home to the state's most notorious criminals.

"But how is this possible? A man of his status is rotting away in the prison. That ought to cause a scandal. Don't you think?"

"It would have. But we are talking about Antonio here, and he gets what he wants. I bet it was quite simple for him to put down a rumor, like he went away for a change of scene or something?"

"I guess," he muttered and looked inside at the inmate.

Antonio's face was dull and tired even though he had only been there for five days, a dirty stubble had already sprouted on his face. He didn't look anything like the pictures in business magazines. In fact he resembled some roadside goon. All the sophistication was gone, replaced by a glint in his eyes with knitted eyebrows that made him look like a madman, a psychopath.

He was sitting on the floor of his cell, fingers moving on the filthy ground as if drawing something in the dirt and dust. Jefferson stood on his tiptoes to get a better look. Written in dust were seven letters.

"What? What is it?" his partner asked curiously, trying to take a peek.

"He is writing something on the floor," Jefferson explained.

"What does it say?"

"It's a name I think," he replied, still peeping inside. "It is M-A-L-L-O-R-Y."

"Mallory?"

The officer suppressed his smile.

"Probably a love interest," Jefferson said with a smirk.

As if on cue, Antonio began scratching her name with his bare nails. Violently so. While the two spectators were shocked by his behavior, the inmate looked towards the hatch and smiled a charming smile.

"I didn't realize I had company," he said politely.

The duo was startled as if they were the culprits and not the other way round. Jefferson's partner lifted his hand to lock the hatch. Their work was done for the day.

"I will make her pay back," said an almost incomprehensible voice.

"What?" The officer asked, abruptly withdrawing his hand.

By then Antonio went back to scratching on the floor. His voice echoed in the eerily empty cell, "Mallory Millington is going to die."

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VOTE ? If you think it deserves it. :)

Hello Readers,

If you are not in habit of commenting on stories, I request you to give it a try. I would really appreciate your comments. Honestly, I don't care if it's something you hate or love, any sort of feedback would help me improve. :)

So, please go ahead, tell me what you think in the comments section. And I assure you that I would read it, reply ASAP and work upon your suggestion.

It would mean A LOT. ^_^

Now back to the story:

What are your opinions? Do you find the prison setting intriguing or is it plain bland? Any kind of feedback would be highly appreciated.

So go on. Comment. I won't eat you. Most Probably. :D ;)

Until Next Time ^_^

-Ridhima ☺