[Toward morning]

[Location -

Tower A - North of the large labyrinth Prison compound, she stood in wonder; agape at the height of the tower. 

Yet to make its way over the lofty walls surrounding the compound, the sunlight, still very weak, shone on the very top of the weathered stone structure where Violet ought to be.

Sword at her side and satchel in hand, Violet sighed as she reminisced and began her ascent. 

Back in the Capital, the workload was heavy, the environment mostly calm and the other officers there were surprisingly pleasant towards her. 

She was perfectly fine there.

Now, she was to be locked away in a tower, where its only prisoner was rumoured to be a crazy Southerner who apparently killed many officers. 

Assigned officers were instructed to simply stay at their post, have no conversation with him and ensure that he was fed. Certainly easy.

Up the winding staircase towards the very top she climbed. Uncertain of what to expect. So began Violet’s new assignment.

**

**

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

The entrance to the holding cells; a heavy wooden door, where a man’s face soon appeared before it squeaked open.

From within the room he called; hurriedly ushering her further inside 

-- Come in, come in! Sign there! You are…St. Hill, correct?

Violet: That’s correct

-- I take it you received all of your instructions?

The officer said while he quickly latched the door 

Violet: Yes, I have

-- Perfect! I’m Officer Taylor..

He stretched forth his hand as if to shake but instead

Officer Taylor: ..and for you..here, keys…
Violet: oh!... 

She exclaimed, accepting the bunch of keys being thrusted at her 

Officer Taylor: …and also, let me show you around. 

He then tittered and said 

Officer Taylor: There really isn’t much to see here.. Privy, storage room and a little corner to cook in..

As he pointed toward a couple small wooden doors and an empty charred space

Officer Taylor: ..and that’s it! 

Violet: ..!

In a rush, he began taking up his sack of belongings from off the table which sat at the centre of the room.

Swiftly unlatching the door, he departed with a simple

Officer Taylor: All the best.

And closed the door with a loud 

-Bang!-

Violet remained where she stood staring at the door, a little dazed, eventually her attention turned to the ring of keys in hand and she locked the door.

In turning, she beheld her new workspace and she took it all in with a deep sigh.

Glancing toward the ashen corner of the room where strewn cooking utensils lay.

{Quiet. Clean… somewhat..}

{…and I’m alone with a mass murderer. Delightful}

Now which of the prison doors was the lone southerner behind, she also wondered. For all the cells were locked and she heard not a sound from within any of them. 

Deciding to instead pass the time with some reading, she logged her name down, placed the keys and her satchel upon the table, and withdrew a red covered novel. 

Her anxious state that morning prevented her from having eaten any breakfast and now in want of food, she thought of preparing some tea, so toward the storage room she went.

Dim and musty, with wooden barrels and boxes and a wooden shelf against the wall on the opposite end; and below her feet, an under-floor storage space of which the trap door was locked. 

The shelf, occupied with dingy ceramic containers, wooden bowls and some dented pots, drew her attention. With one container now in hand, Violet, squinted in disgust at the contents within

Violet: …What is that? Whatever it is, it’s no longer tea..

And promptly returned it to its place

-sigh-

{I should’ve brought my own}

Violet thought, and returned to the desk to instead pour herself some water. 

She was about lift the water pitcher, when a voice unexpectedly called loudly saying

-- You! Out there!!

Violet: ..!?

Wide eyed, she stared at the cell doors; unsure from behind which the voice came. 

Prisoner: Water! 

Violet: y-You’re not supposed to speak to me!

Prisoner: Incorrect.

Violet: Pardon?

Prisoner: It is you who should not be speaking to me.

Violet: ..oh 

Repeating his request, the prisoner bellowed 

Prisoner: Water! 

{Officer Taylor failed to mention which-}

There were no cups, only a few copper pots and pans and wooden bowls. So, in taking one of the bowls, she hurriedly poured some water and 

Prisoner: Water!!

The prisoner cut off Violet’s train of thought with yelling and heavy banging upon his cell door; the locks rattled as he continued to hammer away.

There was a slide door; locked as well. Small enough to push the bowl of water through. 

Examining the mess of keys, she stammered to herself 

Violet: I…I’m not sure which key…

Yet she turned and fumbled the bunch of keys in her hurried attempts; fitting and wiggling one in the lock, then another and a third, until eventually with a 

-click! -

The lock finally opened. 

Relieved, Violet then gave a deep sigh

Prisoner: Water now!!

Violet: Would you be patient!?

She demanded and placed the bowl of water on the cell’s door food tray. 

Violet: There! Your water.

Prisoner: …

Violet: Aren't you thirsty?

Prisoner: ..You’ll be wanting to put it a little closer perhaps..

Violet: …

A little closer towards the gap in the door she pushed it. Her hand was still on the bowl when without warning,  a dirty claw-like hand sprang out. 

Reflexively, Violet quickly withdrew  

With ragged long nails, the hand from within the cell slowly received the bowl

Prisoner: No need to be afraid. I assure you, I am not as dangerous as you might think

Violet: …

From behind the prisoner’s door, the gulping down of water could be heard.

Then he continued

Prisoner: Ahhh! …and besides, you would appear quite similar..

The prisoner said, before he returned the bowl 

Prisoner: …if you were in here for over.. for over..

Violet: …

Prisoner: …I don’t seem to know how long it has been anymore. I’ve forgotten? Have I really lost count?

**

[Toward Noon]

Prisoner: I was not always the lone prisoner you know! There were others in the cells next to me! What happened to them you ask?!

{I did not ask. No one did.}

From within his cell, the prisoner continued his vehement tirade alone. 

Violet took note of the time on her pocket watch, shook her head and sighed. It was close to noon now, and if she had read at least one page in her book that was a great achievement, for the prisoner continued on saying

Prisoner: They cared not to live. They decided it was better to die than to betray their homeland and their King! ALL FOOLS!! What purpose does their death serve?! Killing themselves in their prison cells!! For I tell you..

Violet: …

Prisoner: ..THE KING CARES NOT FOR THE DEAD. NOT EVEN FOR THE LIVING! ONLY FOR HIS OWN AMBITIONS!!

Violet: AND YOU?!

Prisoner: …

Fully abandoning any reading, she shut her book and questioned the prisoner

Violet: Well?

Prisoner: Well, what?! …Who…me?

Violet: YES! Obviously! What do you care about then?

Prisoner: …..

Violet: …

Prisoner: Why do you ask me this?

Violet: You have been loudly conversing with yourself for hours now mind you!!..

Prisoner: …

Violet:  ..disturbing my reading, so I decided I should instead join in.

Silence passed again, until

Prisoner: Strange

Violet: What is?

Prisoner: You are 

Violet: I have been told so many times. What of it?

Prisoner: …Others, such as the officer before you, would either not speak to me- as instructed..

Violet: …

Prisoner: ..or scream and yell, ordering me to be silent- or else. Or even have a full argument with me.. 

Violet: …

Prisoner: ..I am quite fond of those interactions the most 

The prisoner began to chuckle as he reminisced 

Violet: So? 

Prisoner: …

Violet: Answer me then?

Prisoner: ..Do repeat your question.

Violet: ..What do you care about?

A long silence passed before any answer was given. 

The prisoner who had been pacing back and forth as he yelled and conversed, now sat on the edge of his bed and held a small ring, between his fingers, as though examining it, before squeezing it tightly.

Briefly he felt the coldness of it. 

Opening his palm, the sunlight which entered into his cell from a small barred window above, shone onto the ring of ruby and onyx. 

Its sheen long gone, it was dull, as though lifeless.

Prisoner: I care about…not dying. I cannot die. Not yet.

**

[Midday]

-Knock! Knock! Knock!-

Lunch was being served. Of plain white rice, a bit of greens and meat on the side along with two small sweet buns. Quite an extravagant meal for a prisoner, thought Violet. 

With no reaction from the other side, she pushed the bowl closer. Still nothing. 

So she knocked again and said

Violet: I said, your food is here!

Prisoner: …

{Oh…so now you’re quiet}

Violet:  I am not going to stand here forever. So, either take it now or-

A hand then slowly reached out and took the bowls of food and water.

The sound of shuffling feet was next heard. But afterwards, there was nothing. 

To question the prisoner, Violet considered but refrained. And instead, with a frown, she fastened the lock once again and returned to her desk where her lunch awaited.

**

-Knock! Knock! Knock!-

The prisoner rapped suddenly against his door and Violet took it to mean that he completed his meal, so she opened the slide and gathered the bowls. 

As she stood there, Violet could not help but to ask

Violet: Is everything all right? You have been-..not as talkative 

Prisoner: …

Violet: …

Eventually, the prisoner sharply replied

Prisoner: Are you not pleased? You can get on with your reading now. Just leave me be.

Violet, a little taken aback by the response, simply returned to her desk and no longer paid the prisoner any mind.

Violet: -Yawn! 

It was late afternoon now and with a change in shifts soon, Violet placed her book splayed open down and made toward the wide and open, yet barred window to enjoy one last view. 

The gentle yellowing of the sky from the setting sun, its light glistening onto the still ocean beyond. Breathing in the fresh salty air, Violet sighed and began to reflect on the day. 

{Today was not that bad, I expected far worse. Thanks to Simon..}

She then remembered how terrible her assignment ought to have been

{I suppose it's inevitable that nonsensical rumours would arise..}

Violet now gazed upon the cell door with a small squint of her eyes 

{I admit though, he's indeed a little…off}

She then glanced at her pocket watch

{Ah! It's almost time. I should pack my things}

Violet turned away from the painterly scene and proceeded to gather up her belongings

Prisoner: Your shift is almost over

Alarmed, Violet paused and stared at the cell door. The prisoner had been silent since before noon and now…

Violet: You were so quiet in there

Prisoner: I was…lost- for a while

Violet: Well, I'm glad that you found your way back.. 

She further added while packing her satchel 

Violet: ..and yes, I'm being relieved from my shift soon.

Prisoner: When will you return?

Violet: …?

Prisoner: When shall your next visit to my tower be? We barely discussed anything today. 

Her full attention she gave toward the cell door and questioned

Violet: …Pardon?

Prisoner: …

Violet: Why? Are you going to miss me?…I thought you enjoyed debating with the other officers?

Prisoner: Though that is true. But I admit…you are..unlike the others

With a shake of her head, Violet returned her attention toward her satchel before saying

Violet: Next sundown is my-

-Bang! Bang! Bang!-

Outside the front door, the next shift’s officer now stood 

Prisoner: ‘till then I suppose

Oddly enough, as she approached the door, keys in hand, Violet found herself with a small smile upon her face.

➵