Page 18

Richard isn’t able to leave his cell yet since he’s just been processed inside twenty-four hours ago.

They bring him the same disgusting slop bedside.

I imagine he just sleeps and doesn’t even try to eat.

So, I wonder where they keep the guy who thinks he’s a werewolf and has been here for three months.

It’d be interesting to see what Richard and the werewolf think of each other.

At breakfast, it’s me chatting up Bruce for a change.

“As it turns out, Richard doesn’t actually think he’s a werewolf. He’s just sure as hell that he’s seen them. And a vampire that turns into a black bird.”

“A bat?” Bruce asks.

“No, he was very specific about it being a black bird. Like a raven, I guess. Are ravens black?”

“Yeah, I’d say I believe him, if it wouldn’t earn me a few more years in this joint,” Bruce says with a smile.

“He told me he saw a pack of them in their human forms fighting what he believes to be a vampire up in Anaheim Hills one night. That’s what landed him in here. No one will believe him; they think he’s crazy. Being a homeless drifter, they medicated him and locked him up with the rest of us loons.”

“Well, then, no wonder he’s so pissed off.”

“Yeah,” I agree, spooning a mouthful of bland food into my mouth. “I didn’t know they could do that.”

“Honestly, I’m not sure they can… at least, not legally.”

We’re eating scrambled eggs and tomatoes for breakfast. Although I would have preferred a red, liquid meal, I eat my powdered eggs and overripe tomatoes without a fuss. Bruce seems proud of me.

“You should have heard his story, man. It was insane. Werewolves and vampires. But from what he described, that would have to be the weirdest vampire ever.”

“Quiet, Aaron,” Bruce hushes me. “Save your story for later. You might not want any ears hearing you use that particular word around here.”

“You’re right,” I agree. “I’ll tell you more when we are out in the yard.”

We finish breakfast and because I’m a good boy and ate my food, I’m rewarded time out in the yard again.

Bruce and I decide to take a walk around the perimeter of the yard. This way I can tell Richard’s story without interruption or prying ears.

I tell Bruce the exact story that Richard told me. Verbatim. I just have to tell the story a lot quicker, as we’re only in the yard for thirty minutes and Richard has all night to tell me.

Bruce takes in and seems to believe every word of the story. He tells me to not share the story with anybody else in the prison.

We walk back to our cells and for the first time, I’m a tad excited in this damned place. I’m anxious to see if Richard has any more stories about vampires and werewolves.