Free The Day of Legion by Craig Taylor Page A

angry he was inside with them.
    All the prisoners were locked in their cells after that, so John lay on his bed, trying to think. He stared at the ceiling with uncontrolled thoughts flowing in and out of his mind.
    He was in a single cell due to the level of his crime. Murderers and rapists were housed in this tier. They were considered too dangerous to have a cellmate. It was a relief to him. If he had to be there until this was sorted out, he was glad to be alone. It was hard enough to sleep with all of the yelling and screaming at night.
    An announcement came over the PA system that the evening meal would be served in the cells due to the unrest. A chorus of swearing and threats erupted up and down the tiers. John was desperate to get out.

Chapter Eight
    Jason woke up in the hospital. He turned his head and saw his mother sitting in a chair by the bed. She was asleep, turned slightly sideways with her legs curled up. He coughed lightly and winced at the pain in his head.
    His throat was dry and scratchy. His body hurt from his chest to his stomach, his eyes felt dry and scaly. His arm hurt; when he looked he saw an IV inserted above his hand.
    “Mom,” he whispered. His voice came out wispy and weak.
    Janine didn’t move. She was in a deep sleep.
    “Mom,” he called again. This time it was a little louder, making her stir.
    Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked around the room, confused at first. Then she looked at Jason and realized he was awake. She went to his bed, leaned down and hugged him gently.
    “You’re going to be fine, honey,” she sobbed in his ear. “I’m so happy you’re okay!”
    “What happened?” he asked.
    “Alex pushed you into the lake,” she replied. “His father and I came looking for you when I went to your room and found you gone. Just as we came over the little rise we saw the two of you on the rock. We saw him push you in!”
    “Why’d he do that?” he asked.
    “He’s a bad boy, Jason. I’m sorry I invited him. I thought after talking to his father at school, he had changed his bad behavior, but it’s only gotten worse.”
    “I’m sorry I went to the lake, Mom.”
    She smiled and stroked his hair. “Don’t worry, Jason. This wasn’t your fault.”
    His eyes were heavy and he struggled to keep them open. Janine could see he was trying hard to stay awake.
    “Go to sleep, honey. You need your rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
    He closed his eyes and then opened them again.
    “Where’s Dad? Is he coming?”
    Janine held his hand. There was no need to answer; he fell asleep before she could think of what to say.

Chapter Nine
    The guard passed John his meal through the slot in his cell door. The hardened plastic tray was designed to prevent prisoners breaking or scraping any of it off to fashion a weapon. It came with a lid, some plastic utensils, and a juice box, all of which had to be returned with the tray when they came to collect it.
    He sat on his bed and placed the tray next to him.
    “What culinary delights do we have tonight?” he asked himself out loud.
    He was talking to himself a lot. He’d never felt so lonely before. Locked away from the world, unable to even pick up a phone and call someone was taking its toll. He missed that.
    He lifted the lid and inspected his food. Grey fried mincemeat with chopped carrots, undercooked potatoes and a slimy unknown ingredient, two pieces of white bread and red jelly.
    He liked mealtime. Not because the food was nice, but because it was the only time there was complete silence. He knew he’d get a good ten to fifteen minutes of quiet, until the others finished and started shouting down the hall or talking to the other prisoners. He was restless. His lawyer hadn’t gotten back to him. He said the police weren’t providing any details on John’s case to him. He would have to sit tight until his next hearing, in three months. The lawyer said if the police didn’t release any information soon, they would