Sanctuary

Chapter Thirteen - White Is The New Black.

(For all of the people who are as obsessed with Orange Is The New Black like I am)

"There are approximately eight hundred and thirty nine ways to kill yourself." The guard began as he paced in front of us. "You better believe we know every. single. one."

We - myself and the small group of twelve people - had just arrived ten minutes ago. The first thing we had to do was exchange our clothes for jumpsuits, take out our shoe laces and get thoroughly patted down from head to toe. The second thing we had to do was attend a short orientation that was directed by two of main guards on our floor.

One of them, the one that was currently talking, was tall. Maybe about six foot four, leanly built like Orton and had to be in his mid thirties. He had dark combed back hair and a thick mustache sitting on his upper lip. And a name tag that read, 'Mendez'.

"Don't try to gag yourself with your tooth brush to death. Don't punch a window. Don't try to run into the wall several times. Don't try to tie your hair around your goddamn neck and hang from the ceiling." He made an emphasis to look at me since mine was all disheveled and down to my hip. "Don't try any of it. Because we are required by law - unfortunately - to stop you."

I hiked up the highest eyebrow.

"Now you lucky thirteeners have been selected to be apart of this orientation simply because you didn't come in kicking and screaming - and you seem to have a touch of sanity - so therefore you're good to understand the rules." He began to pace again. "There is no patient-guard sexual relations permitted at any time in the facility."

All of the girls' faces scrunched up.

"Our job is to monitor you. Not fuck you. We did not put you in here so it is not our duty to fulfill your unfulfilled desires. It is strictly prohibited." He stopped in front of me, "But what the captain doesn't know, won't hurt him."

He tried to twirl a strand of my hair and I swatted his hand down, causing the other guard to laugh. Mendez slowly turned to glare at him.

"Is something funny over there, rookie?" He challenged and the other one immediately cleared his throat.

"No, sir."

"No, no you seem to have something to say. Why don't you get up here and say a few words to the patients?"

"I really don't-"

"That wasn't a request."

He sighed and stood up, allowing us to fully see him. He had brown fluffy hair and big brown innocent eyes. He appeared to stand somewhere around six one or five eleven. Also he was astoundingly younger. Perhaps in his early twenties.

"Hi. I am Officer Bennett and I am a year one trainee under Officer Mendez. I am also one of the guards that will be monitoring you all throughout the course of your stay." He spoke a bit softly. "You all are in this room because like Mendez said - you have the capability to understand and take in what we're saying."

"That is not what I said!"

"In more or less words, you did." He rolled his eyes. "But if I can I'd like to revisit the suicidal discussion from earlier, there is no need to try it in here ladies. You're not doing a prison sentence of twenty five to life, for most of you this will be a month long thing at the most. And trust me, you'll leave a far better person."

He started to pace. "I know it might not seem like it now but there is life beyond these white walls. We've had numerous people leave this institution and go on to become very successful people. We've even had some public figures that we're not at liberty to discuss with you."