twenty. text. backdated to monday.

[goryteller]

In the 1940s, rumor has it that a prisoner on the island of Alcatraz was killed by a ghost.

Back in those days (unlike these days), they had isolation chambers called hole cells where the prisoners were kept in near darkness for weeks on end. "Bang bang bang," one prisoner cried and pounded. "Someone's trying to murder me in here." But the guards thought he was hallucinating, as those being tortured with solitude tended to, and so they did nothing. When the prisoner stopped screaming, they were quite content until they opened the cell and found that he was dead. He had markings on his neck. Strangulation. No one else was in the cell.

Ghost stories have a sort of charm, don't they? Whether or not you believe them, I mean. I don't generally because we didn't have imports back then and because the living can be fucking horrible enough. I'm certain one of the guards killed him and thought they had a clever way of covering it up. Which they did.

I wonder what the prisoner's crime was. But I don't even have a name.

I know I would take death as a legacy if nothing else.

Comments

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Things you're unwilling to forgive yourself for.

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

Are you trying to get at something?

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

You are the cause of your own limitations. You.

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

Do you think that's news to me? I know my own condition.

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

And so do other people. That's the point, that other people know. You can't blame them in lieu of yourself, because they know.

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

I don't feel like listening to you.

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

But you always do anyway, don't you? It's like you're compelled.

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

It's like I'm bored.

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Your own psyche bores you more than empty sexual innuendo? Thomas, no wonder you have an inferiority complex.

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

I meant that's why I listen to you. Because I'm bored.

You entertain me.

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Most people pay for their entertainment, I just want you to know.

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

Why would I pay for someone to entertain me when they're already doing it willingly?

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

I can tell it isn't the economy that's on your mind.

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

Is she still not talking to you?

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Why are you so invested?

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

I'm not invested. It was just a question.

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Is it just a question? We're not for your perusal, you know.

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

She hasn't, then. Okay.

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

She will.

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

I don't think so.

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Your bias is noted.

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

I just hope she doesn't get kidnapped or anything because of you. Held hostage, tortured, whatever.

You'd feel really terrible if that happened, right? Real bad.

private

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

What are you doing?

private

[nine-tries.livejournal.com]

Pointing out the inevitable. With him around, it's bound to happen.

private

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

This is why you're supposed to infiltrate his schemes.