[-][1x1][L-N+] Walls and Silence (with Rent_junkie)

[BrokenScreamBox]

Olan let out a sigh and stopped. "I know I said I was ready to go back, but I really don't want to."  

[Rent_junkie]

"I'm sorry you have to go back."

He sighed softly.  

[BrokenScreamBox]

"Yeah, I know." With that, Olan reluctantly stood, waiting for Marco to get up as well.  

[Rent_junkie]

Marco stood up and walked with Olan back to his cell.

"I really am sorry for how your life is."

He signed to him.  

[BrokenScreamBox]

Olan gave Marco a sad smile. "It could have been worse," he replied, remembering what his caretaker had told him. "At least you're here to make it bearable."  

[Rent_junkie]

"Still your life should be better than this."  

[BrokenScreamBox]

Olan made no effort to continue their conversation. Reluctantly, he dragged himself behind Marco, trying once more to delay the inevitable return to his tiny world. He was tempted to cry, but he had learned long ago that it was a waste of time and energy.  

[Rent_junkie]

Marco opened his cell for him.

"Good night Olan."  

[BrokenScreamBox]

"Good night." With that, Olan entered the cell and immediately headed to the bed. The sooner he slept, the sooner morning will come, and the sooner Marco would return, after all.  

[Rent_junkie]

Marco shut the cell behind him and went to sleep in his own room.  

[BrokenScreamBox]

Olan was sure he was just moments away from falling unconscious, but then something hit him. Literally. He got up and saw someone from another cell, the one across the way, waving at him as if to catch his attention. Well, that someone did.

The deaf prisoner did not recogniz the person. Perhaps he was a newcomer. "Hello?" he said, not sure if the other could hear him. He could not even hear himself.

"You're the lucky kid, I take it," the newcomer said, or at least Olan thought he said.

"What do you mean?"

"The deaf one. The prison's favorite?"

"I suppose so."

"I feel sorry for you, and so does everyone else. You're just a pet."

"Pet?"

"Taken out on walks, fed, stuck in a tiny room. You're a pet." The prisoner said nothing more and went to sleep, leaving Olan to reflect on his life and how much it resembled that of a pet.  

[Rent_junkie]

Having no clue what was happened with Olan Marco slept peacefully. He'd be angry at the other prisoner if he knew.  

[BrokenScreamBox]

The night dragged on and on, and Olan did not get a wink of sleep. If he wasn't deaf, the silence and the dragging of time would have driven him crazy.  

[Rent_junkie]

The morning came and Marco ordered the prisoners to get to work. Once they were all out he went to Olan and opened his cell.

"Is something wrong? You don't look like you slept at all."

He signed to him.  

[BrokenScreamBox]

"It's just a nightmare. Too scared to go back to sleep. I'll be fine..." Olan answered, with his voice as he was too tired to sign. That was only a half-lie; he really was afraid to go to sleep. "What's a pet, exactly?"