Cell Limbo

Anna Jane looked up at the ceiling of her cell. How long had it been? She tried to piece together what happened hours earlier. They handcuffed her and shoved her into this cell. No explanation. It happened so fast.

The silence didn’t help. Anna Jane sat up. Still nothing from Teddy either.

“How long has it been?” she asked herself. She looked around for a clock. They looked scared when she mentioned Chronus. What was up with that? She tried to ask for the reasoning behind the shift in attitude.

“What’s wrong?” Anna Jane asked. “What did I do?” No answer. The teddy cops looked fearfully at her. One wouldn’t even go near her. He hung back as she was being processed. He could’ve turned around and ran.

“I’m not a bad girl,” Anna Jane said. “Why do you all look scared?” They still didn’t answer.

The girl sat on the floor. She was the only person in a cell. Not even the guards were in sight. Anna Jane made a face.

“Now what?” she asked. She looked up at the ceiling. How many cracks were up there? She counted them already. Maybe she missed some.  Maybe she should count again. One… Two… Three… Twelve… Twenty-seven… Thirty-five… Forty…

Wait. Where did that crack come from? Anna Jane tilted her head.

“Huh?” Anna Jane asked. Suddenly, the door opened. The girl looked up. A big teddy bear in a cop uniform walked into the room. He frowned in his shades.

“Hey,” Anna Jane said. He wouldn’t look at her. The bear had a tray in his little hands.

“Here,” he said, handing her said tray. Anna Jane looked down. A bowl of katsudon sat piping hot in the middle of the tray. The guard refused to make eye contact.

“Just take it,” the guard said.

“Thanks, I guess,” the little girl said. She took the tray and broke apart the chopsticks. Anna Jane started to eat.

“How is it?” the guard muttered.

“Good,” she said. The guard still wouldn’t look up. Anna Jane lowered her chopsticks.

“Hey,” she said.

“Yeah?” the guard asked. The little girl sat up on the floor.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Why is everyone so scared of me?” The guard didn’t answer. He turned and walked out of the room. The door slammed shut. Anna Jane just stared down into her bowl.

“Oh…” she muttered.

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Meanwhile, Teddy had his plans to bail Anna Jane out.