Strength.

                                    

                                          
    I was sitting on Jerome's bed, legs criss-crossed and back against the wall as I look at my nails. Jerome was pacing back and forth, rambling about something. I sighed and crossed my arms looking up at him.
    He stopped and looked at me. 
    "How much longer, I'm hungry." I muttered.
    "When it comes to things like this, your stomach can wait." He muttered back.
    I scoffed. "And what exactly is this thing?" 
    He stared at me, then sat down on the edge of the bed, still eyeing me down as if I had stolen one of his most prized possessions.
    "We need to figure out how to bring that other you back out." He said.
    "What other me- there is no other me." I argued.
    "No, no..." He continued in his Jersey kind-of accent. "You have an...." he reached his hand towards my face. I started to lean away from it but then he flicked the side of my head. 
    "Ow!"
    "Alter ego." He stated. "I would prefer it if you let it out. Maybe switch em around."
    "No, I don't have an alter ego, there is no other side of me, and I'm not crazy! Why don't you understand?" I rolled my eyes as I ran my fingers through my hair.
    He snapped his fingers and jumped up onto his legs.
    "I know! We just have to force it out!" He said as he gave me a mischievous smile.
    "W-What does that mean?" I asked.
    His eyebrows furrowed as he looked away, waving his hand at me. 
    "Oh, don't you worry about it. This is all on me. Meet me in the cafeteria tonight after 12."
    "12? As in Midnight?" I asked again.
    He nodded. "And I better see you there, doll. Or I'll make your experience here Hell."
___________________________________
    It was 12:15 at midnight. I quickly stumbled into the cafeteria. Jerome was sitting on top of his 'favorite' table, glaring at me.
    I rubbed my eyes.
    "I fell asleep." I groaned.
    He rolled his eyes and sat back. Then suddenly, another prisoner grabbed me by the hair and yanked me down.
    "Ow-!" I squeaked. Just then, I fell to the floor and the man kicked me in the stomach. I groaned in pain, hugging myself.
    Jerome just watched. He. Just. Watched.
    "Jerome-" I started, but the man grabbed me and threw me against the table across from Jerome. 
    There was pain everywhere. So much pain that my mind couldn't even register what was hurt and what wasn't. Then he grabbed me by my chin and lifted my face up.
    My eyebrows furrowed and I looked up at him. My nose started to bleed.
    "Awe, ain't you a pretty one." He said in a rather southern accent.
    "Fight back." Jerome muttered.
    I completely froze.
    "How's about you and me go hit it in the back. I got a big bed..." He smiled, sticking his tongue out and barely licking my cheek.
    I struggled to pull away, so my head flung back and forth, headbutting him right in the face. 
    "Oh!" He yelled, holding his nose. Jerome laughed, watching as if it were a TV Comedy.