Undone

"In three simple words, explain why you should be trusted to return to the general population.  Remember that you are under video surveillance and any obvious lies you might tell will easily be researched and dispelled.  In other words, in three simple but true words, explain why you should be set free."

 The room was only half lit and a weight of opportunity hung amid the floating imperfections dancing playfully beneath the few working lamps.  Precious seconds tick-tocked away as the prisoner seemed to ponder his options.  No pressure shown on his tan face.  If this moment was as important to himself as his jailers, the evidence was not displayed upon his jade-flecked blue eyes.

A slight smile elevated only the very edges of his lips as another light blinked off... then on... then out.  The guard at the door sniffed, looked oddly to no one, swiped his hand to his nose and then stared curiously at the smear of blood.

Another light struggled and lost its fight.  Dark.  

"Leave me here." mouthed the prisoner.  The phone between them rang once.  Then one-half time before it drown out of existence.  And yet another light became extinct.

Visibly, the marionette lint in the air was jolted as the ventilation system hitched suddenly and died.  The room's atmosphere became immediately thick and oppressive, like some sulfur-filled volcanic world over-run by T-Rex and flying lizards.  The guard's nose bleed had spread to eyes and ears and he slowly slumped to the concrete floor.  The interviewer stared around him in disbelief.  Now the only light remaining was directly above the desk... and it flickered nervously. 

"Leave Me Here!" warned the prisoner again.

The interviewer cocked his head inquisitively and said "I can't hear you.  This buzzing!"

"Leave Me Here!  Go!"

The guard at the door had come apart and was no more than a red-blue wet uniform puddled at the intersection of floor and door.  Bits of him flowed through the thin crack and into the next room, regardless of color-coded-access card.

The room was completely still and silent but the interviewer held palms to ears as if he were deep in the center of a great machine vibrating itself to pieces around his head.

The last lamp made its peace with the world and opted for suicide.

Somewhere, deeply hidden, a voice, half human, half something else emitted from a speaker, "Three words only, please."