DISCLAIMER: The work is mine. Any potentially similar characters, events or places in any of the following passages is purely coincidental. All rights reserved.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: A brief, random passage I cooked up, as per usual. Let me know what you think about this, or any subsequent passages found here.

- VftW -

A deep, misty haze blanketed the night sky as the man gazed out upon the barren yard. No sound could be heard, save for the crickets' song and the faint whistle of the evening breeze blowing across the outer wall of the building. Signs of life on the outside were slim to none; flickering, swift-moving shadows proved to be nothing more than the static forms of shrubs and tree branches, catching the pale moonlight.

It was calm; could almost be considered peaceful if he could learn to disregard the subtle twinge of claustrophobia that always seemed to accompany his nightly gaze outward. He heard the repeated sound of footsteps and the dull clang of aluminum on steel as he turned his gaze from his only portal to the outside. It was almost time.

He crouched down, feeling the texture of one of the stone blocks that comprised the wall in front of him. It had become something of a habit. Each night he would crouch down in the same place, feel the same brick. Its texture always felt rough against the skin of his fingertips. Elevated, almost. It was a singular act which seemed to bring some semblance of order, of the real, to an otherwise uncontrollable existence.

"Lights out!" The exclaimed order rang out from below, prompting the fluorescent lights hanging from the main ceiling to turn off, leaving behind a high-pitched hum in their wake. He pushed himself to his feet and walked over to the door to his cell, pressing his cheek to the cold, unyielding bars. Just another day in the life.

END