Characters: Mitch, Jerome, and Lachlan
Word count: 398
Extra notes: This is an alternate ending to 'The Unguarded Prison'

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~Jerome's P.O.V.~

"Listen man." Mitch continues, leaning forward, his face dead serious. "I know it might be hard to believe, but take it from me, the monsters that lurk out there will find you, and they will kill you if you leave."

And with that he stands, pats me on the shoulder, and walks away. Soon enough, he's lost in a sea of faces. Lowering my head, I sit there silently, deeply disturbed by this news. Poking at my food, this time I'm not eating it out of unsettlement, rather than anxiousness. What are these monsters he kept talking about? Was he just playing a prank on me? Am I really suck here for the rest of my life? The questions never end, swirling through my brain in a never ending loop of confusion and terror. But my thoughts are soon broken as there's a light tap on my shoulder. I turn to the sight of a tall and lean blond male, with strikingly blue eyes.

"Hey mate, you alright?" He asks in concern, with a small Australian accent.
"Uhh, yeah? Why?"
The blond shrugs. "It's just you were tasking to yourself there a second ago. Thought you might need some company."
"...But... I wasn't talking to myself..." I mumble, furrowing my brow as the Aussie takes a seat beside me.
"Oh, you weren't? Sorry, must've not seen the other person from where I was standing. Did you catch they're name by any chance?"
I nod. "Yeah, I think his name was 'Mitchell Hughes' or something like that." I recall.
His face morphs into one of shock. "Mitchell Hughes? Surely not... Are you sure that was his last name?"
"Yeah, I'm... Pretty sure." I state, casting him a confused glance.
"What did he look like?"
"Let's see uh... He had chestnut hair, caramel eyes.... Oh! And he had a tattoo of a Canada flag on his neck." I recite, naming off his distinct features. "But, I still don't understand why that's such a big deal? Who is he?"
The guy kinda looks to the side, seeming to pale. "It's just that I knew him."
"Knew?"
He turns to me, eyes wide with disbelief. "Mitch died nearly a year ago trying to escape."

~~~

Did you guys like that alternate ending?