PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
Alive
It’s quiet down here, far from screeches and howls at the surface. Constant light takes some adjustment. It’s always sixty degrees, but the cement floors’ cold can work its way up your feet and ache into the long bones.
Threaded power lines travel the circuit. Sometimes they hum, like a machine’s lullaby.
Do they think of us as pets? Once a day a ceiling hatch opens, bringing cabbage, carrots, apples, and oats. The trench fills with water once a day. We’ve designated a toilet area to minimize the reek.
Two years captive. We are still alive; but for what purpose?
[100 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
Chillingly conceived. To what purpose, indeed?
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Thanks, Neil.
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Excellent response to this rather creepy photo.
We are left wanting to know why they are being held.
Love that Pearl Jam tune
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Thanks, Dale. Where/what is this place??
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This is in Montreal, about 10 minutes away from where I work. It’s called the Georges-Vanier tunnel and brings you under the Ville-Marie Blvd. It’s a shortcut, so to speak, and creeps many people out!
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I would never choose to go there alone, I know that.
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Bah. It wasn’t so bad. 😉
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I really really hope you carry pepper spray at least, whenever you walk alone.
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Lisa. No. It’s daytime. And pepper spray is illegal.
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I love the feel of this piece and your phrasing- ‘a machine’s lullaby’. Well done!
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Thanks, Clare!
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The picture you’ve painted here sounds pretty scary, Lisa. I dig that Pearl Jam song!
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I wouldn’t want to find myself in that predicament. I love that one and it and Black are the two songs closest to Eddie (I think)
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You’ve captured the atmosphere of empty repetition and constant light, the feeling of no relief. Humans need variety. (K)
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I hear you, Kerfe. My computer got water damaged/fried and just now getting back on WP with the replacement. Am interviewing for a job next week that will give me that variety if they hire me.
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Good luck !
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<3
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And thanks for the postcard! It brightened my day yesterday.
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You’re very welcome, K!
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A chilling tale. You could extend this, so we can all find out who is keeping them there and why!
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If I can figure out who and why, I will ;)
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My heart hurt when I read this knowing that somewhere in this very moment, there is someone existing in this or an even more terrifying reality.
Excellent write.
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Violet, I hear you. Thank you.
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Oh my, this is wierd, a great take though! Who, what, where and why – thought I’m not even sure I want to know!!
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Keith, I don’t blame you a bit. I hope to never go there.
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You’ve crafted a convincing depiction of a world I hope we never have to see. It would be hard to hold onto sanity.
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I’ve read about incarcerated prisoners in solitary being standard practice in the USA. At least the people in this story have others to help keep them sane. Thanks much for reading and your comment, Angela.
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I have a friend who was in solitary confinement for about 45 days as a protective measure before his release because the lifers apparently have a reputation for seriously injuring people who are on the tail end of their sentence. I know there are different perspectives on solitary’s usefulness in cases like that. I believe that was standard practice in his facility. I’m glad the people in your story have each other to keep them sane!
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Angela, SO sorry to hear about your friend having to be in solitary for so long to keep him safe. Horrible that lifers can be in the same gen pop as people definitely getting out and trying harm them out of what I can guess is resentment or maliciousness?
I think they way overuse solitary for punishment based on some journalist reports. I understand if an inmate is a menace to other inmates, but they need to try other things than make them even more emotionally unstable/dangerous.
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Yeah, it’s a complicated system, and like so many things, full of problems without simple solutions. Even my friend’s case, there were a lot of things to consider (yes, he committed the crime, but was correctly taking medication that was prescribed by a well-meaning doctor and which messed with his mind). There are also many difficult factors to navigate in many of these cases, and I think it’s impossible to paint issues with broad strokes. Thank you so much for your kind words and comments!
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{{{HUGS}}} <3
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Yow… life there sounds quite horrid.
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The question a captive would ask anywhere anytime … why? Great descriptions of a horrible situation, Lisa!
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Brenda, thank you very much.
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Wow, Lisa. Your mind went to one of the most dreadful concepts I’ve read in a long time. It’s so awful, mainly because it’s possible. We live in a world of sick, twisted people who really do this sort of thing. Incredibly horrific yet excellent write.
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Nancy, I agree with you. Imprisonment takes so many forms, and the reality that humans can imprison each other without a shred of conscience or decency is “incredibly horrific” as you say.
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Dear Lisa,
An evocative piece that leaves the reader with many questions. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, thank you. When Dale said this place exists not far from her, a chill went through me.
Thanks again.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Sounds like we are someone’s pet hamster lol.
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Yes, they are probably watching us from their peepholes! lol
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LOL…
I would take Rudy’s life.
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That is so dark. Stories about people kept locked up in cellars/sheds/tunnels are always disturbing, and yours is no less so.
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Imprisonment takes many forms. Thanks for reading and your comment, Patrick.
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must be creepy to be held captive in a creepy place without knowing why…
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Maddening! Good thing they have each other to help keep each other sane.
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Ooooooo creepy
Kept for what? That’s the question. I’m spooked by this one. Well done
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I wonder also. If they start disappearing one or two at a time, things are going to get even creepier :(
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If Silence Of The Lambs taught us anything, it’s for skin suits. Of course, aliens could use them for breeding, food, or pets. It could be a government experiment. There are so many possibilities. You have my imagination going. Great creepy vibe.
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Nobbin, you came up with some good guesses. I wonder if they throw lotion down also?
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They do, and the prisoners use it unless they want to get the hose again.
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NOw I want to know more! Chilling, and wonderful ending!
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This is one I’d like to expand on. Thanks.
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