Imagine (by Courtney)

 Hello everyone! Today's story writer up for critique is Courtney, who has quite the imagination. Let's get to it!

 Imagine by Courtney

Drew carried the beige tray of food down the prison’s hallway. He had to admit he was a little nervous. He was, after all, a rookie to the facility, marching to the highest-security cell in Sweden. However, it wasn’t the hallway he was nervous about; it was the inhabitant. The woman who contorted reality, changing a modern Earth into the stuff of fantasy. It had been going on for years, slowly filling entire regions with strange and otherworldly things.

 He neared the bolted door and set his jaw. He slid open the panel on the front and pushed the food through. He risked a peek at the inmate.

 Before he laid eyes on the woman, he was taken with what surrounded her. Chinese cherry trees were rooted into the cement floor with green vines sprawling across the stone blocks. A small stream flowed across the ground with pink flowers sprouting alongside it. Lightning bugs floated in the air, their soft glow blinking occasionally.

 Drew couldn’t believe his eyes. The woman sat gazing lovingly at the bugs, lifting a finger to them once and a while. She wore a beautiful purple dress and her soft brown curls hung gracefully over her shoulder. The prison had given up trying to control her imagination, it was too powerful. Yet she never tried to escape.

 She was a mystery and a threat to humankind but as Drew observed her, he couldn’t think how she could possibly be dangerous. He shook his head. The dragon that obliterated a village in Africa told a different story.

 He cleared his throat. “Miss Roth, your lunch has arrived.”

The woman looked up sharply, all of the lovely things in her cell disappearing, leaving an empty white room. The dress also disappeared, leaving her in an ugly orange jumper. “Officer Shane.” She greeted, her voice calm and steady. “I heard you were coming.”

 “Yes, well…”

 “You’re nervous.” She noted with disdain. “Are you frightened of me?”

 “No, of course not.”

She rested her head against the wall with a sigh. “Most people are. I don’t blame you. But I can’t control it, I’m sorry. I just dream of things and they sometimes come true.” She opened her eyes to look at Drew with such longing he had to avert his stare. “Being trapped doesn’t help. I can’t do anything to stop the things that are happening when I’m stuck here.”

 A hand clapped Drew on the shoulder. He whirled around with surprise. Another officer stood behind him with an amused expression. He reached over and shut the panel with a click.

 “You’ve got to remember she’s crazy! She talks nonsense. Next time, don’t get sucked in.” They headed back down the hall and he winked. “She’s a charmer alright. Ah, nothing to be done.”

 Drew stayed silent; distressed and a little confused. He knew one thing; she wasn’t spewing nonsense. What she said made perfect sense to him. He sat alone in the break room tensely, sipping on a cup of coffee. Sure he was a newcomer here in Sweden, but he’d had plenty of experience in a prison in London. He knew all about mentally unstable inmates and this strange wonder wasn’t one. He tried to relax in his chair and looked up at the TV on the wall. The news reporter was sitting primly in his chair as footage played in the background.

 “We have received word on the strange shadow-creatures attacking the West Indies. Authorities are trying to find a way to destroy these things, but as far as we know, they haven’t succeeded. The question still remains whether or not killing Patina Roth would solve our problem.”

 “Officer Shane?” Said a timid voice behind him. Drew’s eyes widened with disbelief. He turned slowly. Standing in the doorway was Patina.