Wild West - Chapter 5 - Part 5 - 5 minute freewrite challenge

The staircase already smelled of stale urine and sweat, but Tom and James had no choice but descend. Downstairs was another guard – sitting on a stool in the center of the hallway – and three separate jail cells, inhabited by several inmates each. They were escorted into the second cell of the three. The prisoners were checking them out and occasionally shouted “fresh meat!” at them. Near all the convicts were very slender, apart from one in each cell.

“What’s the deal with the scrawny fuckers in here?” James asked the guard out loud, but continued before he had the chance to answer. “Not enough yogurt for you, huh, big guy?” He mocked one of the slender individuals leaning onto the bars. James knew he had to assert dominance first thing, else they would trample over them in no time. After all, there was a reason only one of the inmates appeared well-fed.

All the guards then pulled out their guns and the jail keeper slammed its barrel against the iron bars a couple times to quiet the chatter.

“To the back of the cell! All of you!”

They pointed their guns toward the prisoners, while the keeper unlocked the doors and let James and Tom inside, where they joined the others at the wall.

“These two still need their serial numbers. We’ll be back soon.” They saluted at each other and the three guards went back upstairs.