The wiper blades swiped across the windshield as rain fell from the sky above. Each droplet landed in the cooling air, soaking the road ahead. The miserable weather summed up exactly where Ollie was heading. The tyres swooshed through the damp tarmac as he drove further and further from civilisation.

Ollie was an investigative reporter. He usually worked undercover and on some pretty dangerous missions. Drugs, politics, corruption, whatever it was, Ollie was the go-to guy. He had a habit of blending into the background and not attracting attention. With his beige wardrobe and quiet disposition, he managed to fit in just about anywhere. He also knew how to talk himself out of most situations.

His most recent case was one of the most challenging yet. Some information had leaked about strange behaviour in a nearby penitentiary. Families of many of the inmates had lost contact with their loved ones. Some prisoners were quoted as being transferred to solitary confinement, while others simply vanished with no enquiry into their deaths.

The prison was classed as ‘Supermax’ and well-known as housing some of the most dangerous criminals. Every media request into the facility was rejected. Virtually, all that was known about the prison came from federal lawsuits over the conditions there.

Most previous investigations bared little results, while many of the “top dogs” in reporting would turn a blind eye to the strange circumstances at the eerie penitentiary. With the prisons’ ties to the government, the situation was even more dangerous. No doubt, this went all the way to the top.

Getting into the jail was Ollie’s first challenge. Trying to arrange a prisoner visit was near impossible. Breaking into a maximum-security jail wasn’t exactly an option he wanted to explore either. No, he’d have to resort to acting out a role to gain access.

Ollie posed as a property investor looking to purchase land close to the prison. He created a fake name and company to make things more believable and persistent phone calls to the facility to set up a meeting. Ollie pretended he was investing in a luxury golf course near the grounds of the jail. With the prison desperate on keeping visitors to the area at bay, they agreed to a meeting to discuss “alternative solutions”.

Ollie drove through a narrow road surrounded on both sides by a thick cluster of trees. The dense forest soaked up any rain that fell from the sky above while the old road seemed to flood in parts. The prison gates came into view in the distance as a mist separated. The domineering building poked out from above the threatening concrete walls surrounded by trees. Its searchlights illuminated the sky in the gloomy, dark weather.

As his car reached the barrier, Ollie could see more than enough intimidating signage for the jail. Barbed wire topped the huge looming walls. Prison guards with sniper rifles surrounded the entrance to the facility.

One of the gate’s security men exited through a door and over in the direction of Ollie’s car. He knocked on the window. Ollie put on his signature smile as he winded it down.

“Hi, I’m here to meet with the warden, Jacob Lee?”

His response was followed by a stern glare from the burly security guard. A tactical machine gun held close in both hands. Ollie felt uncomfortable already with the severe gaze drilling him.

“Can I see some ID?” the burly armed guard responded.

Ollie rummaged around for his ID, which was fake. It detailed his name as Richard Dawson, a wealthy property investor. He pulled it out, flashing a charming smile once again.

“Here you are. I called earlier today to set up the meeting, so he should be expecting me,” Ollie confirmed.

The guard peeked at the ID before stepping away to speak on his radio. Ollie strained to hear the conversation. He could feel a bead of sweat start to fall from his brow. Through his calm disposition, Ollie was panicking that something had gone wrong. Maybe going into the belly of the beast wasn’t the best plan. Panic grew as he waited for the guard’s return.

Gazing in his rearview mirror, he could see a barrier now in place after he drove up to the gate. There was no escape even if he wanted to. The armed patrolman returned to his window;

“You’ll need to exit the vehicle,” the threatening security man instructed.

Before Ollie could say another word, his door was forced open. He stood now visibly shaken.

“Is there a problem, Sir?” Ollie asked, as he rose from his seat into the heavy rain.

The intimidating security guard remained silent. He closed the door to Ollie’s rented car and guided him towards a door at the side of the large gate.

“I have to ask where you’re taking me. As I explained before-“

“You’re going to follow me,” the prison guard interrupted. He pushed Ollie ahead through a massive security door.

Ollie, escorted by the correctional officer, was led into the bowels of the facility. They stopped at several maximum security doors and checkpoints. Along the way, Ollie didn’t see a single human in sight. The further they continued into the prison, the more Ollie knew he had little chance of getting out by himself.

“I have a meeting with the warden and-” Ollie began again. The prison official just continued pushing him ahead with the tip of his machine gun press into Ollie’s back. The feeling immediately shut Ollie up as he continued to walk onwards, now fearful for his life.

The prison felt a lot larger on the inside. Their walk through the vacant, concrete passageway carried on with a disorientating number of twists, turns and security doors. Ollie noticed cameras placed at every intersection and dotted throughout the barren hallways. The place felt like a maze and might as well have been one. The idea of escape would be far from reality on any prisoner’s mind.

After a few awkward minutes in silence, Ollie and the threatening guard behind him came to a heavy and secure-looking entryway. Block text on the door read; ‘WARNING This Door is Electrified with 5,000 Volts’.

“Stand here and DON’T move!” the guard commanded, as he walked over to a remote panel hidden in the concrete walls.

Ollie didn’t even try to resist. His chances of making a run for it would almost certainly fail. Besides, with a gun pointed at him from less than a foot away, it was in his best interest to co-operate. The gun-wielding security guard keyed something into the panel on the wall.

“This is TR554 on entrance way duty, I’ve got someone to meet the WARDEN,” the sentry spoke.

“Affirmative, please hand over to LW443 and return to your position,” came a robotic voice that didn’t even sound human.

A locking mechanism sounded on the other side of the colossal entryway. A massive whoosh of air released from the door as it opened. A blinding light made Ollie strain to see the other side. He stepped back in fear as he felt the security guard and his machine gun press into his back.

A singular silhouette could be seen in the bright light as the doors fully opened. Ollie was stunned to silence. Stood before him was a figure dressed in a set of red armour. The striking colour from head to toe intended to instil fear in prisoners. Like some kind of red stormtrooper, this form was much more threatening than the security guard.

The figure’s helmet contained filters for air and allowed for enhanced vision and communication systems. The armour reflected a shiny glaze to its hard exterior. Ollie had trouble working out if there was even a human under there.

“TR554 reporting, a visitor for the WARDEN,” a stern voice boomed from behind.

“LW443 at attention, visitor what is your designation?” the red armoured figure asked, in a voice void of all emotion.

Ollie looked dumbfounded at both guards. His voice stuttered as he tried to find the words to speak.

“What is your name?” the guard behind him asked more clearly.

“I.. uhh Oliver Sacks…” Ollie responded hesitantly, immediately kicking himself for forgetting about his undercover persona.

The guard didn’t seem to react to the name difference from his ID. The red silhouette beckoned Ollie to follow him through the opened entryway. He took uneasy steps as he journeyed into the unknown as the security guard with the machine gun shut the large, metallic door behind them.