• I bit my lip in angry silence as I waited for the burly guard to pass. As I saw the dark shadow of his shotgun play across the floor, doubt began to ache through my body. I sorted through the plan, searching out the flaws. I reminded myself of the result of the task if I failed, my probable death, but my twisted and mangled mind was already decided. I cast another glance at the passing man and his weapon and pondered the downsides to it even if I did succeed. I promised myself before I attempted the impossible I would commit this place to memory. I began by looking at the layout of the tiny room. In the rear of it was an old metal bunk, a mattress so tough I usually slept on the floor. To the right was a miniscule sink, screwed into the wall and only big enough for one hand at a time. On the left lay yesterday's newspaper propped up next to a pile of paper and a pencil that they gave us to write to our families. Too bad most of us had no families.

    I leaned my strong form against the wall, being no more than a shadow. My cold and calloused hand reached under the bed and searched out the heart of my plan, a rock. I wrapped my fingers tightly around the stone and pulled the paper weight into my lap. My life was clinging to this rock, praying that it would hit the target. I placed the cool, rough surface of it to my tanned cheek and for just a moment let my emotions wash over me, but only for a moment. Tossing the rock back into my palm I strode up to the bars and called in a deep base voice for the indignant guard.

    'When do I get to eat?"

    The obtuse man walked to where I stood and glared at me then banged his nightstick against the bars making me jump back in surprise, the clicking of my boots mingling with the sound of ringing metal. He laughed a hearty laugh at my reaction, large stomach bouncing in humor. At that second anger engulfed me, somewhere inside me a match had been thrown into gasoline and the fire had overtaken the last thread of sanity I possesed. I squeezed the stone forcefully, its sharp edges cutting the flesh of my palm and turning it crimson. An angry scream pushed its way through my lips and echoed in the prison. I hurled the rock forward. It sailed in between the ribbed bars, through the crisp night air and finally slamming into the shocked man's skull. It imbedded itself deep into the left temple and he screamed in pain and horror. Eyes rolled into the back of his broken head and with a convulsing shudder he collapsed, floor thudding as his large frame slammed against it. He shook silently then lay still, a large puddle of blood surrounding his gushing cranium. I howled in triumph and leaned down to his breast pocket to retrieve the keys to my confinement.

    I pulled the keys free in a rushed manor and thrust the worn edges into the paddock. The door groaned open unwillingly as the the lock tumbled lifelessly to the hard floor. Other inmates yelled for my assistance but I selfishly ignored them and made my dash for freedom. I became nothing but a speeding orange blur in the inky night as I raced through the swinging blue doors to the courtyard outside. Maddened eyes searched for the other main part of my plan. Pupils dialated to adjust to the blackness but I still could barely spot the lampost lying still as a corpse on the cold dirt. I swung the poll onto my well musceled shoulder and at the same moment the alarm burst forward, paralyzing all with ears. My hearing was crippled by the ear splitting sound but I continued. I began to run straight towards the towering barb wire fence. I let rein a battle cry and thrust the end of the poll into the ground with surprising speed. I was swung high into the air and I felt like a small child who was on a roller coaster for the first time as I realized I was going to make it. I released the poll and hurled myself the few remaining feet. I barely cleared it, heavy black boots scraping the soles on the thorny metal. I landed with a crunch on the pavement outside the prison, breathing heavily and mind rushing with adrenaline. My right arm hurt severly but I was so hyped up I barely noticed. I smiled crookedly to myself and strode into the shadow of a building, the outline of the prison slowly becoming just another shadow in the world of the night.