Chapter 119

Zayden

I went back to my cell with a smile on my face and a satisfied dick.

Now I had even more zeal to push harder and get that parole. I'm going to get it at all costs.

I did every single task I was instructed to. I avoided fights, a lot of them and bore insults from some proud bastard inmates.

I just want to leave this place soon or I might lose my sanity.

The days rolled by again, and finally, news got out that the selection had been made, and we would either go in batches to the front yard because, according to my roommate, they paste the list of people who had been chosen on a wide notice board in the front yard. But other times, they call them out of their cells to prevent a stampede because, eventually, everyone wants freedom.

This time around, the names were pasted in the front yard, and our warden announced that we would go in batches to check.

My blood thrummed in anticipation and agony. If my name appears there then I'm finally a free man.

I kept fidgeting and waiting for the hour hand to clock 8am. A part of me was terrified, terrified that I wouldn't make it and would have to wait another year again.

Sometimes, people with a lot of influence, like corrupt politicians, bribe their way to get their relative's names on the list.

This whole world was filled with corruption; it's already normal that sometimes all the names on the list were written by cutting corners.

Still, I held on to hope. The hope was that I had done a lot of good that I didn't even know I was capable of, and I had made some friends with the wardens and guards.

Some of them already knew me before I was brought in here. I talked with them sometimes, and we would crack jokes, and then they would bring me into their office to help with some paperwork.

That was good enough to earn some favour from them, right?

I could only hope so.

Finally, it clocked eight and the alarm beamed through the four hundred prison cells.

Now, there was a trick here.

The wardens can't just open all four hundred cells because only ten people get selected, and there are two inmates in a room.

Therefore , they would simply walk to five different cells, and once the steel bars open, then it means either you or your roommate got selected, or just one of you got selected.

And my roommate wanted to get out, too; we did the good deed together, so we waited.

The wardens rang the bell, asking us to be quiet.

Sweat dripped down my jaw and onto my overalls. All my muscles were tensed as the wardens started walking.

The first cell opened with a rattling sound, and silence followed. You can't jubilate yet until you see your name on that list.

" I'm freaking out man." My roommate spoke, jamming his hands together and rubbing them to create friction.

I released a dry laugh." At this point, I can barely console myself, let alone you. Let's just wait and see the outcome."

He released a heavy sigh." What if....what if I don't make it?" He questioned, a wary look on his face.

I turned to face him." You'll find out soon, so sit tight ."

He rose to his feet, dipping his hands in his pocket." I don't have anyone to go back home to anyway so it won't matter."

I shook my head disagreeing with him." Don't say that. Freedom is better than staying here. Plus you could find a nice girl to settle down with."

He didn't respond but I saw it in his eyes. He already lost hope. The wardens got closer to our cell and I held my breath, silently praying for him to stop at our cell.

At least that would mean one of us got selected.

He slowly stepped closer and my heart dropped as he walked past our cell to open the one beside us.

I panicked.

My roommate and I exchanged glances, and his lips drew out into a sad smile." I guess it's still next year."

My blood ran cold...another year!

Jesus Christ.

I swallowed as realization weighed down on me.

I didn't make it.

All my efforts had been wasted. What did I do wrong this time, I didn't cause trouble. I minded my business and did as I was told so why?

Why didn't I get selected?

My chest heaved up and down, I won't be going home. I won't get my freedom. I won't be seeing my wife or daughter. I'm stuck here for another year.

I clenched my fists, stopping myself from punching the wall.

My roommate moved over to where I sat." It's okay man...we will get it next time, hopefully."

I looked up to him, my face beet red from rage." Next time? After all I went through trying to get my name on that list and now I'm going to have to wait another whole damn year."

He only shrugged; I didn't expect him to understand because he had already been here for more than five years. He's probably accustomed to living here.

" Look, sometimes it's like that. Maybe those rich politicians already bought all the slots on the list and so we the nobodies got our names kicked out of the list. It's possible; we live in a corrupt world, after all." He continued, jumping on his bed.

" Fuck!" I cursed loudly, burying my face in my palms.

I lost; maybe I should just give up hope and wait till my five years run out. It's four years left after all.

Just as I was drowning in sorrow, the rattling sound of steel bars echoed in our room and I wiped my head up immediately to find the warden standing at the entrance of our cell.

" Get out, both of you!" His voice echoed, and to my ears, his voice was the sweetest thing I've ever heard at that moment.

You can't imagine the speed I used in rushing out of the cell, my heart was racing rapidly as I stretched out my hands to be put in cuffs.

" I guess the earth is on our side today, isn't it?" My roomated beamed.

We joined the rest of the inmates in the hallway, my muscles contracting in excitement.

There's hope now, one way or the other, my name has to be there.

I'm getting out of this place.