The shadow of the rebel

Chapter 1 year 2000

My name is Tom Foxworthy. I'm 16 years old and I am in real trouble. I had set my high school on fire. It was not much fire, just the corner part of the building. Why did I do it? Because i fucking hated my life. I hated my school and i hated my family. The feeling is mutual as my mother never loved me. My father was absent from our lives and my sisters seem to think i shouldn't have the right to privacy or anything. So now, i'm handcuffed and my legs were chained. There are three other inmates that were being taken to the detention facility. I was sentenced to few years for arson. I had pleaded guilty to the Arson.

I looked out the window as we are riding in the back. It was daylight, but i dont know what time it is. The two officers up front were behind a fence seperating us from them. they were talking to each other, sometime making a joke. Interesting how you got a group of kids who committed crimes in your van and you're up there having a grand old time, i thought.

one of the boys in a mohawk and a tattoo on his neck turned to me, "what are you in for?"

"No talking." one of the officers said.

Why not, i wondered, afraid we might be planning a quick escape or something?

I saw the gate we're passing through which had barbed wires and the building is a white two story building and a courtyard. a couple of the kids in orange suits were playing basketball. We came to a stop at the entrance. the officers got out nd the one by the passenger side came around and slid the door open, "ok, single file. No talking, no fighting or even try to escape."

We stood in a line as they escorted us inside. They had us sit down on the bench as two other officers showed up. one writing in a notebook. "Ok, you are not to speak unless spoken to, we will be having your belongings and your clothes with us and you'll be given a jumpsuit. You will be checked for any tattoos or scars or if yo have any sort of contraband with you." one said as the other one was removing the cuffs. i sighed heavily, wondering what is going to happen.

one by ne they had each of us go into an office, which they are written in a file and were asked questions. Then we were put into a room that had a small door for privacy but the officer will look over in case. As it was my turn i was asked, "Do you have any tattoos or scars?"

"I had cuts on my wrist." i told him.

"Are you suicidal?"

"no sir."

As i was completely stipped naked, i felt like there are too man eyes on me. As the officer had done a through check up, i was given a jumpsuit.

"Ok, have a seat, we will be breifing you all about what is to be expected."

I nodded and walked outside of the room and sat down with the other inmates.

"Ok, each of you are assigned to a room. we will have REC in the later afternoon. you will be up for breakfast. You are to stay here for the duration of your sentence. We have a sick bay in case any of you are sick or injured. They will also do checkup. We have a counselor on staff and we got a library and a classroom for you to attend to. Any questions?"

one of the kid raised his hand up, "are we allowed to have our stuff?"

"No, it will be kept away until your sentence is over."

"Would we be allowed to have anything like books or something?"

"Yes. you can borrow books fro the library."

"I was wondering if there's kids that would beat up one another. will that happen here?"

"While we strongly discourage and will stop a fight if possible, but it's not common and there's no promise you won't get hurt. if you do, you come to us and we'll take care of it."

After the question and answers session was over, we were escorted to our room. as i walked inside, there was a bunkbed. another inmate was asleep in the bottom bunk. So i had the top. As I got onto the top, the inmate below got up and stared at me. I swallowed hard as i stared back at him.

"What ae you in for?" he asked.

"Arson." i told him, "you?"

"theft." he said.

"What did you steal?" i asked.

"money from the register. My boss caught me and now i'm here. What did you burn?"

"My school."

"Oh fuck, that is metal. did it burn down?"

I shook my head, "only the corner side of the building got scorched."

"damn, that as hard core."

"I guess. I'm Tom by the way."

"Fred. It's been three days since i was here."

"So you say. My first day here. So how was it like here?"

"Complete shithole. The food is bad, the staff are so rude and the other guys are assholes."

"Nice." i said and i rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling. Fred had climbed back into his bunk and for few seconds, he asked, "why did you burn the school?"

"Because everything sucks. I hate it all. So i don't regret it. Go to school and get good grades. Mind your manners. respect your elders. blah, blah, blah."

"What did you hope to get out of this?"

"Maybe i can be free from it all."

"By going to the detention facility?"

"No. i don't know. i'm just tired." and with that, i went to sleep.