Dusk Harbor 1999

Freedom

Guy sat on the highest level of the silver bleachers, sorting through a pile of hand-rolled cigarettes absentmindedly. His six closest allies sat around him, talking about insignificant things. Two on the next level, two below them, and two beyond those according to their rank. He looked around the jail yard and watched every single grey suited prisoner. Three were at a table, smoking. Five were playing a weird version of basketball. Most just sat around in the grass, talking about what it would be like to be free again.

A new prisoner wandered into the yard. A young Korean man with buzzed white hair looked around, confused. Lost. He looked up to Guy and started to walk over. His second in command; Georgy, leapt off the bleachers and stood right before him. Folded his arms over his chest and stared right into the new guy's soul.

"No one goes near Guy unless he approves," Georgy stated gruffly.

"Oh, I'm sorry," the man shied away like a wounded puppy.

"Go over there and you won't have no trouble," Georgy pointed off to the far right corner.

The man let out a sigh and then shuffled away in the direction they'd told him to go. Georgy stomped after him to get him to move faster.

Guy glared at him as he went to the corner of the yard, alone. He won't last long, he thought. He'd been the king of the yard for ten years now, and he knew that guys like that just didn't make it very far. They ended up doormats. Playthings. Some ended up committing suicide. The man sat against the fence and rested his face on his knees. Started sobbing. What a weakling.

He went back to his cigarette sorting. Took one out and passed it to the man to his left. The phone that was attached to the fence about twenty yards away started ringing. And ringing. And ringing. Nobody moved toward it. They all just sat there waiting for someone else to do it. Georgy finally got up and went to it, and picked it up. Put it to his ear and nodded along.

"Guy! It's for you!" He exclaimed. He hadn't gotten a call in years.

Guy groaned and stood up. Dropped his pack of cigarettes onto the seat. His allies parted to let him walk down the levels. He stormed across the twenty yards over to Georgy and tore the phone from his hand. Put it to his ear and blocked the mouthpiece.

"This better be important," he grumbled. "Go."

Georgy wandered back to the bleachers and sat in his usual spot.

He uncovered the mouthpiece. Prepared to speak into it. A voice on the other end cut him off.

"Prison is a drag. Isn't it? Even though you rule the yard you wish to be free of it?" A crackly voice asked. The static was making it sound as if the person on the other end was speaking through a fan.

"Who is this?" Guy demanded.

"A friend. I want to help you. You were sentenced to life in prison, so was I. But I escaped, and I think I can help you escape too," it replied.

"How?"

"All you gotta do is follow my commands, and you will receive total amnesty for your crimes. Better than that, you'll have the respect you deserve. I'll be taking your little crew as well if you don't mind."

Guy glanced over at his crew. A hearty one for sure. He could see why this mystery recruiter wanted them. He was fine with it. They could finally be put to good use for once, rather than rolling cigarettes and thinking they rule all. If what this man was saying was true, perhaps, in the end, they really would rule all. They deserved a chance. He owed it to his people.

"Is this the military or somethin'?" He asked.

"Better. I can't say much. But are you in?"

Freedom? Amnesty? It's too good to be true right? He looked around the little prison yard and sighed. Then again, what do I have to lose? He lowered his voice so no one else would overhear.