Love/Hate

Ben

I opened my eyes, to only damp and dark. I sighed, only one day left, then I would get out. Out of this shithole, out of this nightmare that never ends. Away from the giant beasts of men who want only to make trouble, the sole reason they were in there in the first place. 3 years, 3 years for a crime I didn't commit, framed by that slut they call "Sargent Ford,". She disgusts me, she repulses me, she makes me sick. I wanted to get out from day one. I tried for bail but no one cared, no one believed the man who supposedly raped a woman. But finally after 3 years of agony and dealing with the agony of living in this place, they approved my bail. The next day I could leave back to the free world. Back to a place where people are free to do as they please. I longed for fresh air and the next day, I got it.

The two police officers either side of me  grasped the gate of the prison and slid it open. The cool air hit my face like a brick but it felt amazing. The wind rushed through my deep brown hair. I took a deep breath and shivered, although the air was cold and wet, It was nice.

I walked leisurely to the prison entrance. As I entered, I felt a feeling I hadn't felt before. It was pride, immense pride. I was finally free, finally out of the place they lock up prisoners who have done wrong. Prison, jail, the slammer, the clink. Whatever you wanted to call it, it was what it was, a torture chamber, full of nasty machines and tools meant to bend and play with the mind. And at long last I was free from it.

I walked slowly to the desk, absorbing the pride and joy of being a free I man. I was handed a sheet of paper. It was my release documents; I read through it and signed my name at the bottom of the page where it read "Sign Here:" I was handed my clothes and shoes and shooed out of the building. Carrying my things I walked past the barriers and towards the end of the prison complex. I could see the exit. I could smell it. I was aching to walk on a free man's path towards a good life.

I reached the gate, it's giant mechanical lock whirred as it unlocked. The huge gate slowly opened itself. On the horizon I could see the city. I had made it. Finally.

I walked into the sunset for almost an hour it seemed before reaching the outskirts of town. I came to an old rundown motel with a large broken neon sign which read; "M_TE_" the O and L had obviously fallen off due to pure neglect.

As I entered the grimy reception the woman at the counter greeted me with a smile. "Welcome to Returners Motel how can I help you today, sir?" She asked politely. 
"Erm.. Can I have a room, for one, please?" I replied almost nervously.
"Of course sir, room 6 is available at the moment, that'll be $9 for the night please,"
"Of course," I smiled as I reached into my pocket. Shit. No wallet. No money. No room. I flinched a little before explaining the situation to the pretty woman behind the desk. She seemed to take the information quite well but despite my snake-like charm and my soft voice she didn't let up. $9 was the price and if I couldn't pay I couldn't sleep. That was fair enough so I decided I could walk further into the town and maybe visit my cousin he was sure to have room for one at his apartment.

It was dark already, there were no stars in the sky but the moon shone bright like a pearl in space. The street lights illuminated my path as I briskly walked towards the centre of town. All around me I could see high rise apartments and office buildings. I looked at my watch. It was broken. I was having a terrible bout of bad luck that day. I walked up to a bar and poked my head in. There was a smell of alcohol in the air, of which I had not indulged in since I had entered prison. "Maybe, one couldn't hurt?" I thought to myself. I waddled up to the bar and got out my wallet. No money. Ugh..

"I can get that for you honey!" I heard a voice from behind me say. I turned around to face the mystery woman...

"Here ya are hun," she said as she handed me a $5 note. "Y-you?" I exclaimed as I saw her face. It was her. Sargent Ford. She obviously didn't recognise me. It was definitely her. I'd recognise that face anywhere. That curve in her smile. That scar on her eyebrow. Those piercing green eyes. She was the woman who locked me away for 3 years...

"O-oh thanks," I replied snatching the note from her hand. I slammed it down on the counter and downed my whiskey in one. I looked at her with the most hate ridden expression I could manage and walked past her. I exited the bar in a rage and walked towards my cousin's apartment. I pulled a purse out of my pocket and looked inside. Mary Ford. It was her. In prison I had learnt how to pick pocket and steal with ease and I had used it to grab her purse. She had.. $500? Wow she was loaded. I carried on down the street towards my cousins apartment building. When I arrived I looked up. I saw the light shining through the windows, the noise of the tenants; watching television or listening to the radio. I envied their normal lives, their happy lives..

I pressed the rusty bell which read "APARTMENT 26" from the intercom I heard my cousins deep gurgling voice. "Hello?"
"Yeah, hi I know this is out of the blue and we haven't spoken in years but is there any chance of me being allowed to crash there? Just for tonight please? It's Ben by the way, Ben Moriarty your cousin?"
"Oh shit really? Come up man!"
I grasped the handle and pushed it down. I looked up from the base of the stairs; all I could see was a spiral for a about 100 meters up. No way was I gonna climb that!

I entered the elevator and pressed the button to go up to floor 15, just as the doors were about to close I heard a soft voice. "Hey! Keep them open please!" It was a young man about a year younger than me he seemed to be in a hurry so I held the door open. "Thank you sir," he said. My hood was up so he couldn't see my face. He looked at the ground but kept tilting his head towards me. I looked at his clothes, he was wearing black converse, pair of black skinny jeans and a black Twenty Øne Piløts sweater. He seemed very gothic; I liked that. "What's your name?" I asked.
"S-sam, Sam F-ford," I squinted in suspicion as he said his name. It couldn't be her son, surely not. I had to find out.

"Is your mother, Sargent Ford?" I enquired. "Erm.. Yes why?"
"No reason, sorry," I responded with hatred in my voice, luckily he didn't notice. Hopefully he wasn't as evil and putrid as his mother. No one could be.
I heard the elevator 'DING' as the doors slid open, I heard the faint whispers of the people in their rooms and the whirring of the air conditioning. I walked with Sam until he went into his door; Apartment 27.

I dropped my hood from my head and knocked on my cousins door. I heard the unlocking of many locks and him cursing, until finally the door swung open revealing my blind drunk relative. "Oh for fucks sake Greg!" I screamed as I pushed past him and into the living room I push him onto the couch and stare at him. His tank top is stained with, well I don't know. His teeth were brown and filled with cavities and his eyes were dark and misty. Despite his appearance I pulled him into a hug.
"I haven't seen you in years you drunk son of a bitch how are ya?"
"Gooooooood,"
"And the wife?"
"Gooooooone,"
"I'm sorry to hear that, she was a great woman, what made her leave?"
"She was fucking my brother.."
"Oh shit I'm sorry man,"
"Eh, it's cool,"
"I'm gonna go clean up and then probably take a nap I'm tired as hell,"
"Beds in there.. Make yourself at home" he replied; almost sobering up.

I walked into the bedroom and threw my bag down. I pulled off my shirt and trousers and collapsed onto the bed. I turned onto my side and looked at the bedroom table. I saw a post it note attached to a cheap mobile phone. It read "Call to get rid of 'Problems'" I picked up the mobile and looked into the contacts. Only one. Exterminator.. I began to call the number and it started to ring.
"H-hello?" I said.
"Hello, this is ***** and I deal with problems can I have the name and address of your problem?"
"Y-yes.. One minute.."
Was I seriously contemplating this?? No. Yes. I had to. For closure.
"Yes it's 32 Glow Road, Dentern City. Apartment number 27, name.. Mary Ford.."

I woke up in a daze. My head was pounding and my eyes were weak. The thoughts in my mind were crazy. What happened? I didn't even care what had happened I needed coffee. I got up and got dressed. The clothes I was wearing yesterday were still dirty but they would have to do. I picked up my bag and left the apartment. I looked across at number 27. Soon..

As I reached the bottom of the stairs I felt a draft from the outside creep up my back. I walked out into the called and towards what I remember used to be a coffee shop. The birds were singing but no flowers could be seen the sun was shining but the air was moist and sticky. The coffee shop's heating was a welcome feeling. As I sat down at a table I received a text on the mobile phone.
"It is done. "
As I looked back up I saw a man walk in. He looked over to me and I recognised him straight away. It was Sam..