AMA-Con: The Compilation

Ink

Written by: @candyscribbles 

Prompt: Convict Alden x Journalist Maine

Prompt by: @maichardjpg 

***

She writes. She weaved the words on paper with clarity as she pushes her thoughts–lined and marked in ink and lead, made for people to consume. She writes. She writes without abandon the final words of her love to a man who would never be free to give it back.

He writes. He writes his sins on his skin, the words bleeding in black and white. His words burn like dying embers, searing skin, burning down into ashes, leaving black marks permanently etched upon his arms. He writes about a love that he is free to give, but born behind bars of halted freedom.

---

The city jail reeks of the smell of stale smoke and unwashed hair, of bodies perspiring in the heat of the sun. Inside the walls of the maximum security prison, these people are forced to live their lives in the stagnant constant that is jail–a sort of non-life lived inside four walls guarded with electric wires and barbed iron, of jail wards clad with guns at the ready and dull clubs.

Alden Richards has lived inside this hellhole for four years; paying for the sins he doesn't remember committing. He lived the grandiose life when he was younger, but he never realized how it would destruct him as well.

"RICHARDS!"

He looked up at the sound of the booming voice, groaning in annoyance when he saw their jail warden making his way towards him. He held his club in between his hands, slapping the wooden baton against his thigh as he walked through the throngs of prison inmates, glaring menacingly at them. Alden sighed, looking gruffly at the older man.

"Tisoy," Jaime, their jail warden scowled, pointing the club at him. "Nakipagaway ka na naman daw?"

"Tangina, sinong nagsabi?" Alden answered back gruffly, earning a hefty shove against the wired fence and a heavy slap on his ass. "'NAMPUTA."

"Tarantado ka, ako pa minura mo," Jaime growled, hitting him with the club again. "Umayos ka."

"Wala nga kasi–PUNYETA..."

"MANALO!"

Alden huffed as Jaime pushed him up against the fence, the steel wires pressed painfully against his cheek. He could see Jose–one of his fellow inmates approach, eyes locked with Jaime.

"Warden," Jose greeted, his eyes slightly shifting towards Alden. "Problema?"

"Ipagpaalam mo nga ito sa Mayor nyo–"

Jose eyed the boy, raising an eyebrow at Jaime. Alden stared at him in contempt, brows furrowed despite the fact that he was still pressed against the steel fence.

"May ginawa?" He asked, staring at Alden up and down.

"Mahirap kontrolin," Jaime said, finally letting go of Alden. He shoved him as he stood up, pointing the club to his chest. "Magpakatino ka Richards. Baka bukas makalwa, di ka na magising sa kagaguhan mo."

Alden spat at Jaime, just as Jose dragged him away. Sometimes, he just didn't care anymore. He was going to be stuck in this fucking prison anyway, why even bother living?

---

"I'm sending you out for a mandatory leave. No ifs, no buts–you have to do as I say."

Maine Mendoza stared blankly at her editor, lips pressed in a straight line, her face an emotionless canvas. Her editor-in-chief returned her gaze, eyes peered over thick spectacles that have seen countless words and drafts and he narrowed his eyes at her, slamming his hand over the table.