Our Time

Chapter 3: Brandon Lysan

Ten years. Ten, long years. I have been in prison for ten years now. "God dammit" I whisper "I wonder if she even remembers me." Ten years after my incarceration into prison, I found my mind had begun to slip. The inmates already proved themselves troublesome, like that was any big surprise. Beatings, rape, and even the occasional shanking were all common here. The guard, the one who stole my locket, actually turned out to be the only thing keeping me sane. After the first week, he managed to sneak the locket into my cell. I'm guessing during inspection, but I never got around to asking. Even had a new chain, to replace the one he ripped apart. In the first couple years, we become really close acquaintances. Got a name out of him too. Kevin Dubronks, the guy was apparently from New York, and had a wife and two kids. Thank God, if he was even there. Every so often, if I needed something, he was the one to get it to me. It was our little deal, good behavior and greater rewards. I took out the locket from under my shirt. Opened it up, I couldn't break away from her. She was five in this picture. Sure it was a school photo, but beautiful nonetheless. "Alyssa" I whispered "I'm sorry sweetheart." Every time I opened this thing, every single time. I apologized to her. Maybe deep down somewhere, I hoped she heard my apologizes. Even though I knew she didn't. I jumped when the prison guard slammed his baton against my cell bars. "Lysan!" He shouted "Get your ass up! Go to the yard!" It was midday, which mean't the next hour would be spent outside with the rest of them. I closed the locket, tucking it back under my shirt. Silently, I stood and walked out of the cell. The hall was lined with thirty, cubed cells. Fifteen on each side. I came to call number 8D, my home away from home. I was in D-Block. Out of the five the latest made the entire prison. Designed as a starfish, the prison had five long, narrow arms. Each with thirty cells. One hundred and eighty criminals. Small in comparison to most prisons. However, this particular prison held the back wash. Criminals deemed to unorthodox, even by prison regulations. I walked down the corridor with the rest of D-Block. From murder, to pyrotechnics. Each one more unique than the last. We walked towards the center area. A massive, domed structure which spanned two football fields across. It was both out cafeteria, and showering area. The guards didn't give too shits about disease spreading. Just meant less mouths to feed. The yard was a floor below. A three acre concrete room, filled with busted exercise equipment. We moved in two columns down the middle, at the center of the dome we formed a tightly packed circle. Guards surrounded the perimeter, each eyeing us with the hunger to drop anyone. Usually, the floor would descend right in the center of the yard. But today. Today was different. The guards around us begun looking around. The warden came over the intercom, his voice filled with confusion. Maybe even with a hint of fear. "Guards!" He shouted "All guards to the outer wall! Prisoners, return to your cells immediatley!" Before we could move, a ball of fire came crashing through the dome. Crashing directly into the showers. Prisoners ran, engulfed on flames. The ones who weren't crushed that is. I pushed and shoved my way past the inmates. I dashed towards the entrance to A-Block. As I passed over the entrance, another fireball crashed. This time, it landed right on top of me. I felt the burning of my flesh, the skin melting away. I screamed in agony, this pain was unbearable. The world around me began to fade to black, my mind going numb from the pain. "Al...Alyssa" I choked. The last thing I would be to her, was a prisoner. God dammit.