The Course of Obstacles

Sparks of freedom

I sat down in the corner where the temporary cloth wall and the normal wall met. It wasn't long before I heard the door open on the other side.

"One day I want to become Vicious's friend." said 2-12-1-19-18-5 during our night talks.

"Why?"

"Because I believe there's way more to her than the deadly Vicious" she answered.

I built up the courage until a few minutes after the door closed.

"I don't know if you can hear me. But I'm 10-1-3-11-19-15-14."

Silence.

I kept going, rambling about anything and everything until I had to leave. I did this every time, regardless of if I knew she was there or not. Until I got a surprise.

"So my sister Kate and I was --"

Poke. Poke.

I look at the cloth wall in surprise, "Hello?"

Silence.

I was about to continue, but then I heard the door open. Not sure what to do I just sat there confused.

Vicious did the same thing again when I visited the commons. But after she poke she said, "Never rebel. Never try to escape."

Her voice surprised me and I sputtered out a why?

Silence. Of course.

A guy with tattoos peeking out of his uniform approached me soon after. The guy asked me to join him in trying to escape.

"Never rebel. Never try to escape." Vicious's words replayed themselves, like a broken record.

I thanked the guy and politely declined his offer. The guy in turn scoffed and called me a coward, before walking off. I soon became very grateful for Vicious's warning.

The doors of our rooms had just opened so we could go to the commons, when a comotion happened. Poking my head out, I saw the tattoo guy knocked out a guard and took the guard's gun, yelling.

"Freedom is ours!"

Cheers followed soon after.

Then the guy and a few other competitors ran down the hall; trying to escape. No sooner did they start running, red lights and siren sounded.

"Get back to your room or you'll regret it!" yelled an enderly woman.

I asked why and she told me you'll see. Screams erupted from the people who ignored the lady. Poking my head out again, I saw Vicious killing anyone in the halls; with cold and empty eyes. Quickly I retracted my head and waited for this to end. Soon Vicious passed by to chase the ones who ran. Thoughts raced in my head. I decided to sleep and deal with what happened when I woke up.

I sat on the commons floor waitting for Vicious to give the signal that she was here.

Poke.

"Hey."

Poke. I let out a sigh.

"You're not going to talk are you?"

Three pokes. No.

I sigh again and said, "I wish I can get out of here. I miss everyone. I even miss Wyatt's poor attempts in getting me to go to parties I don't want to go to. That party animal."

Brrr...

"Bye."

Vicious

10-1-3-11-19-15-14 or Jackson, if you replace the numbers with letters words echoed in my mind.

I wish I can get out of here."

"I wish you could be taken away from here." Richard said years ago popped up.

"You deserve to be free V." Ranson said once.

My allies and Jackson's words bounced around my head as I was sent back to my living quarters. Ranson came by a while later.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" he asked.

I looked at him and answered with, "Freedom."

Ranson nods."Escaping here is difficult, but not impossible."

I raise an eyebrow.

"Everyone whos tried to escape are missing at least 2 of the important factors. Which are connection, knowledge, planning, execution of the plan, trust and determination. They'll have determination and planning down and miss trust, execution of the plan, knowledge and/or connection. If you have all of them down, I believe you could escape." explained Ranson and I nod.

Ranson's words bounced around in my head long after he left.

"Difficult but possible." I mutter.

Jackson

I sat down and waited eagerly. I didn't realize how much I depended on my rambles with Vicious until now. I don't care how depended I am on these rambles though.

Poke.

"Hey Vicious."

Poke. I opened my mouth for another ramble but Vicious beat me to it.

"Do you really want to leave?"

"Yes." I still wasn't used to her icy voice.

"Wait for the next visit. Until the watch and observe, but don't raise suspicion." she said and I agree.

Vicious

"You sure?"

"Yes."

Ranson nods and leaves. I sigh and searched my room for possible hiding spots. Secretly feeling bad for dragging him in. Richard comes the next day.

"You have them?"

He nods and hands me papers, a notebook and mechanical pencils with back up led.

"Thanks."

He nods "You're really doing this?"

I nod, "I want to be free to make my own choice."

Ricard smiles and leaves together more information.

I walk to Jackson's silhouette and poke his leg.

"Hey."

I slide the notebook and writing suppile; poking again.

He takes them and asks if it's for keeping track of everything.

Poking his leg twice for yes, I went on with my regular routine.