Chapter 3

He stepped out onto the cold, snowy road. He turned his head, to take one final look at what he had been held in for 3 years. Three, long years. He had suffered so much, emotionally. He had always used physical training to numb the pain in his heart, each time resulting in him being physically stronger, but emotionally weaker.

But he was free now. Liberty was wrapped around him

 

Never in his life would he go back there, the dark cell in which the only living company he had was the pests, who did not care about him more than anyone in that building did.

 

He started walking. Several steps later, he heard it.

 

The siren.

 

 Using his sharp ears, he heard what was being broadcasted: “We have a prisoner outbreak, we have a prisoner outbreak...”

 

He smirked. He had not been trained for nothing. All those years of self-survival skills, was for a good cause. He quickened his pace, and hid in a dark alley. His dark clothes camouflaged him well, and as the lights of the sirens that belonged to the police car swept past his face he reflected on what he did.

 

It felt good, when he barged through the piece of iron that held him in. Everything happened so quickly, he had trouble recounting them. Images flashed. Images of him knocking out Sholov, knocking out the guards, running through the crowd. Images of him in his step-father’s office, rummaging through his belongings, breaking open every vault with his mighty strength.

 

He remembered taking things. Money, clothes, and more money. Identification cards were stolen, keys tugged off pockets.

 

He knew that the orange prison uniform would be noticeable. So he changed into clothes whose owner he did not know.

 

And he walked out unnoticed.

 

It must have been more than 10 minutes that he was standing in the snow, because he was becoming white rather than remaining black. He flicked the snow off, and stepped out of the alley.

 

He was a free man now. He roamed the streets, but before that buying a shaver and cleaning himself up nicely. He had once again resumed his usual handsome state. It was when he stepped out of the public toilet, that he realised it was no ordinary day.

 

It was Christmas Eve.

 

He sat down on a park bench, smoking a cigar. He silently laughed at the groups of teenagers around him. Laugh while you can, ignorant kids, he thought. Until you face the reality and cruelty of the real world.

 

Smirking, he turned his head. And saw something that wiped the smirk of his face.

 

A young couple, in their teens, were seated directly opposite him, and had their faces so close to their companion that it was hard to tell them apart.

 

The knife in his heart was pushed deeper in. Jenny.

 

Looking at the muddle-headed teenagers, he felt a pang of guilt. He had only thought about how much he had suffered in prison. Yet not how much the woman he loved with his entire heart had gone through. Three years...

 

He stood up so abruptly that the snow on him fell everywhere. Ignoring a nasty look from the lovebirds, he went back to the almost empty mall.

 

Five minutes later he found himself standing in an ornamental shop. He looked around, trying to find a suitable snow globe. Jenny loved snow globes.

 

And then he saw it.

 

It was a magnificent one, with a tiny little hut in it; the type that she has always wanted to live in. Beside it, there was a minute Christmas tree, decorated just the way she would have done it. The snowman brought him back, back to the Christmas Eve 3 years ago, when he was still a free man. How Jenny had described life in the country...

 

“Excuse me, sir, can I help you?” A voice disrupted his thoughts.

 

I want to pay, he wanted to say. But he hesitated, and remembered something she had told him years ago.

 

One day, I would love to receive something you bought. With clean money.

 

Struggling with the pain is his heart and the tears welling up, he paid and left the shop hastily.

 

***

 

He stood outside the house. It was beautiful, just as was the mistress of the house. He smiled, reminiscing on the very day he had surprised her with it. He had only had the chance to enjoy it for 2 years, before he was sent away. Away to that horrid place, Nevada State Prison.

 

Knock, knock.

 

She looked up. She was halfway through her New York Ribs. She turned off the stove, and walked to the door, her highlighted French twist adding on to her elegance.

 

Knock, knock.

 

“Coming!” She shouted. She quickened her pace, and 3 seconds later she opened the door, smiling.

 

When she saw her guest, her smile faded. Her eyes widen into disbelief, and tears welled up immediately. Three years.

 

He took out the present and was unsure whether or not to give it to his fiancée.

 

“It isn’t...what you wanted...like you said...” For the first time in three years, he fumbled with his speech.

 

“This is the best Christmas ever,” she said, pulling him into a tight embrace.