As the wind blew across the mighty building of San Fernando Correctional, with an intent to pummel it to the ground, so were the menacing and violent musings of the prisoners inside it.
     
Farlow and Demitri made their way towards the East Wing with ease, despite the numerous murdering criminals who had been busy stabbing and choking their comrades. Farlow took a slower pace as he balled his fists in an attempt to subdue the need to give his companions a helping hand.

Noticing this, Demitri immediately grabbed his arm when the uneasiness of his companion became apparent, then shook his head in defeat. "They got your family; you have a teenage girl, man; think about it," he whispered amidst his anger.
     
"Bastards, bastards," Farlow cursed as they reached the guard's lounge in the East Wing. They were trapped. Wrapped with an invisible barbed wire like that of the prison building. One move and it would all end catastrophically.
     
When both guards took a step closer to the seats inside the lounge area, it was Oscar who first acknowledged both men with a tilt of his head. However, It wasn't him or his movements that caught both guard's attention.

It was the agonizing whimper and scent of blood that ensured upon their entry into the room.

Demitri's heart felt like it was stabbed repeatedly, and he almost fell to his knees when he saw Samson, a recruit who had only begun working for the San Fernando Prison building three weeks ago, lying on a table, black and blue, with a knife sheathed on his left shoulder. Demitri could hear the twenty-five-year-old guard whimpering and asking for water. To Demitri's horror, Farlow went straight for the water dispenser, took a cup of water, and walked toward the injured guard. Without warning, he pulled out the knife from the young guard's shoulder, removed him from the table, and sat him on a chair before helping him to drink.
     
A continuous clapping of hands took Demitri's gaze away from the two guards and landed them on Rudolf, a notorious drug syndicate leader who was the mastermind of the whole escape plan.
     
"So, the traitors still have a heart?" Rudolf scoffed.
     
Demitri almost lunged himself toward the arrogant man, if only his family's life was not at stake.
     
"I was expecting the two of you to get me out of here, what do you plan on doing now?" the drug lord asked.
     
Farlow growled and glared at the man. Demitri felt the self-control slipping from his companion and that would result in the man's family dying in the hands of the drug lord's brother. So, to pacify the situation, Demitri stepped toward Rudolf and showed him a key while saying, "I believe the main control button for the metal walls is located inside the warden's office. All we have to do is to get there and everything will fall into place."
     
Rudolf stood from his chair and went for the fridge, he rummaged through its contents and took out a piece of apple. He bit into it after he said," Then what are the two of you standing here for? Get to that office and open this damned prison!"
                                                                       ***

(South Wing)
     
A prisoner by the name of Sebastian Conception, along with four other men, had been running in circles trying to find a way out. Sadly, none of them found an opening.
     
"What the fuck is this place!" one of them screamed as he leaned on a wall, catching his breath, while the others followed his wake.
     
One of the prisoners, a humongous man who barely said a word, a man who had been imprisoned for the murder of his sister, sat on the floor and said, "No way out."
     
His sudden utterance of words, took the others by surprise. But it was Sebastian who took the highest degree of shock.
     
"You can talk!" he asked. His voice failed to hide the amount of confusion and bewilderment that he felt.
     
The big man answered him with a gaze. Sebastian asked again, but the man must have reached his limit for words because Sebastian failed to receive a worded reply. He shook his head, ran a hand over his hair, then frowned, when he saw something in the hand of the giant before him.
     
"What the hell are you fumbling with?" one of them asked when he, too, saw the big man toying with a folded paper.
     
"Hand that here!" Sebastian commanded, and the silent prisoner followed. He immediately gave the letter over to his companion.
     
Sebastian began to read in silence. His arched eyebrow and the constant creasing of his forehead woke the other's curiosity.
     
"Mind sharing it with us?" the youngest of them asked.
     
Sebastian let out a heavy sigh before he read the letter out loud.
                                                                               

***

Dear Maria,
     
How are you? I hope you're doing well. How are the kids? I hope they have grown to be obedient and smart, just like you.
     
As for me Maria, I think life is getting better. I love the library in this place. It gave a sense of belongingness. It gave me something to look forward to every day. The books kept taking me to places I had only dreamed of reaching and gave me dreams I barely had the heart to dream about. The smell of the pages in every book I opened was like a fresh breath of air. Every turn of a chapter is like a vehicle, taking me to a different country, to freedom, to you...
     
Maria? Did you know I was at your engagement party? Yes, I was there. But don't worry, the only intention I had when I joined that party, was to see you smile.
     
Are you wondering how I felt that day?
     
Well, is it okay to share my burdens? Is it alright if I pen down my heartaches?
     
I guess asking is stupid right? Haven't I been doing that in the previous letters?
     
Anyway Maria, here it goes. But I beg you, don't pity me. I don't want your heart to clench even for a second at what I'm about to say. Please, just let your eyes take the words and spare your heart.
     
Having a new face was amazing Maria, especially one that looked great. When I rode the bus leading to San Ignacio, the people around me gazed with smiles on their faces. I even saw one lady blush. It made me happy, not because she blushed, but because it proved that I looked good enough, enough to probably turn your head towards me.
     
My entire journey lasted for eleven days, and when I finally reached San Ignacio, I immediately purchased a small apartment. For the first time in a very long time, I went to the mall. I purchased a few clothes and furniture. I wanted to set everything right. I wanted everything to be ready once I finally asked you to go out with me. That day, I smiled for a time which toppled the number of times I had smiled in the past twenty years of my existence. I was so happy Maria. Someone once said that heaven could be found on earth, and at that time, I believed those words, because that day was heaven. My heart was full, and I didn't need any comfort. It was beating with a happy rhythm. At some point, I even believed that my heart thanked me, for being tough and for leading it back to you.
     
I spent two days preparing the apartment, and when I deemed the place to be ready, I took a shower and put on the two-piece suit that one of the salesladies in the department store assured—looked good on me.
     
I took a taxi, yes Maria, a taxi. See, I didn't know how to drive back then. I never learned.
      
But I was planning to learn, once we started going out. I couldn’t allow you to take a taxi. No, not if I could help it.
     
But Maria, I think the heavens hated me. I think my guardian angel broke its wing or simply abandoned me when I was born. Didn't they deem me worthy of any happiness? Was I given a soul which was meant to suffer? Was my destiny written amidst fire and thorns?
     
I have done everything I could to be with you. But still, the universe conspired to take you away from me. Because Maria, when I got to your house, I heard a lady say, "Maria Ventura is engaged to the engineer's son."
     
Maria, I felt like the ground had swallowed me whole. The voices around me, surprisingly died out, fading into the distance, and all that was left was the sound of something shattering, like broken glass. It resounded from my chest to my head. I started shivering uncontrollably. I believe at that time; all my senses fell into chaos. My eyes saw the sky turn grey, with dark clouds that danced their way above my head, pouring acid rain that made my skin ache. Every part of me ached.
                                                                           ***
     
"What the hell is this?" Sebastian muttered, glancing at the big man who gave him the letter.
      
"Fell off of the warden's pocket," the guy answered.
      
"Now he's talking?" one of their companions sneered.
     
"Leave him and his words alone." Sebastian rebutted as he stared at the letter.