[ WP ] `` You 'll have to come with us now . ''

As he entered the yard, Jake stretched and inhaled deeply. The sun was shining, a breeze was blowing and pigeons were cooing on the rooftop. A beautiful day, if not for the other thirty or so orange-clad men occupying the concrete space as well, most of whom were glaring at him. 
 
 Grimacing at a pair of brutish twins who cracked their knuckles when he passed by, he tugged at his own jumpsuit, as though to remind them that he was currently a peer, not an enemy. 
 
 In truth, two months in Rikers was far from enough to convince his fellow inmates to let bygones be bygones. He'd been responsible for putting a whole lot of them in here. Just because he'd been framed and found guilty for a crime he did n't commit, it did n't mean forgiveness was going to be forthcoming. 
 
 Three circuits around the yard would n't hurt, he reasoned. A little exercise, and then off to my usual corner—damn. 
 
 A heavily tattoo-ed bear of a man had just stepped into his path, leering at him while chewing on an ill-gotten cigarette. The guards let Lewis get away with more things than others. The inmate had had his eye on Jake ever since he'd set foot on the island. If he was making his move today, it meant that he'd finally gained consent from the guards. Sure enough, none of the officers were looking in their direction. 
 
 `` How're you feeling, Jake?'' Lewis said. `` Made any friends? 
 
 Jake heard footsteps approaching from behind. Likely the twins, and any other flunkies of Lewis. `` Not many. Why, you offering?'' 
 
 Lewis spat his cigarette into Jake's face. He winced at the sting, but made no other move. Sudden movements would be unwise here. 
 
 `` I'm sure you'll fit right in,'' Lewis said. `` I mean, you already know everyone in our clique.'' 
 
 Jake shrugged. `` You know the funny thing about moms and their advice?'' 
 
 Lewis frowned. `` Hell you talking about?'' 
 
 `` It's just—I'm hearing my dear momma's voice right now, bless her soul. She's telling me to stay out of a bad crowd. Did your mother ever teach you anything before she died?'' 
 
 Snarling, Lewis grabbed the front of Jake's jumpsuit and drew his fist back. `` She's still alive, you little shit. But you'll be joining yours soon enough.'' 
 
 It's going to happen anyway, Jake thought, bracing himself for the impact. Today, tomorrow, next week. 
 
 An alarm began blaring suddenly, followed by chaos as the guards began chivying the inmates indoors. Two of the guards wrenched Lewis away from Jake and shoved him toward the stream of prisoners. Jake breathed a sigh of relief, hanging back to let the others get a head start. Another close shave. 
 
 Right before he disappeared inside, Lewis turned around and flashed a shiv at Jake, a wicked grin on his face. Then he was gone, leaving Jake alone in the yard, quaking in his shoes. 
 
 He had no doubt that he would die that day. 
 
 When two guards approached him, he said, `` Lewis is going to kill me.'' 
 
 One of the guards shrugged. `` Hear that alarm? We've got bigger problems to worry about. You'll have to come with us now.'' 
 
 `` Did n't you hear what I just said? He's going to kill—'' 
 
 They grabbed him by the shoulders and marched him after the other inmates, ignoring his protests. His feet felt wooden; if not for the guards, he would've collapsed. 
 
 When they arrived at his block, they left him with the other inmates, who were waiting to be let into their cells. Pulse racing, he slipped through the crowd, doing his best not to look anyone in the eye. There was a loud blare, followed by the metallic screech of dozens of cell doors sliding open. Almost there... 
 
 He raced inside only to find that his usual cellmates were missing. Lewis and one of the twins were there though. 
 
 Yelling, he tried to escape, only to find his way barred by the other twin, who shoved him onto the floor. 
 
 `` Please man,'' he said. `` I was just doing my job.'' 
 
 `` You could've left it to the cops,'' Lewis said, picking a fingernail with his shiv. `` But no, Mr. P.I. here just had to come snooping. I'll give you a chance. Apologize, and I'll let you go. Say it. Say that what you did was wrong.'' 
 
 Jake wanted to. If'sorry' was going to buy him his life, then pride and dignity be damned, his mind screamed at him. But the memories came too: those children kept chained up in the cellar except when the cameras were rolling; the sheer happiness on the faces of their parents when they were released. 
 
 `` Screw you,'' he said. 
 
 `` Get him up,'' Lewis said. The twins yanked him to his feet. `` I just want you to know, this ai n't all personal. Money was good too.'' 
 
 Ah well, Jake thought. If money's in, I'm finished. 
 
 Something heavy went skidding across the floor behind him. The twins turned around briefly, loosening their holds just enough for Jake to launch himself at Lewis. The big man grunted as he took a punch across the jaw, and Jake clamped his hands around his wrist, wrestling for the shiv. 
 
 He had no idea what was going on behind him, but he heard shouting, along with a thunderous report. Metal crashed on the ground. One of the twins was shouting. But in that moment, the only thing that mattered in Jake's world was keeping the weapon's point away from him. 
 
 `` You—sonofa—'' Lewis said. 
 
 Jake headbutted him on the nose. The big man staggered back, giving him the opportunity to snatch the shiv from his grip. Before he could stab Lewis, however, a shaft of light tunneled its way through the man's chest, leaving a smoking hole. Lewis stared at it in shock for a heartbeat before toppling over. 
 
 Slowly, hands in the air, Jake turned to face the source. Or sources, in this case. Two masked men stood in the doorway where his cell door used to be, one dressed like a guard, the other in a maroon trenchcoat. The latter was in the midst of lowering his hand. At their feet were the twins, either dead or unconscious. 
 
 `` Hi,'' the plain-looking man in the guard uniform said. `` I'm Glen, and he's Dearborn. We're here to get you out.'' 
 
 `` What? Who the heck are you?'' 
 
 Dearborn glanced to the side. `` No time for this. You're not safe here. These guys should've shown you that. Either come, or die another day.'' 
 
 Glen winked. `` You can trust us.'' 
 
 Jake threw the shiv aside and followed them. They seemed to know where they were going, never needing to pause at turnings. Up and down staircases, across catwalks and past block after cell block they went. Along the way, they passed by dozens of guards and inmates sprawled out on the ground. Doors hung off their hinges, and even the heavy duty ones had holes melted through. 
 
 `` Wha—?'' Jake said. 
 
 `` Put most of them to sleep,'' Glen said. `` Dearborn here took care of the rest.'' He did n't look happy saying that. 
 
 `` This way,'' Dearborn said, stopping in front of a wall. 
 
 `` Are you sure?'' Jake said. He could hear boots thumping up the stairs behind them. 
 
 `` Just give me a sec.'' He held both palms toward the wall. At once, beams of light poured from them, painfully bright, reminding Jake of plasma torches. 
 
 `` Get behind me,'' Glen said, and Jake complied. The man took a shell casing and a paper airplane from his pocket. Placing the casing into the slit on top, he muttered something under his breath and held it up at the ready. 
 
 Five guards appeared at the end of the corridor, pistols pointed at them. `` Get on the ground!'' shouted the woman leading them. 
 
 `` Do something,'' Jake hissed. 
 
 Glen hurled the airplane. Before Jake could even shut his eyes, the guards opened fire. The bullets zipped through the air only to twirl around in mid-flight and follow the airplane, which was gliding along at a leisurely fashion. All the guards froze as they watched it pass overhead, bullets in tow like a flock of migratory geese. 
 
 `` Down,'' Dearborn shouted. Both men dropped, and Jake heard an explosion ahead. When he looked up, there was a hole in the corridor where the guards had been. 
 
 `` You did n't have to kill them,'' Glen said irritably as they climbed through the gap in the wall Dearborn had made. Jake was surprised to see they were outside, near a small pier where a boat was berthed. 
 
 `` Did n't I tell you not to question my methods?'' Dearborn snapped. `` You were the one who wanted my help.'' 
 
 `` Why did you rescue me? Who hired you?'' Jake said as they got on the boat. He expected the guards to appear on the walls at any second, rifles aimed at them, but none did. Perhaps they were safe. 
 
 `` No one,'' Glen said, guiding the boat away from the island. `` I was there in court, watching your defense. I can tell you were innocent.'' 
 
 `` But now you've put me at the top of the FBI's most wanted list!'' 
 
 Dearborn patted him on the back as Glen said, `` Better than being dead in prison, right?'' 
 
 `` You might want to change,'' Dearborn said, nudging a duffel bag toward him. 
 
 Jake took a deep breath and began stripping out of his uniform. `` Look, if you want money, I do n't have any. The only way I can repay you is with my skills. I'm sure you know that too.'' 
 
 `` I was hoping you'd say that.'' Glen turned around with a smile. `` But first, let's help you vanish.'' 
 
 *** 
 
 *More stories to be found at [ The Nonsense Locker ] ( http: //reddit.com/r/nonsenselocker )! *
