The Death Sentence

I walked over to the table and stood there across from him. I didn't sit down, I didn't dare until I was asked to. The man sitting across from where I was standing didn't look up at me. His face was looking down at his lunch, the same slop that this hellhole always served. I couldn't see his face to well, mostly just his shaved head. I'd been in prison long enough to know that this was him establishing his dominance, like a dog would.1

"Sit down Mr. Raven2

I did, slowly, uncomfortably. I didn't like how this was going.3

"It's good to meet you, I am Mr.Slater"4

It was a lie, we both knew that. Mr.Slater was the alias of my gang leader. A very select few actually knew who he was. He could be anyone, the guy next to me, the dirty old man that sat alone. Anyone, he thrived on being anonymous.5

"Perhaps you are wondering why I called you here."6

I didn't answer, it wasn't a question.7

"I have a special mission for you Mr.Raven?" 8

Now he looked up at me, reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He showed it to me.9

"Do you who this man is Mr.Raven"10

I recognized him as another inmate, I didn't know his name and I didn't stop to ponder how Mr."Slater" had gotten his picture.11

"What do you want me to do?" I asked. I didn't need to, I already knew. He handed me a large yellow envelope. Again, I didn't need to ask what was inside of it.12

"By nine o'clock tomorrow night Mr.Raven. Do you understand?"13

I nodded. He made a gesture to leave. I did, silently. The bell rang, it was time to go back to our cells.14

I didn't want to kill this man, but I didn't have much choice. Here, in prison, you did what you were told to do. The gang offered me protection, from guards, other inmates, whatever, and in return, I was expected to be in their service. I had hoped this day would never come. That my services would never be required, but it was too late to think about that now. I had to do what I had to do.15

The trouble getting out of my cell. I tried everything I could think of without waking the guards. Finally, as I had given up, I decided to open the envelope. Inside there was a picture of the hit, a handgun and much to my surprise, a key. The gang always amazed me with their resources. I unlocked my cell door and walked over to the inmates cell, careful not to alert the guards. I pointed the gun through the bars at the sleeping man and prepared to fire.16

I realized I had a problem. When the shot went off it would wake the guards and I would be caught.17

Suddenly I realized what this was. The gang was going to bust me, this was not about the hit. I wasn't sure why, but for some reason the gang leader wanted me dead, and decided that a hit wasn't good enough. He was going to make me suffer, make me look over my shoulder until I was inevitably killed by one of the hit's friends. No. I wouldn't let that happen. I lost all rational. My head was spinning. I walked over to Mr."Slater's" cell, where he told me I could find him. I aimed the gun through the bars. I knew what this would mean for me later but I didn't care. I would NOT be used and betrayed. I pointed the gun directly at his chest. I shook just a little bit but quickly calmed myself down. I felt a bead of sweat drip down from my brow, and in one moment, the most foolish and stupid moment of my life, I pulled the trigger...