Heartless Divulgence

Just before the crack of dawn the tension in Cell Block D begins to gradually rise. The sounds of keys rattling every other step as an overweight prison guard approaches a dark cell begin to fill the prison cell halls like a dramatic symphony. The prison guard bangs his baton on the prison cell and yells "Rogers, gather your things you’re going home." As he peeks in the cell to see if the inmate is alive a malnourished inmate slowly starts to come to life. The inmate begins to roll over and he slowly gathers himself from his extremely uncomfortable slumber only to suddenly remember his name is Jay Rogers and he is now a free man. Jay was on his last year of a 7 year prison sentence but was released early for good behavior. Being released on good behavior in most prisons is something fairly easy to obtain. But this was no ordinary prison. If you were sent to Camp 8 you were sent to die in Camp 8. Camp 8 was a smaller penitentiary only holding about 400 inmates. More than half of the inmates were in solitary confinement and left to rot. Reminders of brutal prison brawls, rape, molestation and terrible living conditions quickly flashes through his mind as he walks through the steel doors to his long awaited freedom.

As he walks outside the prison gates he is greeted by no one. No party, no family, no friends eagerly ready to celebrate the day of his freedom. Sad and alone he looks to the sounds of nature to bring him peace and serenity. His soul begins to come alive as he watches the birds fly from tree to tree singing their own personal melody as they happily enjoy a fulfilling life. Suddenly, a car approaches breaking his concentration from the beautiful wonders of nature. It was an older car. Black, glossy paint with tinted windows so dark they had to be illegal. Still, Jay could make out two occupants thanks to the brightness and angle of the sun. This unfamiliar car slowly approaches and stops right in front of Jay. Staring into this ominous mysterious vehicle he can only see his own baffled reflection. Suddenly, the passenger side window slowly rolls down enough for Jay to make out a middle aged white male wearing a black hat with a white stripe circling the hat just above the brim. Instantly and unexpectedly an unidentifiable object is thrown in the air and lands at Jay's feet. He slowly tilts his head down to see what struck his foot. It's the little black notebook. His body begins to shake. Fear and disbelief boils in his stomach and makes its way up his spine. Rushes of emotions fill his head with anxiety and doubt. Jay stares at his feet in total skepticism. He thinks to himself, "how? I burned it. I watched it burn." He thinks back a little over 6 years ago to the moment he remembered burning this little black book. It was just before sundown in an abandoned parking lot. No cars, no people, no distractions. There could be nothing to deter him from the task of burning the little black notebook. Just Jay, a box of matches in his left hand, the little black notebook drenched in lighter fluid and a black duffle bag filled with $20,000 cash sitting next to him waiting to be spent. But, somehow the notebook had survived. This black book had survived a direct attempt at its own destruction. Returning back to reality, Jay lifts his head to speak and the car speeds away just as incognito and swiftly as it arrived. Bewildered and confused Jay looks back at his foot hoping he fantasized the black notebook but to somehow beyond his comprehension the little black notebook is still there.