“Oh,” I wildly jerked my eyelids about in shock and then my mouth began repeating in annoying resonance the word, ‘oh’ as my brain attempted to grasp at straws to make sense of this perturbed reality.

“Do you need a microphone to go along with that verbal freak-out?” An irritated Alex satirically remarked.

I momentarily snapped out of the gaze to dish out a proper response to an overstepping pupil. “Ha!” I laughed out sarcastically, “Thanks,” I responded, “Oh, and while you’re at it, would you mind shutting your mouth the next time you’re in shock after I kiss you? I wouldn’t want you to catch anymore flies now.”

My scathing remark brought his boasting jaw to a halt. He stared at me and I at him. And then… There was great laughter. We laughed so hard I started banging the lunch table top with my right arm as tears fell down my cheeks. We laughed for a few more minutes until the moment finally died down. I soon realized that our usual friendly atmosphere was almost back to normal. I had almost forgotten about the ill at ease state that was yesterday leading into this morning.

But right then and there, at that moment, it dawned on me that looming over us, was the events that were about to take place that would change both of our lives permanently. We were either going to successfully bust out of the prison tomorrow, be stuck here forever or get caught in the act of trying to escape and meet an untimely end.

Realizing this, I lost my appetite and began to drown myself in the menacing thoughts.

“Nick,” A voiced called out to me.

Huh?

“Are you all right?”

I gazed up to see it was Alex, of course, sitting right across from me. I’m not sure who else I was expecting.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I answered.

“Well, you don’t look fine.” He pressed.

I exhaled deeply then placed both elbows on the table and head thrown within my palms for a quick rub and pulling back of my hair starting from my chin and ending at the back of my skull with my ten fingers clasps into each other.

“Come to my cell today, after work,” I requested, “In our spare time before dinner, let’s practice your decoy act for tomorrow and go over so basic self-defense maneuver.”

He wasted no time and nodded firmly. “Got it.”

After breakfast, we both went to work in our separate divisions and met again quickly at lunchtime for a short meal and briefing. At work, I rehearsed my steps for tomorrow over and over again as I worked. Taking note of the camera angles and shifting durations. Everything was now in place on my side. I’ve memorized the code that Raymond gave me, and I’ve found the shipment room for which my package was being stored.

Work ended and as planned I went directly to my room and waited for Alex. Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door. I opened it, and before me was a guard.

“You have a visitor from Cell P 14, do you accept?”

“Yes,” I responded promptly.

He stepped aside to let Alex in and walked away firmly after stating, “You know the rules!”

“Yes, sir.” We echoed.

He got in and we commenced training immediately. We went at it for about an hour being careful not to make too much noise. Then we rehearsed his act for tomorrow.

“What if they shoot first and ask questions later?”

“That won’t happen,” I assured him.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because,” I asserted, “This is the Genesis Era. Despite our strict laws and death penalties, harm is never inflicted upon an individual unless the authorities undoubtedly confirm that he or she is an immediate and serious threat to himself and/or his surroundings. And even in that situation, lethal force is never used. What do you think this is? The 21st Century?”

“Ha-ha, very funny- what a perfect time to be making jokes Nick.” He reprimanded.

And I laughed casually. “I’m just saying that we’re not barbaric,” I concluded. "The worst case scenario is that you get trazzered."

"Is that suppose to be comforting?" Heretorted then stepped off.

He sat down on the floor and leaned up against my bed. I joined him. We sat together peacefully until he broke the silence.

“Nick,” he called out to me.

“Yes,” I answered.

“What if…” he struggled to speak.

I lift my head to acknowledge that he was upset then moved closer to comfort him. “Alex, what is it?” I probed.

He kept quiet for a few more minutes and then finally shut his lids and left the tears loose.

'What a cry-baby'- I couldn't help but think at first.

“What if we don’t make it tomorrow?”

But soon my heart swelled at the sight of him, and so did my eyes. Seeing him like this made me… it made me…ache. I hated it. I wanted to make it stop.

I want to see you make another expression… any expression but that of which you have now

I reached over and hugged him. Then I turned completely to face him while holding him tightly in my arms, lifted my head from his shoulder then gently brushed my lips up against his to kiss him.

I felt his body gently shake, like a reflex withdrawal then relapsed back down into my arms. He sat still for a good couple of seconds, overcome with emotions, he was completely at loss for words or reaction. After staring blankly at the wall for about two minutes, he slowly got control of his mind and started to grasp reality. He groped to find words.

“What… what are you doing?”

I slightly rose up; my chin still slightly buried in his shoulder.

“I don’t know…” I muttered. “I just… I just wanted to hold you.”

I ran my hand through his hair until they were completely submerged within his roots. I exhaled deeply then brought my head up slowly to his neck then kissed it gently. He quivered. I traced my lips from his neck up to his chin then paused. He looked frightened.

“Are you afraid?” I asked.

“No.” He softly responded.

I pressed my lips lightly against his. He let me. And then I kissed him, gripping his head even tighter than before in order to really sink into it. He trembled beneath me.