Several hours later Bridgette was still trying to explain her latest dream to her roommates, who had all come rushing into her room upon hearing her scream. She had still not managed to clear the image of McLean stabbing her from her mind and doubted it would ever leave. It was something she knew wasn't possible, as McLean was behind bars in a maximum security prison, and yet it had felt so real. She had actually felt the blade of his knife pierce her chest, but there was no wound on her body, she had already checked. It was this that worried Bridgette most as she couldn't understand how a wound suffered in her dreams could cause her actual physical pain. Fortunately her roommates, particularly Izzy, had some theories on the subject and their support was helping to calm Bridgette's nerves a great deal.
"So, this physical manifestation of pain may be my mind trying to tell me something?" Bridgette asked, glancing at Izzy.
"Yes." Izzy replied. "Like I said, sometimes our minds force us to physically experience portions of our dreams as a means of dealing with the issues. That's why we dream after all, because it allows us to work through shit at a subconscious level. Sometimes it works in reverse as well."
"But what is her mind trying to tell her?" Nikki asked, glancing from Izzy to Bridgette.
"I think it's trying to warn me about McLean." Bridgette answered, shuddering at the thought. "Why else would he have been in my dream?"
"But it doesn't make sense." said Gwen. "Why would your mind be trying to warn you about McLean when he's locked up with no way out?"
"Perhaps he does have a way out." Izzy suggested, her gaze traveling around the room.
"He's in a maximum security facility Iz, how's he gonna escape?" Nikki asked.
"I don't know." Izzy said, her tone exasperated. "Maybe he's got someone on the outside who's helping him? Maybe he's found a secret tunnel that'll lead him to freedom? I honestly don't know. I mean, I'm not saying he does have a way out, I'm just saying he may have found one."
"Fuck, that's a really unpleasant thought." said Gwen. "If that sick bastard gets out he's gonna come for us again, you all realize that right?"
"Yeah, we do." said Bridgette. "I think that's why he was in my dreams. To warn us, so we're ready, in case he ever does get out."
"Maybe, but I still don't think he's gonna escape." said Nikki. "I mean, he's had what, like four or five months to do it? So why hasn't he?"
"Because he's probably planning or something." said Izzy. "Come on Nik, don't ask us why a fucking pedophile hasn't escaped from prison yet. How are any of us supposed to have the answers to that question?"
"Okay, sorry." said Nikki. "I was just asking. You don't have to freak out Izzy."
"Yeah yeah, whatever." Izzy muttered, rolling her eyes. "So, what are we gonna do about this? Are we gonna tell the Kings or the cops or what?"
"I don't think we need to go that far yet Izzy." said Bridgette, though her impulse was to alert everyone she could.
"Why not?" Izzy asked. "You're the one who saw the prick in your dreams. Why shouldn't we alert everyone we can?"
"Well for one, because it was a dream." said Bridgette. "And as freaked out as I am, we don't need to go creating a panic just because I had a bad dream. Also, we have no proof McLean is actually trying to escape so there's no reason to raise a false alarm. Besides, if we go to the police and tell them we think a maximum security prisoner is trying to escape what do you think they're going to say? Do you think they're going to take us seriously?"
"No, they'd probably just ignore us." said Gwen. "Or think we were crazy or that we were involved with helping him escape."
"Exactly." said Bridgette. "So we're not gonna do anything yet, not until we know for sure, though by then it'll probably be too late, but still, for now we do nothing. Okay?"
"Okay, fine, we won't do anything." Izzy said, with a sigh. Nikki and Gwen both nodded to show they agreed with Bridgette as well.
For her part Bridgette wasn't sure she agreed with herself, but she wasn't about to admit that. However, if she was being honest with herself she was still terrified that McLean was going to escape. But without proof there was no point in going to the authorities, especially since she had only seen him in a dream, albeit a very realistic dream. So for now she and her roommates would keep this to themselves and hope that McLean was secure in his prison cell.
At that moment their hopes were secure, as Chris McLean was indeed in his prison cell some seven hundred miles away. After being convicted of the rape and attempted murder of Bridgette and the sexual abuse of the others, McLean had been sentenced to life in prison, as the judge had found his crimes deserving of such a penalty. He had been taken to a maximum security prison called Archer Federal Penitentiary, which was located halfway across the country from Fort Columbus in the town of Archer. Archer has a reputation for being an absolute hell hole and the prisoners there have nicknamed it "the Butcher's Pit", a name derived from the number of murders which occur at the prison and the brutal conditions prisoners live in. Of course, there is a reason why Archer is such a cruel place; it houses some of the most dangerous and deranged criminals in the country and that's why McLean was sent there. His crimes were deemed horrible enough to justify locking him up for life in the worst prison in the country.
When McLean had first been sentenced to life in Archer he had been filled with a sense of dread he had never before felt. But in the few months he had spent there that fear had quickly dissipated, giving way to a steely determination and a sinister outlook on life. Life on the inside was not nearly as bad as McLean had been lead to believe, especially since he had worked his way to the top of the prison hierarchy through sheer force of will. McLean had discovered that degenerate prisoners were even easier to manipulate than teenagers and he had built himself a solid wall of supporters who kept him safe from the ravages of prison politics. It had not been an easy endeavor and McLean was surprised his plans had worked out so well, but he wasn't about to complain. He had all the pieces in place, now all he had to do was move them, but that was not going to be easy, as he still had enemies within the prison and people on the outside who would do anything to ensure he stayed right where he was. But McLean had taken all of these variables into account and he was sure his plan would work, he just needed the right moment to present itself.
At that moment however, McLean was not yet ready to put his plan into action. Even if he was ready, he couldn't given that he was locked in his cell. But it was nearly time for lunch and then the prisoners would get an hour in the yard, where McLean would make his final preparations. Twenty minutes later the door to McLean's cell rattled open and he stepped forward to allow the guard to shackle him. Once he was shackled McLean stepped out of his cell and followed the other prisoners down to the cafeteria where he was greeted by two large musclebound men who were both prisoners as well. The larger of the two men smiled at McLean and cracked his knuckles menacingly.
"Hey McLean, how's it going?" the man, who's name was Dalton Keller asked. "When are you gonna pay up on the debt you owe me?"
"Well, I was going to do it yesterday, but I couldn't find you in the yard, so I couldn't really pay up then." McLean said, with a smile.
"You think you're so good, but don't forget how it works in here rapist." Dalton snarled. "You may be at the top now, but there's some in here who think your ascension was a fluke. Just remember what you owe and pay up by tomorrow or else." With that, Dalton and his companion turned and headed over to their table, leaving McLean to get his food.
"Don't worry Dalton, I remember perfectly well what I owe." McLean muttered to himself, casting a dark look at Dalton's back. "And when I enact my plan you'll pay just like all the others."
"McLean, move your ass!" one of the guards shouted, gesturing for McLean to move up to the counter to get his food. McLean obeyed and a short time later he found himself sitting on his usual bench in the far western corner of the yard.
Moments later he was joined by four other prisoners who had all agreed to help him carry out his plan. The men's names were Phil Legurski, Carlos Zapata, Doug Willis, and Tommy "Six Blades" Felman. Phil and Tommy were in prison for murder, Carlos for drug related crimes and Doug, like McLean, was in for rape and other sex crimes. The four of them had rallied around McLean because they felt he was their way out, though he felt no loyalty to them beyond his need for their help in enacting his plan.
"So what's the word boss?" Tommy asked, glancing at McLean. "We saw you talking with Keller again. He still on you about that debt?"
"Yes." McLean muttered. "But that's not important right now. We have to make final preparations or this whole thing goes to shit."
"Right, so, what're we doing again?" Phil asked, glancing around the group.
"Damn it Phil how many time do I have to tell you not to forget the fucking plan?" McLean snarled through clenched teeth. "It's a simple operation, you fucking idiot."
Phil twitched like he wanted to hit McLean, but a warning glance from Carlos made him think twice. McLean noticed this exchange, but decided to let it slide. He had more important things to think about at the moment and would deal with his lackeys later.
"Okay, so, for those of you who have trouble remembering the plan, here's how it works." McLean said. "Two of you will start a fight, distracting the guards, which will allow me the time to slip back to my cell and get the drug Carlos procured for me. I take the drug, one of you points out that I'm dying, the guards take me to the prison hospital and I get out."
"And then you send someone back for us, right?" asked Doug, with a hopeful look.
"Yes Doug, I won't forget that." McLean muttered, though he had no intention of helping them out at all. "So that's the plan, don't forget it again. We move in two days."
The others nodded and McLean smiled. If everything went according to plan, in two days he would be a free man once again.
A/N: Well there you go. You now know what McLean has been up to since being convicted. Also, as far as the stuff about dreams I'm not sure if that's accurate but I think it is. Finally, just because I wrote this, don't assume that McLean is going to escape. He might, but he might not. That's all I can say for now.
