The silence between Dr. Forman and Manfred was thundering. Karma could feel an amazing weight, a weight that could not be felt by his body, nor could any physical thing cause this weight. It was the weight on his heart, growing heavier and heavier. The weight caused his heart to sink not to his feet, but to the very bottom of his soul. Manfred von Karma was, for the first time in his entire life, coming face to face with his own mortality. Karma broke the silence by clearing his throat, and asking with a weak volume, "Less then a week?" Dr. Forman continued to look plainly in Manfred's eyes. "Five, maybe six days, tops." Manfred processed this information in silence. Dr. Forman sat on his stainless steel table directly behind him, and crossed his arms as he sat. "There is a hospital upstate from here. Hope Hospital. They can extend your life by a dew days. This is, if you want to be transferred out…" Manfred, without a moments hesitation, said, "I want to be transferred out." Dr. Forman was a little taken back. Most patients chose to die in prison, so it was something of a surprise."
"Umm… alright." Dr. Forman replied. "We can have you out of here in thirty minutes. I'll go tell my superiors." Forman picked up his chart, and started to leave the room. He put his hand on the doorknob, and turned to open the door partway. Before he exited, he asked, "Do you need anything from your cell?" Karma thought for a moment, and replied, "I just want my bedside picture and my Bible." Forman registered the request with a nod, and fully left the room, pulling the door shut. Manfred laid back on the bed, and stared into the ceiling, thinking about nothing and everything at the same time.
Twenty minutes later, a guard arrived with an orange prison garb, with his Bible and picture on top. The guard placed the items down, and said to Karma coldly, "Get dressed. We'll be outside waiting." Without even a chance for Manfred to thank him, the guard had already left the room. He got up from his bed, and went over to the table. He moved the photo and Bible to the side, and changed out of his medical clothing to the prison clothing. After zipping up his suit, he held the photograph of himself and Angelica in his hands. After taking a very deep sigh, he picked up his bible, and tucked them both under his left arm. He opened the door, and two guards holding rifles were to his sides. The guard on his left stated sharply, "Follow me." He quickly turned, and started leading out him down the hallway.
They reached the end of the long hall, to find large double doors, with a glowing red sign reading, "Exit." As they waited for authorization, Manfred heard a familiar voice. "Manfred, I have a question." It was Damon Gant. Karma turned to Gant fully and met his eyes. "Who was it that taught you how to dive?" Damon inquired with a stern look of seriousness on his face. Manfred paused, and replied just as sternly, "My sister, Victoria." Damon then replied, "She taught you well, Manfred." There was thundering silence between the two men, which broke when Karma said, "Good bye, Damon Gant." He extended his right arm. Damon clasped it firmly, saying, "Good bye, Manfred von Karma." They held their grips for a few seconds, when a buzzer went off. Karma released his grip, and turned back to the door. It slid open, and Damon stood static as he watched Manfred exit through the doors. Moments later, the doors slammed shut. It would be the last Damon ever saw of Manfred von Karma.
It had been awhile since Karma truly saw the sun.
The prison did have a fair share of windows, but they were tinted so much, barely any light came through. Light came mostly from the multitude of florescent lights. Karma's eyes hurt some as they adjusted to the setting California sun. It was wintertime, and the air was crisp and cool. There was quiet all around Manfred, with the exception from the steps of the guards and himself. No expression crossed the guard's faces as they walked Manfred to the ambulance. They had seen men walk to their death hundreds of times, and this time was no different. The doors to the back opened up. The guards stood to the sides, arms at the ready, as Karma ascended to the seat. When Karma sat down, the doors shut, and he heard the click of a lock, sealing him in.
The driver turned to Manfred, and said, "It's going to be awhile, so I'd suggest you get comfortable." Karma nodded, and the driver started the ambulance. They drove out of the prison gates, and began the long journey to Hope Hospital. Manfred leaned on his hand, and stared out the window, watching the buildings and trees pass by. He started to think back many years ago, about that summer with Victoria…
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"MANFRED'S A CHICKEN! MANFRED'S A CHICKEN!" mocked a boy no older then thirteen. Twelve-year-old Manfred von Karma was standing at the edge of a diving board, knees shaking as he looked down to the water 10 feet below. It was his first time on the high dive, and Manfred was a nervous wreck. "I'm not chicken!" he shouted back unconvincingly. The boy shouted back, "If you're not chicken then JUMP!" The other boys around started jeering, telling Manfred to jump. He closed his eyes, and ran on the board. He tripped over his feet, and tumbled in the air as he ran off the board, falling then hitting the water with his back. He weakly swam to the side to get out of the water. As he was leaning on the sidewall of the pool, he could hear the laughing and jeering of the other boys. The main boy shouted, "Nice going, Chicken-Boy!" He laughed the loudest and most obnoxious. He was Ronny Wilhelm, captain of the Junior Diving League at their school. He had no problems shoving his skill in the face of others, Manfred being no different.
Manfred exited the water, back burning in pain. Through his attempts to catch his breath, he could hear the laughter getting louder and louder. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the terrible laughter and pain. Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out from in front of Manfred.
"You boys knock it off!"
It was Manfred's older sister, Victoria. She was fourteen, and had long silver hair, which was tied in a ponytail. She stood in her one-piece bathing suit, pointing her right finger towards Ronny and his group of boys, which already started to scatter. "I know where you live, Ronny, and don't think I won't tell your mom what you're doing!" Ronny understood the gravity of her threat, and started to run off. She lowered her finger with a sigh, and looked down at her younger brother. He was looking at his feet, on the verge of tears. Victoria leaned forward, and smiled. She put her hand on Manfred's shoulder, and practically whispered, "Come on. Let's go home, Manny."