Six months later. December

Caim sat in a plastic orange chair in a white hallway, at least twenty pounds lighter than he had been the last time he had sat here and with a couple marks to prove his stay. He also wasn't wearing hand cuffs and in a prison uniform this time. Six months… Felt like six years…

You're lucky you didn't get a year. If you had had your bag with you, you would have gotten at least that.

I would have gotten it, but I wouldn't have completed it.

"Caim Reglin!"

Caim stood up and turned to face the male guard that addressed him from the end of the hall. The guard beckoned him forward and Caim walked up to him, slowly and with an even pace just as instructed earlier. The man then called to a female in the booth set into the wall and exclaimed: "Single prisoner exiting." The female repeated it before pressing a button that send a loud buzzer off and the barred door in front of Caim to open. The guard and Caim nodded in acknowledgment to each other before Caim stepped out and the door was closed behind him.

Walking down the hall he took a deep breath. Don't relax yet though, you're not out yet

Then he turned the corner to face the automatic doors that were the only separation between him and outside. The real outside, not The Yard outside, but real, free outside. The thought was a little daunting, like back in June when he stood across the street from Mia's cemetery with a bouquet of flowers, too nervous to cross. That seems like ages ago. And just like in June it took him an extra minute before summoning up the courage to walk out the front door.

It was less windy out in the real outside in comparison to The Yard outside, but Caim still had to zip up the front of his jacket a little more and stuff his gloved hands in his pockets.

Glancing around he found himself on the edge of a parking lot that separated him from the sidewalk and road that led away from the building. Several cars were parked in the lot, all close to the front doors, except for one. A large Hummer-like vehicle was parked in the middle of the lot and Caim stopped to stare at it. The rest of the cars in the lot coincided with the number of guards at the prison at the moment; this random car was out of place, and it didn't have much snow on it so it must not have been sitting there for very long. It's probably just a visitor's car…

Taking a breath of real winter air he started across the lot, steering clear around the mystery car; he didn't want any sort of trouble. As he passed it though, he couldn't help but feel like someone was watching him and he turned back to look at it. With the windows rolled up and tinted Caim wasn't able to see inside, and that made him take a couple steps away while keeping his eyes on the vehicle. After a minute he turned back around and picked up the pace a little, telling himself that it wasn't just because of the car. It's almost evening and the sun's going to set soon. Finding a place to sleep is at the top of my list, followed by something to eat.

He got up onto the sidewalk and headed towards the gate that was his only barrier between the parking lot and absolute freedom.

Halfway there he heard a car engine start and he glanced over to see the Hummer-like vehicle come to life, the windshield wipers flicking across the windshield probably more out of the driver's habit rather than to clear any obstructions. Looking away Caim kept his pace even, unlike his heartbeat.

They're not out to get you. They're just leaving.

At the same time I am.

Coincidences are stupid.

Shoving his hands deeper into his pockets and bowing his head he pressed on, keeping the guard tower on his side of the road in sight from under his eyelashes. He could hear the car coming up behind him but he didn't look over, not this time, not matter how much he wanted to see who was inside.

He didn't relax until the car passed him and left the lot, and even then he only unclenched the fists that he had made in his pockets. He watched at the vehicle turned the corner and sped off towards the city. The big city, the Big Apple, New York City… The place where dreams are dashed…