Sandra Part 1:

Freddie was impatient, extremely impatient. He'd been running from the police unit for over a week; and he waited for the day he would be able to walk into the sunlight without having to worry about being slammed against a brick wall, and sent back to E block; where he would eventually be fried by the electric chair. The thought of what the men called, Ol' Sparky was unnerving then, and still is now. For a strong willed man, deep down inside, he was afraid of dying. If he wasn't, he would have just stayed put in his cell, and be tortured with useless entertainment for the rest of his life.

For that one intense week, Freddie was staying with a friend. Like the friend he had in the past, this new one was also a chemist; making cannabis for his own intentions. He had other chemicals, and solutions premixed, and some in their original containers, stored and scattered in the many rooms of his apartment. The place was homely; so many dark secrets lay between the walls. The blackness inside the apartment was good for a man hiding amongst the shadows; sheltering himself from the cruel, harsh world. Though Freddie and Mr. Chemistry were good friends, they never talked much. They were both too "busy" for their liking. So in the meantime, Freddie was bored to death. He rested his head against a bare wall that obtained many cracks and fractures between the dull paint.

Freddie held a lot of resentment throughout his life. He resented the many people who made sure he was sentenced to death, for the deaths amongst friends and family caused by his hand. He held resentment against his former colleagues; who did not attempt to protect him from the judge's hand. Freddie's inner punishment was wishing death upon all of his friends, family, and others who did him wrong. Again, he held several vendettas, but there were four in particular. They were against four grown men, and especially one came into mind; Paul Edgecomb. Maybe boss wouldn't remember him, but he would remember Paul. It was a scary scenario in Paul's case.

Freddie glanced forward, staring at the people with hollow eyes. A cunning smile lay upon his face, as he soon found himself behind the main reservoir. Water from the many rivers and streams around Louisiana supplied the town with their resources. Just like the prison, security was low; so it wasn't that challenging to sneak throughout the maze of a building. As Freddie jumped between the light and the shadows throughout the large facility, he managed to discover a lab coat, and a safety hat and glasses for a sly disguise. And no one seemed to question. Maybe they would find suspicion in this man later on during the afternoon, so Freddie couldn't be around for too long, or he may find the police at the front and the back doors within less than an hour. Looking out and about, Freddie found an opening inside the facility leading to a side room, slightly open too. Following the light behind the door, it eventually led Freddie to the water filtration system. Open access, twenty four hours, seven days a week! The giant room welcomed him with open arms, along with a lone worker in the corner; who took a second glance at Freddie once or twice. He seemed to have questioned Freddie from a distance, but Freddie pretended not to hear. When Freddie didn't comply with the man, the man didn't hesitate to disappear from the area.

That's when Freddie feared the worst; but the worst was behind him for the moment; he was on a mission, and he surely wanted to accomplish that mission. Freddie glanced at the dirty water on one half of the room. As he continued to gaze, he noticed that there was a slight current nearing the middle. Freddie followed the water, which entered a large filter; and like magic, the water was almost crystal clear. Freddie did not understand too much about technology these days, but he was young. There was much more in store for him in the future. Though complicated in his eyes, the deed was quite simple. Freddie held three tubes within his hands; one green, one yellow and one pink. The last vial was an odd colour choice, but that was the outcome of the final solution. Freddie stretched an arm outwards, and turned the green vial upside down; the oozing liquid entering the clean water, and dissolving almost immediately. He did the same with the other vials. He blinked once or twice during the reaction, and soon the water became crystal clear once more.

When all was said and done, Freddie quickly stormed out from the room, and managed to escape the facility. He would come back tomorrow with three more.

In the city, Brutus sat on a lone bench at the bus station amongst other people. He waited patiently, with a briefcase in hand. Minutes ago, he'd just finished with the final bank statements, to finally cut his account along with other ties to the previous bank. He was no longer under their control during the depression. He managed to make it without losing another penny from his personal vault. He was in charge of his life from that day forward. At most times, home banking would be a hassle, yet alone another chore; but during a recession, it was every man's dream to free himself from the hell…the hell that the many banking companies had caused amongst their people. The stock market crashed months ago, and one third of the country was out of work; possibly more. It was terrifying to think of the final outcome. The homeless, and how helpless they all are with little to no money, and food; their instincts would have no choice but to interfere. This was a fight for survival. Brutus could only imagine the rise of the crime rates over the next two years. The Green Mile may be busier than usual. There may be no room left in their cells if people don't learn to behave. They don't seem to in B and C block now, imagine what would be in store for Cold Mountain in the near future.

Brutus had been waiting near the stop for at least two hours. He glanced at his watch a couple of times and was finally getting restless. He was excited, but yet impatient. He had to go to work for nine, and it was already five o'clock! Brutus crossed his fingers and hoped that she'd come by soon –

"How long have you been waiting here for?" A nearby woman questioned.

Brutal raised an eyebrow whilst glaring at the woman. As three times before, she continued to wear the same yellow coat, and sunhat. He couldn't even tell what the colour of her hair was. "What do you mean?"

"Alright," she started. "I'm sick of you fucking with me. I mean, you are basically stalking me. I'll make sure to file a restraining order as soon as I get home."

Brutal rose to his feet, "Lady, calm down, please."

She laughed in dismay, "What do you want?"

Brutal smiled in return, "I just want to get to know you."

"Do you really?" she commented. She waited for a reaction from the man.

Brutus nodded, "Yeah, it's crazy really. I never thought I would be the one to fall for love at first sight." Brutal pulled a rose from his coat, and presented it to the woman. She grinned from ear to ear, as she tightly clutched the flower, and brought it against her nose. She truly wanted to hide her happiness from this handsome man, but it was hard to do so. She periodically smelt the pure scent of the rose.

The woman drew a breath and smiled, "Do you want to go out for supper or not?"

Brutal clapped his hands together, "Of course, I'd thought you'd never ask…umm…"

"Sandra," she finished.

Brutus smiled gleefully, "I'm Brutus. It's sure nice to meet you Sandra."

Both Paul and Dean sat at the main desk in the vacant Green Mile, playing a game of cribbage. According to Hal, they were to receive a new prisoner in the morning. Harry got Paul to look at the profile. It wasn't anything new to Paul; it didn't move him in the slightest. The man known as Killian was charged for theft, apparent murder, and a hit and run; Killian was found guilty on all three charges; therefore sentencing the man to death. He was to arrive in Cold Mountain by truck, bright and early in the morning.

Paul and Dean were nearing the end of their game, when they were interrupted by large footsteps. The two looked upwards, and found Brutus marching towards the desk. Once reached, Brutus knocked upon the desk with a wide grin. He clapped his hands together, and broke the news to his fellow companions.

"I got her, Paul. I got her, Dean."

Both Paul and Dean raised an eyebrow with curiosity in mind. "I have no idea what on Earth you are talking about." Paul stated.

Brutus furrowed his brows, "Paul, I told you before, I met this wonderful woman."

"Oh yes," Paul recollected. "I'm sure she'll file a restraining order against you, if you don't stop bothering her." Paul looked at Dean. "He was to ask her out."

"Did you succeed?" Dean questioned.

Brutus coughed. "Well, if I didn't, then I wouldn't have this shit eating grin upon my face…would I?"

Paul nodded his head, "What's her name?"

Brutus wasn't hesitant to reply. "Sandra was her name."

Paul scoffed, "Is she dead?"

Dean was confused, along with Brutus. Unfortunately, no one caught sight of Paul's grammar correction.

Dean added, "That's a nice name for a lady. How old is she?"

"Oh, I don't know, but it doesn't matter, because we are going on a daaate!" Brutus felt like Scrooge on Christmas morning. His was as merry as a school boy, and just wanted to stand up on his head. He was infatuated with this young lady, but was he really in love? That was a question he'd have to answer for another time.

"Speaking of dates," Paul interrupted Brutal's party, "Harry invited us all for drinks on Friday."

Brutus questioned, "Where?"

"Casaloma," Paul answered. "It's in the city. It's like a dinner theatre, so yes Brutus; you will have to pull your suit from the closet once again."

Brutus wrinkled his nose, and whined, "That's twice in one week."

Dean spread his palms along the table. "I don't see what's wrong with suits."

Paul answered with glee, "He's only got one, because it's hard to find one with his size."

"Not just that," Brutus added, "But I always feel like my necks in a sling with that tie. It's really, really uncomfortable.

Paul chuckled, "There will be drinks to go around, and show girls. It's a men's only night for us boys."

"I'm in," Dean acknowledged the invitation.

"Sure," Brutus said, as he twiddled his thumbs. "Oh, please excuse me I must go find some water. My doctor has been telling me to hydrate my body often because of my medication. Y'all should too, considering that the blistering heat is once again upon us."

Paul agreed when he took out a handkerchief from his back pocket, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Chapter 17 is next...