Post by Aurora Graves on Jun 16, 2017 17:31:25 GMT -5
Twin Towers Correctional Facility
Los Angeles, CA
June 16, 2017
A shaggy-haired figure sat alone on his bunk, dressed in his prison-issued blue shirt and a pair of jeans. His once brown hair was now streaked with threads of grey, and the skin on his forearm bore a horribly-illegible prison tattoo. It was supposed to be the Japanese kanji for “revenge,” but instead looked more like a mangled octopus, and that was if it was caught at just the right angle.
Voice: Martin Graves!
The shaggy-haired figure lifted his head up at the sound of his name being called, revealing a face covered in brown and grey stubble. He turned his green eyes toward the sound of the voice, then slowly rose to his feet as the prison guard unlocked the door to his cell.
Prison Guard: Time to go, sunshine.
Martin quickly shed the blue shirt that he had been issued, revealing a plain black t-shirt underneath. With that in one hand, a plastic bag filled with what meager belongings he was allowed in the other, he walked out of his cell and into the corridor for the last time.
Martin: Hmph... took you guys long enough to get me out of here.
Prison Guard: I’m not the one that granted your early release. If it were up to me, you’d serve out your whole sentence, just on principle. After what you did to your only son...
Martin: I told you... the punk owed me!
The prison guard accompanying Martin out of the pod gritted his teeth, muttering under his breath.
Prison Guard: I’m just following orders....
Inmate 1: Hell, I’d like to shove a Molotov cocktail up your ass and see how YOU like being set on fire!
Martin: Don’t threaten me with a good time, dumbass....
He walked down the corridor, the shouts of his fellow inmates echoing from their cells as he passed. He smirked. It was a sound he wouldn’t miss.
Inmate 2: Can’t believe they’re letting THAT asshole out of here....
Inmate 3: How much ass did HE kiss to get time off for good behavior?
Inmate 4: Watch... he’ll be back.
Martin: Sooooo not gonna miss this place!
Inmate 4: Feeling’s mutual, you fuckin’ pyro!
He scoffed as he came to the stairs that led down to the common area, and a heavy iron door on the far side, past the tables.
Prison Guard: So, what do you plan to do once you’re outside?
Martin: Oh, I don’t know... maybe go home and order a pizza....
Prison Guard: Wait a minute... didn’t the bank foreclose on your house?
Martin: Whatever... I hated that dump anyway. I’ll just go stay at a hotel.
After what seemed like a walk that never ended, Martin Graves finally found himself staring at the final barrier between himself and freedom. With his bag clutched in his hand, he chuckled to himself.
Prison Guard: Good luck out there, Graves...
The prison guard unlocked the door, letting Martin Graves, convicted arsonist, take his first breath of fresh air as a free man. As soon as Martin stepped through, the door was quickly closed.
Prison Guard: That’s not for you, Graves; that’s for your son....
DevAir 1
Somewhere Over Pennsylvania
Several hours later
Aurora stared out of the window, drumming her fingers against the table as the jet flew over a patch of clouds. Her face was completely devoid of any emotion, barely moving at all except for the odd blink of her eyes now and then. In her other hand was her cell phone, a text from her manager’s attorney, Martin Saybrooke, which bore the ominous message that had resulted in Aurora’s present mood:
Damon sat across the table from his wife, his eyes narrowed in anger as he pressed his lips together. He was angry not only because his father was out of prison, but the fact that there was nothing he could have done to prevent his father’s release.
Damon: I’m sorry, Harley... I tried to tell them that there was no way he should be let out early, but they didn’t listen.
Aurora: Does he know about your grandfather?
Damon: I don’t think so. No one on that side of the family would talk to him anyway. I highly doubt he’d be dumb enough to try anything so soon after getting out.
Aurora: Still... the fact that he’s out, running around our territory while we’re across the country, with no way to stop him, or even make sure he doesn’t violate the restraining order....
Damon: Relax, Harley. The shop’s under heavy surveillance, and the house has the best fence in the neighborhood. And since he never bothered to keep up with what I was doing growing up, I’m pretty sure he still thinks we live in Long Beach.
The chuckle forced its way through Damon’s throat. He wanted to believe that the restraining order would be enough to protect them. On paper, it did. But therein lied the problem. A restraining order was just that – a piece of paper.
Aurora: But... what if he DID keep up with us? What if he DOES know about Vegas? Damon, our house, the flagship shop... our whole lives are there!
Damon stood up, pacing back and forth with his hands on his hips. After a while, his own frustration got the better of him.
Damon: Damn it, Harley...
He shook his head.
Damon: I’m sorry...
Aurora lifted her head up, eyeing him curiously.
Aurora: Sorry for what?
He stood with his back turned, glancing over his shoulder to look at his wife apologetically.
Damon: Sorry you married into such a fucked up family. A former juvenile delinquent for a husband, a mother-in-law who was an alcoholic, and an arsonist for a father-in-law...
Aurora stood up, slipping her arms around his waist as she stood behind him. Pressing her face against his back, she held on as if her life depended on it.
Aurora: None of that is your fault, Puddin’.
Damon: The juvenile delinquent part is....
It was now Aurora’s turn to chuckle.
Aurora: All things considered, you turned out okay.
Damon shrugged.
Damon: If you say so.
Aurora growled, pulling away from Damon to stand with a defiant look in her eyes. Damon turned around, unable to keep from smiling as he caught sight of his wife.
Aurora: Fuck this shit! I didn’t let my bastard ex-husband bother me after I left him in the dust. I’m not going to let some salt-and-pepper prison bitch distract me, either! We’re gonna go to Philly, train our asses off like we always do, and then this Sunday, we’re going to go out there and kick some ass!
Damon sighed, the smile on his face spreading wider with every second.
Damon: I knew I married you for more than just your looks....
He grabbed Aurora, pulling her into a deep kiss.
