A shake, steak and chocolate cake

A vanilla shake, steak and chocolate cake is all that stood between Jack and his untimely death. After eleven years of solitude, dimming faith and countless pleas, it seemed his fate was already decided.

Jack took no time in choosing what his last meal would be. It was a reminder of the last time he truly felt happy... the last time he had freedom and the last time he saw his beloved Mother. He took his time clearing the plate, leaving just the one slice of chocolate cake as he was aware once that was gone the guards would remove him from his cell and guide him slowly down the green mile ready to meet his maker.

“I never should have moved to that stupid town” Jack muttered to himself as he plunged his fork into the wet sponge. The small town of Gardenshore brought him nothing but pain and bad luck. Although it seemed like a good idea to begin with, it quickly spiralled into the unexpected.

Gardenshore was a small town with a population of only a couple thousand. The ominous atmosphere was apparent. Small suburban town, close knit community. Everybody knew everybody... and their business. The cops seemed to favour antagonism, rather than obey the law themselves, which really set the tone of the town. Jack had only moved there to be with his long distance girlfriend Ashley, who swore to him it was the perfect place to be. However, upon reflection, it alluded to be a sickening trap. Ashley seemed great at the start, the perfect woman; a bubbly personality, striking good looks and a great sense of humour. It wasn’t that she was out of Jack’s league but looking back he definitely realised she was a little too perfect.

Jack thought back to the day he left his hometown, back in Ohio. Leaving his Mother and his childhood home behind, he remembered how his Mother jokingly begged him not to go. She said that no one would love him like she does. He remembered how they spent the day together finishing up at their favourite diner for dinner. They had a very close relationship, one that only grew after the passing of Jack’s Father. Being the only child Jack quickly rose to the challenge of becoming the man of the house; a complex but necessary role for an adolescent, but he did the job and he did it well. Jack graduated high school with perfect grades and instead of going to college took a job at Mick’s Garage just like his dad did. He used his money to keep the house afloat and even donated to charity if he had the chance. Old friends and family were shocked to hear he had been sentenced for the murder of his Girlfriend’s Father. It just didn’t make any sense; this wasn’t the Jack that they knew.

The cake was almost finished now. A couple of bites left at most. He could probably drag it out for another five minutes, maybe ten? The guards were already getting frustrated; they just wanted to see the show, see the fireworks. “You’re gunna fry for what you did boy”, “I hope you rot in hell you pathetic scum”. The words just flew past Jack; he had bigger things on his mind. He thought about all the things he missed out on, all the things he wouldn’t get to say. He couldn’t even tell his Mom he loved her… he couldn’t even say goodbye. He imagined what Ashley was doing: would she feel guilty? Would she even care? Did she even know? It was her after all who killed her Father and pinned the blame on Jack. She was the one who cut his throat, she was the one who lured Jack into a relationship just to use him as a means to an end, and yet she was the one not sitting in the cell.

Jack shoved the last piece of cake into his mouth slowly biting down in an attempt to savour it but to his surprise there was something inside of his mouth that was certainly not cake. He spat it out onto the floor and smothered in cake and saliva was a key.

Jack just gazed at the cake unsure of his next move: What did this mean? What was this key for? It couldn’t be for the cell. No, that was just ludicrous. He eventually picked it up, making sure to check that no guards had spied it. To his surprise however all of the guards were gone. There was a sudden reignition of faith inside the condemned man. He had to keep his composure, he needed to relax and think. If he was to make a break for it surely he would be caught, but then again what did he have to lose? He hurtled to the sink, washing the key in the cold water; he had decided to just try. He was going to make a run for it… he had to.

Placing the key into the lock he took a deep breath. Slowly it unlocked and with one final peer down the drab corridor, he was on his way down past the empty cells. He didn’t have a plan on where to go from here, but a little improvisation and some patience was sure to do the trick. Someone was clearly keeping a watchful eye over him or how else was he to have gotten the key? Some sick miracle? Someone was pulling the strings and if Jack could just stay hidden he was certain whoever was helping him would get him out. He approached the door to the next room cautiously; he was going in blind and vulnerable. Turning the handle he slowly pushed it open, he began to brace himself, squinting, but alert.

SMACK! Jack’s body was rammed by the hard, large metal door, and he was flung onto his back. He grasped his hook nose and chap lipped mouth which were now gushing with blood. Time stood still, his hope dampening as he comprehended a stocky figure casting a deep shadow over his limp, winded frame. Stood in front of him now were the guards from before, bent over in hysterics, laughing, grabbing each other and jumping around. “He fucking fell for the cake” one shouted. “You really thought you was getting out of here, you really thought it was that easy,” another laughed. The whole thing had been a joke. A sick joke played on him by the guards.

There wasn’t anyone helping Jack. There was no freedom. This was the end.