This is "Prisoner" by Bayden Trocki.
A story about an intelligent prisoner who is serving five years for armed robbery at his local bank.
This is a game about living out a criminal life in a high security prison for a decades charge.
As you grow older and time passes, the people, events and prison will change. Hopefully by the end you get out, some don't!
[[Statement to Police]] My name is [[Sam Doe]], you say. With a duffel full of rubber banded money in one hand, and a gun pointed in the air with the other hand, you find yourself with rifles pointed at you. Police and Medical personal littered everywhere, You drop the [[duffel]] and [[gun]].
Get on the ground dirtbag! You hear behind you, a *kick* stabs your back, you kneel first, then a hands grab your face and drive it in the ground. Your mask cracks into pieces on the pavement and blood pools from the impact.
Officer, you're hurti...
[[Shut up!]]
A family man, father, husband. Someone, who if they were your neighbor you would probably talk to them.
A short statured frame, no more than 5'6. very broad boned, an oval shaped face with beaty blue eyes and stuble everywhere. Slicked back brown hair, long but cut evenly, like a greaser from the 50's. A large crow nose that clefts and decents steeply. Absurdly small feet, enough to where Sam could fit into childrens shoes.
[[Statement to Police]] The money was supposed to go towards paying for your childrens schooling. Maybe take the wife on a nice vacation and pay off all the house debt. But now...
A Nike black duffel bag pushes some dust around when it hits the floor. The zipper busts and bands of cirrculated bills spill out the bag. The police notice how much money was actually in the bag, how long it must've taken to pack that duffel.
[[Statement to Police]] You remember going in the attic this morning around 7:30am and unlocking the family gun safe. Somewhere in the house no one would think to look. 31-56-22, then you grabbed the gun out from the safe and closed the door. You thought the only time you would ever have to use the gun was a home invasion, but today...
[[Statement to Police]] You get pinned even harder, the words didn't even register. You flick your eyeballs from side to side trying to [[see]].
You pick up that nothing good is going to happen from here,
"You have the right to remain silent, any words you say now will/can be used against you in a court of law!"
The swarm of officers pick you up from the dirt, grab the duffel, mask and gun and throw it in a squad car, they forcefully push you in the backseat of [[cab #52]]. Everyone rolls out of the [[Salem City Bank]], it looks like shit, because it was robbed today.
[[To police station]] By this point, most people realized that this situation was inching a little to close to inhumaine, all the officers drop their rifles.
You wonder if the kids have gotten up yet, if your wife remembered to take them to school this morning. If they're ok.
Meanwhile you're face is being pressed into asphalt on a Wednesday morning.
[[Shut up!]] Out of all the cop cars in the Salem Bank lot, this one was the rustiest. You can tell lots of people have been in and out of this cab. It looks like they were about to scrap it and one of the officers got sentimental and kept it on for an extra year. Even the paint is fading. the white is yellowish and the black was greyish, but reguardless, you are still pushed into cop car #52
[[Shut up!]] A glance to your right and you see the bank you just robbed. The alarms are still blaring. enough to hurt your ears. People are being escorted outside of the bank, amulance and medical personal wrapping women and children in blankets. Men running with briefcases to their cars. This is the bank you used to go to. You made your first loan to buy the car you drive today. You realize that you took time out of peoples days.
[[Shut up!]] Your hands in the back of cab #52 are chaffing. The handcuffs are too tight, but it's not worth it to ask the officer to loosen them. He would have to stop the car, and after the initial scene at the Salem City Bank, thin lines you're walking on.
You recognize the street your on. You're car is about ten minutes from the the police station. You decide to ask a question.
[[What's your name officer?]]
Hey, Sir? You say.
Yea, he says.
What's your name? You ask.
Officer Jenkins, most criminals don't talk to the officers.
Consider it a part of my character, you say.
Charming, I have a question. He says.
[[Shoot]] Why would you rob the bank today? Jenkins says, why put all of those employees, customers, security at risk?
It's a Wednesday for gods sake, don't you have friends, hobbies, a job?
When it boils down to the metal in the pot, all thats left is one sentance, "I needed the money, now. I have a family to feed, a house to pay off, a car to maintain." You say in a [[cold tone]] The way you said that sentance, made Officer Perkins shiver. He could tell you meant what you said.
"You remind me of a young man I had to arrest last week, he was about 25 or so, making a big scene downtown about being homeless and just not knowing where to go. The kid didn't have shit. The clothes on his back. Just needed a place to stay." He says.
"I get what you're saying, y'know your type of people just take what they need. Usually whenever it's needed, there's no thought or justification before, criminals just do." Said Perkins
What do you mean "your type of peo..."
"We're here." Said Perkins
[[Salem Police Station]] Your body slumps forward a little as cab #52 haults, The car keys unplug and Officer Perkins swings open the door. A grin on his face.
You actually tried to talk, you're brave. I usually don't talk that much but you're a unique occurance, Officer Perkins says.
You're baffled, your jaw hangs, then it receeds and you say thank you. You almost forget you're a bank robber, but only for a second because the parade of officers catches up, and start grabbing and pulling you into the station.
[[You assimilate]]
Quickly and swiftly you are tossed and dragged toward a remote room, down a flight of stairs and down a hallway.
In the depths of the Salem Police Station, there was a plain grey door at the head of the back of the basement hallway. You remember there's an interrogation part to this, and a trial, they're both important, but not interesting.
[[Interrogation]] You tell the officers in the [[room]] that you went in to Salem City Bank at [[9:05am]] with the getup (mask, duffel, gun) and robbed the bank.
They're shocked about the honesty, and wrap up quickly. You're entered into the polices system and are transferred to a holding cell for the time being.
[[Temporary Holding Cell]] You look around and see the interrogation room. A conglomerate of white tile and a mirror. You glance inside it and can't see anything. You know that it's a window though. that there are probably investigators and officers standing on the other side. The grey door at the end of the hallway turned out to be stainless steel when you had a chance to sit down and look at it. There's two officers across from you at the table. you're just waiting for one of them to talk so you can begin.
[[Interrogation]] You're slumped back in your chair but you have the might to pick your head up and glance at the clock.
it's 9:05am.
You remember the plan was supposed to be early, so most people wouldnt be at the bank. The ultimate vision was to have the kids and wife asleep while you robbed so they wouldn't see you on the news.
[[Interrogation]] Welcome to the Tutorial Cell, this is before the trial and ACTUAL prison. feel free to glance around. For time to pass and for you to move to Salem Penitentiary either click [[Assimilate]] or [[Throw a fit]]
[[Toilet]]
[[Bed]]
[[Sink/Mirror]]
[[Door]] The white porcelain toilet eyes you back as walk closer to it. A little bit of water gurgles down the drain and you begin to start.
You peel off your pants and use to use the loo.
When your finished, you wipe up and flush the toilet.
[[Temporary Holding Cell]] You glance over to the corner of the room and there's a long twin size bed tucked in the back.
Neatly folded and ready for use the bed looked like it was intended for a teenager, not a fullsize man. It smells old, like it's been sitting in this cell for a while. It really doesnt matter as long as you fall asleep.
[[Temporary Holding Cell]] You check your slicked hair out in the mirror and run your fingers through it. you turn on the sink, apply some soap start washing your hands. the hot water feels good inbetween your fingers.
After, you splash some water on your face you turn the sink off and dry your hands,
[[Temporary Holding Cell]] You wander over to the door and peep out the small hole the officers call a window. Outside is an emtpy frontroom with guards patroling around, talking and pointing to certain people.
It's relativley quiet, you can tell. The other criminals must not want to be vocal today.
You could see why though, this is the station, not the full on prison. Most people here get out pretty quick, tranfers and bails claim a lot of people. '
[[Temporary Holding Cell]] You're hauled to a blue bus outside the courthouse with cage wiring around the windows. There are other criminals like you, hollaring and wooing at you as you're pushed onto the bus and escorted to one of the only open seats.
You hear shit like, "FRREEESSSSHHHHH MEEAAATTTT!" and "Dead Man Walking," as you sit down. People start slapping the top of your head and bumping your shoulder.
You look over towards your right and you meet another prisoner, like you getting slapped and pushed from all the other seats.
His name is [[Babu]]
You decide to lash out and flail your arms in a wild motion. The guards are holding you down tighter and tighter. You start screaming slurs and words that your grandmother would never want to hear. People around you are glaring and whispering as you devolve into this animal as the guards take you away, then suddenly...
*Clunk*
the butt of a flashlight hits your skull and knocks you out.
[[Assimilate]] Babu is a tall and stocky indian man. You weren't sure if at the time how tall he is but reguardless, Babu turns, extends his baseball mitt of hand and says,
Nice to meet you sir.
You nod and shake his hand back.
You and Babu hit it off on the bus, you two start talking about all the things you like and have in common. Eventually, during the bus ride you guys start to talk about what got you both in this bus. But before that could happen,
[[we're here!]] Babu stands up and his general presence made you step over into the aisle a bit. The officers are moving up and down the aisle as you are just trying to not be present. The prison guards were basically barking at us to walk in a single file line as we get out of the bus. Then we all get our handcuffs tightened and linked, and start the process of walking into the penitentiary You see a couple prisoners in front of you walk their way down into the front of the prison, then you were jerked along.
[[Salem State Penitentiary]]{(set: $year to 1)
(set: $year to it + 1)
(if: $year > 5)[(goto: "End")]
(else:)[(goto: "Into the Cell")]}
The sun gets into your eye a little bit, you nod your head down. When you pick your head up from the floor you're greeted by a weathered brick fortress, it seemed like. The penitentiary had fields inside the walls, on either side of the path to the main campus. Prisoners run up to the fence and look in your guys direction. There's a surreal euphoric feeling attached to being new in an already depressing setting. people staring, chained, orange jumpsuits. It's just weird being here.
[[Into the Cell]]it is your $year year in the Salem Prison,
year: $year
You, Sam Doe still find it crazy that you're actually in a prison for five years. when you are ready, select [[Free time]]
[[Bathroom]]
[[Cot/Bed]]
[[Roommate]]
[[Front Door]]
year: $year
After some time, you are released from your cell and let out into the community area in the middle of you and Babus cell block.
There's a fair amount to do when you look around.
[[Play chess with a senior citizen]]
[[Talk to some prisoners]]
[[Chill with Babu]]
year: $year
A siren of a bell rings and everyone on the community floor scatters. Once everyone is gone and the room has cleared out, an officer comes up to you.
"Is it your first day or something? What are you doing just standing around, get the hell to work maggot!" The officer says.
"Oh shi... they arn't playing, a-alright officer, I'll grab a mo..." You say.
"I didn't ask for your opinion inmate, it's as simple as, shut up, grab a mop and clean the block floor! I won't ask again!" The officer says.
"... okay." You say.
You shakingly walk over to the mop and start.
Click here whenever.[[Food]]
[[Community area]]
[[Walkways and corridors]]
[[Put away tools]]
year: $year
After work you wander into the cafeteria, which is attatched to your cell block. It's absolutley teeming with different types of people, crowded together at different tables, in a large open space.
It reminds you of your youth and eating in school.
You walk to the over to where the smell of food is coming from...
[[Buffet Line]]
[[Lunch Tables]]
When you finish the two above for the first time, walk outside the prison for [[Recess]].year: $year
You, Babu and the other inmates make your way outside the cafeteria walls and into this vast outside grass area. There were bleachers and a field made for sports, A track, and a wide open space just to sit down and relax. They even had a small gym area tucked in the corner on the right side of the field.
"Where should we go?" Babu asks.
[[Bleachers/Field]]
[[Track]]
[[Open Space]]
[[Gym]]
year: $year
You and Babu walk through the Cafeteria doors, people are filing back into their according cell block doors.
You and Babu find your cell block, walk in and set out over towards the staircase that leads to your cell. You walk up, go into the cell and an officer shuts the door behind you.
You and Babu decide to chill out in your respective beds for the night. Quickly you both start to fall asleep.
[[Go to sleep]]It is the dead of the night, year $year.
Days turn into weeks, months then a year passes.
{(set: $year to it + 1)
(if: $year > 5)[Time to [[Get out of prison|End]].]
(else:)[(display: "Into the Cell")]}The guards one day tell you to gather your stuff and walk down to the Commissary, once you make it, they ask for your name and you respond with Sam Doe.
They perk up and are happy that your told them, they remind you it's your last day in Salem Prison. They give you you're original clothes and tell you to change.
You do and when you're done the guards escort you out the front gates of Salem Prison.
As you're walking out, you catch a whiff of fresh air, the scenery of trees and the city beyond.
The world is your oyster, enjoy!
The End.
[[Start]] You backstep, turn around and are face to face with the prison mirror and sink. The mirror is cracked in the corner but not enough to block your reflection.
You crack a small smile, trying to keep it small. Being in prison is hard time, you can't just be flashing smiles.
You look down and see the sink. There's dark hair near the drain and some stains along the side, it oozes character. You turn it on and wash your hands. When you're finished you dry them off.
[[Into the Cell]] You wander over to the backright corner of your cell and find the bunk bed. Yours is the bottom bunk because your roommate has already made it to the cell. You quickly lay your sheets, mattress and pillow on the frame.
When its done, you back up and gaze upon you neatly made prison bed.
[[Into the Cell]]There is a form under some blankets on the top bunk. They roll over to face you, their eyes widen when they take a glance.
When they sit up this comes out of their mouth.
"What's up my man! Long time no see right?" Babu says.
You can't believe the luck, the man from the prison bus, Babu is your roommate. You reach out your fist and give him knuckles.
"I'm as good as I can be, I'm shocked that we're bunk mates." You say.
"The placement is offputting for sure, well it's good to see you!" Babu says.
"Likewise to you to Babu." You say.
[[Into the Cell]] When you walk over towards the front door of your cell, you try to jiggle the handle. When you realize that its locked you just kind of sink, just a little.
You back up and pull up the food flap you see a guard near the rail outside, you let go of the flap.
This observation is backed up by the slit of glass the Salem Prison calls a window.
[[Into the Cell]] You walk down the flight of stairs that connects your cell to the community area. The area is a equalateral octogon with stainless steel stools and tables littered everywhere. They're wired to the ground to no one can pick up a stool and hit someone
When you get near this old man, he is sitting at a two person table with a game of chess set up on the table. You sit down and introduce yourself as Sam Doe.
"Hello Sam, care for a game of chess." the man says.
"That's what i'm here for! care to get started?" you say.
You and the man align the pieces on the chess board. You make the first move and then he responds.
You and the man furiously sweat and think for long periods of time before chosing your move. The match takes longer than usual.
By the end, the old man had secured all of your pieces and you were left with a handful. You shake the old mans hand and procceed with the next activity.
[[Job]] You walk down the flight of stairs that connects your cell to the community area. The area is a equalateral octogon with stainless steel stools and tables littered everywhere. They're wired to the ground to no one can pick up a stool and hit someone.
You step closer to a group of prisoners from the complete oppisite side of the community area. From a distance you're pretty sure all of them have tattoos and all of them start staring at you.
You get close and the leader comes forward, he is muscular and covered head to toe in various tattoos and symbols.
"who are you, where are you from, what did you do?" the leader says.
"Sam Doe, Salem Massachusetts, Armed Robbery." you say.
"Woah, we havn't had one of those in a minute!" the leader lights up cheery eyed.
"The last time we had a bank robber in this block, it was fifteen years ago!" the leader says"
"You catch his name, by chance?" you say.
"Funny you say that actually, I can't remember for the life of me! he died before he could get out, he was an old man by that point!" the leader says.
You all start to get along nicely after that, before you could get any deeper...
[[Job]]You walk down the flight of stairs that connects your cell to the community area. The area is a equalateral octogon with stainless steel stools and tables littered everywhere. They're wired to the ground to no one can pick up a stool and hit someone.
You and Babu sit down and start to talk about a range of topics.
From a range of topics about other prisoners, the crappy food, how long the sentance is, you become disheartened by the dry content.
You wonder how you are going to get paid to survive in here.
[[Job]] You slowly dump a load of clean soapy water all over the floor of the community area. then spread it out along the open floor to cover all surfaces.
Once the prison community area looked like a splash pad, you dry your mop in the bucket squeezer and begin the process of soaking up all the water through your dry mop and dumping the dirt-soap water into the bucket. Making sure to clean out the bucket every few times you dump water in.
Once the community area is spotless you think about what else you need to do for your [[Job]] in a nod to Gus Van Sants "Good Will Hunting" you start mindlessly marching up and down every first, second and third floor catwalk and mop every inch of it with soapy water. Making sure to empty and refill the bucket of water when it gets dirty.
When everything is wet on the walkways you go back with the dry mop and sweep every inch of the catwalks again, to pick up all the dirt-soap water that was spread on the floor.
Once all of that is done and dry you return to the community area.
[[Job]] After you mop the walkways and corridors, plus the community area, you walk over to a secret little cutout in the side of the wall that has a boxed in floor drain, to get rid of the floor water, and a compartment to store the bucket once you're done working.
There's even a hanger for the mop to go in after each use. So you hang the mop up and wander back to the community area after your job is complete.
[[Job]] You walk up to the massive line of prisoners trying to get their food from the line. There is smoke wafting from the back of the kitchen to the line and lunchtables. It puts a quick smile on your face.
You realize that the buffet line is being run by other prisoners in cooks clothing. Maybe one or two looked like they had actual culinary training, off hand. But that's a maybe.
Once you get to the front of the line you stand up and [[Talk to cook]]Once you have your loaded tray of food you scout around the cafeteria to try and find someone to sit with. At first it was noisy, everyone was focused on who they were already talking to.
Then a hand raises from the crowd and shouts,
"Hey, Sam! come over here and sit." the voice says.
You follow the voice to its [[origin]].
"Hey welcome to Salem Prison Buffet Line! How can I serve you!" the chef says.
You're off put by the mains forward nature. It makes you urk a little because we're all in orange jumpsuits, but despite this, you glance down and order your food.
"I'll have what you would have my man, I like your attitude!" you say.
The man looks at you, looks down at the food, then just starts scooping pretty much everything into your tray, he feeds you good.
"Thank you!" you say as the line moves forward. You proceed to grab a water and head back to an open space to eat your [[Food]]You follow the voice to its place of origin and it turns out to be Babu. Around him is an array of different people.
You tell Babu that you just finished mopping the cell block, he gives you knuckles and tells you about all the people at the table, introducing them as you and everyone else eats their food.
Eventually when you and everyone finishes their [[Food]] you all start to head out the cafeteria gates toward the outside area of the prison.You and Babu walk over to the semi crowded bleachers that are only on one side of the prison field.
There is a group of people sitting in the bleachers, and a group of people kicking around a weathered soccer ball. What will you do?
[[Play soccer]]
[[Watch with Babu]]You and Babu make your way over to the track. No one is there so you two decide to stretch out before making your way onto the track.
After you stretch, you both start walking a couple laps to start. which consisted of telling jokes and hobbies, current events etc...
Once those warm up laps and conversation ended you and Babu jogged laps around the track for endurance. What felt like forever had passed before you and Babu finished.
You both ran about two miles before you were on the grass huffing and puffing.
you both agree that it's probably time to [[Wind down]] You and Babu walk into the open space into the middle of the outside area and sit down. You both start talking but then get kind of tired from the scenery. Just sitting in the middle of the grass with no one around is enough to make you both pretty sleepy.
"Do you want to take a quick nap?" Babu says.
"Yea I'm down with that, the weather is nice!" you say.
You and Babu lay down in the recently cut grass and look up at the clouds. The clouds pass and move majestically.
Your eyes shut and you begin to [[Drift off]]
You and Babu make your way over to the small gymset tucked in the corner. When you arrive, there are some beefcakes of men. About four or five just rotating on the bench press, squat rack and deadlift pad. They look disheartened that this is all they have to do.
You walk up to the unit of a man doing effortless push ups on the grass next to the "gym" as he is the biggest guy there.
"How are you two fellas doing?" Then big man says.
You and Babu introduce yourselves, then he introduces himself as Niko. You and Babu tell Niko that you were hoping to lift some weights.
"Hahahaha, we all here had to earn the right to use the weights. As you can see, there isn't much of a "gym" to lift at" Niko says.
"But what I can do for you fellas is conduct a private taught workout routine to get you guys into shape, even if we can't let you use the weights" Niko says.
Both you and Babu look at eachother, then back at Niko and agree to do his workout routine.
[[Nikos Workout]]You, Babu and Niko all start to do an intense loop of:
Push-ups - ten sets of fifty
Sit-ups - ten sets of fifty
Jumping Jacks - ten sets of one hundred
Rock lifting - ten sets of five
Crunches - ten sets of fifty
Aerobic stretches - ten sets of whatever stretch you want to do
When You, Babu and Niko finish, you all give eachother knuckles and decide to [[Wind down]] for the evening.You quickly take off your top, as the teams for the game were shirts vs skins and hop onto the field. Someone from behind tells you the score is 0-1 us.
"More game to play am I right!?" you say.
You and the skin team get off to an avid start. Barking over the other team, calling out the ball when you have it, making the plays that needed to happen during the time to get the goal.
Someone on the team eventually passes you the ball, you dribble it a little up-field, then you pass it to someone, who scored a goal on the shirts team.
"1-1 everyone, 1-1!" the man who scored says.
The victory of the scored point fires up the team. You and the skins go on to score another 4 points to totally crush the shirts after a long fought soccer game. Everyone shakes hands and lines up after the game.
Babu congratualtes you after the game and you and him [[Wind down]]
You and Babu walk over to the bleachers, over to a space where there isn't that many people. You both start to sit down and watch the current soccer game.
Both of the teams struggle to get points up. Someone in the crowd told you both that it was 0-1 skins.
Time passes, people start talking about the history of the sports teams at Salem Prison. People start handing out cigarettes for everyone to puff on while they're watching the game.
People cheer and hurrah when someone makes a goal, they boo and moan when someone gets hurt. Its almost like you're not in prison for a few seconds.
The game ends up being a draw. Everyone from the bleachers after gets up and walks back to the prison block to [[Wind down]]You get a good amount of sleep and even feel well rested!
You wake up to a smack on your shoulder from Babu. It's sunset and he's telling you to get up.
You figure out that you laid out longer than you were supposed to and the door back to the cafeteria is being held open by a guard.
"C'mon we're late," Babu says.
You agree and walk in behind him to [[Wind down]]