What's To Come. (EOD R2 #3)

[The Convicted]

Forest River Park
32 Clifton Ave
Salem, MA 01970


The park is deserted as it's getting late into the evening he pulls into an empty parking spot underneath an old Maple tree next to a trash barrel. He reaches over shutting the engine off as he doesn't plan on going anywhere for the night. He planned on getting a room when he drove into town but when he got here the only rooms available were all out of his price range. So until tomorrow, he won't be able to get a room he can afford. Sleeping in his car is nothing new and it's more comfortable than the metal cots he has been sleeping on for the past decade.

He sits there for a few minutes looking out the window watching the birds and the beauty of the free world just pass him by. He hasn't been able to just sit and enjoy the country since being released it's been a nonstop work, report to parole, do this do that type of situation. Tonight he's just relaxing as he has nowhere to be and no plans to do anything but let his body rest for his match this Sunday against Bobby Barratt.

A cool gust of wind blows through the window as he sits there watching an elderly couple holding hands as they walk their dog the couple appears to have just arrived at the park. He smiles as he notices just how happy and in love they seem to be, the older gentleman wraps his arm around his wife as she holds the leash to their dog. He looks at the dog and realizes it looks just like the pup he used to have when he was a boy. It was a beautiful long-haired Shitzu and looked to be well taken care of.

He reaches over, turning the ignition to a position to where he can turn the radio on and listen to some music to pass time. He messes around with the station until he finds one that will come in clear, he finds a Brookline, Massachusettes station WBOS an Alternative station. "Stitches" by Shawn Mendes is playing as he sits back in his seat. He starts to sing along with the song as he enjoys the music by Shawn Mendes.

Eric Chronister
...Tripping over myself I'm aching begging you to come help and now that I'm without your kisses I'll be needing stitches...

He loves the music of today's generation but he also loves the rock he grew up with, he has learned to appreciate all music while being incarcerated. You learn a lot when you don't have anything especially your freedom. The song goes off and Lucas Grahams " 7 Years" starts to play which really has him getting into his head thinking about things music tends to do that to a man. He starts singing along...

Eric Chronister
...It was a big big world, but we thought we were bigger pushing each other to the limits, we were learning quicker by eleven smoking herb and drinking burning liqueur Never rich so we were out to make that steady figure...

The song gets interrupted by a special news report...

Breaking news AWF wrestler and End of Days competitor Bobby Barratt was the center of an LGBT protest and near riot this morning around 5:45 at his home. This all has come about because of the actions of Mr. Barratt and his Icon friends a couple weeks ago when they attacked a fellow worker AWF double champion and LGBT member Seth Dillinger. The LGBT community is calling it a hate crime against a member of the gay community and they want justice for Seth Dillinger and the LGBT community. More on this breaking news as it develops stay tuned to WBOS for all of your music and news needs.

After hearing that he reaches up turning the radio off as he shuts the engine down, he just isn't in the mood anymore to listen to music. He knew he had heard stories of Bobby Barratt and his ego, even his vicious streak and how far he is willing to go to get a win. But he never thought he would go as far as a hate crime as he sits there thinking about that he can't help but think about what has been said about himself since he has been released. He knows people judge you and make things up without knowing the full story or giving someone a chance to explain their side of things.

He was always taught that you never judge a book by its cover, and he refuses to do that with Bobby Barratt or anyone else. Besides if being in prison has taught him anything, is always expect the unexpected you never know if this wasn't a way for Bobby Barratt to get him to let his guard down, a way to get him to feel bad for him. Either way, he knows its none of his business and he will not get involved in it.

He leans back closing his eyes as he begins to think back about things from the past.






Housing Unit 4
115 Lafayette St, Jefferson City, MO 65101
March 25, 2008

He walks into the housing unit that he will call home for the next few years of his life, it's huge. He can hear the other inmates whistling and yelling things at him, calling him everything from "Fresh Meat" to " New Fish" to cat calls as if he's soon to be someone's girlfriend. But he stands tall not showing any signs of weakness, nervousness or of being frightened. The other guys in line with him some of them try to be the same way but some of the others just are not as strong and are already breaking down in tears or are shaking so bad you would think they were having a seizure.

The guards march the line of new inmates down throughout the housing unit stopping at certain cells as they open the cell doors and order whatever inmate is assigned to that cell to enter it. As that's where they will spend eighteen of twenty-four hours of their day for the court-ordered sentence. He follows the line finally coming to his cell as he enters it before he can even turn back around the guard slams the cell door shut. He stands there looking out into the cell block listening to the inmates talking and screaming at one another.

He spends the next couple hours standing around in his cell pacing the floor as he tries to wrap his head around the fact that his life is no longer his. he flops down on the bunk and starts to hit the wall as he is feeling caged and just doesn't know what to do or how to feel. All he does know is he can't show any signs of weakness. As he hits the wall he can hear someone yelling at him and hitting the wall back on the other side.

Inmate #1
Hey, hey quit hitting the wall man.

Inmate #1
It's not going to help you any, besides if the guard walks by and sees you doing that you're not going to like what you get.

Eric Chronister
Alright dude, just don't know what to do.

Inmate #1
What's your name man? I'm Aaron, Aaron Ortiz but everyone just calls me "Homie".

Eric Chronister
Cool, I'm Eric, Eric Chronister.

About the time he finishes speaking the guard walks by doing a head count making him stand up and say his ID number and then allowing him to go back to laying down. He continues talking with the guy in the cell next to him.

Homie
I would shake your hand man but I'm a bit confined at the moment, so you have any nicknames or anything you go by?

Eric Chronister
No man, just Eric.

Homie
Damn dude a little bit of advice in here you don't want to go by your real name, try to go by a nickname so tell you what I'll call you "Chronic".

He begins to laugh a bit the first time he has laughed in months, but this guy has made him forget about being locked up well at least felt like a real person for the first time in a long time.

Eric Chronister
So Homie, why Chronic?

Homie
It's, simple man you're a white guy every white guy loves the CHRONIC!!!

Homie
Plus it suits you, man.

Eric Chronister
Cool, it's cool with me Homie but it did sound a bit racist though.

Homie
Nah, I'm not, racist man, you will find out in here you have to have a sense of humor or you just won't make it. I'll take you under my wing and show you the ropes.

He lays there thinking about that for a moment and remembering what the guys in the county jail had said to him.

Eric Chronister
I don't know I appreciate Homie, but I will have to pass. I'm not into the whole guy on guy thing and I have been told what happens if I let someone take me under their wing as you say. So I will have to pass dude.

Homie
Chronic, it's not like that, I think you been watching too many movies, just because you go to jail doesn't mean everyone is gay or trying to {No Means No} or have sex with you. I'm simply trying to help you out like I had help when I got here.

Homie
Man, when I got here I was just some seventeen-year-old punk and thought I knew all about prison from watching movies and tv shows. I didn't know anything. I found out by one of the OG's here that was doing a triple life sentence how things really worked and I have been trying to pass the knowledge on to the new guys whenever I find someone I think will do the same if given the chance.

Eric Chronister
I got you, dude, then yeah I would appreciate the guidance it couldn't hurt any.

Homie
First off do you know how to play cards?

Eric Chronister
Hell yeah, Texas Holdem, 21-blackjack, Five-card stud whatever it is I can play poker is my game.

Homie can be heard busting a gut as he sits in his cell leaned up against the cell door.

Homie
No Chronic, I'm talking about real cards Hearts, Spades, pinnacle you know that style of cards, cards that takes skill.

Eric Chronister
Oh yeah, I can play them too, not really good at pinnacle but yeah Hearts and Spades you bet.

The two guys would continue to talk throughout the night until the guards announced lights out and sleep fell upon them.


Forest River Park
32 Clifton Ave
Salem, MA 01970

He opens his eyes as the wind starts to pick up and he can feel the cold breeze blowing through the car windows. He can't help but think about the upcoming match with Bobby Barratt and the current news about the LGBT fiasco. He wants this match to go on without any problems as it will almost guarantee him a job for quite a while and as he sits there thinking about it he's hoping that with everything going on that there are no excuses for the outcome of this match. He wants Bobby Barratt at his best, not for anyone else but for himself so he can know for sure if he has what it takes to be more than just a jobber in this business.

The moon is super bright as it's a full moon and he can hear some animals off in the trees he gets out of the car to stretch his legs as he begins to walk around the small area where he's parked. He looks down at his watch to see what time it is and realizes it's almost ten pm and he hasn't eaten all day. He really doesn't want to go anywhere but does notice a vending machine next to a soda machine across the park so he heads over there to grab a bite to eat and drink.