The Deciding Factor

"Where are you bringing me? We already walked past your office," I stated as we walk while being filled with nervousness. Because he is leading me to a place where no one can possibly know its whereabouts.

"Worry not about your safety, because I led you away from my office simply the reason is that every single word that will come out of our mouths will be heard by the main office," He explained why we didn't proceed with what we originally talked about.

"I felt that I know who would tell you about that because, in this entire detention cell, that man is the only one I can trust. And if he also told you about what happened in the past. Then you might have something important to inform me regarding that man Mazuko. However, because only the three of us knew what happened that day. Also, we need to be careful not to let other people hear our conversation," The warden added to his explanation why he wanted us to talk somewhere not known by many people.

"Alright, then let us hurry because only minutes left until they close the cells. Some of the officers might raise suspicion if you're gone for too long," My suggestion to his response because the moment that we were caught by other guards. Not only will this jeopardize the entire plan, but it may also risk the job of the warden, plus it might put my chance to have a perfect grade in morality down the drain.

"Now, I think I understand why he chose you to be one of the candidates. You're a smart kid. Once we arrive at the place, tell me more about yourself," He replied to my response, then started to focus on leading me to the place.

It took us ten minutes to arrive at the place. The passageway was connected to a basement near his office. However, no one could ever find the door to this basement. Because the texture and appearance of the door mixed up with the floor, and that way, it made it seem like it was just another part of it. Plus, there is no handle because it is detachable, and the warden always brings it with him.

Locked from both sides if you dont have the handle, and because only he has it. It is safe to say that this part of the prison is the safest place among the different places I was introduced to. Although, it took us only ten minutes to arrive there because of the shortcut that we passed through. This place might actually be incomparably distant from the prison. And probably the time of arrival would be added with another ten minutes if we didn't use the shortcut.

This basement is kinda dark because there are no lights to guide us, but the warden hid some flashlights in a box below the stairs. And when we reached the end of the basement, we're already outside of the prison. There stands an abandoned cabin that cannot be seen even if you look from the watchtowers. Because the prison was surrounded by many buildings that made it hard for other people to see the entire surrounding.

"Hey, stop daydreaming, and hurry because someone might see us," The warden began to tell me to hurry up.

"Who could possibly see us when tall buildings are surrounding this place?" my response to what the warden stated.

"Baka, we can still be spotted by the people who cross the roads surrounding the abandoned cabin. Although it's already six o'clock in the evening, there is still a bit of light that can be used to recognize us. Not exactly you, but mostly me. However, because you dont have spare clothes to use, your outfit can be easily seen even from afar, so just hurry up and refrain from asking until we reach the cabin," Before the warden even finish what he was telling me, I informed him that we already arrived at the place.

"You must be the one daydreaming, sir. We already arrived here ten minutes ago," I replied while laughing at him because he gave the accusation of having to daydream while he was the one who has his mind floating in the sky.

"Oh, you're right. Hurry, enter the cabin, and wait for me on the second floor. Dont worry, eventhough this place is abandoned, we took care of this place and pretended that this was our own hideout. You probably know who I am talking about since that man was the one who told you about the situation with Mazuko," He spoke, then asked me to head towards the second floor and wait for him there.

-On the 2nd Floor of the Cabin-

"So what do you want to talk about?" The warden immediately cut to the chase.

"Well, since you're so eager to know. A week from now, there will be countless refilings of the cases involving some of the prisoners that were framed up by Mazuko. However, we dont have enough evidence to prove their innocence. So what I want is for you, sir. Is to let me borrow all of the documents regarding this list containing the inmates who suffered the frame-up," I explained only half of the plan and waited for his response to what I proposed.

"You have the guts to ask me for this kind of thing. And I can see that you are getting down to some serious business with this. However, you know that if I agree with your proposal, it might jeopardize my career as a warden. Not only because I aided you with your plan. But releasing confidential documents to some inmates. That would surely damage my reputation and might also result in losing my job. So in what part did you think that I would comply with what you are scheming?" the warden slightly giggled as he was responding to my proposal.

"I know that you also want Mazuko to suffer because of what he did to your face. Because of that, you grew alone, scared that no one would accept you. Isn't that what you want? To achieve justice for what he did to you? Making you fear him just because of something that happened in the past? I know how you feel because I lost something too, dont you think that we're being selfish for only putting ourselves as our priorities when we have a chance to help other people. You also understand it, right? The feeling of guilt slowly devouring your conscience," the both of us began to be silent, and the atmosphere suddenly went cold.

"No matter what you say, this is not an act of selfishness. Have you ever faced Mazuko in hand-to-hand combat? You know why I dont want anything to be connected with him again? It's because he can effortlessly take me down again. I can't stand to see the sight of myself again being in that situation while knowing that I won't be able to win against him. So dont call me selfish because you cannot understand the trauma that I had to suffer," the warden snapped because he somehow misinterpreted that I called him a selfish individual.

"You know that running away from the fear of your trauma wouldn't cure what you have suffered. You know why Mazuko kept on winning against you? Because you already gave up just because you lost once in his hands. Remember that time that there was a condition you had to face. They held someone hostage that left you with no other choice but to let them do whatever they want. So what if Mazuko is stronger than you! No man can ever withstand the strength of a hundred people alone. I'll be frank with you, stop being such a coward who hides in his shell, hoping that everything would be alright if you let time do its thing," He didn't expect that I would flip because of his cowardness. However, his decision still remains the same.

"I can't force you because I know that dealing with trauma can never be easy. But you must realize that there is something you can do to help everyone. Not only you suffer from Mazuko's reign in the past. So I hope that you feel the need to be sympathetic to the other people who might need your help. I'll be taking my leave, dont worry because I won't be escaping the prison. Remember that there is only a week left for the hearing, and you know it to yourself that there have been many innocent people's lives had been involved in this stupidity," the response that I added and left the cabin then hurriedly returned to the detention cell.

I believe that the warden will seal the final decision with his own knowledge. Although it may be hard for him to accept the fact that the fear he feels can be replaced. My hopes will not decrease because of his rejection because I know that deep inside. He also wants to provide with anything that he has the power of. Our conversation lasted for two hours, so I am quite tired of what happened today. Finally, I can have a good night's sleep.

-One Week Later-