To survive in this prison, which is not actually that dangerous, it is important to be vigilant and carefully observe the prison environment, identifying potential threats, routines, and relationships between inmates and prison staff. This will help better understand the dynamics and make informed decisions.
Jacob, at this moment, was not an easy target to mess with, especially when he was possibly the most dangerous predator in this prison. Adult men, especially those with tattooed faces, looked at him mockingly and increased their shouts as a form of intimidation.
In response to this, Jacob simply walked towards the line where lunch was being served. It should be noted that the food in this place was terrible, but Jacob, who had eaten really bad food, considered the prison food a true delicacy.
"[Master, I recommend maintaining a clear distance from all inmates to establish your territory to everyone. Also, considering the numerous possibilities for resolving your case, you can do whatever you want as long as you don't kill anyone!]"
"Next!" Said one of the cooks with a cold expression.
Now it was Jacob's turn to receive his meal, and there wasn't particularly a large disorder when serving the food. It could be seen that everyone in this place had been in prison for at least a year or were undergoing rehabilitation for their release. Additionally, no one wanted to lose their lunch due to a simple disturbance during meal service.
After receiving his meal, Jacob walked confidently through the prison cafeteria, surrounded by tattooed adults whose looks and offensive comments were directed towards him. Ignoring the insults and whistles that resonated in the environment, he headed towards a table in a relatively quiet corner where everyone seemed to ignore him for some reason.
"Is this a dangerous man?" Jacob thought indifferently as he approached.
"Kid, you can sit with us, we don't bite!"
"Hahaha!"
As he approached, he noticed the presence of an elderly man sitting at one end of the table. His gray hair and serene gaze contrasted with the bustling and agitation that prevailed in the place. Next to him was a young man who looked tired and disheartened, barely lifting his gaze when he realized Jacob had arrived.
Without saying a word, Jacob took a seat at the table, trying to maintain composure and block out the noise around him. The elderly man smiled kindly and extended his hand in greeting. Jacob returned the gesture, then focused on his food, seemingly lost in thought.
Right now, he felt strange, that feeling that everyone has felt at some point of not belonging to this world. His intelligent assistant had told him that these were side effects that would pass after a day, but Jacob had a clear sense that this was not his body.
However, now that he was in this place and since all he cared about was being alone and in silence, he began to eat his meal.
"I've been observing you since you arrived. How have your days been in prison? It seems you've had certain difficulties. You're practically a completely different man now," the elderly man, with a soft but firm voice, asked Jacob about his day and how he was coping with life in prison.
"It's not that bad. I'll be out once my trial is over," Jacob said without looking up from his tray of food.
"Yes, that's what they all say before receiving a 10 to 3-year sentence for harassment, but your case is different since it's even on television," the old man pointed out as he indifferently ate his food.
Jacob merely forced a smile and didn't feel like talking to a stranger. After finishing his meal, he got up and walked towards the place where he had to leave the tray. However, just at that moment, someone extended their foot to trip him.
"[Master, you can veer to the right!]."
"It had to happen sooner or later!" Jacob tightly held the tray with his left hand, and upon seeing the extended leg, he stomped on it with force, pretending to stumble, and the tray forcefully collided with the face of the man who wanted to play a prank.
"Ouch!"
After that, still pretending, he pushed the man's food tray in front of him, just as the man was getting ready to watch the show. The food fell right onto the man's legs, and he immediately stood up, feeling his clothes soaked.
"Damn it! You little shit, can't you watch where you're going?" The man's shout soon drew the attention of everyone, and the murmurs around grew quieter.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see your friend's leg, and because of that, I slipped and fell onto his food." Jacob smiled embarrassedly, lifted the man's tray, placed it in front of him, and then used his own hands to put the food back onto the tray.
"I'm going to kill you!"
"Santiago, what's going on?" The prison guards approached the chaotic area, and after seeing one man bleeding from the nose and another standing with the food tray in his hands, they drew their own conclusion.
"This damn kid caused all this!" The inmate shouted to the guard.
"A kid?" The guard asked with a furrowed brow, then ignored his words and dragged him toward the cell. "Mr. Barber, return to your cell right now and don't cause any more trouble."
Jacob raised his hands, filled with oatmeal, and headed toward his cell. All the inmates felt a cold sweat running down their backs after seeing how that young man outwitted those fools for the next week without receiving any punishment. It definitely wouldn't benefit them to get involved right now.
The old man in the distance simply smiled and also stood up to return to his cell.
...
Mr. Anderson, Jacob's lawyer, was in his office late at night, immersed in a sea of papers and documents related to the case. The tension of the pending trial was palpable, and every minute was valuable in preparing a solid defense.
At that moment, his phone emitted a sound indicating the arrival of a new email. Intrigued but somewhat hesitant to be distracted, Mr. Anderson initially decided to ignore it. However, seconds later, another email arrived in his inbox, this time on his computer. Curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to open it to see what it was about.
The message was from an unknown sender and had an enigmatic tone. It contained a link with the suggestive phrase: "If you want compelling evidence of what happened in that alley, watch this video." Mr. Anderson, surprised by the coincidence of the mentioned context in the message, cautiously clicked on the link, prepared for any eventuality.
The screen of his computer lit up, and a video started playing. The footage showed a group of youths in an alley, assaulting a person who bore a striking resemblance to Jacob. The punches and screams filled the screen, generating a sense of violence and desperation.
However, the scene took an unexpected turn when Jacob appeared in the video. As Mr. Anderson had heard from Jacob himself, he intervened between the attackers and the victim, urging them to stop. His voice resonated with authority, and his posture displayed courage.
Mr. Anderson was taken aback as he recognized Jacob's clothing and appearance in the video. It was the same as what he had worn that day in the park when the lawyer first encountered him before the tragedy occurred. The connection was undeniable, and the relevance of this video to Jacob's trial became increasingly clear.
Aware of the importance of this evidence in proving his client's innocence and establishing his position, Mr. Anderson took swift measures to ensure that the video was properly saved and protected. This material could be key in revealing a different perspective of the events and providing valuable context for Jacob's defense.
As he contemplated the shocking footage and processed the information he had received, the lawyer understood the significance of this discovery in Jacob's case. With the evidence in his hands, he felt more confident in being able to present a solid and convincing defense in the impending trial.
When he sent a message to the sender of the video, Mr. Anderson did not receive any response.