Done for my college creative writing class. We were asked to write somthing we have never written before so I tried a choose your own adventure kind of story.

This is the origional story before I revised it based on class suggestions.

College work. '10-11

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What kind of man are you?
The constant dripping; over and over again. All hours, every day on time and without fault. Which is less then what can be said about this establishment in which I currently reside. The people, the food, even the light is never predictable. It’s always changing, never constant, which would be so helpful in these troubled times in my life that not having it is almost like an insult.
As I sit here in my small room and stare at the ceiling I let all these things slowly flow around in my mind, rapping my knuckles against the steel frame of the cot to add some kind of noise to the stale gray atmosphere. I had promised myself that it would be my last time, but just like all the times before it I couldn’t stop myself, the urge, and payoff, was always too great.
Every so often one of the staff come around to look in at me, shouting something and tapping their trusty rule stick against my door before strutting off to the next resident. My tapping on the metal increases in speed as time passes, the pain in my hands numbed by my current state of mind. Mulling over all these things that I had been assured would be gone after the first month, it has now been three, and still they persisted.
The loud screech from the ceiling outside my room finally brought me into reality as I rubbed my knuckles to get the stinging out. Sitting up to peer through the bars at the intercom.
“Forest View correctional facility would like to remind all our valued residents that breakfast will be served in one hour.”
Jeering slightly at the news I lay back on the cot; another night of sleep lost, another day long of tedium ahead…perfect. Rubbing my eyes slightly I tried not to look at the wrought iron shackles around my wrists, the chain normally connecting them gone due to two months good behavior. But the shackles themselves wouldn’t come off until he had served his time.
Time yes, half the residents in here were in for the long haul, murder and the like, while I get just as much time for stealing…dam new laws.
Of course, they had only killed small time people, maybe even a shop owner, where as I had stolen the wedding ring right off the mayor’s hand as he slept. Its not like I sold it or anything, got caught to soon for that. So no harm done right? If only, no matter how many times I explained this they still threw me in here with the killers and beaters, the only thief in a mob of violence. But I know how to stay hidden, so I hadn’t caused any problems with the other prisoners here or the guards. Some of them were even surprised at me, one of the greatest thieves ever to visit their town, and I just kept to my self in here.
It’s as if they think I have no control, that I just take everything in sight without though or planning. Stereotypes are more powerful than actions I suppose. To attack someone takes no planning, no thought, while stealing from a high value person like that takes days if not weeks of planning. If only they kne…
Again I was dragged back to the real world as several loud screams sounded from outside my cell. Looking up quickly as a guard staggered past my cell screaming; “Escape! Escape!” Running up to the bars I looked out down the halls as several off the doors just seemed to blow open, and soon enough mine did as well. Smiling for the first time since I came here I quickly slinked out the open cell, even more screaming now coming from seemingly all around me. Looking to the side I could see a fellow prisoner with a guards baton, swinging mercilessly at the same guard I saw stagger past…
-Help the guard. (Page 3, option 1)
-Help the convict. (Page 4, option 3)

1) Help the guard.
Quickly weighing my options and after a quick glance around I could see no-one else in this hallway. Rushing forward I took a running leap at the prisoner and tackled him off the guard, luckily knocking the baton from his hand at the same time. The prisoner, who seemed more surprised that I was helping one of the law then the fact that I tackled him, took a few seconds to come to grips with what just happened. But by then I had been able to pin his arms to the floor and keep him on the ground as I looked back at the guard as he slowly got to his feet and retrieved his baton from the ground.
Not saying anything he only nodded at me as he walked over and looked down at the man under me. With almost deft ease he cracked the baton into the side of the mans head. The other prisoner only blinked as he collapsed unconscious to the floor. This allowed me to get up and get a better look at the guard, who seemed wary, but somewhat trustful of me. His face was pretty badly bruised as he was holding his side as if some of his ribs were broken, his left leg also seemed to be sagging behind him slightly, but never the less he smiled and motioned down the hall.
“Thanks for the save, one of the cons overpowered his guard and opened the cells, there’s riots everywhere.”
I only nodded, looking to where he had pointed; it was the way to the main hall, where the prisoners took their meals. Good to know, better not go that direction. But more voices started coming from there, the guard started to look nervous. But the other way down the hall was clear, no voices or shadows on the walls…
-Leave the guard as a distraction and head away from the voices. (Page 4, option 2)
-Try and help the guard get away from the angry prisoners. (Page 6, option 4)


2) Leave the guard as a distraction and head away from the voices.
Smirking at the wounded man after I discovered this fact I put my hands on his shoulder as if I was going to help him, then tripped him over his broken leg and ran off before he even hit the floor. Taking off down the hallway as the guards curses echoed in my ears I shrugged. This was a time for self preservation, not helping the people that put me here in the first place.
Risking a glance back as I rounded the corner at the end of the hall I could just make out a group of shackled cons moving as one large mass down the hall, rage in their eyes as they grip their chains like whips. Ducking back around the corner I set off again toward the main exercise yard. The screams and shouts seemed to get quieter as I went on, it was almost peaceful as I ran further and further along, but eventually my path became blocked by a wall and two doors…
-Take the double doors marked exercise yard. (Page 7, option 5)
-Take the single door with no sign. (Page 8, option 7)

3) Help the Convict
Grinning as the guard screamed out in pain I took a leisurely walk over to the other prisoner and nodded at him as he looked up after seeing my feet. He nodded back, returning my smile as I started to kick down at the helpless man, the other returning to his clubbing.
Soon enough the guard stopped moving as just lay still on the concrete floor, the other con dropping the bloodied baton on the floor and patting me on the shoulder. “Good man helping me with that bastard. Come on, the main fun’s happening down the hall.” With that he walked off, leaving the dead guard on the floor.
Shrugging I followed him down the hall past several other mangled and bloodied bodies strewn across the floor, with the other prisoners we passed along the way cheering that they were finally free from the man, and that they had the control now. But as we passed they seemed to fall in step behind us heading for the main hall where cheers and hooting echoed down the halls toward us.
With a sizeable entourage behind me and my new friend we entered the main hall. It was certainly not a sight I had expected but it was impressive none the less. Nearly all of this places inmates were here, standing on tables and all looking toward the large barred windows at the end of the room. In front of these windows stood several inmates on a table, I noticed them immediately as three big shots in the local gang, calling for order. But they all turned to look towards me and the con I helped, but open seeing their heads start to turn I quickly stepped to the side and was lost in the mass of other prisoners. With more shouting across the room from the ones in front and the man I helped, along with every other prisoner in this place, found out that he was actually the younger brother of the local gang leader. This certainly explained a lot. Walking to the front he jumped up on the table to rounds off applause and cheers before he managed to calm everyone down
“Some of you may know that once something like this happens the entire facility goes into lockdown, there are still some ways out, but we need someone who knows how to get past locks. Brute force has so far not worked and we’re running out of time before the military gets here, so we need a plan fast if we want to get out of here.” He looked hopefully around the room at the mass of bodies, myself biting my lip as I thought about what he said…
-Speak up and put forth your talent. (Page 7, option 6)
-Stay quiet and be lost in the crowd. (Page 9, option 8)

4) Try and help the guard get away from the angry prisoners.
Looking again at the badly wounded guard I made my decision. Throwing his arm over my shoulders I nodded to him as he grunted in agreement as we began our slow journey down the hall toward supposed safety. Glancing back over my shoulder I could hear the shouts getting louder and louder but I kept at it, knowing that our lives may well depends on it. Almost having to drag the guard the last few yards till the corner I knew that the other prisoners had seen us, but strangely they didn’t give chase.
Looking back around the corner they themselves were looking back toward the main hall, and then chatting amongst themselves. Coming to a verdict, they ran off toward the hall. Breathing a sigh of relief I turned back around to look at the guard who was resting heavily against the wall. Patting him on the shoulder I asked if he would be alright to continue, and he nodded, but I could see the pain in his face. Once the adrenaline wore off he wouldn’t be able to move let alone fight off the convicts.
Helping him to his feet again we continued our slow journey to the far side of this wing, the guard struggling more with every step, but still holding together. But eventually we could go no further, not because of the guard, but because the hallway ended in a wall, with a door on either side. Slowly resting the guard down he nodded at one without a sign on it.
“That’s the stairs down to the maintenance level, only danger down there. The yard is probably empty now with all the cons in the main hall.”
I nodded as I paced around in front of him, thinking about what he said. He could easily be lying about the maintenance area, it could be an easy out, or the exercise yard would be empty and provide plenty of time to escape. But the guard himself won’t last long; I could stay and help him…
- Head through the exercise yard. (Page 7, option 5)
-Go into the maintenance level. (Page 8, option 7)
-Stay with the guard. (Page 10, option 9)

5) Take the double doors marked exercise yard.
Shielding my eyes from the blinding sun I was reminded of how long three months of being inside was. And how when they did go outside it always seemed to be when it was dark. Blinking several times until I could finally see again I was delighted to find that the yard was empty, and squinting across the fence the guards in the towers were gone as well. Maybe things were actually taking a turn for the better. Running over to the fence I touched it lightly, no shock, that inmate who had opened all the cells must have done more damage then just freeing the inmates.
I wasted no time in taking off the thin jacket the prison provided and started to climb the fence. Hanging on by one hand I leaned back enough to toss the jacket over the barbed wire at the top. Very carefully I slowly crawled over the wire and only got some minor cuts when my weight pushed the spikes through the jacket. Dropping down on the other side I almost jumped for joy, but then reminded myself that I was still out in the open. Making my way towards the trees I just made it into the foliage when I heard an explosion and then the steady beat of helicopter blades.
Sighing and leaning against a tree I allowed myself a few seconds to savor my victory before I was off again, racing through the trees and away from that hateful prison….

6) Speak up and put forth your talent.
Pushing my way past a few inmates I clambered up on top of a table, banging my foot to get the gang members attention. But before I could say anything one of the con’s next to me spoke up, recognizing who I was and told how I got in, albeit an abridged version, but it was good enough for the self made leaders of this riot.
After a brief discussion of the possible routes we could take we decided on the exit I would work on, both due to our quickly diminishing time window and because I thought it would work best. Most of the cons would continue to try and use brute force to try and break down the doors, where I would try and get through the main lobby and then into the garage. Nodding we all dispersed to work on getting out of the big house.
Moving quickly through the prisons rooms we used brute force to break down the smaller doors then I had to either hack or pick open the larger ones. I knew that by the time we had finally gotten to the last doors we had precious little time. Luckily for the inmates the large garage door was very easy to open. But unfortunately for me I had to stay back a few rooms to take the time and open it properly. But needless to say I finally got it open, and I could see the masses flowing out of the doors into the bright light. But then the chop chop of helicopter blades for once put real fear into me.
Sprinting through the rooms I just made it out the door as the soldier started to land. Not that I could see them as the sun was blinding after being inside for so long. But loud cracks and hot pains in my chest made me stumble then collapse, as the everlasting white was slowly replaced by black….

7) Go into the unmarked door.
The dull light of the light bulbs in the hallways were quickly replaced by red hazard lights that spun around slowly as I descended lower and lower. This was a little confusing because there were normal light bulbs in the ceiling as well as the red ones in the walls. No matter though, it was just due to the numerous security protocols being broken due to the riot. Finally reaching the bottom of the staircase I squinted out into the near darkness of this level. I briefly considered going back, but I could still make out enough with the strobeing red lights.
As I weaved around machines and heating units I gradually became aware of a the general hum of the machines getting louder and louder. But as my eyes adjusted to the darkness I could make out a door at the very far end of the room with a small amount of light coming from around it. But in my over eagerness to get over to the door I tripped on a small pipe.
Luckily I was able to catch myself before I hit the floor, but as I looked up to see the door I also found myself looking at a heat gauge for one of the machines, for an elevator, that was now starting to bend the needle as it was so far into the red danger zone. All I could do was stare at that gauge as a low rumble shook the floor as heat washed over me, then everything turned black….

8) Stay quiet and be lost in the crowd.
Shaking my head as he looked around and made sure to crouch down slightly so he couldn’t recognize me in case he looked my way. His smile turned to a frown when no-one answered his call.
“Fine then, we’re just going to have to continue, we will find a weakness, and then we’ll be free!” His call was greeted by much less cheering this time around then when he got up there. And I could even hear some mutterings about if they would really get out. But that was not my place, I was still an outsider here, and as such I needed to look after myself, not my ‘crew’.
Following one of the larger groups of inmates we made our way to the guards quarters of the prison. As we were looking at the various doors to different parts of the prison I began to notice the very low groaning sound that seemed to be coming from the freight elevator. As I looked around perplexed one of my fellow prisoners, a tall black man grinned and called over as he stood beside a door.
“Yeah, we carried one of the busted cell doors over to the freight elevator and jammed it into the gears then set it to go down, been doing that ever since the breakout began.”
Nodding slightly I thought of what this could actually mean. But before I could think any deeper into the subject a massive snap, roar, then crash sounded from the elevator, followed by a wave of heat.
“That would be the cable snapping and the elevator dropping. When it hit bottom it probably fucked some shit up down there to.” The inmate informed me again as the ground shook slightly under us then settled out again. Licking my lips slightly I finally started to think that this entire ordeal had gotten out of hand. And if to cement that thought the low beat of helicopter blades passed overhead, then inmates beginning to run around panicking, as we would all soon be someplace much more secure….

9) Stay with the guard.
Shaking my head after I had paced for awhile I knelt down beside the guard, tearing off the sleeve of my jacket and trying to mop up some of the blood that had began to seep out of his many injuries.
“Stay with me, your going to live through this, we’re going to live through this.” I said as I wrapped the piece of cloth around his upper arm to try and stem some of the bleeding, doing my best to try and keep him alive through words and basic patch up’s
It was about five that we heard the explosions and then the helicopter, and then it was only a short time until the military marched through the halls. Leading the inmates onto holding trucks and off to further punishment and torture. But the guard I saved had some powerful friends, and due to my efforts pulled enough strings to get me released, and after all this, I think I’ll finally go straight.