Rise Of The Imprisoned Student

CH-1

Alexander Hayes sat on the narrow bed in his prison cell with a huge smile on his face. 

Anyone passing by would probably think he had lost his mind.

Who smiled like that inside a prison?

But today was different. Today he was getting out after three years. Three long years. 

Today he would finally see her again.

“Three years,” His lips curved into a small wry smile as he muttered softly. “Not bad, Alex. You survived.”

The cell door suddenly clanged open.

“Alexander Hayes,” a guard called.

Alex stood up immediately.

His movements were calm. Almost relaxed.

But inside, his heart was beating a little faster with the excitement of seeing her again.

“This way.”

Alex followed the guard down the hallway. The familiar gray walls passed by one after another.

He knew every corner of this place.

Three years was long enough for anyone to memorize a prison.

Finally they reached the release office.

The officer behind the desk pushed a few papers forward. “Sign here.”

Alex picked up the pen and his hand paused for a moment.

Three years ago, he had signed another document in this same room. 

Back then, it was a confession.

A confession for a crime he did not commit.

Alex chuckled softly to himself. “Funny how life works.”

He signed his name and pushed the paper back.

The officer slid a small plastic bag across the table. “Your belongings.”

Alex opened it.

Inside were the same clothes he had worn three years ago.

A plain black hoodie.

A pair of faded jeans.

Nothing had changed.

He changed quickly and walked out of the prison building.

Immediately he stepped out, sunlight hit his face.

Alex narrowed his eyes slightly.

Freedom.

He slowly looked around the entrance.

His gaze moved left.

Then right.

His eyes searched the road, the small parking lot, the bus stop across the street.

But he didn’t see her.

Alex scratched the back of his head and muttered, “Maybe she's busy.”

Lily had never visited him once during the past three years.

Not even a single time.

But he always made excuses for her, explaining why she probably did not come. 

Day after day, he waited for her, only to be disappointed.

Eventually, he simply stopped thinking about why she could not come to visit him and focused instead on serving his term and getting through each day.

The thought of seeing her again when he was finally released was what kept him going.

Every day felt thesame.

But today was different.

Today was the day they had promised each other.

The day they would finally start their life together.

The day they would finally get engaged to each other.

“I just can't wait,” Alex said in excitement.

He then shoved his hands into his pockets.

“She’s probably waiting at school,” he said to himself.

“Yeah… that makes sense.” After all, Lily was still a student, even if this was their final year.

Alex took a deep breath and started walking towards school.

As he walked, memories slowly surfaced.

Rain.

Flashing police lights.

A broken car.

And Lily crying in the middle of the road.

Alex’s eyes darkened slightly.

That night.

Three years ago.

He still remembered her voice clearly.

“Alex… something terrible happened… please come… I’m scared…”

When he arrived, he saw the wrecked car immediately.

The front was crushed.

Another vehicle had been hit so hard it flipped sideways.

And someone was lying on the ground. Not moving.

Alex inhaled slowly.

That was when Lily grabbed his arm.

Her face was pale.

“Alex… I didn’t mean to… I didn’t see the car…” She was trembling. “I don’t want to go to jail.”

Alex remembered standing there in silence.

Then he noticed another man beside the car.

Daniel Foster.

Back then, Alex did not know his name. 

Lily had introduced him as Daniel Foster, her cousin, right before asking Alex to take the blame for her.

He slowly opened his eyes again as the large university gate came into view.

He stopped walking.

The sign above the gate was still the same.

Alex chuckled softly. “Home sweet home.”

He walked inside.

But something felt strange. The campus was too quiet.

The pathways were almost empty.

Alex frowned. “Where is everyone?”

Then he heard it.

Cheers, loud cheers. Whistles and clapping.

The noise was coming from the central square.

Alex tilted his head slightly. “A celebration?”

He started walking toward the sound.

As he got closer, the crowd became visible.

Dozens.

Maybe hundreds of students gathered in a large circle.

Everyone was laughing and shouting.

“Say yes!”

“Come on!”

“Kiss her!”

Alex pushed forward slowly. “Excuse me. Sorry.” he kept saying as he squeezed through the crowd.

People complained as he bumped past them.

“Hey watch it!”

“What’s wrong with that guy?”

Alex ignored them.

He kept moving until he reached the front.

Then he stopped.

Completely still.

His eyes fixed on the center of the circle.

A man was kneeling on one knee holding a ring.

And in front of him stood a girl with beautiful long hair and a familiar face.

Lily Anderson.

Alex blinked slowly.

His brain struggled to process the scene.

Then his gaze shifted to the man, the one proposing.

Daniel Foster.

The so-called cousin.

Alex let out a quiet breath. “What the hell…”

His voice wasn’t loud, but Lily heard it.

Her head snapped toward him. For a brief moment her face froze.

Then her expression turned cold. “Alex?”

The crowd also noticed him.

Students began whispering.

“Who is that?”

“Wait… I think I know him.”

Alex walked forward a step.

His eyes moved between Lily and Daniel, still trying to process what he was seeing.

“Your cousin?” he asked slowly. “So… cousins propose with rings now?”

Daniel frowned slightly.

Lily’s face immediately darkened.

“What are you doing here?” she snapped.

Alex stared at her in shock. “You don't remember? I just got out today.”

Her brows furrowed. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Alex tilted his head and he scoffed loudly in disbelief. “Why not?”

“Because you belong in prison,” Lily said looking irritated.

The words hit him like a slap as he took a step back.

The crowd gasped.

Alex stared at her silently.

“Prison?” he repeated quietly.

“Yes.” Lily crossed her arms. “You’re a murderer, Alex. And murderers belong in prison.”

The crowd erupted in whispers.

“Murderer?”

“Wait… I remember now!”

“That’s him!”

A girl pointed at Alex.

“He’s the student who killed someone in a car accident three years ago!”

Another student laughed.

“Holy shit it really is him!”

“So he’s out already?”

“Why is he back here?”

More people started whispering and pointing.

Alex could hear everything clearly as he clenched and unclenched his fist.

But his eyes never left Lily.

“You know that’s not what happened,” he spoke calmly.

Lily scoffed. “Really? You confessed to the police yourself.”

Alex gave a faint self-deprecating smile. “Yes. I did.”

The crowd started laughing.

“Look at his clothes.”

“Damn he still looks poor.”

“Why did Lily even date a guy like that before?”

Daniel finally stood up.

He looked Alex up and down with a sneer. “You heard her. You don’t belong here.”

Alex turned to him slowly. “So the cousin is now the fiancé? How on earth is that possible.”

The crowd burst into laughter and Daniel’s face immediately darkened.

Lily grabbed Daniel’s arm. “Don’t waste time with him.”

Then she looked at Alex again.

Her eyes were full of disdain. “You ruined someone’s life and still dare to show up here. You’re shameless.”

Alex stared at her for a long moment in shock.