They Buried Me Alive, I Rose As A King

9: Prison survival mode.

Days passed by very fast with strict routine at Rikers Island which couldn't by bent by any means.

The morning count was every 5:30 a.m. followed by the slop for breakfast and then yard time if the weather allowed, showers under lukewarm water that cut off too soon, endless hours in the dorm with nothing but concrete walls and the low hum of male voices. Bradley moved through it all with deliberate calm, his body was becoming stronger now and his senses sharper. The system had turned him into something new, someone patient, watchful and lethal when needed.

The assassination attempts had stopped since other inmates were now scared of attacking him, but there were other means to silent a man without the use of brute force.

Word had spread through the block like wildfire: the “dead man” who couldn’t be killed. Six professional hitters down in two nights, and he’d walked away without a scratch. Inmates gave him space and nods of respect in the chow line, some even offer extra dessert from trays while warnings whispered about which guards took bribes.

Bradley observed it all. He completed the daily quest on the third day and gained respect from five inmates through small acts of sharing his commissary soap with a new fish, helping an older man carry his tray when arthritis flared and breaking up a fight without throwing a punch. Through it all, the system rewarded him.

[Daily Quest Complete: Build Reputation]

[Reward: +100 XP, Charisma +1 permanent]

[Current Charisma: 11]

[XP: 350/500 to Level 4]

Charisma didn’t feel like magic words or sudden charm. It was subtler, causing people to listen when he spoke, met his eyes longer and trusted his quiet confidence.

He spent most yard times on the same bench with Isaac Jones.

Their conversations started with small talks about weather, prison food, the latest Knicks loss but deepened quickly. Isaac had been a state assemblyman for twelve years, a reformer who’d taken on corrupt unions and shady developers. Someone powerful had framed him with bribery charges: forged emails, planted deposits in offshore accounts. His trial was set for spring.

“They want me discredited before I can testify against certain people,” Isaac said one cold afternoon, “Same people who probably have friends in common with your in-laws.”

Bradley nodded. “Jordans play long games. Real estate deals that need zoning approvals and lobbying contracts. They don’t like loose ends.”

Isaac studied him for a moment. “And you’re a loose end now. Officially dead but breathing. That’s a problem for them.”

Bradley almost smiled. “Good.”

Isaac leaned closer. “There’s got something different about you, Turner. Most men come in here and break one way or the other, some slow, others fast. But you… you’re getting stronger. How?”

Bradley considered lying, but decided on partial truth. “I found motivation. And a reason to survive.”

Isaac accepted that. “Fair enough. Motivation’s rare in here.”

That evening, back in the dorm, the system issued a new quest.

[Main Quest Update: Path to Freedom]

[Sub-objective 1: Deepen alliance with Isaac Jones. Share strategic aid.]

[Hint: Isaac’s trial evidence is flawed. Offer analysis.]

Bradley waited until lights out before he moved quietly to Isaac’s bunk. The older man was awake reading a legal brief by the dim red glow.

“You couldn’t sleep either?” Isaac whispered.

“We need to talk,” Bradley said. “About your case.”

Isaac set the papers aside. “Go on.”

Bradley sat on the edge of the lower bunk opposite. “You said the prosecution’s key evidence is those bank transfers and emails.”

“Yeah. Perfectly timed deposits right after I voted on a bill favorable to a certain developer.”

“Forged?”

“Has to be. But my lawyer can’t prove it. Digital trail is too clean.”

Bradley closed his eyes briefly as he tried to focus.

System, analyze common forgery methods in financial corruption cases.

Knowledge flooded in as if they were downloaded like memories that weren’t his. IP spoofing, metadata tampering, backdated server logs. Afterwards he opened his eyes.

“Your emails, do they have original headers? The full MIME data?”

Isaac frowned out of surprise. “Public defender asked for it, but the DA claims it was lost in discovery.”

“Subpoena the email provider directly. G***l or whatever corporate server. Headers will show routing anomalies if they’re forged. As for the bank deposits, check the SWIFT codes. Forged transfers often reuse legitimate codes from unrelated transactions. Cross-reference them with public ledgers.”

Isaac stared at Bradley for a while. “How the hell do you know this?”

Bradley shrugged. “I read a lot. And I’m good with patterns.”

Isaac was quiet for a long moment. “If this works…”

“It’ll create reasonable doubt. Maybe enough to get the case dismissed pre-trial.”

The older man’s eyes gleamed in the dark. “You’re wasted in here, Turner.”

Bradley stood. “Then let’s get both of us out.”

The next day, Isaac smuggled a note to his lawyer with Bradley’s suggestions.

Days turned to a week.

Bradley used the time wisely.

He trained in the yard with push-ups and pull-ups on the basketball hoop rim, adding shadowboxing when no guards watched and the system kept track of it.

[Physical Training Detected. Strength +1, Agility +1 over time.]

He explored the interface more deeply during quiet hours.

Shop section unlocked at Level 3: minor items like stamina boosters or skill temporary amps, purchasable with points earned from quests. Points which he'd prefer to save.

Commissary day came. With money Marcus had deposited from Bradley’s old savings, he bought essentials; a decent soap, ramen, a small radio. He shared half with Isaac and Ray, the older mechanic who’d known his father.

His reputation in prison was growing.

No letters from Evelyn or Maya reached him even the ones he wrote for Maya were never sent out unknown to him. Yet he did not relent writing to Maya anyway, twice a week he would write her a message. Simple messages of love, drawings copied from memory. Whether they reached her, he didn’t know.

One afternoon in the yard after it had finished snowing, Isaac sat down heavily on the bench.

“Good news,” he said quietly. “Lawyer followed your leads. Email provider coughed up the full headers under subpoena. Routing shows the messages originated from an IP in Eastern Europe: Tor exit node. Not Albany, where I was supposedly sending them.”

Bradley nodded. “And the bank?”

“SWIFT codes match a completely unrelated transaction from a shell company in Delaware. Sloppy if you know where to look.”

Isaac’s voice held more news, something Bradley sense to be hope.

“You’re a miracle, Turner. My guy thinks we can file a motion to dismiss in two weeks.”

Bradley met his eyes. “Then we’re even. Because when you’re out, I need a favor.”

Isaac didn’t hesitate. “Name it.”

“Get me out too. Clear the assault charge. I have a daughter who thinks I’m dead.”

Isaac extended his hand. Bradley shook it firmly.

“Deal.”

That night, the system updated.

[Sub-objective 1 Complete: Powerful ally secured.]

[Reward: Political Knowledge Module (Basic) unlocked + 500 XP]

[Level Up! Current Level: 4]

[XP: 350/1000 to Level 5]

[+3 stat points available]

Bradley allocated the points, two to Intelligence, one to Charisma.

The Political Knowledge Module downloaded a pile of information. Campaign strategies, lobbying structures, media spin, bill drafting, coalition building. New York State politics all mapped in his mind like a chessboard.

He lay in his bunk, staring at the concrete ceiling.

Inside the Jordan estate, Evelyn stood in the grand foyer watching staff decorate a fourteen-foot Norway spruce. Ornaments of gold and crystal, each worth more than Bradley’s old monthly wage.

Lucas Stevens arrived in a flurry of snow, kissing her cheek formally in front of Victoria.

“Beautiful as always,” he murmured.

Evelyn smiled the way she’d practiced.

Maya watched from the stairs, clutching a stuffed unicorn as her eyes dull.

She hadn’t spoken much since the “news.”

Victoria frowned after noticing Maya's expression. “Take her upstairs, Evelyn. She’s ruining the holiday mood.”

Evelyn led Maya away without hesitation.

In her room, Maya whispered, “When is Daddy coming back?”

Evelyn’s heart stuttered. “He… can’t, sweetheart. Remember?”

Maya nodded, but her eyes said she didn’t believe it.

Back at Rikers, Bradley received a smuggled newspaper clipping from Ray which was passed through commissary channels.

Photo of the Jordan family at a charity gala. Evelyn on Lucas Stevens’ arm, smiling radiantly. The Caption: Moving Forward After Tragic Loss.

Bradley folded the clipping carefully, tucking it into his mattress. Not out of rage, rather cold resolve.

The system hummed in agreement.

Prison survival mode was over. Ascendancy mode had begun.

He closed his eyes, planning moves three steps ahead. One he would initiate when Isaac walked free, and he follows.

Then the real game will start and the Jordans would learn what it felt like to be hunted.