Free As The World Burns by Roger Hayden Page A

your seats now!"
    He looked down at his weapon, imagining the damage it could do. Nothing in his training had ever suggested gunning down a mob of unruly passengers, but he had a potential riot on his hand, all enclosed within the confines of a prison bus. He moved his hand to his side holster where his Taser gun rested. His mind shifted to the front of the cab where there were smoke grenades, gas masks, and riot gear, if it came to that.
    "I want everyone to rush the gate. We can break through, my brothers!" Roy shouted from atop his seat. Sergeant Davis's pleas had done nothing to deter them; they were, in fact, more energized than before. In no time they were upon the gate banging onto it with their meaty and angered fists.
    "Break through! Break through! Break through!" they chanted.
    Sacha slid down his seat as to remain unnoticed.
    "I knew we should have taken the time to cuff and chain everyone," Davis remarked to Mel in a trembling voice. Davis turned to the passengers.
    "Get back in your seats!" he shouted. "I'm not going to tell you again!"
    He turned and placed his shotgun in its holder against the wall. He then pulled a can of mace from his belt and held it into the air.
    "Okay, you asked for it," he said with determined conviction.
    The prisoners in the front of the mob held their enraged faces to the gate. Spit flew from their mouth as they chanted. Davis could feel their hot breath. They clutched the gate and shook it back-and-forth. Davis rattled his can, flipped the top off and sprayed a bursting stream of pepper spray directly into their faces. Those on the front lines fell back screaming, covering their eyes with both hands.
    "Don't rub your eyes!" Roy shouted. "Let it run its course."
    Davis continued to spray indiscriminately. As one man fell to the ground, another moved in and filled his place. They were close to twenty men pushing their way against the gate, screaming, chanting, kicking and punching. Sacha ducked down in his seat, fearing how things might escalate. Roy turned back and noticed him. While hunched down, Sacha felt a tap on his back. He looked up to see the jumpsuit man standing over him.
    "What are you sitting here for? Now's our chance to escape." Roy said.
    "I don't have anywhere to escape to," Sacha answered.
    "You can go with us," Roy said.
    "And who are you?" Sacha asked.
    "I'm with the Brotherhood of Men. You should join us."
    "That's okay. I think I'll just stay on the bus."
    Roy leaned in closer.
    "We're sitting ducks on this bus, friend. We'd have a much better chance out there than in here. Trust me."
     
    The commotion got heavier by the minute. Men riled on the ground in tear-soaked agony. Davis had reached the end of his first pepper spray can. He threw it aside and went for another.
    "What the fuck is going on back there?" Mel asked while trying to stay focused on the road.
    The remaining prisoners shielded their eyes with their hands, ran to the gate and kicked it repeatedly. The gate shook, but stayed firmly place.
    "I need immediate backup!" Davis said into his radio. His eyes were wild and frantic. He suspected the gate would only hold so long. He looked to his shotgun as a possible option.
     
    "There's an open invitation to join us, if you so choose," Roy reiterated to Sacha.
    "Thanks, but I should be fine," Sacha said nervously.
    "Don't get any wrong ideas about what you see here today," Roy said. "We're not a violent group in nature. We subscribe to the most effective path towards victory. Whether methods involve nonviolent resistance or violent aggression, often in life we must do what's necessary to get what we want. Wouldn't you agree?"
    Sacha nodded as Roy studied him. Suddenly a large crash sounded from the front. The gate had not collapsed yet, but was soon getting there. Roy turned from Sacha and rushed to join the other men at the front the bus.
    "Smash it down!" he shouted, egging the group on further. "Smash the gate and kill them both! It's the only way