Part 4

Journal: Alex Sawyer

Only the first night, I'm here holding the bars of my cell. I look around, all is quiet, but I know every soul is crying, sobbing, they all want one thing, freedom. People find themselves in situations all the time where they wish they could go back and change something in their lives, but reality prevents us. For now, for life, I am stuck in this cell. It was one small, petty action that set me on my path to eternal damnation. I was younger, years younger. Foolish, selfish and ignorant to the fact that my actions would have consequences. I took a kid's money, hardly worth calling me a criminal. It was my actions after that caused me this mess. It might have been the stress at home or peer pressure that motivated me, but whatever it was, it screwed up my life big time.

I miss the comforts of home. My bed, my soft clothes and my parents. Some people say the simplest things in life make you happy. What happens if those very simple pleasures are taken away? I am terrified for what happens tomorrow and forever. I'll never survive, but why would I need to survive? I'm never getting out of here. Stuck here forever. I'm too young to die. But what kind of life is this? It's only the first day and I can't take it. I'm so scared. Terrified of the things I've seen so far. These strange men appeared and killed my best friend, Toby. They have framed me for something I haven't done. Why would they do that to me? Now here I am, in the Furnace, forever. I'm INNOCENT, YOUR HEAR! INNOCENT!

I wonder what time it is? Oh no, I hear something. What are they saying? They're yelling at me, the other prisoners. They're yelling, others are singing. They are making fun of me. I don't want to listen, but it's so loud. I want to go HOMEEEEEEE! I join in the 'symphony' crying, screaming, yelling. I think I finally will pass out.


Reflection - Journal Entry for Alex Sawyer

In this journal, I am trying to reflect how Alex might feel after his first day at the Furnace. I chose to write this  journal entry about Alex because he is the main character in the novel. I chose this time in his life because I thought it would be very emotional. I think Alex is vital to the novel because he is the main character.

To write this journal entry I put myself in Alex's shoes. I imagined what it would be like to be in a cell at the Furnace. I imagined what I would miss the most, my bed, my clothes, my parents, my dog and maybe even my sister. It was easy to relate to the character because Alex and I are about the same age.


Journal: Carl "Donavan"


Months ago, well what seems like months, my cellmate died. He was foolish, reckless, and one day, he lost it, he jumped. Only days ago I got a new cellmate, some kid named Alex Sawyer. Days ago I would have asked questions like "why did I have to get stuck with the new guy." But now thanks to him, there is a glimmer of hope, a chance of escape. Brilliant Alex, he came up with an idea so simple, it would make escape almost easy. What will I do when I get out? I guess the options will be limited, the entire police force will be searching for us.

The only thing I wonder about is if the guards already know what we are doing. What if they spotted us and are waiting to throw us in the hole or worse. Ultimately it doesn't matter what happens, we will die in here if we don't leave and chances are we will ultimately die if we escape. I guess I shouldn't think that way. This escape is our only hope for survival. Even if I die, I will have died on the outside not in this hellhole. I will be away from the black suits, the wheezers, the Skulls, the horrible warden. I have to do anything I can to get out of here!

On the bright side, having Alex as my cellmate has been ok, not just for his escape plan, but as somebody to talk to. He has kept me updated on what's going on on the surface. Alex says there have been some cool new video games that have come out like the Elder Scrolls VIII!

Reflection - Journal Entry for Carl Donavan

At the beginning of the book, Donavan is taken as a hard unforgiving character. He is merciless and evidently does not develop attachments to people. When Alex comes down into the Furnace, it changes Donavan. Donavan starts to act kindly towards Alex, like a friend. To write my Journal entry, I used this feeling of a change of heart, to make this journal entry.

I chose Donavan as a character to write my journal on because he is one of the major, important character's in the novel. The time this entry is written is just after Alex thinks of a way to escape. I created my entry using factual information provided about Donavan in the novel.


Journal: Toby


Life has been great ever since Alex and I started these heists. He is always telling me how he spends his share of the money. It's been a wild ride. Alex is my best friend and always will be, but I'm starting to get worried. What if we're caught? They always talk about that Furnace place on TV, but Alex says thats only for kids who commit murder though. I don't want to tell Alex, but I think my parents are becoming suspicious of what we are doing. When I come home late at night, they always ask me questions that I can't answer. My parents always taught me as a kid that stealing was wrong. They aren't the type of parents that would let me get away with anything.

I can't think like that though! Everything will be fine. At most, Alex and I will receive a harsh scolding. I'm going to have to tell Alex that I want to stop.

Reflection - Journal Entry for Toby


Toby appears only at the beginning of the novel as Alex's best friend.  Toby is killed and Alex is framed for his murder and is sent to the Furnace. I chose to write a journal entry about Toby because even though he only appears at the beginning of the story, it is his and Alex's actions that cause the chain of events in the story.

Although Toby is a minor character, his role has a great impact on the book. I thought it was important to reflect on how Toby felt and what he might be thinking. Just as I was sympathetic to Alex in the book, I was also sympathetic to Toby. He should have never have died.


Journal: Montgomery "Monty" Earl 


What did I ever do wrong to anybody? What is one to do when they get framed for murder and have no way of defending themselves? My sister, one of the only people I ever cared about, killed by men in black suits. They left her for dead, and the police blame ME! Getting sent to the Furnace is bad enough, then I get a murderer as my cell mate. Every day he pushes me around and uses me as his servant. I don't dare rise against him, he would just kill me. For the rest of my life, I see no hope, no future. Why did it have to be me? I feel so trapped and helpless. A few days back, I was sitting alone eating my food, then the Skulls come over and start pushing me around, nothing that I'm not used to. All of a sudden this kid named Alex comes over and pushes the Skulls off of me. I was quite grateful but I've learned in the Furnace, it's better to be with the superior crowd than being a "new fish".

Tonight I did something that I probably shouldn't have done, I hope they don't catch me. I made the best meal I could out of the worst quality ingredients that were there. I had to do something to repay Alex, he risked his life for me to survive. I owed him.

Reflection - Journal Entry for Monty

I chose Monty for this journal entry because of all the horrors down in the Furnace, he tried to make something good out of it. The reason I wrote about this specific time in his life is because this small gesture had great value in the novel. It was a symbolic gesture, in all the darkness there is a light.

Monty is a minor character in the novel, although he does not play a vital role in the novel, his actions are important. When Alex saves Monty, it develops Alex's character and shows that Alex is a good person.