CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-ONE : THE MADAM

I parted my lips to say something.

To defend myself, but I knew that it would be useless—so I stopped myself.

I stood numbly, saying nothing and doing nothing while she dragged me out roughly.

Cuffing my wrist tightly, she pushed me towards the unkept prisoner's bathroom while throwing an inmate uniform towards me which landed luckily on my cuffed hands.

“Change!

You have two seconds,” she sneered in disgust.

I looked down to my bound hands and I raised them before me.

“My wrists are cuffed.

How…how can I…?”

I stammered, but she snapped, cutting my words off.

“Sort it out yourself.

Anything higher than two seconds,

I’ll make sure you face punishment,” she hissed irritatedly.

My chest burnt at her outright disrespect knowing she was doing this on purpose, but I said nothing.

I pushed the door open the only way I could and I stepped inside, but not before hearing her sneer.

“Young madam of the Blackwood my foot,” She ended with a small laugh.

I had no idea how long I took.

But how could I? My mind was too preoccupied, struggling for a way to wear the clothes while having my wrists bound.

I pushed the door open after successfully changing, only to be met with the female officer’s red face filled with so much anger.

“Why did you take so long?

Were you plotting for a way to escape in there?” She spat, walking towards me as she pulled on my cuffs harshly making the strong metal bite painfully into my wrist.

I shook my head hastily, as the stinging pain cut through my brain cells.

“No…no, I swear.

My hands were bound so it was harder…”

“Shut up!” She hissed and the sound of her palm landing harshly on my cheeks echoed through the atmosphere.

My face darted to the side, the searing pain rising from within made my eyes well up with tears, but I blinked them away wanting to remain strong.

Her hands came to my hair, and she pulled on it harshly, bringing my eyes to hers.

“You think you can fool me?

You want to play innocent while in prison right?

Who knew a small woman like you would be a murderer?” She snarled, clenching tighter on my hair.

I flinched from the pain, my face clenching hard, and my weak body begging for release.

“You are lucky the madam said not to harm you too much for now,” she bit out her eyes not holding any bit of remorse as she watched me groan in pain.

Pushing me back into my jail cell, my body flew, landing painfully hard on the floor from the force she used.

I watched her lips curl up seeing me in so much pain.

And the moment she sighted the cuts on my body from the floor, her eyes glinted like she saw gold.

She brought her phone out, the flash light flickering continuously as she took pictures of me.

“The madam would definitely pay more for this,” she smiled, locking the cell door.

Time flew like wind, but I knew I'd spent a day here already from the large wall clock I sighted opposite my cell door.

A day without food or even a drop of water.

My mouth had gone dry, but I barely cared about myself and more about the child growing inside of me.

I knew what starvation does to a developing fetus, and I could only hope that my child was okay.

My cell door creaked open.

I folded myself, wanting desperately to make myself smaller and unnoticeable at the side of the iron bed which I sat on.

I knew it was definitely the female officer who managed my cell again.

If only she’ll let go of hurting me rather than playing her stupid tricks on me just to get pictures of the bruises she laid on my skin.

And I did not have to guess too hard to know who the madam she always referred to was.

It was most definitely ‘Jennifer.’

“Young madam,

Your food is here,” a small feminine voice said, making my head snap up.

My eyes squinted trying to see her clearly, although the light from outside my cell was bright enough for that—but my dizziness made it hard to see.

She moved closer to me, probably seeing my dilemma, as she spoke more softly this time.

“Please eat.

You look so weak, young madam.”

The way she addressed me—young madam drew my attention towards her again.

It seemed like a long time ago since someone ever addressed me in that name and with so much respect.

Something flared through my veins as I made out her innocent face.

Her large and bright brown eyes stared deep into me, looking sad to see my state.

And seeing her, the plan I’ve been hosting in my mind finally sprouted into action knowing she’ll be perfect.

Maybe I was selfish for doing this.

But this was the only way.

I had no other way to save my child, but this.

And I’ll do anything to save my baby.

Even if I had to go against the law.

I looked up to her.

My weak ocean blue eyes stared straight at her with the last bit of strength I could manage as I spoke boldly.

“Can you help me escape here?”