Chapter 4

Chapter 4

 

Lola,

 

I flinched when something rang loudly in the distance.

 

I blinked when a bright light filled the place and when my eyes adjusted a little; I was able to see that my cell’s door was open and there were some women watching me with interest.

I looked down at myself and found out that I was still sitting on the floor hugging myself, sniffling like a child.

 

I must be a view for all these women who were watching me, waiting for the right moment to jump me or worse.

 

So I took a deep breath and stood up on shaky legs that were threatening to give up, but I managed to save the last ounce of dignity I still got or might have.

 

The women kept watching me as I stood up, then snatched the small toiletries bag that the CO gave me yesterday without moving.

 

I walked to the open door and glared at them, and it was as if they didn’t even see me. I felt like I was an animal in a zoo and everyone was watching me.

 

“Fucking move. I want to take my fucking shower and you are blocking my way.”

 

A woman said in a harsh voice even though it came out lyrical and all of a sudden the entrance was empty and no one was there.

 

The woman took a few steps, then she stopped and watched me. I swallowed harshly when her eyes followed my body from head to toe.

 

It made me feel uncomfortable, not in a creepy way or repulsive. It was as if that woman was assessing me, so I did the same and checked her.

 

She was shorter than me, slight in build even though her red jumpsuit couldn’t hide her curves. Her body was more shapely than mine and she had this so small waist.

 

Her curly hair was softer than mine and she had it in one long braid and I could see the few blonde strands in it.

 

But what made me blink at her were her eyes. They were soft brown, but at the same time, they were strong and daring. I almost shuddered. This is a woman that can’t be messed with.

 

“Move your ass, Isis, or are you taken aback by the beauty of this new meat here? I thought that you were not into women, but I guess prison changes people, right?”

 

The horrible female officer from last night said and the woman who I was having a staring contest with smiled at me, then winked before she turned around and faced the CO.

 

“Aww, you are such a mood kill, CO Smith. I was just assessing my new inmate. I was thinking about how and when the fun will start.”

 

The inmate named Isis said sarcastically with a sneer and even though it was obvious that she hated that officer’s guts, her voice came out soft and so sweet that I almost shuddered.

 

“Right, especially with you two wearing red, two murderers coming from two big mafia families. Yeah, I guess you have the right to assess the new threat and try to see if she was going to be trouble or not. Now move your ass. You don’t have all day. MOVE.”

 

CO Smith said and Isis’s jaws clenched, but she gave her a bright smile and left without sparing me another look, but then she suddenly stopped and spoke without turning her back.

 

“Oh, you are the Black Cross girl! I don’t know who you have pissed off, little girl, but you should watch your back because this prison right here is crawling with Italians and I’m not just talking about female inmates. If I were you, I would try to get the fuck out of here before this week ends.”

 

She said, then left with a huge black woman following her without raising her head up or saying anything at all.

 

“Awww, look at her threatening you or was she giving you a small advice which is rare for her? Anyway, you should listen to her, you know. It is just Monday, and a week is a long period of time, sweet bean. You must act fast.”

 

Smith said as she pushed me out of my cell and then toward somewhere as she kept speaking and mumbling, talking to herself.

 

“But I guess it won’t take long and you won’t have the time to do shit. Word on the prison is that there is a price on your head for killing that dude. I heard that his half brother put five mil on your head while the second in command of the old boss put six, but I’m not sure. If that was the case, hell, I should consider killing you myself, sweet bean.”

 

The woman said, cackling loudly, and I started to hyperventilate after hearing her words. Was she telling the truth? Was that the reason why I was sent here?

 

But why would they want to kill me? I’m a nobody. And honestly, if we considered everything, I did them a favor. Giovanni was fucking things up recently even though they wanted to get rid of him, so why?

 

I thought as I felt the air drain from my lungs and my vision become blurry, then someone pushed me forward and I stumbled inside the bathroom.

 

I took a deep breath, looking around me, my eyes wondering, watching the naked women as they showered or brushed their teeth.

 

I took a couple of steps forward and stopped in front of the empty shower and held my clothes in my hands tightly.

 

I don’t mind getting naked in front of them, but by doing that, I will be vulnerable and someone might hurt me.

 

Suddenly something pumped into me and I stumbled back a little when my eyes fell on the huge woman followed by that Isis girl minutes ago.

 

She was standing in front of the stall Isis was showering in blocking the view, or maybe protecting her.

 

“Shower, ……quickly.”

 

The big woman said in a gruff voice and I shivered, hearing her felt like listening to gravel being smashed together, but after a moment of hesitation, I did what she said and took off my clothes quickly taking a shower not caring that I don’t have a change of clothes or even a towel.

 

I cleaned all those two months of dirt and sweat and almost cried when I shampooed my hair. It has been so long.

 

And I think I took so long to finish my shower because the moment I opened my eyes I found out that most of the bathroom was empty and my neighbours were gone.

 

“Hello there, thank you for keeping the water running for me, delicious caramel!”

 

Some woman said, and I blinked at her before I collected my clothes sidestepped her and almost ran out of the stall.

 

I heard some women laugh at me while the others watched me in anticipation, but I didn’t stop to see all of their reactions. I just put on my clothes and basically ran out of there.

 

My wet hair kept sticking to my face as I ran back to my cell and I slipped twice, My knees scraped on the harsh floor a couple of times from falling and I know I looked like shit, but I didn’t stop.

 

I wanted to be back in the safety of my cell. I want to cower in the corner like yesterday and pray that this was just a dream or maybe a prank someone was playing on me.

 

I bent over the toilet and began to dry heave the moment I stepped inside the safety of my cell. I heaved while I cried pathetically, like a little girl.

 

And when I was done after vomiting my own stomach, I dropped to the floor and stared outside the still opened door of my cell, seeing nothing. I felt numb.

 

I only came back to reality when I felt hands touching me and hauling me up, then throwing me onto my bunk bed.

 

I stared with big wide eyes at the woman who was sneering at me and my mouth opened in a silent scream as I watched her try to take off my clothes.

 

I began to fight her, pushing her away, making her stop for a moment in shock, Then she grinned at me, showing me her yellow teeth.

 

“Hey, I thought that we might do this quickly before breakfast, but I see that you will give me some trouble, ha? Look honey, in here you need to have someone to get your back, and in order to do that you must pay for it. So let us be done with this quickly and I will consider protecting you. I don’t have any interest in that price on your head, you feel me?!”

 

The ugly white woman said, and I just screamed as I pushed and kicked her with my two feet, startling her and making her flinch away after I got her in the face.

 

She touched her chin and looked down at a couple of blood drops there, then she sneered at me, her hands ready to tear me apart.

 

“Get the fuck out of that cell, inmate. It is not yours or do you want to be thrown in the Shu?” ‘The hole.’

 

CO Diaz said and almost wailed when I saw him standing in front of my cell and his hands on his side, ready to grip something.

 

The woman who was attacking me gave me a hateful look as she tried to tidy her green jumpsuit, then she turned around to nod at the CO.

 

“I was trying to be nice, officer. She is new and I don’t want her to feel alone. I still remember how it felt when I came here the first time.”

 

The woman said, then she left us and I bit my lower lip, drawing blood as I screamed silently, feeling tears of anger, fear, and desperation drench my face.

 

The CO came inside and he sat on the opposite bunk and put a huge bag he was holding beside him and, after a moment, he stood up.

 

“Clean your face. It is time for breakfast.”

 

He said, then went outside and minutes later I followed him and again I found that woman called Isis watching me with narrowed eyes along with that huge woman.

 

She gave me sympathetic eyes as if she saw everything that happened in my cell and she felt sorry for me, but I snarled at her as I passed her by.

 

I’m not fucking weak. I wasn’t raised like this. I can fucking protect myself here.