WANDSWORTH.

A yellow taxi parked beside the prison walls of Wandsworth on Heathfield Road, Evania came out and walked through the prison gates. She was late but that didn't deter her from seeing her brother.

Mr. Thomas sat outside the legal interview room waiting for her, his bald head shone under the dim light.

“Time waits for no man, Evania,” he whispered, as she sat beside him.

She gasped. “I’m trying, Thomas. God knows I’m trying.”

He shook his head, eyes sharp with doubt. “Are you sure, or it's getting worse?”

“No, I'm good,” she replied, her voice cracking.

Thomas leaned in,“Becky told me about your suspension. Is it true?”

“Yeah, it is,” she said, her voice barely heard, almost a plea. “The drugs do help with the pain, but it’s still there.”

“I know anxiety isn't easy to deal with,” Thomas conceded, a bitter edge to his smile.

“What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, old man.” Evania chuckled, taking in a deep breath.

Thomas Moore,a long term family friend and Marcus’s lawyer, was a man approaching retirement, yet determined to bail Marcus out of prison just because he thought their late mother's ghost watched him. 

A prison guard approached, signaling with his fingers. Thomas shook his head, his face darkening.

“What is it Thomas?” Evania’s voice trembled, her heart pounding as Thomas waved the guard away.

“You can't be serious, transfers, my foot!” he mumbled.

“What is it,Thomas, is there a problem,what is it?” She stammered, her tone curious. 

Thomas looked down, she shook her head in disbelief.

“No,no,no, don't tell me anything happened to Marcus because-,” she groaned.

“There's a little mix up, Marcus was transferred this morning,” he admitted, his eyes dodging hers,

Her hands shook, slamming against the metal seat. 

“Tell me why we've been here for almost an hour and you haven't said anything?,” Tears burned her eyes, running down her cheeks.

“Honestly, I pulled some strings to get him back here,I trusted the Chief to handle it, ” he said, his voice heavy with regret.

“Trusted? Isn't he the one responsible,” she spat, her voice growling. 

“Procedure. Orders came from above,” he cut in, already turning, his footsteps retreating like a fading pulse.

“Do something, Thomas!” she screamed after him, her voice breaking into sobs. “He won’t survive out there alone!”

As Thomas's image vanished into the corridor, Evania paced the hallway.Each step echoed her fear. Her phone buzzed, and Becky’s voice shot through.

“What’s the crack, frisky?” Becky’s tease was a faint spark in the dark.

“Becky, Marcus is gone,” Evania choked, tears streaming down her face.

“Gone? Did he break out? I wasn't familiar with his game!”

“No! He's been transferred,”

“Oh, God,” Becky gasped. “I’m so sorry darling, what about Thomas?” Becky wondered.

“He just told me now, and he's already gone, I don't know-” Evania responded, her voice barely audible.

“Am sorry dear, am out of town right now, but am heading back tomorrow, we'll see,”

The call cut off, leaving Evania in suffocating silence.

Then a prison guard walked up to her and led her through the sterile corridor to the chief warden’s office. The chief, an old white man with a crooked blue beret sat there, sipping a hot cup of tea.

“Well, now, have a seat,” he said, adjusting his beret.

“Thank you,” Evania whispered, her voice barely holding.

“Thomas’s girl. Name?”

“Evania Taylor. Here for my brother.” Her words trembled, each syllable a plea.

He nodded, a flicker of warmth in his face. 

“Thomas and I have been doing this for quite a while now,”

“Please,” she begged, her voice breaking. “I’d give anything to have Marcus back here,”

“You’re in luck, girl,” he said, glancing at the clock. “He’s on his way.”

Relief crashed over her, but it was temporary. Marcus arrived in a black van,and two guards rushed him to the visiting room. His pale skin was marked with angry red spots, his frozen hands tucked between his bony thighs, his eyes hollow with exhaustion.

“Hey, kid,” Evania whispered, her voice thick with tears as she glanced at the guard standing by the door. “How are you holding up?”

Marcus shivered, his teeth clenched, his voice a faint whisper. “I'm getting used to it,”

“I’m so sorry,” she sobbed, her voice cracking.

“I didn't make here last week because I got suspended,”

“Sorry about that, sis,” he murmured, his voice a fragile thread.

“I will get you out of Wandsworth,” she vowed, her voice clear despite the tears. “Thomas says we need another five thousand.”

“No, Eva-,” Marcus pleaded, his eyes open  wide with fear. “You can’t borrow again. You can’t.”

“It’s the only way,” she insisted, her voice cutting through the pain.

“There’s always another way,” he whispered, but the guard stepped forward, his shadow falling over them.

“Time’s up,” the guard announced, forcing Marcus to his feet.

Evania watched her brother get whisked out, his weary form disappeared through the corridor. Her heart pounded, desperately wishing to pull her brother back into the room.

Her phone rang again, her shaky hands clicked the cracked screen. Becky's name was covered in the animated bubbles on the screen as it vibrated on her ear. 

Becky's voice shot through strongly sending her stomach into a rumble.

“Evania!! You're in deep shit,” she screamed.

“What…,” she stammered, her voice breaking as she walked out the prison.

“I don't mean to sound pessimistic but I think Jonathan is playing something against you.” Evania cut off the call as she predicted her next words.

“Goodness be! What do you mean Becky?” Evania whispered through the phone.

“You've been invited to the dinner party.” Becky replied.

“What?” she screamed.

“Easy girl, I heard people say he might fire you in front of the whole staff.” Becky replied.

“Son of a …” Evania exclaimed.