Power

Lion Queen

A hurt animal can do the most damage.

Ruby

I looked at the girl who had taken me in, on the floor, a bullet in her abdomen. Deep down I knew this was wrong, but I needed power. 'Bang' I pulled the trigger. "Ruby, please. I'm sorry, whatever I did" the guard who had guarded me for three months, John, begged. Now scared of me. Three months ago I was just a hurt fat girl who didn't belong in here, now I'm a queen.
I had been imprisoned for my boyfriend's mistakes, he had opened up accounts in my name and never paid taxes. Of course I was imprisoned, because the law is wrongfully organized. Zoe the girl I just killed was Harpervilles number one gangs favorite little bitch. She took me in, thinking I was just a weak little girl. Fought for me, smuggled things in for me. Unfortunately she was my survival ticket. See I figured if I went out of gorge town penatentry without power I'd be homeless and dumpster diving. I have noone you see. My grandma made it perfectly clear I was a bad guy, so here's me playing that role. My only option of survival was to obtain power. I found out zoe had connections to the lion gang. All I had to do was keep up the act, and wait. She eventually set up a meeting with her leader. Which I just killed and then killed zoe.
The guard among many were on the lions payroll. Now my payroll.
"Please" the guard John said. I pulled him up by his ugly 70s pony tail "listen to me good johnny boy. As you can clearly see I'm the leader of the lions now." His eyes widened. "I- I s_see th_that b_b_but what about me?" He asked I laughed. "You'll live" I threw him to the other side of my cell. "For now" I said. He bent down and kissed my feet "thank you, Ruby. You won't regret this" he said. "Damn right, I want everyone on my payroll to know who's their leader now. And clean this shit up" he bowed and left.
He came back and two guards looked at me with fear as I filed my nails. "Well clean up time everyone" I said snapping them out of it.
Eventually my cell was cleaned out.
Not a trace of Zoe. In a pathetic and weird way I kinda missed her.
But this is my life now.
I quickly got out a list under my mattress.
"John" I called. I rolled my eyes as he fidgeted in fear. "Get these things for me or die" I said. He bowed "please please don't kill me. I'll get them" he said and left.
The girl next door to my cell suddenly started talking to me. Nicole, she didn't work well with roommates she's been in here for twelve years. She shot her husband for cheating on her. Can't say I wouldn't have done the same to Brian if he ever cheated on me.  "That was a pretty fucked up thing you did to zoe. I thought you and hers was um freinds" she said. I laughed "and I thought your husband was your husband. Nicky be a nice girl for once and just keep your inferior trap shut'' I said. She just snorted but I never heard anything from her.
Eventually it was lights out.

Every morning we're checked for contraband, our cells too. I get out in three days. If I'm caught rule breaking I'll end up like nicole.
Lucky for me John won't have my stuff ready until then.
My list was
Two trunks in my grandma's yard under the willow tree they're burried. Wait until at night, grandma hates visitors.
When obtained open the box and get my phone back in service. Have my stuff ready for when I leave, but bring me my phone on the night shift tommorow.
Contact all the lawyers and judges on my payroll, I want to meet them tommorow as well.
Kidnap Vivian Bloom you'll find her information in my contact list she's my bitch of an aunt. Have her tortured and ready for me when I get out. Also have my father and grandmother ready as well. Don't leave a mess.
I want clothes, shoes, basically a whole new wardrobe.
I want a hidden apartment made into the warehouse colonial storage. Keep the unground tunnels active.
I want a trip to the salon and spa on the day of my release within an hour after I'm realeased.
I want the status of my car, my belongings, and my money.
I want to know all the dirt on my relatives.
I want to maps of our trading and dealings.
I want to know the status of my cat Bruno.
I want sushi tonight.
And most of all I want to know what my dear boyfriend Bryan has been up to.
Bring me a pen and paper and write the status of my wants.
I was shoved to the wall by a pain in my ass Lucy, the female guard I despised. "scums clean. Take her to lunch" she said to John. I just glared at her shocking her.
It was downright comical how I had fooled everyone here into thinking I was a semi innocent girl.
I grabbed my lunch. Chicken tenders, lima beans, and who knows what's in the patatoes to make them red like that. A side of dipping sauce, milk, and water.
It was peaceful until "who do you think you are? Where's zoe?" Dev, A beefy dyke from what I know and have observed she followed zoe around like a lovesick puppy, also why she hated me. "It must be tough falling for a dead girl who never thought about you at all." I said taking a sip of my milk. She grabbed my collar causing my followers to slowly stand up. She looked around and then eyed me, "you and Tim?" I laughed. "Nope their together, just me" I said. She winced and shouted "you bitch" she was grabbed by john and josh tossed on the table and cuffed. "Detaine Georgia I don't know what's going on with you? But I will find out. Until then John, Josh take detaine Dev to the holding center. Detaine Georgia finish up and back to your cell. No center privileges for you today" Lucy said. Josh and john pulled a struggling Dev away as I just glared at her. "Wanna make your sentence here longer scum?" Lucy remarked snapping me from glaring at Dev. "No mam" I said. She nodded and walked away.
It's official those two have to go. Nosy guard and nosy crush.
It'll be suspicious if they go missing now though.
Perhaps I can use Devs lesbian status against her though. That might work.
Dev developed a new crush on the lovely guard  after killing her ex crush my roommate Zoe.
I finished eating and was escorted back to my cell. John came up and slipped me a paper as I went to my cell.
I jumped on the top bunk. Zoes bunk, I always did want the top. Now I can have it.
I pulled the paper out of my pocket.
Grandma, and dad have been obtained. You're aunt should be obtained by tonight. You're things have been gathered and are in holding, ready for when you get out. You're phone will be delivered to you Tonight. Put it in the wall slot above zoes bunk. I stopped reading to touch the brics finding a brick to wiggle I slowly wiggled it out finding cigarettes. Zoe you crafty bitch. Well I have a hiding spot now at least. I went back to reading my note.
You're boyfriend Bryan has a girlfriend Anne taylor she's a model. Also did you know he was the son of the italian mafia in la. He is. He's slowly taking over the family buisness.
Yes I knew that. He's cheating on me, that son of a bitch. Well I think after I settle things I'll pay my darling a visit.
You're car was given to you're neices Yasmine and Torren after they got their licenses a year ago. You really shouldn't have had it half in your grandmother's name.
Fuck you John. It was less money wasted on insurance. I didn't know I'd go to prison, loose my life and get disowned.
Your cousin at the car dealership also replaced you with Torren. And Yasmine is the secretary there.
You're aunt has all you're money, apparently she made a mentally unstable plea for you to a lawyer and present judge. She also has power of attorney on you as well.
You're aunt had a garage sale a month ago on your things. It went to pay off your half of your car at your cousins.
Son of a bitch. Those motherfuckers. Hmm when I get out of here.
You also have a trust fund but you're aunt has it.
Also someone named James woods left you a house in your neighborhood,
That good old man, damn. I can't wait to see him. Your aunt sold it.
Of course she did.
The house is up for sale again. We can buy it back by tommorow.
Also you're credit score is extremely bad. We've already gotten Mark and lewey on creating a new you for buisness. That should be ready by tommorow. Everyone knows you're the boss now, some are terrified, some are pissed and wondering what happened to Tim and Zoe. And the rest are scared.
Of course they are.
We need a cover story for zoe. Do you have one?
Also you're cat Bruno he's dead. He died a year and a half ago in an animal shelter. But we can get you a new cat, don't worry.
They gave my cat to an animal shelter. Fuck these assholes.
The lawyers Will meet you tonight on lockdown. The judges refused, they said if the leaders are dead the lions are too.
I reread that last sentence crushing the paper slightly.
If they aren't scared I'll make them be.
I couldn't dig up all the dirt on you're relatives yet. I apologize, maybe give me the names next time, their all not exactly in your file.
You're apartment is being built in the warehouse as requested. You're lawyers are to give you furniture designs as well as fashion designs. Just circle
what you want and give the catalogs to me. You're other requests I am currently working out.
Here's the papers and pen as requested.
The dyke you started a fight with this morning knows you killed zoe and Tim. Lucy questioned her and knows as well. Be careful boss.
I think we can handle those two.
I began writing my note to John.
Thank you Johnny boy. Have my neices and cousin kidnapped. I want a clean kidnap and leave a ransom. They lost me money and took what's mine they can pay it back.
I want maps of this city as well as four surrounding here.
It's time to expand.
I want the judges loved one kidnapped, find who they treasure most and kidnap them. Scare them a little. They need to know who's in charge.
I ran the pen against my lips in thought. What to do with dev and Lucy? Have john plant a love note from dev and put it On lucy. Fish the gun that killed zoe out of whatever hell whole you dumped it in and plant it on Dev.
I want them to find that gun in the morning contraband check. If you can print Lucy and devs dna on the gun.
That's our cover story.
And do try to strike fear into my lions. They should fear me.
I stopped the letter. Well nothing to do now but wait for the lawyers so I can write my next lines.
I quickly put my letters and pen in my hiding place and plopped down into my bunk to avoid suspicion and apparently just in time too.
"Detaine Georgia, stand and face the wall" Lucy said coming into my cell. She had Josh and John with her. "Josh, John, I want this cell scraped top to bottom" she said. Josh and John went to looking. If they betray me, this is all over. However if they squeeled to Lucy they wouldn't be searching my cell, other guards would.
"You look worried, Scum" I looked at her. "I am" I said causing her to smirk. "Well the warden gas requested to speak to you. Feel free to come clean to anything you're worried about" I smirked at her. "certainly" I said as I followed her out. She put me in the hall, while she went in there I assume to tell him what I said. I figured I'd have a good cover story but honestly, this was too easy. Eventually lucy came out. "detaine Georgia, warden will see you now" she said holding the door open for me. I went in as she shut it behind me. Honestly I'd never seen the warden. Somehow I expected a southern red haired lady by the way things were ran here, not this. A graying old man with a giant beard. If he wasn't a warden I'd have honestly mistaken him for Santa Claus.
His eyebrows were thick and red, the only color on him. He gestures for me to sit down in the worn down leather chair. "Miss Georgia, it has come to my attention that you're roommate has dissapeared. But you wouldn't have anything to say about that would you?" He said pouring some tea, he held a cup out to me. I bit my lip in fake worry. I acted nervous rubbing my orange clad pants. He sat the cup in front of me. "I've always found tea to be calming, try some. This is black tea, it's very good" he said. I shakily took a sip. "You know you get released the day after tommorow. If you know anything about miss Chanters it would be in your best interest to speak up now. You may find yourself outside these walls and arrested again for withholding information to a criminal case" he paused. I shakily put the cup down. "From others here I have gathered you two were quit close. You were there in your cell the date and time she disappeared, I know you saw or heard something"  this is when I break down.
Tears streamed down my face, honestly this is degrading but it must be done.
He of course gave me a tissue. I was careful to wipe both eyes at the same time. I had read somewhere once that pyscopaths and sociopaths rub their eyes one by one. For this to work this had to be genuine. "I_I I was in my room with Zoe. Zoe got scared and she told me to get into the top bunk. So_ so I did. And she held a finger to her lips to be quiet. And a man showed up, I've never seen him before. They kissed and talked. Then_ then" I paused to look upset and cry more. Then I continued "Then Lucy the head guard she showed up and said this is for Dev, and then" I choked out a sob "and then she shot the guy, and then shot Zoe." I told him. He rubbed his beard. "You do know Josh and john are searching your cell for clues now. I will put them on guard duty to make sure no one bothers you. It's clear after this mornings incident with detaine Dev that they know you know, hmm" I wiped my eyes and nose and nodded. He laughed "oh what a wonderful little story girl" he said clamping a hand on my shoulder. "I've been a warden for twelve years in two prisons that includes this one." I stiffened. He sat down on the edge of his desk in front of me. "I have seen many people come and go. I've read you're file, I know a pyscopath when I see one." He loosened his tie and stood up "However you're story does check out, for now." He went back to his desk and sat down.
"You are free to go, Miss Georgia. And please note that Josh and John will be watching you as well as protecting you should I be right on miss Chanters disappearance" he said. I nodded to him and left. Josh was there to escort me back to my cell.
We arrived at my cell.
As he pushed me in my cell, he slipped me a lighter. I smirked. As he whispered to me "for the smokes"
I smoked two cigeretts. I barely had time to hide my cigerett as a guard I had not met before came to deliver me food.
She sniffed the air and smirked. "You know you really should be careful what you do boss" she unmasked my dinner, sushi. I smirked. She went to leave and paused "be careful from now on, atleast until you get the payroll list, boss" she said to me, bowed and left.
I ate in silence, but eventually I was done. Then all I had was time. On my waiting, waiting for my nightly visitors to show up.
My time was spent doing pushups, pacing, naps, playing with the lighter.
Eventually the lights out call was called. And lights dimmed.
"Hey boss" I heard john say as I came out. John slipped me my phone as I saw four men in suits. "You have thirty minutes tops, boss" Josh said winking. I slipped the phone in my pocket and  nodded as they unlocked my cell and allowed my visiters to come through.
We all sat on the cell floor. One lawyer was a fat old man. One was young, kinda cute in an old fashioned gangster film kind of way. The third one was a middle aged man with a bad face mole. The last had blonde hair and blue eyes and was about the same age as the second one.
The fat one went first "I'm Charles Chumin, these are my associates." He said pointing to them. "Luca Grayson" the old gangster film looking one. "Sebastian Quincy" the middle aged man. "Xander Colder" the blonde. "You have two other lawyers, but I assume you know why they didn't show" I nodded. "Oh gentlemen you need not worry if I am capable of running the lions. I can assure you, I am if not over qualified" I said smirking. "I'm sure you are" sebastian said. "May we ask why you requested to see us?" Xander asked. I smiled. "Yes. Oh boys, my delivery?" I questioned as Luca opened his breif case. Catalogs. He slid them over to me. I flipped threw them half heartedly before tossing them on my bed. 
"Gentlemen I need from you a realease of deeds papers, three. A realease of power of attorney, one of that. A release of a car title just one. And finally a release of a buisness title, one" they nodded. "We can do that. How soon do you want them?" Sebastian asked. "By tommorow, signed by you stamped, 100 percent legalized and ready for the main party to sign" I awnsered. "Miss Georgia that is too soon. Giving us a week sure, but by tommorow. We have other clients_" interupted him. "clients bigger than me certainly not, I can assure you of that." I said causing them to look worried and scared. I clapped my hands "gentlemen, let's consider this a show of loyalty, yea?" They all agreed.
We shook hands. "Josh, John" I called out. They appeared, "Show our guests out" I said.
I was soon alone in my cell. I can't tell you how many times I'd stared at the ceiling. It's cold dark cement gray tiles just glaring back at me.
I knew this feeling. Despite what you might believe I do have a heart, and morals. I just hadn't allowed myself to feel, until now.
I had killed my only freind, just to survive. Ah, here it comes. See you can become the most powerful and successful person in the world. But one thing can tear down your power walls you've built. Reality. I mean what did you expect me to do? I had no family. No money. No job. Who would hire me anyway? Not paying taxes, even if I wasn't guilty I was by law. I'd have been what big coupanys call a liability. I mean in their eyes I'm trash. Someone that can't take control of their own life couldn't possibly work for us.
I did what I had to do, to ensure I have a future outside these cold grey walls and iron bars. I'm not the bad guy here. The people who made me are.
I sighed.
I flipped off the top bunk and got the catalogs.
I scoffed at the orange dresses. Looking at the hideous prison ware I was forced to wear for three years. Yea, not even going to look at the color orange the same again.
I circled what I wanted, and x out what I didn't want.
I rolled them up and stuffed them in the loose brick. I pulled out my phone and turned it on. I tried to text Bryan, but couldn't, he blocked me. I wonder if he knows where I am. He probably thinks I ignored him or something. I felt like throwing the phone at the wall. But it was my only phone until I get released. Tommorow is my last day here. I should just try and think positive. I quickly put my phone in the bricks slot and put the brick over it.
I sat on zoes bed hand on the brick. Trying to see if I could feel Zoe. But the cement brick was cold, dead, like zoe.
I hissed and held my head.
I did what I had to do.
I'm a survivor, it's what I do. I've been doing it since birth.
I eventually fell asleep.
Even in sleep I couldn't fight off the things I'd done and were going to do.