Her body lay on the cold, hard pavement. She straightened her back and stared at the notebook in front of her, which was practically the only she had to do, as she would doodle and draw to pass time. The bitter cold swept right though her, making every bone in her body shiver, and her skin prick. I guess the punishment of being yourself must be to be forced onto the streets. Where even is home? She had often wondered. It's certainly not here. But the world still spun. The sun still set at dusk and rose again at dawn. She had never looked at the sky this way before. Now it's a marking of each day, reminding her that she has to carry on.
Her name was Raven. It differed from her birth name, but Raven suited her better. Alot better. Raven didn't exactly picture her 19 year old self living in an alleyway, but things won't be like this forever, right?
2 weeks had passed, Raven had been on the streets for a month and a half now. She had been stealing from various places to get by, and managed to arrange with a friend to move in with until she got back on her feet.
Thank fucking god.
She turned her head at the sound of sirens and inaudible radio sounds.
"-Sargent 32, we've located her. Raven Clarks, you are being arrested for the suspicion of robbery and assault. You do not have to say anything, but anything you do say may be used as evidence against you in court. Understood?"
Shit.
*
"Who's she?"
"I- I don't know. She's kinda scary"
"Stop, I bet she killed someone..."
"Is she gay? Oh my god."
"I hope so. I've always wanted to have a goth girlfriend"
"Shhh!"
Raven had all eyes on her. She wore the same as the others, khaki trousers and a t-shirt with a while long sleeve under it. The prison had light yellow walls, and the room she stood in was were the bunks were. Each cube had two bunks and two lockers. They were separated by half walls.
"Clarks, this is your bed. You have supplies provided in your locker." The officer said, raising his voice sternly. Raven felt herself being pushed forward by him, forcefully in the shoulders.
"Settle down everyone. Party's over." He bellowed.
Her bunkmate smiled at her, looking slightly apprehensive.
"You'll get used to hating it. I remember my first day." She was sat on her bunk, metal frame, with a matress and a blanket.
"Er, thanks..."
"I'm Estrella, but alot o' people just call me Ella"
"I'm Raven."
"Raven?" She crossed her arms, raising her eyebrows.
"Mhm."
"Well, we mainly go by second names here. Although, mines Sopal but not many call me that."
Raven nodded at her. She looked young, she had a small afro which was dyed red, kind eyes and dark skin. Her nails were also painted red, but they were all chipped and spots of her actual nails were showing. There was something else there, too. Something beyond her appearance. Sadness? Fear? Maybe she was putting up a façade, a hard exterior shell that no one could crack through. One that she used to her advantage to get what she wants, because, as Raven would later notice, people seemed to... Worship her? Do whatever she said? Something like that.
Whatever, I haven't got time to be making friends in here, I'll serve my time and go. That's it.
Raven turned away, and looked through her scarce supply package.
