Unwavering devotion [Complete, 18+]

CHAPTER 7: BEGINNINGS

I NEEDN'T HAVE WORRIED THOUGH BECAUSE SHE HADN'T ARRIVED IN FOR  work yet. It was the same man who greeted me and I didn't want to push my luck to ask where she was. It was the only thing on my mind as we walked back across the courtyard having swallowed the pills. Derrick took the lead whilst keeping up a very much one-sided conversation as I couldn't communicate much more than a grunt in reply every now and then. Without knowing how we got there, I glanced up to realise that we had arrived in what I assumed to be the metal workshop considering the equipment on display. A man dressed neither in guard or inmate clothing but oil covered overalls approached us clapping Derrick on the shoulder in affection. 

"How are you Derrick?"

"Not too bad Charles but couldn't wait to get here and finish her. This is Jason: he's new and is assigned to work here as well. Do you think he can help with her?"

"That depends on him, Derrick. Now Jason is it?" I nodded in reply before he wiped his hands on his leg and held out a hand which I gingerly shook. He had a strong grip and the handshake was over quickly, almost before it had begun. 

"Great. Nice to meet you, I'm Charles and I am in charge of the workshop here. What kind of things would you like most to do and what experience have you got? If there is sufficient space then I'll try and assign you there." 

"I've got some experience with cars and that would be something that I would love to develop."

Derrick scoffed at my answer and interjected "some experience? No Charles this man has got some major skills from what he's told me, he would be a considerable help to the team."

"Well who can say no to that recommendation, I know I can't. Welcome to the team, I'll show you her in a bit but first some basic rules and health and safety shit that no-one really cares about." 

I smiled at his offhand attitude but behind the smile I could tell that there's a hardness only brought about my some awful past situation that he tried to hide. 

"To start off with, this is a privilege so if you are caught misbehaving then you will not be welcomed back and you will be stuck contemplating your actions in your cell. So on that note, I don't want to see any fighting of any kind whilst in this workshop, I don't care what happens outside but in here, you don't get a second chance so leave any disagreements at the entrance. Obviously there is some equipment here which can do some serious damage so each one will need to be signed in and out and an inventory will be taken before anyone can leave. If you are caught taking out anything from this workshop then you are out. We break for lunch and then come back afterwards, do not miss any sessions as you will not be allowed in the next time. That's all the rules per say, but I will mention a couple on our tour. Also remember that you get out what you put in, so if you work hard then you will earn some great skills which you can use when you get out so you never have to come back."

With that he turned on his heel and was off like a shot, showing me around with a proud glint in his eye. The noise and heat rapidly grew until I was sweating so much that I stripped of to my trousers and thin vest. He was true to his word and kept up a constant stream whilst showing the different areas already filled with inmates working away. He moved towards a semi-fenced off area, excitement pouring out of every pore. 

"Now she is my favourite part of this place and she is what you will be working on. Are you ready to meet her?" 

Intrigued by his words I gestured for him to lead the way and as soon as he did I halted in my tracks, all other thoughts scrapped from my mind for the first time in a long time. She was beautiful, I mean I had worked on a lot of cars but mostly beaten up modern ones which lacked the character that they used to build them with. Yes developments like electrical systems and more efficient engines had improved but the way they were built often produced cars which didn't last for more than ten years at most. That's what I hated about society and technology nowadays with its throwaway disposable viewpoint.