Wish Upon A Sunset

Cell Mate

Emma

The stench of bleach and despair seeped into the cold, rough concrete walls of the prison corridor, its flickering overhead lights casting strange shadows that flashed along the grimy floor, amplifying the sense of hopelessness that permeated every inch of the space.

I hugged myself tightly as I shuffled down the hallway, my ill-fitting orange jumpsuit hanging loose on my frame, the coarse fabric chafing against my skin with every step, a constant reminder of my loss of freedom and identity.

The foul odor of industrial cleaner couldn't disguise the underlying smell of sweat and desperation that had become all too familiar over the past three months.

My skin prickled under the predatory gazes of the other inmates, their eyes burning into me from behind the bars of their cells, making me want to disappear into the cracks of the walls as I quickened my pace, heart hammering against my ribs so loudly I was sure everyone could hear it. The harassment had been escalating for weeks, each encounter more menacing than the last. Today, there was something different in the air—a tension that caused my stomach to churn with dread.

"Hey, princess!" A gravelly voice called out, bouncing off the walls. "Where do you think you're going?"

My breath caught in my throat. I hunched my shoulders, trying to make myself smaller as I walked faster. Not again. Please, not again.

Heavy footsteps thundered behind me, each echoing thud sending a shock of terror through my body, the sound growing louder and more menacing with every passing second, drowning out even the frantic beating of my heart.

"I'm talking to you, bitch!"

Someone with a meaty hand clamped down on my shoulder, digging their fingers in as they spun me around. I forced myself not to cry out in pain from the rough movement and found myself face-to-face with Tanya, a hulking woman with a spider web tattoo creeping up her neck and cold, dead eyes.

Two other inmates flanked Tanya—Razor, a wiry woman with crude tattoos on her knuckles, and Big Sal, whose massive bulk seemed to fill the corridor.

Razor sneered, revealing yellowed teeth. "Looks like Miss High-and-Mighty needs another lesson in manners."

My breath faltered as I backed up against the wall. "Please, I don't want any trouble."

Tanya's grimy fingers seized my chin, forcing me to look up, the spider web tattoo on her neck seeming to writhe as she sneered, her rancid breath washing over my face and making my stomach churn with disgust and fright. "Too bad, princess. Trouble found you." Her foul breath washed over my face. "You think you're better than us, don't you? With your fancy lawyer and your rich husband?"

My heart raced. "No, I-I don't think that at all."

Big Sal cracked her knuckles. "Maybe we oughta mess up that pretty face of yours. Show you what actual pain is like."

Tanya's grip tightened, her nails digging into my skin. "Nobody here to protect you now, princess. No fancy house to hide in. You're in our world."

My eyes darted around the empty corridor, searching desperately for an escape, taking in the endless stretch of identical steel doors, the flickering light at the far end, and the dark corners where anything–or anyone–could be lurking.

But the three women had me cornered, their bodies forming an impenetrable wall. This was it. After months of threats and minor scuffles, they were going to make good on their promises. Fear coursed through my veins like ice water.

"Please," I whispered, tears welling in my eyes. "I have children. I just want to serve my time and go home to them."

Tanya's eyes flashed with cruel amusement. "Aw, you hear that, girls? Mommy wants to go home to her babies." She leaned in close, her voice a threatening whisper. "Well, here's a hard truth for you, princess. Some of us are never going home. So why should you get to?"

Razor circled behind me, her tone low and dangerous. "We know what you did to end up here. Think you're so innocent, don't you? But we know the truth."

A chill slithered through my veins like liquid nitrogen.

How could they possibly know?

Big Sal nodded, a malicious grin spreading across her face. "Yeah, we got ways of finding things out. And let me tell you, princess, what you did? Makes you just as bad as the rest of us. Worse, even."

Tanya's grip on my chin tightened painfully. "So drop the act. You're no better than any of us in here. And it's time you learned your place."

Right as Tanya raised her fist, a sharp voice cut through the tension. "Hey! What the hell is going on here?"

Officer Ramirez strode towards us, her hand resting on her baton with practiced ease, eyes blazing with authority as her polished boots clicked against the concrete floor, her crisp uniform so different from the dingy surroundings and disheveled inmates. "Break it up, now!"

Tanya released me with a rough shove, plastering on a fake smile. "We were just having a friendly chat with the new girl, weren't we?"

I nodded frantically, avoiding eye contact, my body trembling uncontrollably.

Officer Ramirez's eyes narrowed as she surveyed the scene. "Emma, come with me. Now."

As I stumbled after the officer on shaky legs, my body still trembling from the encounter, Tanya's voice drifted after us, sickeningly sweet and dripping with malice, echoing off the walls and following us down the long, desolate corridor. "This ain't over, princess. Sweet dreams. We'll be seeing you real soon."

A firm hand on my shoulder steered me away from the taunts, guiding me toward a small, windowless office.

Officer Ramirez leaned against a cluttered desk, sighing as she ran a hand through her short-cropped hair. She looked up at me, her expression softening a little.

"Emma, we're moving you to protective custody. It's for your own safety."

My stomach dropped, the full weight of my situation crashing down on me. "But—"

"No buts." Ramirez's tone softened further. "Look, I know it's not ideal. But those women out there? They're looking to hurt you, badly. PC is your best option right now."

I slumped against the wall, and the sound of my voice was a mere tremor on my lips. "How long?"

"Until we're sure the threat has passed. Could be days, could be weeks." Ramirez hesitated, the steely glint in her eyes melting, replaced by a gentle understanding. She glanced around furtively, then added in a lowered voice, "Someone pulled some strings to make this happen. You've got friends in high places, Emma," causing my mind to reel with questions. Hope and apprehension bloomed in my chest.

My head snapped up, confusion and a flicker of hope warring in my eyes. "What? Who—"

Ramirez held up a hand, cutting me off. "I don't know the details, and frankly, I don't want to. Just be grateful. Wait here. I'll pack your things. You're leaving in ten minutes."

Ramirez stood to her full height, signaling the end of our conversation, and left the office, the door clicking shut behind her.

Alone in the sterile room, surrounded by the muffled sounds of the prison beyond–distant shouts, clanging metal, and the constant hum of industrial fans–I slid down the wall, the cold seeping through my thin jumpsuit as I hugged my knees to my chest, attempting to shrink myself as small as possible while my thoughts raced uncontrollably. Who could have arranged this? And more importantly, how did those women know about what I'd done?

The truth I'd tried to bury clawed its way to the surface of my thoughts. If they knew, who else in here did? And what would happen when the full story finally came to light? Would I have to look over my shoulder constantly for the rest of my time here?

I squeezed my eyes shut, a single tear trailing down my cheek. I was safe for now, but for how long? With over four more years left in my sentence, I didn't know how much more I could take.