NERVES OF STEEL

CHAPTER 27- GET HER OUT

                   Diane's wrists and ankles were still kept in shackles as she was dragged off the military transport vehicle. The imposing structure of the Krasnoyarsk Strela loomed before her, its red brick walls and watchtowers a stark reminder of her new reality.  They were met by a strict looking officer.

"New prisoner, reporting for duty. Name, Diane Alvarin." Guard 1 announced.
"Take her to sector four, hard labor detail, she'll be joining the quarry crew." Officer Petrov ordered.

               She was made to change into an inmate overall with the number; INMATE 118 imprinted at the back. Later on, she was led into her building and taken to the female quarters. Hungry red-eyed criminals stared and sneered at her as she passed each cell. Hell, I don't belong here. Diane thought, bitterly. In the next minute, a cell was open and she was thrust into a dimly lit room, the door slamming shut behind her.

              Diane turned around and realized there were three other women in the room. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. The cell was sparse, with a single bunk bed and a metal toilet.

"What have I gotten myself into?" she whispered.
"Hey, freshmeat!" She heard a loud voice behind her. It was one of her cell mates.
"Let me spell it out for you, sweetie. You might have kicked ass, out there but in here, I'm the boss and you do what I say."
Diane accessed the woman. Obviously in her late thirties and a five foot ten. She was taller and bigger.
"Rule number one...." She started. "....you sleep on the floor. Rule number two, your share of food goes to me for the next two weeks and last, you obey and never complain."

               Diane sighed, brushing her aside. The other two women looked nervous. Obviously from years of being tortured by this oversized bully.

"Hey bitch, I'm talking to you." She reached out for Diane's hair but Diane was quicker as she turned around and seized her arm, causing the others in the room to gasp.

            The latter tried to retaliate but she was trapped, Diane seized the other arm and twisted them both backwards, causing a sharp cry from the woman's lungs. Diane went further and kneed her from behind, causing her to go on her knees. She leaned down and whispered into her ears.

"Now you listen to me, you oversized punk! From today...the roles are reversed and the rules fucking change. You sleep on the floor while the rest of us use the bunk, part of your food goes to the rest of us and you obey and never complain. Oh and yes, you're on toilet duty also." Diane smirked. "If you try anything funny, I'll beat you to a pulp you'd wish you were a mashed potato instead." She added and let go of the woman who held onto her arm in unbearable pains.
"Needless, I remind you that I was in the army and you weren't." The latter's eyes widened In surprise as she realized this was an opponent she couldn't defeat. Diane glanced at the other two in the room before collapsing on the last bunk, exhaling tiredly before falling asleep.

                    The next morning, Diane was awoken by the sound of steel doors clanging open. The bully had obeyed her orders as she was now lying on the floor. The other two women shared the top bunk.

"Rise and shine, prisoner! You're going to earn your keep." The guard at the door barked.

                 Diane and the others were led to the quarry where she stared at the dozens of other inmates. While the others set out to their own share of the labor, Diane could only stand, cluelessly. Than a foreman who goes by the name? Kuznetsov approached her.

"Welcome, freshmeat! You'll be breaking rocks and hauling gravel." Kuznetsov ordered.

Freshmeat?

           That was the second time she was being addressed by the term. Was that the word for newbie in here? She thought.
"You'll earn five hundred grams of rations per day, plus a ten minute break every five hours."

                  He handed her a heavy sledgehammer. Her task was to crush large boulders into smaller stones.

"This shouldn't be too much for you, Sergeant." Kuznetsov said in a mocking tone causing her to fist her hands in fury but she was more hurt.

                 She took position beside a fellow prisoner and got to smashing.

"How the hell am I supposed to do this all day....for every freaking day?!" She sighed, tiredly. The woman behind her, happened to hear her complaints.
"You'll get used to it, sweetie. Just keep your head down and your hands moving."

                 Diane turned to the lady. She seemed nice. Probably another wrongly accused that didn't deserve to be locked up in here. But hers was different. She wasn't wrongly accused. Diane suddenly realized. She left the General to die and she was rightfully paying for her crimes.

               As the day wore on, Diane's muscles screamed in protest, her palms raw and blistered. She winced in pain every now and then and it was only her first day. Soon, the sun could be seen as it dipped below the horizon, casting the quarry in a golden glow.

"Time's up! Back to your cells, prisoners!" Foreman Kuznetsov shouted.

                   Immediately, everyone let go of their sledgehammers and began retreating back into their cells. Diane trudged back into her cell, exhausted. The sound of steel doors closing echoed through the corridors, a constant reminder of her confinement.

                          ~~~~~~~~~~~

             Russo slowly opened his eyes to sterile hospital lights as he took in the surroundings. Machines beeped around him. An IV pole stood to his left, tubes snaking into his arm. Several flowers and get-well cards sat on the beside table.

                Oxygen tubes wrapped around his ears, securing the nasal cannula in place, delivering cool oxygen into his nostrils. A hospital gown envelopes him, and a wrist ID band secured his identity.

              As Russo sat up, he felt a gentle hand pressed against his shoulder.

"You're up!" Exclaimed the latter and by his voice, Russo could already tell before looking.
"Shit....." Russo groaned as he rubbed his eyes, tiredly.
"Looks like you'll be needing loads of rest." Felix said.
"How...? How long have I been knocked out?"
"Two weeks now?"
"Hmm. Two weeks." He repeated, absentmindedly. His fuzzy mind was desperately trying to grasp at something. Until, it hit him! "Diane!" He gasped, shooting Felix a disturbed look.
"What's wrong, man?"
"Down that bunker, I was with her."
"Sergeant Alvarin? We all know about that."
Russo sighed, leaning back. "That's a relief. I trust she was given proper medical assistance also."
"That's the thing...."
"What?"
"The nation blames her for your condition and tagged her a failed Soldier who chose her worthless life over the General." Felix said and was now wondering why his friend was staring at him as if he just asked for a kiss.
"What the hell? No." He growled, upset. Russo reached for the TV remote on the table and switched on the TV. The interview at the prison gate came up.

               Odd enough, He could feel his blood boil as it rushed through his veins in fury. An innocent woman was being dragged and tossed around like a criminal. She kept her head low, he could tell she was sobbing. Yet, the cameras wouldn't stop filming. Each question from the reporters seemed to further aggravate his anger. Lewis! He thought, angrily. Hadn't he told him to let her go?

"Where is she?" Russo asked, Felix.
"She was transferred to the federal center." He replied. "But why are you so upset?"

               Russo turned back to the TV. The repeated scenes was only worsening the rage he was trying to keep contained.

"Fuck it! I need to get her out of there."
Russo cussed as he stepped down from the bed but Felix  prevented him from going forward.
"You need to cool off, Russo. You're in no better shape to be out there right now."
"I'm fine, Felix! I'm fucking fine but she's not. Hell, it's been two weeks!" He said, taking off the oxygen tubes from his nostrils. Russo inhaled the fresh air for the first time in weeks.
"Russia just lost a leader. The last thing you should do is risk yourself again. What if you had died, man?"
"I'm only glad I didn't."
"What?"
"If not, she would have been kept locked up in there for life." Russo shut his eyes in guilt. "I need to get her out."
Felix nodded. "Fine."
"Prepare me a new fit immediately."
"On it."
"And get me the bloody nurses!"