The Protection Program

TPP : Chapter XXIX

She shuffled through the narrowed hall, the sound of her chains clinking against the floor. She smelled awful and she knew it, she hadn't been out of isolation in three days. She needed food, water and a shower at the most but the first thing she got to do was visit. She was happy, but she was embarrassed because of her smell and appearance. She could see Rico sitting at one of the visiting tables, she smiled as she continued to walk, getting closer and closer to her long time friend

"Rico."

He turned his head and smiled big, flashing his white teeth and deep dimples. Everybody thought they were siblings, they thought it back in California, and they thought that in Houston. He stood up to hug her but when he saw how she was looking he sat back down, she didn't blame him. The guard let her out of her handcuffs but left her foot chains on. She was known for trying to run, in the first two weeks of staying in prison that's all she did was try to run away, she had been there now for three months and they never took the foot chains off. Her steps turned to shuffles because she couldn't lift her feet, they were stuck close together so she walked more like a penguin if she wasnt shuffling. 

"Hey Nina, How are you?"

"I've been better, ive been in isolation for three days."

The look on his face seemed relieved as if he was awaiting a reason for why she was so filthy, she smelled like pee and was practically drenched in sweat, her hair was a matted mess and her breath smelled awful but now that he knew why, he couldn't judge her.

"Why were you in isolation this time?"

"I punched a guard."

He laughed, he should have suspected. She stepped foot into the prison and she turned into a bad ass. Starting food fights, punching and hitting guards, trying to run. She never started a fight with the other criminals though, they were all much bigger then her. Muscle wise, weight wise, height wise, no matter how you looked at it she was the smallest in the women's ward. She could tell something was wrong, you could see it written on his face that there was something wrong, Rico was easy to read. When he was happy, you could tell, when he was pissed, you could tell, when he was sad, you could tell. In this situation she couldn't really tell what he was but she knew something was wrong. He wasnt his usual happy, bubbly self, he was quiet and held back like he had the weight of the world on his hands. Of course he had reasons, his best friend was killed and his best friends girlfriend, who was like a little sister, was in prison and held the charge of Rashads killer. He knew she wasnt, they were madly in love and everyone knew that, she had no reason and everybody knew that Mad Dawg was out to take his life. 

"Whats wrong?"

He looked up at her, he had a look of stew in his eyes, he was nervous. He would look over his shoulder every now and then as if he were being watched, He took in a deep breath before speaking the words she would have never wanted to hear

"Mad Dawg is out for you.."

"for me?"

He swallowed down and looked over his shoulder once again. Now she knew why he was so nervous, if he was caught here with her Mad Dawg would be out for his life too. Being involved with Nina was an easy way to lose your life, simply because she was on a death list, that was how it was with Rashad too. 

"Yeah...he says that you know things that could get him locked up for life. He says that you need to go like Shad. Nina, hes got guys all on a waiting list wanting to be the ones to do it, there waiting like its a fuckin contest."

Her heart pounded in her chest, so not only was she on the death list but there was over ten people wanting to do the job. "Why?" is the only question that ran through her mind, so many people wanted to end her life and she didn't understand. Yeah, she was in a rival gang and that's what happened but they acted like it was personal. He swallowed down again as he sighed out, he reached over the table and grabbed her hand. It was clammy and shaky because she was nervous but obviously he didn't care, her eyes were dark as her pupils were dilated and her head hurt. Just five minutes ago she couldn't wait to get out of her isolated cell, now all she wanted to do was go back. 

Three months ago she was ready to kill herself but now she didn't want to die, she had no problems doing it herself but the idea of being killed by someone else scared her. 

"Nina, you understand right? You understand that i cant see you anymore."

She looked up, she understood but she didn't want too. He was her only friend, he was her brother, he was the only person she had to confide in. That was all thrown out the window though, she had nobody and she felt like she was completely empty on the inside.

"so i wont be able to see you again?"

"unfortunately, no im not going to be able to see you again."

Her heart broke a little more, but she was going to cherish this moment. As sad as she was she was not going to dwell on this moment because this was the last time she would see him. The last time she would see her only friend, the last time she would see her brother. 

She lay there in her bed, staring up at the shadows against the ceiling. You would think she wouldn't be able to stop thinking about the dream, Rico, the fact that she was going to Houston, but in reality all she could do was think about Aubrey. She slowly rolled out of bed, she wiggled her toes in the warm carpeting before shuffling her  body out of the room. Her figment of imagination played tricks on her, she felt as if she could feel the chains on her feet, she felt like she could hear the clinks of the metal against the ground. She rubbed her wrists, feeling like the handcuffs had just came off, her legs hurt and her ankles burned, feeling like the tight ankle chains were still attached. 

She plopped down on the couch before turning on the news channel, it wasnt the news of course because it was 1 in the morning but it was some type of cooking show. She watched mesmerized as the chef danced around the studio kitchen, he was graceful with what he did and quick as well. 

"Nina..."

She didn't even notice Aubrey, she didn't hear his door open or his footsteps, she didn't notice him standing there in nothing but his white linen pajama pants. His body was toned, he had muscles built and abs chiseled to perfection. She looked away from him so she could keep her thoughts about it to a minimum, she looked down at her ankles and rubbed the burning sensation trying to make it go away. It didn't work

"I cant sleep..sorry if i woke you up."

"I cant sleep either."

She looked up at him, she looked him in the eyes this time not even caring about if her guard got let down. He knew that she was vulnerable in this moment but he didn't care, this may have been his only chance to make things right and he wasnt going to mess that up. His movement was slow, he could tell that she was tense but he didn't care because he knew she wouldn't be in a few seconds. He lifted her up, wrapping her legs around his waist before sitting back on the couch, he got a rush of deja vu as he felt her small body against his. She lifted her hands and put them on his chest, rubbing on his skin, his heart jumped at the feel of her soft hand

"Its okay...i wont hurt you again, i promise. I'm sorry about everything, i know it seems like i don't care but i do. I care because i like you too, i feel the same way about you and you have to believe me."

She looked down, breaking there eye contact which made him upset. She regret telling him how she felt but at the same time she was happy that she did because now she knows that he feels the same way. 

"Now lay your head on my chest, let me hold you. We can snuggle and just fall asleep together."

She hesitated, staring at him for a good twenty seconds before laying her head down softly. That night she fell asleep with a smile on her face and the sound of his heart beat in her ears.