Wentworths Newest

Arrival day.

The two women on her right looked much different than her. Their stature stood no higher than 5'3 making Alex tower over them side by side. They chatted with one another as if they were just old friends picking up a conversation they left behind years ago. Their chatter was not something Alex was interested in. She remained focused on the silver bracelets connecting each of her wrists. They clattered every time the van hit a little bump.

This is not real She thought as the van seemed to go over what felt like the hundredth pothole in the road. This is not happening again

Finally after what seemed like hours, the vehicle came to slow stop. The van doors opened as the light began to stretch across Alex's face, until it covered her completely. The cool fall breeze immediately scratched at her face and neck, but was kept outside by her normal, non-prison issued, clothing. Alex took a deep breath in as she smelled the last fresh air of freedom. She closed her eyes and for a split second imagined she was still in her resort with Piper beside her. Her thought was interrupted by someone's voice.

"Alright, out" said a man with an undeniable Australian accent. He had dark hair, olive skin, and looked to be maybe Hawaiian. He had strong body features and facial structure. He seemed kind, but he had a weary hardness about him. The two woman were already out of the van waiting by the gates.

Alex slowly stood up and hopped out of the van. The man gave her a half cocked smile and motioned her to move along with the other women. Her eyes gazed the mans uniform and locked on his name tag. Will Jackson. She acknowledged that he was trying to be as nice as he could to her, although she could only return a empty nod as she followed the other two along with another officer. They walked together until they got to the reception center, then they were all split up. Alex entered a room escorted by the same officer that offered her the friendly smile.
"Hello, I'm Mr. Jackson. I'm deputy governor here at Wentworth. I'm going to ask you a string of questions to finish filling out your paperwork then we'll have you moved into your housing unit, eh?"

"Yeah, sure", Alex mumbled barely opening her lips wide enough for a sound to even come out. Alex answered all the questions, gave her fingerprints and got her head shots taken then was escorted to a different room where she went in alone as Mr. Jackson shut the door behind her. She looked up only to notice a woman with a petite frame. The woman had a little gold crown on her shoulder and a name tag the read the name and title Vera Bennett, governor. Alex let out a sigh of relief. She imagined the Australian prison system to be a lot different than it was. So far she hasn't seen much of anything she couldn't, or hasn't already handled.

Ms. Bennett proceeded with the strip and cavity search. Alex knew this procedure all too well from her time at Litchfield. She fully cooperated without any hesitation or slack. After she got dressed she was given a basket for her personal possessions and a teal tracksuit outfit. She looked down at the colorful prison clothing she was given and strangely missed the mopped beige she was given to wear in America. Alex knew she didn't belong here. Not this time.

"Follow me" instructed Vera opening the door leading their way to the corridor of the prison where inmates lined the fence and talked all around. As she walked through with the other two women, people were turning around howling and making cat calls. "Mmm I can already smell the fresh meat" said a heavy prisoner with platinum blonde pigtails.

Alex was unfazed. She knew this was only them trying to intimidate her. The people she knew back home in prison were the same she thought. All bark, no bite. But she was wrong. These prisoners would do anything to remain in power. Anything.

"Why she here" demanded a prisoner who stepped right in front of Ms. Bennett. Alex knew who it was right away.

"Tina! It's been too long. You still look like the same scrawny bitch who fucked me over 5 years ago!" Alex laughed with a sarcastic smile.

"Why the fuck is she here. She doesn't even live here she shouldn't be in this prison."

"Out of the way Mercado" said officer Bennett. "You can move along or I can have one of the guards slot you for insubordination." Tina looked back and forth from Vera to Alex, then whispered something under her breath and stepped aside. Alex held her gaze until she walked past her. Tina and Alex worked with each other when Alex was still moving drugs, however when Tina bailed on a big order Alex was almost killed by her boss.

As Alex walked through the door, her body and mind became heavy. She had the same feeling years ago when she first walked into Litchfields correctional center. Ms. Bennett held out her arm to a large area with doors on each side. There was a table in the middle where 4 woman sat around it.
One stood up and walked over grinning from ear to ear.

"Liz this is Alex, she'll be in the free room until her hearing, then we'll figure out arrangements when the time comes.... Alex this is liz she's the peer worker here for all the woman's needs. She'll explain the ropes to you" Alex again gave an emotionless nod as Liz. "You have an appointment with Bridget Weatfall the prisons psychologist tomorrow after lunch. If you need anything from me until then, you can have one of the guards escort you to my office." With that said she flashed a quick smile and left.

"Hi love, okay well this is home sweet home" Liz said as she walked over to Alex's room and put her hands up as to show a rang new puppy. Alex followed her in and set her basket down. "You'll be assigned your work soon and when you're here you're free to move around, watch some Telly, make yourself a cuppa" Liz's voice trailed off when she noticed Alex's mind in another place. "Well come on, I'll introduce you to the girls." They walked out and back to the table where the other three sat. "This's Boomer, Allie, and Franky".

"Hi" said the one named Allie with a smile on her face. She looked soft and kind but had a permanent hurt look that looked as though it would never go away. "What's your name again?"

"Alex. Alex Vause."

All 4 woman froze. They recognized her American accent right away and noticed she didn't live in Australia. "Where the fuck are you from, mate?" Said Franky looking hard now at this foreign woman in front of her.

"Upstate, New York... in America" Alex said scanning the women's faces.

Liz looked upset and said to her in a caring voice, "love aren't you a long way from home? You shouldn't-"

"I was on vacation with my girlfriend. We were visiting my old friend who was putting us up at a resort. He was so kind and when we finally saw him it got messy" Alex shook her head fighting back the tears that had building up since the accident. "Bottom line is that I'm in here for a murder I didn't commit" at this point the tears were coming out of her eyes like waterworks.

"Well they can't think you killed him just because of that" Liz said patting the newbies back.

"No," Alex said coming up for air from her tears "it wasn't him that was murdered. It was Piper... my girlfriend"