He got in, threw himself on the lower bunker, and closed his eyes in exhaustion. Elena's memory instantly came to his mind. A rainy day, as they walked together in that storm, hands held together, and summer night air swayed around them. She looked pretty that night, with her wet face and hair. That was eight years ago. And of the birthday party last year, when they watched movies at Elena's birthday together. Just the two of them, with the mattress spread on the floor of the living room, and they themselves covered in warm blankets. But it couldn't pull out the effort of turning down the cold present.
"Hey, you!" A familiar voice ushered him to open his eyes. "Come with me." The prison officer said. He was fat and dressed in a dark blue prison officer uniform. A taser hung on his duty belt and he had cuffs in his hands.
"Why?" Ethan asked.
"Do you want this or not?" The officer asked, a toothpick hanging from his lips. Ethan groaned and stood up, brought his arms forward so that he could be locked in the cuffs. "No, I'm not doing that today." The man answered and swayed his head. "Follow me."
The two got out of the cell and out of Cell Block B and walked through Cell Block A which was before it. A total of a hundred cells were present in each block with the most dangerous inmates present in Cell Block D. Ethan had never been there and was hoping he would never find himself there. There were rumors that a lot of bullying and mysterious deaths of inmates happened in that lot, and Ethan hoped he wouldn't find himself in the position of confronting any inmate from there. He was a strong man but looked like a little girl with his growing hair in comparison to the even bigger and stronger men.
They trekked in tow, exchanging formalities with the officer who Ethan deemed was just a nice man who was doing his duty. They walked over to the inmates' kitchen and Ethan's eyes furrowed in confusion as his eyes grazed at the destination. There were inmates preparing some meals by one corner and others cutting and chopping pieces of meat and vegetables on chopping boards in another. The sizzling sound of oil as it cooked up was more of noise rather, and hot steamy air filled the room. It was big with a lot of cutlery all over the place. The inmates moved around as they went about their activities, shouting and giving orders at each other. They seemed to be enjoying what they were doing. All eight of them, strangers to Ethan. Some had only vests on, while others had their grey or white shirts, with aprons on top. They were of different races too but did what they did as a small band of brothers.
"What am I doing here?" Ethan asked the officer.
He turned back to Ethan, "I saw your report, in your prison files. Says you did Home Science back in high school. And I know being out there can get you into a lot of trouble anytime."
"So?"
"So, I'm giving you an opportunity here to make yourself some decent earnings by working here. Trust me, it'll help a lot."
"I didn't ask for this," Ethan told him.
"So you prefer seating in the yard while you get your ass bullied every time? Come on boy, I've been watching you for the past week. This will help you." He turned to the inmates and called out to them by a powerful whistle. They stopped their activities and looked at the officer.
"What's up boys?" He asked.
"Nothing boss. Just doing what we have to do." Their leader spoke, in a certain, cocky, prison slang.
"Good." Officer Baker told them. "I've brought you a new recruit!" Their faces seemed shocked instantly. "Step over here son." He said turning to Ethan. He did so. The earlier man, with whisks of white hair appearing under his chef cap stepped forth.
"Boss, boss... no we're full here. Look around." He chuckled. His voice was coarse and heavy even when he talked calmly. The two looked around. Every station seemed to have a man for a task.
"Zayn's not here. That means an empty spot for our new recruit. It was only a matter of time before I found someone better to fill his space."
"Zayn will be out of solitary in two weeks sir. Clearly, we can wait for him to come back. We've been at this for five weeks now without him, we wouldn't mind working by ourselves for two more boss." The slang seemed so formal here.
"What I say goes, Josiah. The kid stays! Find him something to do!" Officer Baker's voice turned.
"He can't stay! Look at him! He's so skinny and pretty like a girl with that big hair of his. I pretty bet he has a twat between his legs!" Josiah spoke again and the rest of his colleagues guffawed. Ethan felt annoyed and shaken by the abuse. He just couldn't find it in his strength to talk back. The low-key lifestyle he wanted. No need to create enemies. He remembered what Derreiro had told him.
"Perhaps a woman like him will teach you old goofs something new." Officer Baker snarled. "Now find him something to do, period!"
"No way boss, seriously! He can't stay!" Josiah growled back, his voice more threatening.
"I can have this boy over here in this squad right now and you out in a blink of an eye. So don't fuck with me, Josiah. You have two options! Either both of you stay or he stays and you get out!" Baker growled back. "Your choice."
The lot took a long look at Ethan who was shaking now again. His eyes seemed terrified as they spelled out fear. His legs trembled below him.
"I... I... officer, boss, if they don't want me here, it's okay. I will gladly go away." Ethan stammered his fright away.
"Shut the fuck up boy," Baker told him. "Stop being such a pussy! I call the shots here!" He turned back at the gang of cooks. "So, what will it be Josiah?"
Josiah raised his hands in submission. "Fine, fine. He can stay. He... can stay." He nodded and walked away.
"Just what I thought." Baker grinned. "Now get him something to do, and all of you get back to work." He shoved Ethan forward. "One day, you'll remember me for this, and you'll be glad that it happened." Baker told Ethan before he turned and walked away, closing the door behind him. Ethan turned back to the inmates who were staring at him.
"You heard the boss everyone, get back to work!" Josiah commanded his lot. "So boy, what's your name?" He asked as he approached him, knife in his hand.
"Ethan..." he stuttered as he looked at the knife.
"Are you a freaking goat? Do you have a single name like a fucking goat?" Ethan could see him clearer the more he approached.
"Purcell. Ethan Purcell."
"Purcell you say? Son of um, was it Philip? Pope?"
"Paul..." He answered as he took steps back. "His name is Paul Purcell."
"Ah, yes, that little piece of shit! I knew I smelled him around when you walked inside these walls."
"Can you smell the oil by your station...?" Ethan mumbled literally just to build a rapport with the approaching man. "It's overcooking."
"Do I look like I give a fuck about that, Purcell?" His heavy voice shook him. Ethan continued stepping further away from him.
"No, no..." He shook his head so fast, eyes still locked on the knife.
"Your father sent me here, thirty years ago when he was still the D.A back in Colorado, and I've never seen the light again."
"I'm sorry." Ethan swallowed his saliva. His Adam's apple danced.
"So tell me of a freaking oil and the son of a father who messed my life, tell me what you think I give a shit about!"
"Me... me! Please put that knife away, you're scaring... me." He felt himself against the wall behind him now, as he was trapped.
"Oh, I'm scaring you?" Josiah shrugged with eyes wide. "You heard that guys?" He spoke to his team. "This guy is saying I scare him!" The lot laughed out mockingly. He turned back to Ethan. "You little pussy!" He said as he struck the knife into Ethan's stomach. Ethan closed his eyes as he waited for it to happen. He gasped when he felt a soft edge on his body. He opened his eyes and looked down to find the sharp end away from him, with the handle pressed in on him, firmly in Josiah's hands. Ethan breathed out softly as the gang laughed on.
"Don't worry kid," Josiah smirked, "I'm one of the good ones." He spat on the floor. "Take the mop. Pussies mop the floor!" He took a mop by his side and shoved it on Ethan's chest. He spat on the floor again. "Now, don't make me regret my decision!" He walked away and joined his team.