As January walked toward the hooded figure's table, she felt every eye in the cafeteria tracking her. She glanced around nervously, but when she reached the table, it was empty, no trace of him.
"Where'd he go?" she muttered, scanning the room frantically.
"January, are you insane?" Violet grabbed her shoulder, shaking her. "You trying to get in trouble?"
"He was just here," January muttered, still searching the corners of the room.
"Forget him!" Violet grabbed her arm, nails digging in. "C'mon now, before the guard sees us."
Back at their table, January slumped into her chair. The oatmeal had gone cold, the apple bruised and soft.
"What else do we even do here?"she asked, poking the mush with her spoon.
Violet shrugged. "Kitchen duty. Laundry. Sometimes it's okay. Other days…" She trailed off, stabbing her toast. "There's this one guard, always sneering, like he's better than us. If I get the chance, I'll break his nose."
"You'd actually do that?"
"Wouldn't mind. Anything to increase my stay here."
"You're crazy."
"Guilty as charged," Violet smirked.
A sharp crack cut through the hum of voices. Across the room, a chair toppled. Two women lunged at each other, fists swinging wildly. The crowd surged forward, forming a tight circle. Cheers and jeers erupted as the women grappled, blood smearing their faces.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
January stood frozen, watching as one woman yanked the other's hair, screaming, "You're a joke!"
"You're a bitch!" the other spat, clawing at her neck.
Guards burst in, whistles screeching. They waded into the fray, batons raised. "BREAK IT UP!"
The women were dragged apart, still thrashing. "She started it!" one shrieked, blood dripping from her nose.
"Liar!"
"Breakfast is OVER!" a guard bellowed. "All of you, Laundry room. MOVE!"
Trays clattered into trash bins as inmates shuffled out, grumbling. January trailed behind Violet, the metallic tang of blood lingering in the air.
"What'll happen to them?" she whispered.
Violet's voice was low. "Solitary. Maybe worse. Rules here aren't warnings, they're promises. They don't care if we live or die here. Don't test them"
"Why did they separate me from the others?" January blurted out, the question gnawing at her since she'd arrived. She slowed her steps, forcing Violet to match her pace.
Violet glanced around, lowering her voice. "I don't know. That part of the prison… it's for inmates who've done worse things. But you…" She hesitated, chewing her lip. "The only person I ever heard got taken there was..."
"January!" Mrs. Avery's voice sliced through the hallway.
Violet froze, then melted into the crowd without another word.
"Come with me," Mrs. Avery said, turining on her heels.
January followed Mrs. Avery down a narrow corridor, the fluorescent lights flickering overhead. The guard's shoes clicked rhythmically against the tile, each step amplifying the silence.
"Don't get comfortable with anyone here," Mrs. Avery said, her tone icy. "Friendship in prison is a liability."
"Where are we going?" January pressed but Mrs. Avery didn't answer.
They stopped at a steel door. Mrs. Avery punched in a code, the lock buzzing open. Inside, Mark stood by a battered table, his suit neat but eyes shadowed with exhaustion.
January's breath hitched. Before she could stop herself, she rushed forward and hugged him too tight, too desperate. His cologne smelled like safety, like the life she'd lost.
Mark stiffened, then patted her back once. "It's okay," he murmured, though his voice lacked conviction.
January pulled away, cheeks burning. "Sorry. I just… wasn't expecting you."
Mrs. Avery lingered in the doorway, her stare sharp enough to cut glass. "Ten minutes," she said, slamming the door shut.
Mark gestured to the chairs. They sat across from each other, the table's chipped surface between them.
The room felt stiflingly quiet, as January leaned forward, her voice shaking. "I'm glad you came. It's only been a day but it feels like a year."
Mark's chair creaked as he shifted, his eyes softening. "I had to check on you. You might not be here long. How are you… holding up?"
"It's suffocating," she whispered, fists clenching under the table. "Being trapped with criminals when I'm not one. Honestly, I hate it here. The environment is toxic but if I can survive the streets, I can also survive here."
"Stay strong. This isn't forever." Mark's tone was gentle and reassuring.
"Have you found anything?"she pressed.
He hesitated, tapping a folder on the table. "It ties back to your parents. They were involved in something… bigger. But now? This feels personal. You're the target."
"Me? Why?"
"I don't know yet but either they think you have something. Maybe your parents might've told you something, given you something. I found a document from ten years ago. They wanted to buy you from your parents."
January's breath hitched. "Buy me? What… what does that mean?"
Mark continued, "Yes, and I don't know what happened, but the trail went cold."
January asked, "Do you really think my parents died in a tornado storm?"
Mark leaned in, lowering his voice. "I think it's a lie. I'll find the truth. Until then, trust no one here."
"Wait, who are the people after me?" January asked.
"I can't say yet. But I think they have connection with this place."
January glanced at the door, then leaned closer, her voice barely audible. "When I got here, they took me to a white building for a 'test' no one else has done. My cellmate said inmates never go there. And there's a man here, a rule. No one's allowed near him and I saw… B3 Experiment carved into a bed in the room they took me for the test."
Mark's pen stilled. "B3?"
"Yes. What is it?"
"I don't know. But this changes everything." He reached across the table, his hand covering hers. "I'll get you out. I swear."
"Why are you helping me?" Her voice cracked.
"Your parents saved my family once, so one good turn deserves another."
The door slammed open. Mrs. Avery stood rigid, her stare glacial. "Time's up."
Mark stood, straightening his tie. "Detective James is working with me on this. I'll be back."
With that reassurance, January felt a sense of relief, knowing Mark was on her side as she walked out of the room.
Mrs. Avery and Mark stepped out. After Mark bid her goodbye, Mrs. Avery approached January.
"Time for your test," Mrs. Avery said.
"What test?" January feigned ignorance.
"The one you missed yesterday."
January bit back a retort about Violet's claim that no other inmates took tests here. Arguing would only backfire.
"Let's go." Mrs. Avery motioned for her to follow. Guards flanked them as they left the prison building and walked toward the white structure.
Inside, they passed the receptionist's desk without stopping. As they neared the test room, January glanced over her shoulder, the hooded figure stood watching from a distance. She gasped.
The guards turned, but the figure had already vanished.
"What?" Mrs. Avery snapped.
"Nothing. Just… thought I saw something," January lied.
They entered the test room. A blinding light suddenly flooded the space, washing out the room. January staggered, her vision fading to white.