I know I should not be starting this new story when I have not finished the last one, but I just couldn't help myself.

This story stars loads of our favourite wrestlers but I warn you now it is an AU story, I encourage you to give it a go though.

PENENCE

"Beth Phoenix, you have been found guilty of murder by the twelve members of this jury. An act of rage although understandable cannot be condoned or down played, by myself or this court.

On the 21st of March 2011 you intentionally shot and killed Melina Perez, you emptied six bullets in to her body and left her apartment building where you disposed of the gun in a nearby dumpster. It has shocked and worried me how little emotion you have displayed during these proceedings. I there fore have to take in to account your nonexistent show of remorse. Beth Phoenix you are sentenced to life imprisonment at Houston Texas correctional facility. The sentence will be carried out immediately, bailiff take her away."

Beth Phoenix had to be escorted out of the court room by two members of the security staff. Not because she was being uncooperative but because she had turned so pale that they thought she was going to faint.

Taken out though a back entrance in silence Beth took a long look at the sky as she was moved on to an awaiting transport. She briefly wondered of they had assumed her guilty all along and the trial was just a dog and pony show for the cameras.

Sitting in the small isolated cubical Beth knew she would have all the time in the world to think about just how this had happened.

She had never been to prison before, a parking ticket her one and only law violation ever Beth was shocked by the sheer size of the place. It's walls were high and dark, topped with wire that looked like it could cut your skin just by looking at it. She could not see anything in front of her, blocked by the cream wall of the prison transport. She could only imagine the gates. Huge Iron things, that squeaked when they were opened or closed. Large spikes on the top to discourage any inmate from trying to escape. And a huge dead bolt closing them with a double lock to prevent tampering. Beth shook her head, this was real life not a movie and she had to stop thinking these things. The transport rocked its way across what Beth assumed was a court yard used for delivers, both of prisoners and supplies.

Finally coming to a juddering stop the door to the main cab opened and Beth could here the guards climbing out.

"What we got today?" Some one asked, it was a male voice, deep, he sounded cheerful enough but Beth was just going to keep her head down.

"Two for you today, one of them is in for the long stretch." Beth assumed this second man was talking about her. She had gotten life, what could possible longer than that?

"None in for old sparky then?" The man with the deep voice replied and a chuckle came from the other guy. Beth couldn't believe they were joking about putting people in the electric chair.

"Ok get them off and lets have a look at them." Beth immediately tensed, this was the moment she had been dreading. The moment when she stepped off this bus and was looked at like a lesser species of human being. The looks had been finding her for weeks. Before and during the trial, people she had known, cared about and shared her life with had looked at her with a mixture of fear and disappointment. She was not proven guilty back them though, she continued to protest her innocence until the very last moment when the verdict came in. Then the looks changed to distain and hate, there was no respect in their eyes for her any longer, her former life meant nothing, to the world beyond these walls Beth Phoenix was dead.

"Name!" The guard barked at her as she stepped off the bus next to another woman. She was short dark haired and was looking pretty relaxed leant against the dusty side of the prison transport.

"Beth Phoenix." She replied quickly but quietly, unable to gain the same confidence the other woman was displaying.

"Phoenix you're the woman who offed her boyfriends lover with a 22, empted the entire gun in the woman' back." The guard said looking at his clip bored and Beth wince internally. It sounded so horrible when he said it.

Glancing over at the woman who stood next to her she noticed the woman looking back. Eyebrows raised and now obviously interested in what was going on.

"Ok take them to G block." The guard said to the slightly shorter man who had accompanied them here.

"Ok Mr Callaway, will you be doing the inspections yourself today?" The shorter guard said and Beth wondered just what he meant by inspection and hid the slight shiver her body gave in response.

"No I will see to introductions today, we have three more coming in from upstate, wouldn't want them to miss out now would we." Both men laughed as Beth felt a large hand clamp down on her shoulder as she was shoved forward.

"Hey hands off!" The small brunette said as the guard pushed her forward too and Beth snapped her eyes forward not wanting to get involved if anything turned nasty.

"Shut it James, or I will have you on toilet cleaning for your entire three year sentence." The guard said and Beth got the distinct impression that this woman, James had been here before.

"Up yours Cena" She replied and Beth saw the man slap her around the back of the head.

"Don't try me James get in there, or you might find yourself having an accident later." The man Beth assumed was called Cena said as they were taken though a thick looking metal door and led into a dark corridor.

"Welcome home ladies, you will be taken first to meat the warden then on to your wing." Cena said as he pushed open another door which led in to a wider more illuminated corridor. It was however no less imposing than the last and Beth wanted to turn back and run away. Her body was screaming at her to do it, but she knew that it was not an option.

"Come on Phoenix I haven't got all day to wait for your sorry arse." Cena said and Beth realised that she had in fact stopped.

"Better get moving man before he get's out the night stick." James whispered to her as she gave Beth a small smile and Beth managed to make her feet move once more.

They were lined up with what looked like five other women. Beth was 31 years old, and although she had never been to jail before, life had taught her enough to know when to shut up and do as she was told.

Looking at the line of girls in the room with her now Beth wondered if some of them were even old enough to drive. Let alone old enough to commit a crime and get sent to a maximum security prison. A thin blonde girl stood next to her. The woman was visibly shaking and Beth could almost feel the fear rolling off her. Wanting to place a reassuring hand on the woman's shoulder Beth dared not follow this impulse for fear of reprimand. As yet she did not understand the rules of this world and was not about to test the boundaries on the first day.

Before she had time to wonder if she could surreptitiously hold the woman's hand a man in a suit walked in flanked by two more prison guards. One of which was the large guard Callaway that had met them at the gate.

"Ladies my name is Mark Callaway, you can either call me Mr Callaway or sir, any variation on this and I promise punishment will be swift. Now I would like to introduce you to your warden Mr John Bradshaw Layfield." Callaway took a step back and Beth had to force herself to remain still as the warden stepped forward. He eyed each of them with distain and what Beth could only describe as lust. He had one of the most evil stares Beth had ever come across and she immediately did not like this man. He had a way about him that made Beth shiver and when he spoke it only confirmed her fears.

"Ladies, you are now convicted criminals. You have broken the law and now you are paying for that in my prison. And ladies this is my prison, you may take comfort in any family and friends that may have stuck by you. Or take solace in God or whatever religion that you believe in, but while you are here your arses are mine. Any questions?" Layfield finished his gaze settling on Beth's and she had no option but to drop her eyes. So hard was the stare she thought she might actually melt under its heat.

"When do we eat I am starving?" James said and Beth wondered if this woman did indeed have a death wish.

Callaway walked up until he was in James's face, the petite woman seemed unfazed by the obvious attempt to intimidate her and she merely sighed as if bored with waiting.

"You eat when we tell you to eat, you piss when we tell you to piss and you don't complain about it. do I make myself clear!" Callaway was shouting in her face now but refusing to back down James just nodded her head curtly. Beth was sure the woman wanted to mock salute Callaway but managed to restrain herself.

"Get them out." Layfield said and Beth found herself being marched down yet another corridor. This one was painted a British racing green and echoed with ever foot fall.

She had noticed that the third guard which had joined them when they had met the warden had yet to speak.

He was directly in front of her now and she could only see the back of his head. He was something of a mystery at the moment but as he turned around and caught her looking at him. Beth caught the warm blue eyes that lay under the prison issue hat.

Turning her gaze quickly away Beth ignored the heat which flashed on to her face as there small party seemed to reach its destination as they came to an abrupt stop.

"Welcome home ladies."

The wing of the prison was long and concrete, it was painted in the same dark green as the hallway and had two levels. All the cells were open bars all the way long, anyone could look into the cell from the outside at any time. Beth took a look inside each cell as she passed, some were empty others had occupants. When she same across two girls staring back at her one of them mouthed something Beth didn't quite catch. Assuming that it was nothing good Beth stopped her scrutiny of the cells and followed the ever dwindling line of women.

Now only Beth and the small defiant brunette were left, Beth turned around to find that all the other women had been placed in cells and now she was left alone with the blue eyed guard and her travelling companion.

"We usually let girls doing life a cell on their own, but there is nothing available right now so you will have to two up." He said his voice deep but kind and Beth just nodded and followed James into the cell as the brunette jumped onto the bottom bunk.

"You mind, not that keen on heights." She said throwing her hands behind her head and appearing to get comfortable.

"Umm no." Beth said not really caring which bunk she had and compliance seemed to be the easy way out right now.

"Names Mickie, Mickie James." She said after a brief pause and held her hand out. Beth took it, having no reason not to and making a friend was not something she was about to turn down.

"Beth Phoenix." Beth replied as she took a look around the sparse cell. There was a open toilet in one corner, a tiny sink in another, which was cracked and dirty. Above it hung a mirror barely big enough to see your face in and a bunk bed. The floor was hard stone and cold.

"You will get used to it." Mickie said swinging her feet onto the floor and sitting upright and looking at Beth's face.

"God I hope not." Beth replied looking down at Mickie and closing her eyes for a moment.

"So murder a. The big one, give you life?" Mickie asked as casually as though she were enquiring about the weather.

"Umm yeah, but I didn't do it." Beth said shocked in to the response as much as anything and Mickie gave a snort of laughter.

"Ha everyone in here is innocent love. As it happens I didn't do it either, couple of girls I ran with framed me. I mean do I look like the type of girl to pull off a bank robbery and get away with precisely $200 bucks." Mickie said indignant that it had between such a low amount, not that she had been caught.

"$200 dollars and they locked you up in here?" Beth questioned and Mickie smiled, it was a slow smile one that betrayed her guilt along with her obvious experience with prison's.

"Na one of the clerks was hurt pretty bad, baseball bat to the skull will do that you know, oh and this is my third time in. Judge threw the book at me. I got 15 for armed robbery and attempted murder. But here is the good part I wasn't even there, was meant to be but my car broke down on the I 90 and I missed it." Mickie said with a snort as she once again lent back on her bunk and crossed her legs at the ankles.

"You blew away your blokes bit on the side, I heard about you, its been in all the papers. Shot her six times, would have done more if you hadn't ran out of bullets some papers said." Mickie continued her voice had a hint of reverence in it that Beth found both disturbing and fascinating at the same time.

"I would have shot him in the nuts, as well if you ask me, papers said you were one cold fish in court, that's why the judge gave you life for murder instead of 15 for manslaughter." Mickie continued to talk with her head turned to the base of the top bunk as Beth walked closer the brunette turned her eyes towards her.

"You will need that reputation in here darling, even if its not true, nice looking girl like you, first time, things can happen in a place like this. Unpleasant things, I know I have done it before. You don't have to worry about me though, I like a quite life." Beth was stunned by the change of tine, but she was not going to ignore the warning. Climbing up on to her bunk Beth had nothing else to do but settle down and wait for something to happen.

Tea break time for the guards was often a time for catching up on the latest box scores or talking about the family. Today however the topic of conversation was all about one thing, the new intake.

"You see that young blonde, I though she was going to wet herself when she meant the warden."

"Shut up Cena, sometimes I wonder if you have a heart under that uniform." Randy Orton said as John Cena took his coffee from his best friend as he sat next to him in a comfy chair.

"We got that murder?" Adam Copland piped up as he placed his news paper on his lap and looked at the two men who had just come on break.

"Yeah, good looking woman, looks like she pisses ice water though." John said as he gave Randy a rye smile but he did not return it.

"Ladies, Gentlemen, and John, how are we on this fine day?" Mark Callaway strolled into the office and flicked on the kettle once more. The head guard had been walking the halls of the Texan prison for twenty years and he was used to days like this. The media storm that surrounded their latest murderer was nothing new to him. Unlike the others he took it all in his stride. There was however something different about her, he could not as yet place it. in all his years as a prison guard he had never had an issue sussing a prisoner out with in the first meeting. To have this feeling was unnerving him slightly, but he was not about to tell his colleagues that.

"Not bad boss, you suss out all the new intake?" Dave Batista asked from he usual spot in the corner as Mark turned to his oldest friend with a rye grin.

"You know it Dave. I want them all to be rolled out for work duty first thing in the morning. They can have the day to get comfy." Mark continued as the kettle chirped its readiness and he poured his coffee.

"What about the new woman Beth Phoenix she is doubling up with Mickie James right now, not an ideal situation for a lifer." Randy asked and Mark smiled down at him.

"You know one day Orton you will stop thin king of these women as people and start seeing them for the scum they are. For now she can stay where she is, I haven't got a spare cell on the tows and James might be goby but she is harmless enough. In fact sharing a cell with a murder might shut the woman up." Mark and the rest of the guards in the room laughed at the internal joke. Randy chose to remain quite.

Beth hadn't realised that she had fallen asleep until the sound of a klaxon woke her with a start.

"Whoa where's the fire?" Mickie said as Beth shot off the bunk, her bare feet hitting the ice cold floor as she stood tense facing the bars.

"I thought something was happening?" Beth said calming down a little as the sound of the klaxon stopped and Mickie slowly stretched and stood up.

"Something is, its dinner time." Mickie replied with a small smile as their cell door opened.

"Tea time ladies, fall out!" One of the guards called. Beth could not pinpoint the source of the voice but she did see the tall blue eyed guard from before. She noticed him turn away as she looked at him and she wondered why.

"Come on girl you have a habit of stopping to take in the view." Mickie said grabbing her by the arm and pulling her along with the rest of the inmates.

Dinner was served in a long hall that reminded Beth of school dinners, everyone seemed to have their place, their own table where they would sit with their friends an talk about the days events. Beth went with Mickie who sat on a table containing the two women who had spoken to her through the bars of their cell.

"Hey Mickie, welcome back, who's the fish?" The small brunette woman asked, she had a distinct British accent and Beth wasn't sure if she liked her or not.

"This is Beth, Layla, she is the one everyone has been talking about." Mickie said with a nod in Beth's direction.

"Murderer a, didn't get smart enough to plead guilty to manslaughter a." The blonde one spoke up. She had a hard face, high cheekbones and chiselled features in the harsh light of the dining room made the woman look old beyond her years and Beth knew immediately she did not like this woman.

"I wasn't going to plead guilty to something I didn't do." Beth said allowing her anger to take the better of her for a moment as the blonde sat back and half smiled.

"I'm sure, just like every other woman in here." She said picking at her food as she levelled her eyes with Beth once more.

"Mind yourself fish, murderer or not this is my wing, and what I say goes, get me." The blondes voice was low, but Beth heard every word as if they had been shouted at her in a silent room.

"She wont be doing anything to bother you Michelle, trust me." Mickie piped up just before Beth could open her mouth to say anything further. Closing it quickly in fear that she might say something that she would regret Beth kept quite for the remainder of dinner while Mickie, Michelle and Layla made small talk.

It wasn't long before Beth was back in her cell. Mickie had crawled back on to her bunk and was leaning against the wall sat on the bed legs out stretched.

"Can I assume that you don't really like those two women?" Beth asked cautiously as Mickie let out a small sigh. From what Beth had heard Mickie was kind of a gofer for the two top dogs on G wing, she kept out of harms way by running little errands for the pair, and keeping look out while they were up to no good.

"First thing you have got right all day love. No they are dangerous though mark my words. Kill you soon as look at you. A lot of money and a damm good lawyer kept them out of the electric chair." Mickie said and Beth was not sure she wanted to know exactly what it was that the two women had done to end up here.

"That might be a story for another time though." Mickie said obviously sensing that Beth was uncomfortable with this line of conversation. Mickie looked up at her cell mate and nodded her head.

"The first night is always the hardest, when that door shuts and the lights go off, you realise that all you have left is all the time in the world to think about what you have done."

Beth could here the human behind the brash loud woman she had met only a few hours ago. She could see the deep hurt in Mickie's eyes, and something else that lurked there just beneath the surface.

"Then I am glad you're here with me." Beth offered climbing back up on to her bunk and pulling off her shoes.

"Yeah lucky you a." Mickie said as she began getting ready for bed. Walking over to the sink Mickie looked into the mirror and picked up her tooth brush from the tiny holder beside the tap.

"You might want to get ready for bed, they will call lights out on ten minutes, and the guards walk around to see if they can catch us in the buff." Mickie said turning to the blonde that shared her cell as she climbed down from her bed and joined her next to the sink.

"Thanks for the warning." Beth replied as she too brushed her teeth and climbed into the prison issue pyjamas.

Mickie had been right not two minutes after she got into bed Beth felt eyes on her. Turning onto her stomach she peered over the top of her pillow and came face to face with Callaway, he was looking at her with a stare that unnerved her down to the bone.

"Enjoy your first night with us Phoenix, there will be plenty more to come." He said without so much as a flicker of emotion from his face.

Beth watched as he turned from her cell and walked off down the corridor his foot falls echoing all the way to her ears until he opened the door at the end and left G wing for the night.

"You better watch him, I think he has a thing for you." Mickie half mumbled as Beth swung her head over the edge of the bed to look at Mickie.

"They can't do anything though surely, there has to be strict rules concerning that type of thing." Beth asked.

She was surprised when Mickie's face shot up out of the darkness and was so close to hers Beth had to resist the urge to pull away.

"What can happen and what does happen in a place like this are two very different things." She said and then was gone as quickly as she had appeared.

Beth lie on her back staring into the darkness, she couldn't believe her life had come to this, that things could have become so different in an instant. The darkness seemed oppressive in the bunk, the walls seemed to close in as the noise from the other inmates died down, until all that was left was a soft sobbing from somebody down the hallway.

"There is always one crier the first night." Mickie stated quietly and Beth chose not to respond. Beth was just surprised it wasn't herself. Closing her eyes changed nothing, Mickie was right all you had in here was time, time to think, about what you did, and about how you were paying for it.

Well what do you think? Many more characters to come. More from the prison guards, other inmates. Deception and corruption a plenty. Oh and the ever present question. Did Beth really do it, or is she innocent. Let me know what you thought should I carry on or not? I promise for those of you reading four corners I will update tomorrow, but I had to get this out before I went mad thinking about it.

Please review and let me know if I should continue (on my knees if I have to) thank you for reading XxX.