Title: Inside the Cage
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the twisted ideas in this story
Rated: M
Summary:Choices are what define our lives. Both Sara and Catherine managed to make the right choices in their lives, but what if they didn't?
A/N- this is my first AU and I have no clue where this idea came from or where it will go, but I thought I would post it and see what you guys think
This story is dedicated to all of my readers I don't know what I would do without you guys. Thanks so much.
Sara's POV
The cold metal cuffs bite at my wrists and the orange fabric of the jumpsuit scratches uncomfortably against my skin. I follow the man in front of me down the hall. A million eyes are on me. Fresh meat. Or that's what they think. In reality I went from juvie to here in just under two months. Nevada State Women's Correctional Facility. Or in other words prison.
A forceful hand pushes me from behind as I pause in the hallway to gaze into an empty cell. Apparently not mine. My feet scrape against the pavement echoing through the hall. The guard in front of me stops and rattles his keys as he finds the correct one for the cell he has halted in front of. I can see a tangle of curly brown hair sweeping over the pillow and end of the top bunk. I am roughly pushed into the cell and bars are closed behind me automatically. "Sidle," the man's harsh voice rings through the hall. I already despise him. Turning slowly I face the slightly overweight man. I take in his dark stubble and beady eyes. "Meet your new roommate, Morgan." The bed creaks as she flips revealing bright green eyes popping against mocha skin. She briskly nods and I return the gesture, making sure the indifference is placed firmly on my face. "I've brought you a baby, Sly. Two months over eighteen."
"Lucky me," her voice is gravelly, most likely from years of smoking. She does not deign my presence worthy of ripping her eyes away from the worn paperback in her hands again.
"Play nice." The man leaves following the steps of the guard that has already disappeared.
I stand inspecting the woman I will be spending most of my time with. She's older than me. Her features worn from the stress of prison. There is wisdom in the eyes currently flicking from one side of the page to the other. "What're you starin' at?"
I shrug and drop myself into the bottom bunk. Staring up at the white bars with mattress pushing through I think about how I ended up here. One mistake after the other. This should be a point of revelation when I decide to turn my life around but it's not. Yeah I fucked up. But I again find comfort in the thought that it's better in here than out there.
My mind wanders for God know how long before a movement in the corner of my mind startles me out of my musings. Turning my head my eyes meet with Morgan's. I raise my eyebrows expectantly at her. "How long you in here for Sidle?"
I quickly raise and drop my shoulders. "Long enough. Feel free to call me Sara." Her eyes study me. I watch her looking for glimpses of what she could possibly be thinking. A red tint is starting to appear on her face due to blood rushing to her head as she continues to hang it over the edge of her bunk.
"You sound like a smart enough girl Sidle. So let's get one thing straight, okay?" I keep my eyes on her not bothering to answer. I know she will finish her thought. "I'm outta here in three months. I've got a baby girl at home waitin' for me. So don't do anything to fuck up my chances of getting' outta here. Got it?"
"Yeah," I reply quietly. She returns to her bed.
I am surprised when she continues to talk. "So what'd you do?"
"I kicked a guy's ass. Apparently he isn't out of the hospital yet. I believe the correct term is assault."
"Oh, why?"
I swallow around the rapidly growing lump in my throat. Clearing myself of every sensation. Every emotion, I reply, "He was asking for it. What'd you do?"
"Got involved with the wrong people." The silence that follows is guarded. It is obvious neither of us are telling the full truth if even the partial truth.
"How old's your daughter?"
"She's turnin' four next month."
"Cute."
"Yeah, yeah she is. You know Sidle you're alright. Maybe the last three months in this place won't be so bad."
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My eyes keep wandering to the entrance of the shower stall as I attempt to cover myself and shower at the same time. No curtains, no nothing. There is no barrier stopping a male guard from coming in to catch a glimpse of my body. It's out there for everyone to see. I consider this the worst part of the punishment.
I clean myself as quickly as possible and dry off before slipping into a white undershirt and orange jumpsuit leaving the front unbuttoned. Even though it is time for the sun to begin to fall the, day rapidly approaching night, is humid.
My stomach lets out a ferocious growl. I refused to eat what Morgan keeps insisting is chicken and green beans. It looked more like someone barfed on the tray and handed it to me.
This has been happening a lot over the past few weeks but I refuse to let my starvation show if I can stop it.
I walk through the barred walls feeling the guards' eyes on me and the other occupant's eyes on me until I reach my cell. There is the thumping of heavy boots and then the cell door is opened for me. I feel a large hand briefly on my ass but decide to ignore it. He's not worth a fight.
Slumping down onto the bed I take a deep breath and continue my favorite past time, staring up at the underside of Morgan's mattress. I will away the unwanted feeling of rough hands on my body. The unwelcome invasion of a man.
"You're mighty quiet tonight Sidle."
"Mmm." I'm not in the mood for discussion. Not now.
"Lights will go out soon."
"Yep." As if on cue the tell tale clinking of the outer door closing begins to reverberate off the walls and we are soon plunged into darkness. My breathing becomes restricted as I struggle to push my memories away. At night they can strike while my guard is down. The night threatens to engulf me and expose my vulnerability.
"Story time Sara?" Morgan's voice is gentle and caring.
A small smile creeps onto my face. Morgan knows that this is my time of weakness. But only her. I trust that she will not utter a word to a single soul. She has helped me through more than one panic attack in the past couple of weeks and has discovered one of my only comforts. Stories. I love words. The sounds of them. The variations of them. The lives and worlds they can create and destroy. "Please."
She softly chuckles above me. "You really are still just a baby," her words float quietly down to me.
"Mmhmm. But don't tell anyone." I can clearly picture her rolling her eyes. "Can you make it something different this time?"
"Different how?"
"Just different."
"Okay." Morgan pauses and clears her throat. "It is the year 1874; however this story begins not with the year, but with a beautiful princess. A brunette with soft brown eyes and a kind smile. On this particular day our princess, Princess Symone, finds herself gazing out the window. Her attention is focused past the iron clad, gaggle of knights, on a fair maiden standing in the court yard." I can feel the tension in my shoulders dissipating as my curiosity peaks. By the sounds of it this is defiantly different. 'The princess is preoccupied admiring how the maiden's golden tresses fall in soft waves against her shoulders. There is a small smile upon the maiden's face as she converses with the other peasants. Princess Symone's heart begins to flutter with an unfamiliar emotion. This sensation disturbs and confuses the young woman.
"Against her own will the princess' body beings to move. Carrying her out of the chamber and onto the castle grounds. Oddly Symone realizes her mind is no longer protesting her body's actions. As she steps onto the blindingly green grass of the castle two guards instantly appear following her at a distance.
"The brunette's stomach begins to turn and her heartbeat pounds in her ears as she reaches the gate that leads into the courtyard. Pushing the metal bars aside she steps into the crowd of people mingling together without worries foremost on the mind. Whenever she nears a group a hush falls over them. It is no different when she finally makes it to the group where the fair maiden is standing.
"Symone discreetly wipes her palms in the fold of her dress and clears her throat unsure of what to do next. 'Princess,' a man in the group automatically says. He dips into a small bow and then takes her hand brushing his lips over the back of it.
"'Please sir that is not necessary.' He gazes at her oddly and a lopsided grin appears on his face. She sends a shy smile back at him before turning her full attention to the striking blonde standing directly across from her. Chocolate brown eyes meet electric blue ones and the princess can feel her breathing become slightly more labored. She realizes now standing here that the maiden she has had her eyes focused upon for the past week is older than her.
"'To what do we owe this pleasure Princess?' The fair maiden asks, her eyes never leaving Symone's captivated gaze.
"'I require your services,' she replies in a faint voice; her mind not registering what her mouth is saying.
"'Of course Princess. Anything you desire.'
"From somewhere in the crowd the joyous voice of a young one squeals, 'Mommy, Mommy look what I found!'
"Suddenly a tiny blonde appears from around the fair maiden's skirt holding a flaming red salamander in her hand. Overly excited the child bounces up and down. It is obvious that she is proud of herself. Uncertainty flickers through the mother's eyes and Symone sends her an encouraging smile. The gesture is returned by a grateful one. The blonde gazes upon her daughter fondly. 'Did you catch that all by yourself darling?' The princess admires the woman's smoky voice. She realizes that she would like to hear it more often.
"'Yes I...' The little girl has taken it upon herself to look at the rest of the crowd. Her eyes go wide as they rest on the princess.
"Symone sends the little girl a big smile and crouches down so that they can be eye level.'That's a fascinating little guy isn't it?' The small child nods and glances up at her mom before returning wide eyes back to the woman she has only heard about in stories. 'How would you like to see what kind of friends you can find for him on the castle grounds?'
"Her eyes light up with happiness.'Can I really?' The question comes out in one breath.
"The princess nods, 'Any time you want to as long as it is okay with your mother.' Symone looks up at the woman and the child mimics her actions only with pleading eyes.
"'I...Yes...I mean, thank you.'
"'It is no problem.' She turns to the little girl. 'How would you like to start exploring there now? Your mom was going to help me with a few things.' The little girl vigorously nods. Symone smiles brightly at her and stands.
"'Ready?' She asks the maiden, and is thoroughly shocked by her own actions. Symone makes a point of walking beside the woman whose hand is linked with her daughter's. Not in front and not behind, but with them. Together they step into the castle grounds blocking them from the view of the small town watching them.
"I think we should stop there for tonight Sara."
Yawning I nod my head and realize that Morgan can't see me. "Yeah me too."
"Will you be able to sleep now?"
"Yeah." Rolling over I smile at the woman above me. At her mothering nature. Closing my eyes I feel sleep rushing over me. I push away the sudden question, why does this story mean so much to me?
TBC...