Chapter 1

While Tropical Storm Wanda destroyed upstate New York, Litchfield Correctional Facility was eerily quiet – too quiet. Last night was the perfect opportunity for Vee and her girls to make a statement, and yet nothing happened. Red grimaced at her thoughts as she cleaned up in the destruction in greenhouse. It was the morning after now, and the storm may have stopped outside of Litchfield but it wasn't quite done within the confines of the prison's walls.

Vee was up to something, Red knew it.

It was like the prison was in the eye of the storm. It was only a matter of time before it started again.

The sound of the greenhouse door opening seemed to echo in the small enclosed space and Red turned quickly, ready for a fight. Her eyes shot wide at the sight of Taystee, Cindy, Poussey and Watson, standing in front of her, grim looks marring their faces.

Red swallowed, trying to calm the rapidly beating heart within her chest. Steeling her nerves, Red faced them head on. Russians do not sweat. They do not show fear. Red narrowed her eyes and gripped the broom in her handle tightening and most importantly, Russians certainly don't go down without a fight.

Taystee seeing her tightened grip on the broom stepped forward with her hands raised.

"We didn't come here to fight," said Taystee, stepping forward even further, entering Red's personal space.

It was upon this entrance of Red's space that she was able to read the situation more clearly and what she found caused an uneasy feeling to swirl in her stomach. If Vee sent these girls to make a statement, then why did they look so scared?

Red narrowed her eyes at the woman before speaking.

"Then why are you here?" she asked, purposely accentuating her Russian accent. She always found that it made her more intimidating the thicker it was.

Taystee sighed, and rubbed the back of her head, all while throwing nervous looks at Red.

"Speak," growled out Red, losing her patience.

"We just wanted to meet with you and tell you we didn't have anything to do with it Red," said Taystee quickly, holding up her hands once again in show of her complete submission. "We didn't know what Vee was planning until it was too late. She has gone too far this time, and we don't want you as our enemy. We won't lie for her either. What she did was wrong and what she is trying to do to Suzanne is the last straw. "

Red's eyes narrowed, her mind going a mile a minute as processed Taystee's words. After sometime of trying but failing to connect the dots in her head, Red finally gave up and looked Taystee in the eye once more.

"Stop with these games," growled out Red. "What are you speaking of?"

Taystee's eyes shot wide, before looking back at her friends behind her to see similar looks of shock on their faces. Turning back to Red, and giving her a sympathetic look Taystee opened her mouth to speak.

"No one's told you yet?"

Red opened her mouth to respond but suddenly a voice screaming across the yard stole all words from her mouth.

"RRR-EEED!"

Red's eye shot wide, immediately recognizing the voice and the stutter attached to it. The fact that Norma was speaking was a feat in its own, but it was the panic that was attached to it that caused Red's heart to clench painfully in her chest.

Pushing past Taystee, Red practically ran to the door, noting the way Watson, Cindy and Poussey immediately moved out of her way. Red pushed open the door, just at the exact moment Norma reached the greenhouse.

In all their years together Red had never seen the woman looked so disheveled. Norma's hair which was usually pulled back in a tight bun was sticking up all over the place. Her kind eyes were red and full of tears. But it was the choked sobs that seemed to reverberate from the woman's usually silent mouth that truly had Red concerned.

Reaching forward, Red put a steadying hand on Norma's shoulder's trying to calm the woman down.

"Norma," soothed Red, bringing her free hand to wipe away the tears from the woman's face. "What has happened, are you hurt? Did she hurt you?"

Norma shook her head immediately, and opened her mouth but all that came out were sobs.

Red strengthened her hold on Norma's shoulders, trying to bring the woman back under control.

"What has happened?"

Norma opened her mouth, clearly still battling with her emotions but was now able to actually formulate a response.

"N…nnn…" stuttered out Norma, closing her eyes in frustration before trying again. "Nnnn..."

"She is trying to say Nichols," interrupted Watson's voice behind her, and Red immediately turned as her brain processed the words.

"What did you say?" growled out Red, the anger and fear that was coursing through her body fueling her forward.

Watson swallowed in fear but raised her chin in the air, refusing to falter under the imposing woman before her.

"She was stabbed in the shower this morning," answered Watson softly. "She is in medical. It doesn't look good."