This is a teaser chapter for my new story... I was going to wait until I was done with Stonem House but something told me I was ready to go with this. I have chapter 1 written and already working on the second chapter.. let me know if it's something you want to read.

note: there was an incomplete story that had a similar premise but went in a different path than I want to follow.

Intro

Four years, 2 months, 13 days and 2 hours. That's how long she had spent locked away. Four years, 2 months, 13 days and 2 hours. She was standing in front of the same drab worn out counter she'd stood in front of years ago and was now signing paperwork to retrieve what personal items she hadn't been allowed to keep upon entry. She'd known not to take much with her. She'd read the rule book after all. It didn't do a whole lot of good once she was inside however. Rules inside weren't the ones in the book. It didn't take long to learn that though. The officer behind the desk reviewed the paperwork and handed her an envelope which she opened in front of him.

The contents that spilled out were simple. A wallet that held an expired driver permit with a photo of a teen blonde, a charm bracelet that held no monetary value whatsoever and four earrings. The bracelet had scrapes and looked to have been repaired a half dozen times. It was probably the reason it was still in the envelope. The earrings were just as cheap. She put the wallet in her jacket pocket and the bracelet on her wrist. It felt odd. She hadn't worn it in a long time. She hadn't worn anything in a long time. The earrings she pocketed as well. She wasn't sure the holes in her ears weren't totally closed by now and she didn't want to check. Not here. She was handed a small stack of papers and a small handbook. She looked at it and then at the officer who smiled and reminded her to call her parole officer within four days time. His number was written in the book. She nodded, putting everything in a small rucksack of things she'd acquired during her stay in this awful place and turned away. The gate in front of her opened and she took a hesitant breath.

One foot in front of the other. She walked into a reception area and then past it. Another guard nodded as she exited the building and the chill in the air hit her face. While she'd had plenty of yard privileges over the years, she would swear on her soul that the air out here felt different. She closed her eyes a moment and felt utter relief. It didn't last long. She heard a noise and her eyes popped open, on alert. It was a car door. No danger. Her body had automatically tensed but it eased when she saw the blonde woman walking towards her. A smile on her face. Another door and a scruffy looking man emerged from the driver's side of the car.

"For fuck's sake.. you going to stand there all day? Let's go before they realize they let you out." A rough Irish accent bellowed at her. There was a welcome humor behind the words. She laughed and shook her head as she closed the distance between her and her mum. The rucksack was hung on her shoulder but it wasn't heavy. Not really. The contents were mostly letters and some photos plus the new paperwork reminding her she wasn't exactly free. Her mum took a look at her and touched her face. Naomi flinched and her eyes met her mum's. Her mum didn't shy away. She gave her a stiff nod and touched her cheeks, her jaw. Just under the jawline, almost hidden was a two inch scar she'd received her second week in. There were a couple of others but they were hidden under her clothes. She swallowed as she noticed the tears in her mum's eyes. Her own hand came up and touched her mum's hand. She couldn't remember the last time she'd really allowed another human to touch her in anything more than a perfunctory way.

"Let's go home luv." Gina Campbell finally said and walked Naomi to the car.