Looking nervously up at the tinted window Sister Abbeyson fiddled awkwardly with her metal crucifix as it stuck to her hand, murmuring a prayer under her breath as the prison van pulled into the entrance of Larkhall prison. Outside a crowd of the media were flashing their cameras at the window hoping for a photo of the young nun, an unlikely killer and an unexplained murder. She could hear them shouting, blushing knowing it was for her Sister Abbeyson looked down ashamed, a light ginger lock falling out from under her wimple before she quickly brushed it back into the head piece. Feeling a tear run down her cheek she reached up to wipe it away, wincing as a spark issued from her hand. Looking down Sister Abbeyson held her crucifix tightly as a small arch of electricity formed across her other palm between her fingers.
'Calm down Emily' she muttered to herself, closing her palm, putting out the arch of electricity. She couldn't lose control again, she had to restrain her emotions; the poor man had died because of her unnatural ability. Yes he had tried to rape her, causing her to strike out, killing him but murder was a sin, regardless of being in self defence. The police had asked her so many questions, like what she had used to put a 400kilovolts, the voltage of the National Grid, straight into his heart. Emily couldn't explain she had guarded her secret since she was a child, telling only the nuns of her convent she had joined as a young child to help her learn to handle her two abilities, using self-discipline and the word of God. They all believed this was a gift from God, as was her eventual capability to use it for the benefit of others. Twiddling her metal crucifix mid-air with her magnetism she smiled down at it, she believed strongly that God would guide her knowing she strongly repented her sin pleading guilty to the crime the police had no way of proving. A murderer nun, she thought bitterly, any other twenty seven year old would be revealing in the fame. Not her though, she was a humble servant of the Lord, she had no desire for this publicity.
Sister Abbeyson looked up as the engine was cut and the van door swung open. Climbing out carefully she took her small bag of possessions, along with a small suitcase of clothing. Though strong in her beliefs she knew it was likely she would have to conform to regular dress at some point if she wished to have any peace in this place. Looking up at the gloomy building she fought the urge to flee. Feeling a tingling in her fingertips Emily pushed the thought away. She had to get a grip or she would risk her secret being discovered. If anyone knew she would be locked away and become a human lab rat that had experiments done on her. Shuddering at that thought she quickly moved into the building reception.
'Abbeyson, Emily' Barked the older woman on reception. Standing slowly Emily moved forward, ignoring the jeers from her fellow inmates standing in line.
'Sister Abbeyson' Emily corrected politely.
'Sister Abbeyson, Miss' the older woman snapped back correcting Emily too. 'Besides, hardly think you deserve that kind of holy title after what you've done. Four hundred thousands volts into the man's heart wasn't it?' The woman asked, sneering down her nose at the young woman's nun's dress.
'Yes Miss…' Emily replied quietly inquiring silently what the woman's name was. Shaking her head in disbelief at the young nun's crime the older woman replied.
'Mrs Hollamby. Come on' She said indicating the curtain. Emily winced uncomfortably at the knowledge of what was of come. Stripping slowly Emily turned to place her garment down, hearing Hollamby and the other PO gasp at the whip marks on her back. Lifting her wimple off her head her light ginger hair fell over her shoulders and the cuts on the length of her back.
'They are far worse than usual, mostly I go easy compared to most, but I think recently I had more to repent.' Sister Abbeyson answered simply in reply to their stares. Removing her cotton undergarment, she could hear the slight crackle of static as the material brushed her skin. Glancing up Emily winced as she confirmed that they had heard it too.
'Bit static are you?' Asked Hollamby lightly. Emily smiled, brushing over this slightly awkward moment.
'You could say that.' She replied, chuckling darkly knowing this to be very true. Once completely stripped Hollamby moved her to have her mug shot, the camera refusing to operate at first. Realising her magnetism was interfering with the camera Emily forced herself to relax, lowering her magnet field. Once the shot had been taken she was allowed to be taken on the wing. Moving slowly, Emily carried her bags nervously, feeling anxiety twist in her stomach. Approaching the wing she could see people were turning around to get a look at her. As they started jeering Hollamby led her in.
'New girl for you to play with. Sister Emily Abbeyson.' She said leading her past them. Glancing up Emily saw a good looking blonde approach her, her fingers tingling nervously reading that this was not going to be good. Coming level with her the blonde sneered as she looked the nun down before speaking.
'Think you took a wrong turn to the circus dressed like that or maybe the penguin zoo?' She said as the crowd laughed cruelly. Emily glared at her, immediately hating her.
'And you are?' Emily demanded.
'Natalie Buxton. And you must be Happy Feet.' Natalie replied jeering Emily blushing like a typical ginger. She silently clenched her fist behind her back, feeling the current flowing around her hand. Ignore it, she thought quickly, don't let it get to you.
'She's another religious nutter, we seem to get them all' injected a brunette sitting a few tables away. Emily looked round pausing as she took in this woman's quirky appearance, looking over her dark clothing down to her large boots. Something about her seemed to relax Emily, unclenching her fist when she felt the current subside.
'I am not a religious nutter, thank you.' Snapped Emily, annoyed at the insult of her faith even as calm spread through her. 'My crime wasn't committed with God as an excuse. I did my crime and I'll do my time, at the end God will judge us all, and if I deserve it, I will get my due. Until then...' finished Emily her eyes scanning the women before turning to follow Mrs Hollamby to her cell on the threes. Once in her cell Sister Abbeyson unpacked her bible and large crucifix, moving it with her magnet field onto her chest of drawers. Once her bed was made and she has unpacked she fished out some plain jeans and top, changing from her nun uniform into ordinary clothes. Sitting down on her bunk she looked out her window deep in thought. She was going to be here fifteen years at the least she thought sadly, she would have to learn to cope somehow. Pulling her smaller metal crucifix through the air to her she placed it around her neck, knowing she would have to stop doing tricks like that if she didn't want to risk being caught. She couldn't risk losing her temper either which wouldn't be easy in a place like this. She would have to try though she concluded, fiddling with her crucifix before she knelt before her chest of drawers, praying to God for the strength to proceed.
...
Later that day
Emily steeled herself as she left her cell, heading down to the dining area for dinner. This was the first time she was going to see the women properly, and in regular dress. Twirling her crucifix she still wore she scrunched her long hair into a ponytail that stretched down her back before descending the last set of steps. Standing in line Emily scanned the dining area, spotting the brunette she had seen earlier sitting at the same table, tucking into her dinner. Reaching the head of the queue she requested what she would like to the two blonde women behind the counter. They looked her over as she stood, looking surprised.
'Hey, aren't you that nun? Sister Abeson?' Asked the smaller of the two.
'Sister Abbeyson.' Corrected the ginger nodding, smiling kindly. She recoiled as the other women's expression changed to one of disgust.
'You abusing kids and all?' Challenged the taller woman. Emily looked between the two women in shock and horror.
'No' Emily replied horrified 'Why would you think I would?'
'Last nun we had in here we thought was a blooming saint turned out to be a sadist child abuser.' The small blonde replied sharply. Emily paused taking in the information before replying.
'What? That's terrible! Its people like her who give the Roman Catholic Church a bad name.' Said Emily disgusted. The blondes nodded in agreement. 'What are your names?' Asked Emily.
'We are the Julies' they both said in unison. Emily smiled at this, able to see these two were the best of mates.
'Julie Saunders' said the smaller one.
'And Julie Johnson' said the taller one.
'So what happened to your other clothing Sister Abbeyson?' Asked Julie S.
'Call me Emily, I don't think being a Sister is appropriate in here' said Emily 'Same thing for the clothes. I still can practice my beliefs, without drawing attention to myself.' She explained before lifting her tray to find a table. Seeing the brunette sitting alone at a table Emily's curiosity made her approach cautiously before speaking. 'This seat available?' She asked politely.
'I guess.' The brunette replied, scanning the nun's change in clothing sceptically. As the other woman sat down the brunette looked over her face, making Emily blush slightly at the intensity of the brunette's gaze. Emily had a feeling she had some sort of resentment towards her beliefs. 'Pat Kerrigan' the brunette said eventually stretching her hand out. Looking up from her food Emily registered this acknowledgement.
'Sister Abbeyson…Emily' Emily replied hesitating before stretching her hand out to shake Pat's. Emily watched the other woman's face as their hands met, the hairs on Pat's arms lifting slightly as they contacted. Pat blinked in surprise as she felt a faint but strange sensation run up her arm. Pulling her hand back fairly quickly Emily returned to her dinner, hoping that Pat wouldn't question it. 'So what you in for?' Emily inquired casually trying to cover the awkward moment.
'Hm? Oh, stabbed my ex boyfriend in the balls.' Pat replied in a shockingly casual tone. As Emily's eyebrows rose in question Pat continued. 'He was kicking the shit out of me at the time. Self defence. Not that the courts cared.' She finished shrugging bitterly.
'Oh.' Said Emily surprised. 'I'm sorry.'
'You are in here for murder too right?' Pat inquired, surprised as Emily pulled a face. 'How in the world did you get something to shock him with that had the voltage of the National Grid?' Asked Pat, curious. Emily half smiled, Pat feeling a slight flutter in her gut as the ginger haired woman's eyes flashed sheepishly but also slightly mischievously. She felt almost physically drawn to this woman, unknown to her the metal in her clothing was pulling very slightly to the other woman's slight magnetism.
'Wouldn't you and the police like to know.' Emily teased as she sipped her drink. Pat's eyebrows rose in curiosity at this bizarre behaviour. What kind of nun was this? Pat thought.
'Remind me never to upset you.' Concluded Pat, her stomach fluttering more as Emily's smile widened.
'No, I wouldn't advise making me emotional; it's a dangerous thing to do.' She said flirtatiously, enjoying the knowledge of her secret abilities despite herself. Pat stared at the other woman, her knowledge of nuns completely contradicted by this woman. In the end curiosity won over.
'What kind of nun are you?' Asked Pat, continuing rapidly as Emily blinked at the bluntness 'You dress like a nun; your accent is nun posh but you…' Pat paused looking the woman down, unsure how to explain the nun's eccentric behaviour. Smiling knowingly Emily finished it for her.
'Why am I not as dull as a regular nun telling you to repent your sins and having no knowledge of the regular world?' She asked just as bluntly. When Pat nodded she went on 'Because unlike most I wasn't born in a nunnery and I didn't live within the nunnery until I was an adult; I lived outside with a nun because they didn't take in children at that particular one. Therefore had full access to the television, plus I respect if I want others to accept my beliefs I have to respect others do not have them.' She finished looking intently across at Pat. After a moment's silence Emily looked across at the Julies before inquiring 'You like them and think all nuns are sadist child abusers?'
'Only the ones I grew up with.' Pat replied stiffly. 'The last nun we had in here worked at the children's home I lived in. Bitch.' Emily scanned the other woman's face, disliking the term used, but her understanding of her sceptical views of God was growing.
'There are sinners everywhere in the world.' Emily said quietly. 'It's a shame some happened to be within the Catholic Church, as few are like that and it doesn't mean all belief in God is invalid. The crimes they committed are not done in the name of God.' Pat sniffed sceptically, still resenting the unrelenting belief in God and his 'wonderful' ways.
'Yer. Right.' Pat replied not wishing to continue this conversation. Knowing that neither of them would convert to the other beliefs Sister Abbeyson allowed the subject to drop changing the subject.
'So tell me more about this place and the people' Asked Emily, glad to be making some progress at least in settling in this place. Her time had begun…
Username:2004206 Page: 5 16/06/2010