This is the story of Alison's time in prison. She is transferred to a new cell and meets Brittany. Like Alison, Brittany doesn't seem to belong in jail and the two form an unlikely friendship and find comfort in one another as they attempt to survive in West Chester Women's Correctional.
-x-
The sound of her cell opening woke Alison from her restless sleep. She's only been in this hellhole for two weeks and she can already feel it's atmosphere sucking the life out of her. She hears footsteps enter the confined space and she sits up slowly with her back against the wall. She looks down from her bunk to see the warden, a middle aged man with a stern expression, and two prison guards standing behind him. One of them was holding a set of shackles; looking closer at them, Alison could see that they were the ones that went on your ankles as well.
"Come on DiLaurentis," The warden said firmly, Alison had already been here long enough to know he was not a man to be crossed. "New cell," he added after a moment.
Alison couldn't help but breathe out a sigh of relief, her current cellmate had taken a particular interest to her in a way that gave Alison goose bumps whenever the woman came within 5 feet of her. Though the prison guards would stop a fight from going to far between inmates, they didn't care if the inmates harassed each other sexually. Alison hopped down from her bunk slowly, carefully eyeing the guards standing behind the warden. She didn't trust them.
"Which box is yours?" the warden questioned, motioning towards the two cardboard boxes on the table in the corner with his head. Alison pointed to the one on the left and the guard who wasn't carrying the shackles picked it up and walked out of the cell and down the hallway.
The warden took the shackles out of the remaining guard's hands and turned to Alison. "Hands out," he commanded sternly. Alison put both her hands out and balled her fists together as the warden secured the handcuffs to her wrists. "Too tight?" he asked, Alison shook her head. Though the warden had obviously no love for criminals, he respected their rights and treated them as human beings and Alison respected him for that, seeing as many of the guards did not seem to share his beliefs.
He locked the handcuffs with a key before securing them to a chain around the blonde's waist, restricting Alison's movement significantly. He then bent down and clasped the second set around her ankles, again asking if they were too tight, to which Alison shook her head again. He locked them in and secured them to the waist chain also.
"This isn't necessary you know," Alison spoke for the first time since she had woken up, "I'm not going to cause any trouble," and she meant it. Being locked in a cage for most of the day was bad enough, but from what she'd heard from other inmates during meal times and in the showers, solitary was a whole new level of hell.
"I believe you DiLaurentis, I really do," the warden answered honestly, "but it's procedure, we're moving you to a new block, meaning we'll be walking right past the facility's entrance. So we have no choice but to restrain you,"
Alison nodded, she was grateful to the warden for not treating her like an animal like many of the guards did, and she knew he had his orders.
"You haven't caused any trouble since you got here, which is rare," the warden commented, "so this is kind of a reward for your good behaviour. Your new cellmate is harmless, she's 17, 18 in 2 weeks I believe"
Alison raised her eyebrows at that, this was an adult facility, she was one of the youngest here being only 18. What was a child doing here? "Why is she here then?, shouldn't she be in a juvenile centre?" she asked curiously, she couldn't help but feel pity for this child.
The warden looked up from his paperwork to glance at Alison with interest, he had never seen an inmate show concern for another before. "Normally, yes. This kid, like you, is charged with murder. However the DA insisted that she be tried as an adult and the judge had no choice but to agree, she wasn't given bail and was on remand in here" he said. Alison wondered why she could see sympathy in the warden's eyes.
"That's not all but," The warden continued, "The victim was her step-father, evidence showed that she witnessed him trying to force himself on her mother, she tried to stop it but then her step-father turned on her and attacked her. A knife was nearby and she managed to get it and stabbed him repeatedly in the jugular. When she stood before the court, she said that she had indeed killed him to protect her mother. She pleaded guilty and would have gotten ten years but given that it was in self defence, and she was attacked first, the judge was lenient and gave her two,"
Alison's jaw hit the floor once he had finished. "But it was in self defence, she had to do it, why did she get any time at all?" she asked, shocked at the treatment this girl had received.
The warden shrugged, "I'm not supposed to be telling you any of this, but I'm telling you because the kid's been in here for 7 months already and the other inmates have done nothing but torture her non-stop, her last cellmate beat her senseless every night after lights out, but she refused to come forward so there was nothing we could do" he paused, his face scrunching for a moment before continuing. "And she's here because the DA was an asshole and claimed that the kid was mentally unstable before the incident. But if you ask me, it's bullshit. It's being in here that's made the kid unstable" He finished before motioning to the cell door "C'mon, let's get moving,"
Alison gave him a tiny smile. It was rare for anybody in this building to show her even the slightest bit of compassion but here was the warden, talking her as if she wasn't a convicted murderer. Or maybe he didn't care if she was, or maybe, just maybe, he believed she was innocent. She shuffled forward, only being able to take small steps due to the ankle restraints, and followed him out of the cell.
-x-
As Alison and the warden entered the hallway after a long walk, a guard comes around the corner and shakes the warden's hand. "What's this then?" he asked the warden, smiling as he chewed his gum with his mouth open. Alison felt a little disgusted.
"DiLaurentis moving to cell 185," the warden responded
"Lawson? Don't you think she's better off alone sir?" Alison noticed that this guard seemed to feel pity for this kid too.
"DiLaurentis is being moved for good behaviour, I don't think she will cause any trouble Dean" the warden answered with confidence. Alison's respect for him increased a touch.
"Alright, I'll be seeing you tonight then for the dinner sir?"
"Indeed, better return to your station Dean," the warden answered in his nicest tone, but Alison could tell that he was politely telling him to sod off; she smirked a little.
The guard hurried off without another word and Alison and the warden set off again until they stopped in front of a cell similar to the previous one Alison had stayed in, but it seemed slightly larger and the bunks seemed slightly more comfortable. On the table there was two books as well as a sketchpad and some pencils, Alison noticed they were perfectly aligned with the edge of the table. It seemed her new cell mate was a bit of a neat freak.
The warden unlocked the cell and ushered Alison inside, turning her to face him so that he could unlock her shackles. Once they were off, he placed them on the table before turning to the bunks, Alison followed suit. Only then did she notice a young girl sitting on the top bunk in the corner of the room, curled up in a ball. She was watching them with wide eyes peeking out from above arms with complete fear, looking closer, Alison could see drops of sweat on her forehead. This girl was petrified.
"Brittany," the warden said quietly, the girl squealed slightly and tightened her hold on herself and put her head back on top on her legs, looking down. Alison could see she was shaking slightly now. "Brittany, this is your new cellmate. Her name is Alison DiLaurentis. Alison, this is Brittany Lawson" the warden introduced them before turning and walking out of the cell, closing and locking it behind him before walking away; leaving Alison and Brittany alone.
-x-
After watching the warden leave, Alison turned to face her cellmate again. Brittany was looking at her similarly to how she was before, peeping out from behind her arms.
"H-Hello" Alison said quietly, Brittany's eyes widened before hiding her face again; Alison could now hear soft sobbing coming from the tiny girl. She stepped forward ever so slightly and Brittany jumped so high into the air it's a wonder she didn't hit her head on the concrete ceiling of their cell.
"Don't hurt me please!" she yelled as she curled into her ball again and cried even harder, watching Alison with a look of pure horror.
Alison felt her heart ache for the child in front of her. She fought to hide back tears of her own, how could someone be so cruel as to keep a child like Brittany in this awful place when she truly didn't deserve it.
"It's okay, it's okay" Alison whispered softly as she put her hands out in front of her so that Brittany could see them, trying to show the girl that she meant her no harm. "I'm not going to hurt you, I promise," She swallowed thickly, Brittany raised her head slightly to look at Alison fully. It was only then that Alison could see the terrified girl's face fully, she instantly felt sick.
Brittany's face was a pale white colour, she had turquoise coloured eyes and dark brown hair with a golden tinge to it that was tied back in a high ponytail, exposing her long neck. She had perfect bone structure and a small nose as well as small heart-shaped lips. Her figure was tiny and rather underweight, her collar bones were sticking out from her orange jumpsuit which looked at lease 3 sizes too big for her.
But that wasn't what made Alison want to feel sick, she actually the thought the girl was rather pretty. What made Alison sick was the condition of the girl's face and body. Her right eye had a large purple bruise just above it that looked less than a week old, there was a large gash on her left cheek with stitches holding it together as well as a deep cut on her bottom lip. Her neck was littered with bruises and scratches as well as a white bandage that stuck to the right side of her neck. Looking closer, Alison could now see scars, cuts, burns and bruises lining the girls arms. She looked like she'd been in a horrendous motor accident.
Alison looked Brittany in the eyes and stepped closer, the girl squeaked slightly but didn't move.
"I'm not like them," she promised.
She could see Brittany relax ever so slightly but continue to watch her every move. She turned to the table and looked at the sketchpad that lay on it. The drawing on it was one of a woman holding a baby. Alison was captivated by the detail in the drawing. You could see reflections in the woman's eyes and the crooked edges of her fingertips. Each eyelash could be distinguished and the freckles on her skin were as clear as day. If the drawing hadn't of been in black and white, Alison would have sworn it was a photograph. She pointed to it and turned to Brittany.
"Did you do this?" she asked the still trembling girl, Brittany looked at her for a moment, studying her expression before nodding slowly. Alison have her a soft smile. "You're so talented," she commented sincerely, turning to look at the girl again. Brittany said nothing but allowed herself to uncurl from her ball to pick up her pillow and cuddle it like it was a stuffed animal.
Alison looked at her curiously, she could see why the warden and the guard felt sorry for this girl. "Who is the drawing of?" she asked gently, keeping her hands in Brittany's sight so the girl wouldn't panic.
Brittany buried her face in the pillow and looked at Alison, answering in a tiny voice that was muffled by the pillow "Mommy,"
Alison felt her eyes water again, she could see the pain in her cellmates eyes. "Does she ever visit you?" she asked, almost afraid of the answer. Brittany shook her head before speaking in a voice smaller than before. "Dead, killed herself,"
Alison ached for this poor girl, she could relate so much to Brittany. Being alone in jail when you didn't deserve to be, terrified of every sound you hear, wanting comfort but having nobody there to give you any, and losing your mother.
She sat on the table, careful not to sit on Brittany's sketchpad or books, before turning to look back at Brittany.
"My mother's dead too," she said cautiously, maybe if she shared something personal with Brittany, the girl would understand that she wasn't going to hurt her. "She was buried in my friend's backyard,"
She saw Brittany cock her head to one side ever so slightly, if she hadn't been looking at her she wouldn't have seen it. The girl nodded before shuffling on the bed, laying down and tugging the grey prison issued blanket over herself with her back to Alison, seeming to trust Alison enough to sleep now.
Alison smiled softly before standing up, she made a move towards her bunk but stopped herself at the thought of frightening her cellmate.
"Brittany?" she called out softly. Brittany didn't respond, but shuffled in her bed to show Alison that she was listening, "I'm going to get some sleep as well before dinner, is it okay if I get in my bunk. I won't hurt you I promise."
Brittany nodded with her back still to Alison. Alison walked over and climbed into her bunk, curling up under the blanket as well.
It was clear to Alison that her and Brittany were very much in the same situation. Neither of them had done anything to deserve being here, but both were here anyway because of heartless people. Though Alison may still be proven innocent, Brittany was serving a sentence. If Alison got out of here before the kid did, she swore she would find a way to get Brittany released. The way that she cared for the girl surprised even herself, but there was something about this girl that made her feel almost obligated to protect her.
Maybe this is how she redeems herself, maybe if she helps Brittany she won't go to hell and maybe… just maybe, her friends would see that she wasn't the evil monster they thought she was.
As she drifted off to sleep, she wondered about her friends and how they were doing. She hoped she would get out of here in time to help them before -A got to them, she wouldn't throw them under the bus as part of a bargain. She would be found innocent eventually, and then maybe her and the girls, especially Emily, could work on being a team again and in Emily's case, maybe the true nature of their feelings could be addressed.
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The first chapter of my new story. Emily will feature in later chapters as well as the other girls but for the moment it's focusing on Alison and Brittany. Thankyou everyone for your continued support of my work! Love you all xoxox
