Through the rest of the day Erica had been given dark cold glares from the seven inmates except Charles and Tweener who actually tried to encourage her into going. Charles suggested that she tell someone but Erica replied that, that would be a shanking ready to happen. Seth knew about the escape plan from T-bag who would always complain about every little detail, of course Seth didn't and probably couldn't do anything about it back then being T-bag's cellie.
"Why don't you take my place?" Erica asked.
It was during tea time the next day and both inmates stayed in their cell as usually, both didn't like going out in the open. One the soft looks from inmates started to piss Erica off as well as creep her out and second, Seth didn't want to face T-bag and his crew.
"I can't," Seth said, "I don't deserve it."
Erica rolled her eyes, "It's not about whether you deserve it or not, it's about whether you do it or not."
Seth shook his head and said, "No, I'd probably blow the whole thing. Plus I don't want to be on PI."
Erica looked at the ground and then Seth immediately picked up that something was wrong.
"What?" he asked, "Did you do?"
Erica took in a deep breath and then said, "I'm so sorry Seth."
Seth's face went pale and then Erica timidly let loose.
"Abruzzi said that PI needed one more yard member since the other was stabbed multiple times and didn't look like he was coming back. And...your name...kinda...um...slipped."
"WHAT?"
"Please Seth be reasonable, you won't work in the guard's room where we are you will be doing yard work with the rest of the inmates with plenty of guards around."
Seth wasn't listening though, he had buried his face into the pillow and Erica sighed. She easily turned him over and then said, "Look, your starting to look like an fricken albino in here."
Seth frowned and then said, "I doubt that you guys will be working in the guards room twenty-four/seven."
Erica shrugged, "I can ask the warden if you can have a look out."
Seth shook his head, "I"m fine."
Tea time passed by and the cells were locked once again with the prisoners inside. Erica was reading when Bellick called for PI. Seth tried to make himself blend in with the shadows but Erica guided him off the bed and onto the catwalk.
"Let's move up there!" a guard shouted to Seth and Erica.
Both slowly walked along the catwalk and then down the stairs until they came to the ground level. Cat-calls echoed through the whole Cell Block as some of T-bag's crew caught a glimpse at Seth. Erica scowled at them and then motioned Seth in line.
"Well isn't this a surprise."
Seth felt his blood run cold as the familiar dark southern drawl rang in his ears like church bells.
"Back off T-bag," Michael said.
Erica glared at T-bag as if daring him to come closer...he did.
"Now why didn't anyone tell me you were back?"
"I said back off!" Michael said blocking the path towards Seth and Erica.
"Guilt coming back to you?" T-bag asked nastily.
A sudden cock of a gun echoed through the Block and everyone in their cell backed up as two guards came in holding automatic weapons.
"Back in line," Bellick demanded harshly.
The inmates formed an immediate perfect line.
"Told you this was a bad idea," Seth said to Erica.
Outside, Erica and the rest of the guard room crew were pushed into the still burnt room and then started to get to work immediately. They rolled back the carpet, took off the plaque and then Erica jumped in and started to dig. She passed up bucket loads to Lincoln and Abruzzi while the others did small bits of what everyone was actually suppose to do. A knock rapped three times on the door and Lincoln immediately helped Erica out. Everyone scrambled to put everything back and then Erica took up some plaster and started to work. The door opened and Bellick came in examining the place.
"You haven't done shit," Bellick spat.
"Of course we have," Michael said, "We have been working but there have been some incorrect measurements so we had to do some things all over again."
Bellick scowled but he didn't continue.
"Start working faster." With that he left and Charles right behind him.
Everyone didn't move for a bit and then Michael nodded for everyone to go back to digging in the hole.
"I suggest that we keep it to a minimum," T-bag said.
Lincoln growled, "What the hell does that mean?"
"You know...minimum, minimum amount of people."
Everyone stopped and glared at T-bag then Abruzzi said, "You want to say something?"
"Keep young ones and oldie out of it."
"Right here," Erica replied.
T-bag stared right at her and said, "I know why Seth is on PI, you brought him on."
Erica was surprised that T-bag knew that, she tried to deny it but T-bag shook his head.
"You brought him it isn't that hard to figure out."
Everyone now looked at Erica Michael gave her a stern look.
"Not to...you know what...just to get out in the fresh air," Erica said.
"Oh so now you are his mother too?" T-bag asked.
"Shut up!" Erica cried, "He tried to commit suicide because of your so called love you sick pervert!"
T-bag only laughed and then shot back, "You want to know who really helped him commit suicide ask Pretty!"
Erica looked to Michael was trying to say something but a guard opened the door and said, "Come on, yard work."
Everyone slowly gathered their tools and placed them in the wheelbarrow and then marched out of the guard's room. As they walked Erica started to wonder why she had started to care for Seth so much, was it merely that he was suicidal? Was it because Seth reminded Erica so much of David? Or was it because Seth reminded her of her brother?