I felt bad for the next person that I ran into. That happened to be officer Bellick. He watched me with a confused look storming across the yard with no escort.
"Collins, what the hell are you doing?"
I turned at the sound of my name and was glaring at Bellick. He looked surprised and took a couple steps back.
"I just needed some air ok," I spat.
I tried to turn and walk away, but he grabbed onto my elbow and started pulling me back to the break room.
"Let go of me, stop it," I shouted resisting against him.
He didn't loosen his grip and he kept a firm grip on my elbow. He wasn't saying anything, but I kept yelling for him to let me go. I wasn't trying to go anywhere, I just needed to cool down before anyone got hurt. I was so furious that I was afraid I would fight with Abruzzi, and lord knows who would win.
"You can't just walk around as you please, now get back in there," he scolded.
I protested a few more times, but I knew it was pointless. I stopped fighting and walked alongside Bellick.
"So what's bothering you?" he said.
I looked at him unsure what to say. I didn't want to admit to him that I knew some of the stuff Abruzzi was doing, and more importantly because I wasn't doing anything about it.
"It is just I found out about Tbag's cousin, and he was really upset so it made me upset," I lied.
Bellick scoffed.
"If you ask me the world is better off with one less Bagwell roaming around."
I stopped in my tracks and turned to stare at Bellick. He was being completely serious. I was having to fight with every ounce of being not to punch his lights out. How could someone be so insensitive? Was he even aware that a child was killed too? I didn't say another word to Bellick when he took me back to the break room. The others looked up to see me coming. I noticed that both Abruzzi and Tbag were missing.
"Found princess here out taking a stroll. Tell John to keep a better eye on his workers," said Bellick.
I rolled my eyes and Bellick left the room. They were all watching me for a moment trying to decide if I was going to flip out. Michael tried to ease the tension.
"Laney why don't you come with me back down to the pipes," he said.
I nodded my head and slowly moved passed the guys. They helped me down the hole and I followed Michael down through the pipes. It looked familiar to me from the other day, but I still didn't know where I was going. He stopped in one place, and I sat down resting against one of the pipes. I gasped when Michael started to remove his clothing.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
He laughed at me and removed his shirt. I started to get a little nervous when he started to take off his pants. Rather than tell me what he was doing, he took a rock and threw it down that oh so familiar slide. I was waiting to hear it hit, but I only heard a splash.
"You don't have to just sit there while I go for a swim," Michael told me,
I raised my eyebrows at him, questioning why he kept asking me down here for no reason. He only smiled at me.
"I just wanted someone else to know what I was doing around here. You are one of the few people that I trust."
I felt wonderful and horrible at the same time. I felt extremely happy that Michael felt he could trust me. It was always difficult to find anyone to trust in prison. I also felt horrible because he was trusting me, and I was going to turn around and rat him out down the road. I just smiled at him and nodded my head. He went down the slide and I heard a giant splash as he hit the water. I turned around and tried to find my way back to the hole.
I finally found the hole and C-note and Sucre pulled me out. They looked a little concerned when I came back on my own without Michael. I explained what he was doing and they focused their attention back to the hole waiting for Michael to come out.
"Hey, I am going to go find Tbag and John," I said.
….
"I'm eliminating a problem," whispered Abruzzi.
I looked over to Tbag who was staring at Abruzzi with fear in his eyes. Abruzzi took out his knife and held it up to Tbag's throat. I immediately stepped forward.
"John don't," I said.
Tbag looked over at me almost grateful that I was stepping in to save his life. Abruzzi didn't seem fazed and still the held the knife firmly in his hands.
"You don't have to do this," I whispered.
"He brought this on himself. All the children he has hurt, and the families he has tormented. "
I shook my head at him telling him that that didn't matter. I wanted to speak up.
"Maybe after everything I've done, I do deserve this, but you are no better than me," spat Tbag.
Abruzzi didn't like that very much and pressed the knife slightly into Tbag. I saw the blood trickle down his neck.
"Wait John no! I know you can be better than this. I'm sorry for screaming at you earlier, and I know that the kid was just an accident. You aren't a monster John, and God has given you the chance to choose. Please John don't kill him."
Abruzzi turned to look at me for a moment. I could see the sadness and confusion in his eyes. He honestly didn't know what to do.
"Maybe I should give him the chance to choose as well," Abruzzi whispered.
Tbag shook his head in agreement and Abruzzi leaned in close to his face so he could whisper in his ear.
"Back out of the escape."
My eyes widened as I realized what John wanted Tbag to do. Tbag looked equally surprised as well. He slowly shook his head. Abruzzi didn't seem satisfied and grabbed his face with both hands.
"I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME YOUR WORD!" he screamed.
I jumped when I heard Abruzzi scream and Tbag look frightened once more. He started saying over and over again how he promised he would back out of the escape. It took me by surprise when Tbag collapsed into Abruzzi's arm crying. I was afraid of what John would do.
"Alright, "he said throwing Tbag down, " I have forgiven you. You just have to pray that Jesus does the same."
Abruzzi slipped the knife back into his sleeve and turned to face me. I gave him a grateful smile and he slowly returned it. Neither of us noticed when Tbag sat up.
"Hey John say hi to Jesus for me," he said.
Abruzzi and I both turned our attention back to Tbag, but I wished I hadn't. It happened so fast that I thought I missed something. Tbag took the razor in his hands and flung it across Abruzzi. I watched as the blood splattered the window. The scream caught in my throat as I watched Abruzzi fall to the floor clutching his throat. Tbag was looking at me with the worst look I've seen and I made a run for the door. I felt one arm grab the back of my shirt and the other went around my mouth.
I was screaming into the hand and struggling against Tbag's hold. He only held me tighter and I only stopped struggling when I heard a rip. Tbag had ripped the shirt right off of my back and the front fell in front of me. I was left standing in my black bra with Tbag. God help me. He removed his hand from my mouth and spun me around to face him. I still didn't scream because he had taken Abruzzi's knife and the cold blade was resting on my throat.
"Don't even think about screaming Laneykins," he growled.
I trembled with fear and tears started to form in my eyes. Now I had wished that Abruzzi would have just killed him and I was the idiot that had stopped him.
"Now where were you running off to in such a hurry? Trying to rat me out sweet pea?"
I shook my head quickly back and forth, which caused the blade to cut into my skin. I let out a whimper and begged Tbag to let me go.
"Shhh shhh shhh. And I know you wouldn't be stupid enough to tell anyone because if you did some bad things would happen to you, and by the end you would be begging me to kill you.".
As he said this, the knife trailed down past my neck. Tbag was brushing it back and forth over my breasts. I started to cry at the realization of what Tbag was suggesting.
"Please don't, I promise I won't say anything, I promise," I begged.
We stood there in silence for a little while, and the only sounds were the choking noises coming from Abruzzi. I was a little relieved to know he was still alive. Tbag took the knife in his hand and jammed it into my side. I let out a squeal of pain and fell against Tbag. He dug the knife deeper and deeper, and I could feel the warm liquid seeping out of me. He ripped the knife out of me and I instinctively clutched the wound with my hand. It was instantly covered in blood, and I was bleeding all over the floor. Tbag grabbed me roughly by the elbow and dragged me across the floor. He threw me down so I was lying right next to Abruzzi. Tbag laughed at the sight of John holding his throat and me holding my side before leaving the room.
I turned my head slowly so I was looking at Abruzzi and closed my eyes. I swore I could hear Lincoln's voice shouting out for Michael before everything went dark.
