WARNING: Strong language, and violence
Fallen #30
By 6p.m. everyone was awake. I found it to be increasingly difficult to avoid contact with Lincoln, Scofield, and T-Bag. I was still angry about what Lincoln had said. If there was one person in the world who knew that I was not weak it was Lincoln. Maybe I was overreacting, I knew that in a split second Kellerman could and more importantly would take me out. I guess I just liked the thought that someone had faith in me, and as soon as he said that, I lost that feeling. He had been the one person to never give up on me, he always kept me save, always kept me sane. Then to feel like the faith he had in me was fake, that killed me.
"Scratch!" C-Note exclaimed as I sank the white ball once again. "Oh shut it!" I exclaimed with mock anger. This was the third game of pool between C-Note and I; needless to say I was losing badly, for the third game in a row. Everyone else played cards, except for T-Bag who was watching T.V. After losing the third game and assuring C-Note that I lost because I sucked at the game not because I was trying to boost his ego, I threw in the towel. "Anyone want anything from upstairs?" I asked from the bottom of the stairs with my back to the group. "Popcorn" Lincoln requested. "Figures" I mumbled "Anyone else?". "Will you grab me a Gatorade, please?" L.J. asked "Sure, maybe while I'm gone you can teach your father some manners." I said jokingly, too bad it didn't come out that way. Lincoln gave me a look, I couldn't see it, but I felt it. After receiving no more requests I made my way upstairs. Unaware of the fact that a certain ex-inmate was no longer in the basement.
I opened the cupboard, grabbed the popcorn and tossed it into the microwave. I grabbed L.J. his Gatorade and set it on the counter next to the microwave. I grabbed my cell phone out of my pocket to check the battery, it was almost dead. I made my way to my bedroom and hooked my phone up so it could charge. I heard the microwave go off indicating that the popcorn was done and began my trip back to the kitchen.
Suddenly, I had the feeling that something wasn't right. Before I had the chance to process this ominous feeling I was slammed into the stairs. I felt a crack and knew immediately that at least one of my ribs had been broken. I tried to scream out but a hand muffled the sound. "You should show a little more respect for your elders, sweetheart." T-Bag drawled as his body pinned mine to the stairs. I was terrified, and in pain, but I was not going to let the bastard know that he was hurting me. If I did, I would only be letting him win. I began to thrash despite the immense pain in my side. "I like a wild woman." He said as my attempts to fight him off proved to bee feeble. I felt filthy as his hand that was not silencing my pleas for help, roamed my body. I squeezed my eyes shut, as I tried not to cry, as his hand reached for the one place I never wanted him to near. I was so immersed in trying to just survive the attack that I did not immediately notice his weight being lifted off of me.
"I'll kill you! You son of a bitch!" A voice exclaimed. Reluctantly, I opened my eyes to see Sucre pinning T-Bag to the wall. I tried to get up off of the stairs but the pain was paralyzing. "You ain't gonna do nothin hombre." T-Bag mocked. "You're right, I'm gonna let Michael and Linc do it!" Sucre threatened. I couldn't let him tell them, no matter how much I wanted T-Bag to pay. Letting them take T-Bag out was not in the cards.
"Fernando" I said voice shaking. I could tell by the way he reacted to my voice that in his anger he had forgotten that I was still lying on the stairs. He quickly let go of T-Bag and rushed over to me. "Cali! Are you okay?" He asked his voice riddled with concern, I gave him a "what do you think?" look. "Right, sorry." He said realizing that the answer to that question was quite obvious. "Help me up." I said gritting my teeth. He grabbed my hand and placed his other hand on my side, causing me to take in a sharp breath. He gave me a sympathetic look and gently pulled me to my feet, before once again going after T-bag. Just as he was about to grab T-Bag, I grabbed his arm. "Sucre, don't." I pleaded. Sucre turned to me in shock "What! After what he just did you want to let him go!" He exclaimed angrily. I sighed, there was nothing more that I wanted at that moment then for T-Bag to get what was coming to him. "No… I have to let him go." I said. I could tell that T-Bag was going to say something, and if I didn't stop him before he spoke I would end up Sucre ignoring what I said and blowing it. "Say one word… One fucking word and I let him kill you right here and now, Bagwell!" I spat venomously. He tossed his hand up in surrender and strutted his way back to the basement whistling.
"Come on." Sucre said ad he grabbed my hand and led me to the bathroom next to my bedroom. He ordered me to sit on the toilet while he got some aspirin and water for me. "Thanks" I said quietly, feeling like a child. I saw no point in pretending that I wasn't scared or hurt around him. It was because of him that I was in as good of shape as I was. "What happened?" He asked leaning against the sink. "You were there. You saw what happened." I replied. "I mean how did it happen?" he inquired. I sighed "I don't know. One second I'm going to get the popcorn out of the microwave, and the next thing I know I'm on the stairs with him on me." I replied as I recalled. "I've got at least one broken rib." I added. "How do you know that it's broken?" He asked. "I felt and heard it break." I answered wincing as I tried to straighten up. Seeing the pain on my face he knelt down on the floor in front of me. "You gotta go to the hospital!" He said. "I can't" I said. "Why?" He asked with a confused look. "All of my I.D. says Lyndi Deacon." I replied. "So?" He asked. I sighed and looked him in the eyes "Did you read the paper today?" I asked. He gave me a "you're kidding right?" look. "I'll take that as a no… Lyndi Deacon is dead." I explained. Confusion taking over his face. "Everything will be explained later, okay? I promise, this will all make sense soon." I assured him He nodded "I need you to do me a favor… I need you to not tell anyone, and I mean anyone, about what happened with T-bag." I said. He shot up "What!" he shouted. "Please, Fernando! You have to promise not to say anything, not until things can be explained. Please!" I begged him. "I promise" he said as he knelt down to be level with me once more. I smiled at him "Thanks. Will you take Lincoln his popcorn and L.J. his Gatorade? I'm going to take a shower; I've got to wash the filth off." I said "You want me to wait outside for you?" He asked. I smiled "Thanks, but I'll be okay. I am gonna need someone to help me wrap my ribs once I get out though." I said. "Done deal." He said giving me a gentle hug, before leaving me to shower.
Slowly, I slipped off my t-shirt to reveal a severely bruised back and right side, which was starting to swell. I had hit the stairs so hard that you could see the lines on my back from where the stairs were. I climbed into the shower, the warm water feeling like needles on my sore skin. Then it hit me. Just how dangerous my life had become in such a short amount of time and I could no longer keep the tears from coming.