Divas Prison Ch3

This cell was a lot quieter than the one she was in last night, Paige thought to herself as she sat waiting. There were probably less people held here. She was only there while she waited for a transport to take her to the state prison. Yesterday she was given ten years inside for armed robbery of a jewellery store. She was still having a hard time coming to terms with it. It was a stupid decision and she was paying for it big time. By the end of today she'd be in yet another cell entirely, but that one would be her home for a decade.

The window was tiny, it let some light in but was at the very top so all you could see was sky and the bars covering the window. She tried to look out at the world while she could but with no success.

Food had been brought, but what little appetite Paige had was put off by the state of what she was given, they didn't have proper facilities for them there so they had to do the best they could but that was little comfort.

Later in the day, the door finally opened and a guard came in carrying a full set of restraints like the ones she had been put in going to court. " Time to move" was all he said. Paige stepped forward and once again was handcuffed and leg-cuffed with all connected together at the waist. She was lead from the cell and back through the corridors until she was back at the barred holding cell she was in before appearing in court. This time there were two other women in the cell as well, both of them in restraints just like she was. The door was opened and she was pushed inside. "All of you stay seated and do not talk! The bus will be here for you shortly" came the shout from the guard, who seemed to enjoy shouting orders at and bullying those who couldn't defend themselves.

Although she couldn't talk to the other women in there with her, Paige did take the opportunity to have a look at them. One was quite small, with Hispanic features and brown hair, 'Kinda cute' she thought to herself, 'I wonder how she got in this mess too.'

She couldn't say the same about the other one, a blonde who looked to be the oldest of the, but certainly not old in any sense. She sat still and had a dead stare in her eyes, like she knew where she was, but didn't care. The Hispanic woman was fiddling with her cuffs and chains, clearly uncomfortable being in them. Paige agreed with the feeling but just tried to pretend that hers weren't there.

They were in the holding cell for what felt like about an hour before several guards came back. These ones were in. A different uniform and were all armed with shotguns.

"On your feet!" was the command. All of them obeyed and the cell door was opened. "Move out!" again felt like a military order. Walking wasn't easy as any other time in these restraints but the three of them shuffled through the corridors, flanked on all sides by these new guards. Paige caught details on their uniforms. These were guards from the prison they were heading to. Hopefully they won't be so military day to day.

As they opened the door to the outside, the bus was right there waiting for them. The door was open and they all got in. The guards separated them across the bus in an area that was fenced in, clearly just for prisoners. Their leg-cuffs were then attached to a bar on the floor, none of them were going to be able to get up for the entire trip. Paige, felt like she needed the bathroom but dismissed it as the nerves she was feeling. It wasn't like they were going to stop for her anyway.

The guards sat down and the bus moved off. There was metal fence over the windows but that didn't stop Paige looking through the window at the world outside. This felt more torturous than anything else as she saw places that she went to on a regular basis to run errands or just to relax and spend some down time. Now though, she may never see them again, who knows what things are going to be like in ten years time. She tried to look at the other girls but the guards banged on the fence, shouting "face the front!"

After a while, all the familiar sights faded into the distance and thoughts turned to her destination. They were in what felt like quite a deserted area and she thought they must be getting close and they were, soon the first sights of the prison came into view, the first thing they saw were several very tall towers and soon the fence was obvious too. There were two very tall fences, one about ten feet behind the other. Once they got close enough you could see guards looking out from the towers and others patrolling between the fences with dogs. All of them were armed. Paige felt scared but didn't dare let anyone see it.

The bus pulled to the gate, which eventually opened and they pulled in under an arch and Paige got her first full look at the prison. There were a lot of buildings over a wide area. All the buildings looked the same from the outside, and probably looked the same inside too was her thought. There was some open areas as well, but a lot of it fenced in too. In the distance were more towers and fence but beyond that you just couldn't tell, it looked like there was nothing beyond the fence. This was the whole world now.

The bus pulled up at a building and there was a man in an expensive suit and sunglasses was waiting for them. The guards opened the gate and door of the bus and came to disconnect their restraints from the bar on the bus. "Off the bus and stand in front of the warden. Stay silent and show him the respect he deserves" was the order. All three did as they were told and were now in front of the man who was in charge of the prison.

"Welcome ladies, my name is Warden Flair and this is my prison." He seemed to be a confident man, and he has probably made this speech many times. "When you are fortunate, or unfortunate enough to be in my presence, you will address me as Warden, Warden Flair, or simply as Sir. The same respect will be shown to my head guard, Guard Borden" he patted one of the guards from the bus on the shoulder "or any of his team. Do that and you will receive the same back. Fail and the repercussions will be fast and they will be severe."

Warden Flair looked long and hard at each one of them as he continued. "This is a close security institution, which means that you will be in your cell blocks for 23 hours a day, but not confined to cells for all that time unless your behaviour warrants it. All of you are going to be with us here for a long time. It is up to you how you use that time. You have the opportunity to make the most of your incarceration and develop knowledge and skills that will make you help you to become productive members of decent society when you are released. . We have the option to study and earn educational and vocational qualifications, you can work and earn money to spend at the commissary, you can get help to fight your demons and make sure that this is the only time you arrive in my prison. Follow the rules ladies, and this will be a smooth ride for all of us. Good luck. Guard Borden, please proceed with their orientation."

"Yes sir" replied the guard as the warden walked away. "Ok ladies, we are going through that door to orientation and admission. You will be provided with new uniform, bedding and toiletries. New uniform and sheets will be provided weekly on a item for item basis, if you do not return worn items, you will not be given new ones. You can purchase new items from the commissary, which will also be available to you once a week. Items are paid for by account which will be set up for you inside, no cash is carried in this prison. You will be given an id band that must be worn at all times. If it comes off, you must inform a guard at once and my staff will provide a new one. You will be given a rule book, learn it well, breaking rules can result in loss of privilege, confinement to cell or time in solitary or 'The Lock' as it is known. Not knowing the rule will not be accepted as an excuse. Is that all clear?"

"Yes sir" was the mumbled response from both Paige and the Hispanic woman, the blonde stayed silent and that dead stare in her eyes, like it was all going in but there was no response. "I said is that clear?" Still no answer. Guard Borden jabbed her in the stomach with his club and she doubled over. " Fine, take her to the lock, don't take any cuffs off, she can have orientation tomorrow." Two guards dragged her away through a different door than the one pointed out. "You two, that way." They went through the door and got taken in different directions.

The next couple of hours were quite similar to what she went through when she first arrived in jail after being arrested. Photos, fingerprints and lots and lots of questions, some quite personal and probing. When they were finished they put her ID band on her wrist and informed her that she was assigned to Block A, Cell 24 and she could go and collect her supplies after showering.

As she went around, a guard removed all of her restraints. This was a big relief as they were so uncomfortable as they had been on her for so long. The shower was designed for several people at once but Paige was all alone. She was grateful for that but knew it was likely this would be the exception to the rule. She only had a few minutes before being ordered out. She was given her clothes, only two shirts and trousers as well as underwear, socks and slip on shoes. Certainly not enough for a week compared to what she was used to. The shirts had 'DOC' on the back and the pants has 'Inmate' down one leg, like the bright orange colour wasn't obvious enough. The pillow she was given wasn't much of one and the blanket was thin but it's not as though there was much of a choice. As soon as she had everything the guard unlocked a door and motioned her through.

A short walk later they arrived in cell block A. It looked quite basic, all one colour with a lot of chairs and tables in the middle, fixed to the floor, with lots of doors around the outside on two levels. There was a guard station at one end where they could see everything. There was a small window on each door and a number. As she looked around she spotted a door marked 24, that must be her cell. Sure enough her escort headed in that direction. As they got there, the guard called out "Open 24" and the door made a noise, the guard opened it for her. "Welcome home" he said with a smirk, Paige walked in and the door immediately was slammed behind her.

The cell was just as basic, all one colour, a small desk and concrete stool combo, a toilet/sink and two bunks. Paige couldn't move, she just slid down the door an buried her face in her sheets/clothes pile she was carrying, feeling like she couldn't be strong anymore. Now her thoughts could catch up, things were hitting home and it hit her like a train. She was in prison. Tears were falling fast and she let out a small sob.

"I'd cut that out if I were you lass, don't want this lot thinking you're a weakling." Paige looked up at where the voice came from and locked eyes with her cell mate for the first time. She looked to be around her age, maybe a little older, definitely under 30. Her biggest feature was her long flowing hair, bright orange to the point it almost matched the shirt she was wearing.

"So you're my new cellie are ya? What's ya name?" She had a strong Irish accent.

Paige answered timidly, "My names Paige, Paige Knight".

"I'm Becky Lynch, nice to meet ya, welcome to cell 24" She seemed friendly, Paige had been concerned she would be locked up with some nutcase but maybe she'd caught a break for once. "Thanks, I guess, where do I put all this", motioning to the items she came in with.

"There's an empty box under the beds, it's all gotten stay in there, it's a rule."

"Yes I heard about all the rules from that guard Borden"

"Oh, you've met Sting? We call him that because if he hits you with that bat he's got, oh boy it stings."

Paige thought back to what she saw him do earlier "I bet it does, he hit a girl I came in with earlier."

"I've felt it a couple of times now, never does you any good. So what brings you here?" Paige looked confused "What did you do to end up in prison?"

Paige told Becky the story of Scott, the jewellery store and her arrest. "Wow lass, might have been the smart decision. Being a rat wouldn't have gotten you off the hook, you still held up that store. He probably won't bother you in here now. But what an asshole." That last remark may have sealed a bond between the two. Paige asked Becky the same question and heard an unfortunate tale like her own. Becky was defending a friend of hers whose ex boyfriend had shown up at the bar they were in on a night out and started trouble. A big fight broke out and Becky had caught the guy with a broken beer bottle. Police and ambulance showed up but the fight continued, Becky had tried to fight the police off but eventually was pinned down and handcuffed. As she was dragged away she saw that the guy had lost too much blood and died at the scene. She was given 20 years for manslaughter and resisting arrest and had been inside for 6 years.

The two spent a little more time talking before they heard "Lights out" and all went dark. Paige quickly spread her sheets, got onto her bunk and tried to sleep.

A/N: Thanks for reading. Please do review/follow/favourite, those of you who have have made doing this even more enjoyable that I thought it could be. Did anyone work out who the other two women on the bus were? One was more obvious than the other...I think.

So Paige is now locked up, next time will be the real start of her time as she experiences her first full day in prison. She'll meet more people and start to feel out her new surroundings.