The next morning I walked into the prison. My long hair was braided down my back, wearing no make up and the smaller than usual heels helped me look younger than I was. I looked around, feigning nervousness as I approached the desk. "Excuse me, sir.." I said, looking up at the man and fiddling with the hem of my sleeve. "I'm here to see Michael Gray, sir." I told him. "Name." he demanded, not bothering to look at me. "Evie Gray. I mean, Evelyn Gray. Michael is my husband." I stuttered, looking around again with wide eyes. "Wait there." he said, bored as he went into a back office.
I stood there for around five minutes before he came back. "Go down the hall, room three. He'll be out in five minutes." the man told me, this time looking at me. "Thank you, sir." I said, still fiddling with my sleeve and walked down to where he pointed.
I waited in the room for what felt like an eternity before they brought Michael in. I stood as the door opened and he walked in, hands in chains and a guard either side of him. Michael watched me with intensity as they undid the shackles. Finally free, he quickly crossed the room to me, engulfing me in his arms as I wrapped my arms around his neck. I buried my head in his neck and I was aware of the two guards still stood there. "I told them we were married to get in here." I whispered in his ear before pulling away to look at him.
"Are you okay?" I asked, loud enough for the guards to hear. He searched my face for a moment before leaning in and crashing his lips to mine. I froze for a minute, unsure how to react before melting into the kiss. My eyes fluttered closed and my hands went to the nape of his neck, my fingers playing with the blond hair there. His hands were on the small of my back and my waist, holding me to him as he deepened the kiss. There was smoke on his tongue. His lips were confident but the hands on me were unsure.
"Young love, eh?" A familiar Irish voice said, pulling me out of my thoughts and away from Michael. Michael turned to look over his shoulder at the newcomer, his hands still on my waist. "You think you could just walk into my prison, Mrs Shelby?" Campbell asked as I looked around Michael, moving my hands to rest on his arms. I watched the Irish man as he walked towards us.
Michael must have sensed the tension as he turned further, blocking my body with his. "Move, boy." Campbell demanded, Michael stayed where he was and Campbell sighed, signalling to the two guards. "No!" I cried out as the men came forward and grabbed Michael, pulling him away from me and punching him in the stomach. "Leave him alone." I told Campbell as he came closer to me. My eyes widened as his hand went to my throat, pushing me against the wall and grinning into my face. He wasn't cutting off my air but I knew he would if I fought back.
"That's the second man I've seen you with and neither of them were your husband." Campbell told me, a smirk on his face. "And you cried Tommys name so sweetly that night you must've practiced that before, I bet that left him shivering for days. I know it did for me." he added. I looked at the man with disgust, trying to shove him away from me but earning a slap around the face that sent me crashing to the ground. I heard Michael shouting my name before blows landing on skin. "C'mon, I don't want you on the floor." Campbell said, grabbing my arm and pulling me up, smashing my head against the wall. My eyes quickly found Michael who was still struggling against the guards, fresh cuts on his face.
"My God, you looked beautiful that night." Campbell said, brushing a curl away from my face. The realisation hit me. "You watched, didn't you?" I asked, searching his face. "I was intrigued about what you would do. I never expected you to just lie there and take it. I expected a bit more fight from you." he told me, dragging his finger down my face. I fought the emotion in my face, not wanting to give him the satisfaction.
We stood in silence for a few moments before Campbell spoke again. "As lovely as all this is. And as much as I want to hear you crying Michaels name like you did for Tommy that night, his mother has already bargained for his release." he told me, feigning sadness. My eyes flickered to Michael who looked at me with concerned eyes. "What did she tell you in return?" I asked, my eyes going back to Campbell. "Well, it's not what she said but what she did, Mrs Shelby. That Polly Shelby is quite a woman and she was so willing. Eager even." the guards laughed as Michael fought against them once more, knowing what Polly had done to secure the release of her son.
"Michael, stop." I demanded and surprisingly, the teenager did what I told him. "You and Mr Gray are free to go, Mrs Shelby. But I do hope we will see each other soon." Campbell told me, kissing my cheek before releasing the grip on my throat and leaving with the other two guards. I sank to the floor as the door closed behind them and Michael was quickly beside me, pulling my head into his chest. My hand went to the side of his face and I instinctively pulled him down to me, pressing my lips to his once more as he held me.
No. This wasn't right. I pulled away from Michael and looked up into his stormy grey eyes. I didn't want grey eyes. I wanted blue. I quickly looked away from Michael, gazing across the room. "We've gotta get out of here." I told him, staring into space. He stood, pulling me up with him and hugging me once more. "It'll be okay, Eves." he told me, before taking my hand and leading me from the room.
Polly paused as we left the prison, her eyes going wide at mine and Michael's bruised faces. I put a hand on Michael's shoulder as he lit a cigarette, resisting the urge to rest my cheek on his arm. He patted my hand before moving towards Polly. "You need cream on them cuts or they'll go bad." she told him. There was a moment of silence. "The screws told me why I've been freed. They told me what you did. They thought it was funny. Maybe it is." he said before turning to me. I looked at Polly as I walked up to them. "I need to speak to Tommy." I told her before walking off with Michael, threading my arm through his.
"Hey! Finn! Is John in there?" I called, walking down Watery Lane fighting tears. "Evie? What's happened?" He asked, concern in his face. "Is he in there, Finn?" I demanded, getting closer to him. "Yeah, Evie. John's in there. What's wrong?" He said following me into the shop.
My eyes scanned the room and I quickly found Lily in Tommy's arms. I crossed the room on shaky legs, ignoring the various looks and greetings from the men. "Give her to me, Tommy." I demanded, stopping in front of him and holding my arms out. He was grinning until he saw me, his face dropping at the sight of the blossoming bruises. "Evie, what happened?" He asked, looking down at me with concern and bringing a hand to my cheek. "Just give me my fucking daughter, Thomas." I told him, pushing his hand away from me.
"Evie, what's happened?" Finn's voice came from behind me. "Mumma." Lily called, a small frown on her face and holding her hands out to me. I quickly took her from Tommy's reluctant arms and cradled her into my chest, balancing her on my hip and wrapping my arms around her. "Did you know he was going to be there?" I asked Tommy, looking up at him with angry eyes as a tear slid down my cheek. He looked confused for a moment. "Campbell. Did you know he was at the prison?" I asked, reiterating what I was talking about. "No, I didn't." He admitted, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Well, he knew I was going to be." I told him. "Actually, I'm pretty sure he was the one that told them to let me in to see Michael." I added. Tommy looked lost for words as I looked up at him but I could see the pain behind his skillfully masked eyes. "He stood there and watched. That night. He told me that us calling to each other, me screaming your name for help and you being powerless to do anything was like music to his ears. He fucking enjoyed it." I told him, tears spilling from my eyes.
Tommy raised his hands to go to comfort me but I know he was aware of the watchful eyes around us. "Evie!" John called from behind me, a grin in his voice, oblivious to the situation but I could hear him getting closer. "I can't do this anymore." I told Tommy, my voice barely above a whisper as it broke.
John was closer now and he must've seen the pain in his brothers face as the worry was evident in his voice. "Eve, Tommy, what's wrong?" He asked, still walking closer. I gave Tommy a final look before turning to my husband whose face went from confused to worried to angry in a split second. "What the fuck has happened now?" He asked, brushing a tear from my cheek and turning my face to look at the bruising along my jaw.
"I want to go home, John. I can't do this." I told him, looking up at him through wet eyelashes and willing my voice not to break again. I shifted Lily on my hip as her hand came up to meet John's on my face. His eyes searched mine for a moment, I could see the anger melting away at my confession and sadness and protectiveness setting in.
Without glancing at Tommy, John put his arm around my shoulder. "You need to send someone round to the Jesus house. Michael is there and he does not like Polly right now." I told Tommy without looking back before leaving with John.
A/N What did you guys think of Evie/Michael? I just wrote this without thinking and this is what came out! I wasn't sure if you guys were going to like it so please please please review and let me know what you thought!