CHAPTER 4: MEANWHILE AT JUVIE…

Later that night at the Juvenile Detention Center, a girl was being released the next day. She was spending her last night at the facility watching TV with her fellow inmates. Wendy, the night guard, hated the girl, named Mandy, with a passion, and she did very little to hide it. She made it known with all of the inmates her disdain for the girl. One of the reasons was she didn't speak, but understood what everyone was saying. Another was she tried to stay out of trouble, although Wendy wanted her to get in trouble just so she could put her in the "hole" at least once. But the main reason why she hated her was the fact that she killed someone and had a chance at getting out for good behavior and staying out of trouble. Usually another guard was there to keep Wendy in line, but this particular night she was on her own, making it easier to pick on the poor girl. All she wanted was to get through her last night in Juvie problem-free. All Wendy had to do was make sure the inmates did what she said and keep the peace, but she was too focused on making Mandy miserable s there could be a breakout and all that would matter to her would be torturing Mandy.

Well, Mandy was watching TV with the other girls, when Wendy started in on her. "Well I heard that you're getting out tomorrow, murderer," she sneered. "You already know that I hate you because you killed a girl that you were supposed to be friends with. That's nothing new. But tonight, no other guards are here. It's just me. And I'm going to make your last night here a living nightmare!"

"Hey, Wendy," said one of the inmates, "how about making sure one of us don't try to break out of this awful place, rather than picking on Mandy! You know, actually doing your job!"

"Shut it, scum!" yelled Wendy. "Sorry we were interrupted, murderer. Well I can't send you to the 'hole' due to you being back out in civilization in a few hours. What can I do to make your life miserable for at least tonight?"

"Hey, girls," said that same girl, "we need to protect Mandy from that nutcase Wendy. All of the other guards are fair and actually decent, but she's insane. How did someone like her even get this job?"

"But she'll probably do the same to us!" said another girl.

"Hey, don't forget, there are more of us than her," the head girl said. "And if she tried anything to hurt Mandy, we'll go after Wendy. Agreed?" The girls nodded their heads and watch the drama unfold.

"So I think I have a plan for you," Wendy said, licking her lips. "How about we do a little waterboarding, murderer? You're big enough to take it with your fat butt!"

"Wendy!" said the head girl. "Don't you dare lay one slimy finger on Mandy!"

"Oh and what are you going to do, Willona?" asked a deranged Wendy. "You try to intervene, I'll give you what I'm about to give the murderer here, but unlike HER, you won't be as lucky."

"If you hurt Willona, you'll have to hurt me, as well!" said another girl.

"Pft. Fine," sneered Wendy. Just then all of the girls stood up and walked towards Wendy. Her bravado started lowering and for once she got nervous.

"I-I can't handle all of you at once!" said a scared Wendy.

"That's the point, Wendy," Willona said. "Now are you going to leave Mandy alone, or will you have to 'Run the Gauntlet', so to speak?"

"What's going on here?!" It was Francine, the warden. She had came back because she forgot a file she had to bring with her.

"Ah, you're just in time, boss," said Wendy with a smarmy grin. "Mandy here was starting trouble again, that's all. Getting the other girls to attack me."

"That's not true, warden!" pleaded Willona. "Wendy had it out for Mandy from Day One! She was about to waterboard Mandy as a going-away present. Then Wendy threatened to do the same to me and Annie before you got here!"

"Is that true, Mandy?" asked Francine. Mandy simply nodded.

"SPEAK, SCUM!" screamed Wendy.

"THAT IS ENOUGH, WENDY!" shouted Francine. "I have had it with you and your causing trouble for these girls. They are being rehabilitated for what they did and are trying to get back to their families, and yet, you made it your life's work to make sure that don't happen. Well that ends tonight. The reason why I came back here was I forgot a file. This file right here. You know what this file is?"

"No not really."

"It's your transfer papers, Wendy."

"T-Transfer papers?"

"That's right. I'm having you transferred to the Hennepin County Jail, Women's Department. This way you will work with women your age or older. I talked to the sheriff and he agreed that you are not fit to work with children. As of matter of fact I got a replacement guard on their way here to take your place right as we speak. You are dismissed, Wendy. Leave your keys here."

"But…"

"LEAVE!" And Wendy handed Francine her keys. But before she left, she had one parting shot for Mandy.

"You don't know how lucky you just got, murderer!" she sneered.

"YOU'RE STILL HERE?!" fumed Francine. "GET OUT! NOW!" And Wendy finally exited the facility. The girls cheered for Francine.

"All right, calm down, girls," said Francine. "If ANY guard or staff member is giving you trouble, don't hesitate to let me know. As part of your rehabilitation here, we also make sure no negative influences are in here, including insane, homicidal guards."

And Mandy smiled and hugged Francine. She was grateful that she ended Wendy's reign of terror. And Francine stayed with the girls until the replacement guard showed up.

NEXT CHAPTER: LAKESIDE FUN