Next day Maxine visited Allie again. She asked her if she wanted to move to H1. Of course, she wanted! What a crazy question?! Allie would have smiled if she could but the swelling on her lip, even if it was getting better, was still painful. Same can be said for the rest of her body. Painkillers were good, but not that good. There was painful throbbing everywhere in her body and every attempt to move hurt like hell. Maxine sat next to her holding her hand smiling at her softly.
- Bea thinks it would be better for you with us in H1, but she said it must be your choice. It is up to you, if you want to move, we will make it happen if not, we will try to protect you as good as we can, but you know, that it would be harder that way.
- I felt like black sheep between them anyway. After this, it would be just worse. I owe Kaz a lot, but I won't be her doormat. – Allie answered instantly. There was nothing much to think about.
- That is settled then. Have to say, I'm happy to hear that. We will go today and take your stuff, so when they let you out you don't have to worry about that. – Maxine smiled and squeezed her hand asking. - How are you feeling?
- I'm ok. It looks worse than it feels.
- Did they tell you how long you have to stay?
- Yeah, I asked in the morning. Doc said at least three more days. It really sucks! It was scary here during the night. You know, like in horror movies. Creepy hospital with serial killer doctors cutting people up. It is sad and lonely here. – Allie got quiet clearly thinking about something. – Do you think Kaz will come here to finish me?
Maxine smiled reassuringly.
- That won't happen.
- Are you going to bash her while taking my stuff? She could end up here and I don´t want that.
Maxine laughed.
- Honey, I can assure you. For what she did to you – she won't end up here. I think hospital ICU room has her name on it already. At least I hope Bea won't kill her because that might happen as well.
Maxine wiggled her eyebrows and giggled. Allie grew to like her already. She remembered what Kaz said about the brunette, how she doesn't belong here, that he should be in men's prison. Looking into her friendly and smiling face Allie forgot all about that. Maxine is a very gentle and charming woman. It would be nice to get to know her better and the whole H1 crew. Allie observed them for long weeks and months. The H1 crew had a great vibe around them, she can't wait to be with them.
Allie hated the medical, it was gray and scary. Neon lamps humming and flickering in the quiet cold room. She tried to sleep and rest, but it was hard. Her mind was full of questions and flashbacks. She could still hear Kaz's words in her ears and the pain coming from the well-placed hits.
The nurse walked in, at least Allie assumed it was her when she heard the door closing. She opened her not the swollen left eye, yeah it was the nurse, but she was not alone.
She just took a bunch of notes from someone, they were whispering and Allie got scared. In this condition and the weak light, she couldn't recognize the woman. Her panic calmed as soon as she realized it can't be anyone from her old crew. Then the woman turned and she recognized her. It was the older lady from Bea's crew. The nurse hid the money in her bag and sat down to do paperwork. The woman walked to Allie.
- How are you feeling? – she asked. Allie blinked with her good eye trying to figure out what the woman wanted. – I'm Liz, I'm sure you have seen me before a lot, but we never had a chance to introduce ourselves. I will keep you company until you can get out of here. Bea said it will be better to keep an eye on you.
Allie swallowed, of course, Bea Smith is behind this. The top dog thinks that she must be under surveillance. Liz patted her hand.
- Maxine told her you to feel a bit lonely here, I get that, this place is creepy. – she said and climbed on the other bed. – No worries Allie, I´m a good company. It is Allie, right?
Allie nodded and the older woman smiled at her brightly. They talked the next five minutes, but then the painkillers and exhaustion took over the younger woman and she fell into comfortable sleep.
Next two days Allie and Liz spent talking and actually having fun. It was like a little vacation. Nobody to bother them, just them gossiping and joking around. Maxine stopped once to check on them, but Bea never showed, very much for Allie´s disappointment, but she grew to love Liz and Maxine. They were so different from her crew. Funny, laid back, full of positive energy and they never complained or plotted to hurt others.
The second day Allie spilled to Liz about Jake and told her the whole story. It was good to get it off her chest. No need to say, Liz was shocked.
- Allie, love, you have to tell this to Bea.
Allie shook her head.
- You have to, this is something you can't keep from her. I know that this is not something you want to talk about, but it is a huge deal. Allie this says a lot about Proctor and Bea must know this. This needs to be punished. I mean, I'm sure she will get it pretty nicely just for the beating she gave you, but hell, she deserves much more than that.
- I don´t think Bea will punish her. It is three days and still nothing.
Liz smiled.
- Trust me, love, she won't touch another woman ever again – ever. Bea is smart, she knows the timing is important, never mention that she must have calm head to do something. Now she is too angry and emotional, she just has to think it over.
The prospect of talking about this with Bea was not very appealing to Allie, but she knew she has to. She considered living in H1 for a lucky privilege. She is not going to mess it up right at the beginning. She will do as Liz said and talk to be as soon as she can.
The following day they let Allie out. Liz guided her to H1 and showed her the cell she will call home from now on. As strange as it is, it really felt like home. Alright maybe that is little too much, but it felt very cozy and nice, surely more comfortable than her old cell in H3. Allie decided it must have been because of the vibe. H1 is really like a family or well-working machine, probably thanks to the top dog and her ability to steer her herd. The women gave her very warm welcome.
Allie was little taken back by it, she assumed that thanks to her past the women will be little cold and keep their distance. So the smiles and even small welcome gifts surprised her and almost made her cry. She spent the afternoon talking with Liz and Doreen, her eyes drifting towards the gate expecting a certain redhead walk through it. She hasn't seen Bea yet. According to the girls, she was busy. She showed up just for the evening count. Allie almost passed out when she walked over to her and gave her a short and awkward hug whispering: "Welcome." to her ear.
If you ask Bea about the dining room, she will tell you it is like a warehouse full of dynamite. A room full of crazy women. Full of anger, enemies and pent up the tension, all that cramped into a small room. It was easy to get into a fight there and it was a great place to make a statement. She was about to do that. Her eyes slid around the room, assessing the situation, looking for potential danger or trouble makers.
Then they landed on Kaz and she felt her anger rising. Bea Smith usually doesn't care about other people, specially the ones she doesn't like, but Kaz just knows how to make her tick. She is a psychopath, Bea noticed that very soon. It was obvious that she is cuckoo when she first visited Bea.
Twisting Bea's story and what she did for her own needs, using it as an excuse for her crazy ideas. When she ended up in Wentworth and Bea had the chance to know her better, it got even worse. Her psychotic manias bloomed, she is dangerous no question in that. Narcissistic, psychotic and stupid – worse combination ever. Bea won't let her hurt any of the women.
When Bea swallowed the last bite of her egg, she looked around and tapped twice on the table. Doreen jumped up, followed by two girls from H2 from the other table. They disabled the cameras and blocked the door. Bea stood up and the dinner went dead quiet.
- We have rules and we have them for a reason, you all know that. I won't let anyone abuse the other women. This is not for the first time when Proctor did something against our rules. She constantly goes against me, questions our rules even if she has no idea about how things work here.
By this Maxine and Boomer walked behind Kaz and grabbed her arms and shoulders. Her resistance was weak while her crew never even flinched, they were just looking around obviously scared. Doreen handed Bea a metal bar. She grabbed it and continued.
- Nobody will abuse anyone while I'm the top dog! Nobody!
She looked at Maxine and Boomer, her red head motioned towards the table. The two women pulled Kaz closer. Boomer pushed her into the table while Maxine walked around it and then grabbed her hands pulling them across the table. Kaz realized what is coming and she tried to resist, but Boomer slammed her head into the hard wooden surface and that weakened her resistance.
Bea gripped the metal bar tighter and stepped closer. Without further ado or hesitation, Bea swung the bar and hit Kaz over her hands. Before Kaz's scream had a chance to end Bea hit her one more time and then again. The breaking of the bones can't be heard but surely they were broken. Strangely there was dead quiet in the dining room, except the painful yelling. Bea dropped the pipe and stepped closer to Kaz her face furious. Maxine and Boomer let the old blonde go right before Bea's fist landed on her cheek and Kaz slipped on the floor.
Allie felt strange, to put it nicely. She felt her throat tighten into a large knot and yet she was taking rapid breaths. Emotions were shaking her body. Her hands got a hold on the table and her knuckles went white by the sheer power of her grip. She was not alone who stared in silent awe. It was a very long time ago when the top dog punished someone this way.
After becoming the leader it took Bea approximately not whole three months to set the rules and establish her reign. In those first months, she bashed and punished few people in a similar manner, but never so drastically as she did now. Nobody blamed her, though. Everyone noticed the purple and yellow bruises on Allie's face and they knew she spent few days in medical. Rumor had it that it was Kaz who was responsible and now it is confirmed.
- I repeat! – Bea said loudly while still standing over Kaz. – No one will put a hand on anyone here. If you have a problem with someone, you come after me and I deal with it. – The women were watching her intently drinking up everything she has to say. Bea kicked the woman lying in front of her two times before continuing.
– But mostly! No one, I say no one, will bash someone as threat or punishment. Nobody will get beaten up for not doing something they don't want to. Everyone is equal here, no slaves no servants. – Bea looked up and her eyes slid around the room.
– Listen up! If you are forced by someone to do something you don't want to or someone is bossing you around and forces you into anything you are not comfortable to do, don't hesitate and come to find me.
Bea stepped back and looked at Allie. Their eyes met. Allie was sure that everyone could see her heart wildly pounding into her ribcage. They are most definitely able to see that. It was so hard and powerful, almost painful and loud, no way they can't see it. She never even noticed or paid attention to Kaz who was still lying on the floor groaning in a small pool of blood coming out of her nose and mouth. Her eyes were fixed the whole time on Bea. Standing there so fearless and strong commanding respect. When she turned around and their eyes met Allie felt like struck by lightning. Not for the first time. This woman had the ability to do that to her often.
Allie felt like all the physical and emotional pain what Kaz caused her were gone. They have disappeared and were replaced by this fuzzy warm feeling. Yeah, ok, it is crazy – considering that the center of her affection just beat down someone into half dead. But hell, it was hot! Bea Smith dominating a room full of women with ease, the tight sleeveless shirt showing her muscles with every move and her brown eyes looking right at her did things to Allie. She was not afraid, not sad or anxious, she felt like coming home. Safe, taken care of and like someone who mattered. "Well fuck…" she thought, she is in deep or she is crazy like hell.