CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

It's been a week with no incidents. Life in Florida was relatively peaceful. Frieda and Zoe woke up one morning entangled in each other's arms after a night of passion.

" We better get up before we get caught," Zoe said but didn't move.

" We haven't got caught yet," Frieda told her stretching her arms and yawning.

" There's always a first time," Zoe said but still didn't move. She felt very content being in her lover's arms, with Frieda's blanket barely covering them.

" We better get ready for breakfast," Frieda said after five minutes of dozing and Zoe slid out of bed and started getting dressed.

Frieda and Zoe had breakfast with Suzanne and Tiffany Doggett who had recently turned herself in after being on the run. Zoe barely knew Doggett from minimum so maybe now she can get to know the other girl better. Doggett seemed a lot nicer now than she was several months ago. Frieda had asked Doggett how she got into Florida and Doggett said she made a deal with the devil to get her ass into B block. Then Frieda wondered that maybe they were relaxing the rules.

Frieda was becoming increasingly paranoid that Carol or Barb had ordered a hit on her and was going to happen any day now. Later that day when they were enjoying snacks of pudding and fresh fruit, Suzanne, Doggett and Frieda were talking about likely suspects.

" Sometimes the suspect is right under our noses. And it's always the person you least suspect, " Frieda was saying.

Suzanne's eyes went wide when Doggett sat down in front of them and held out a pudding, " Anyone want this? I'm having lactose issues lately."

" I'll take it!" Frieda sat eagerly, reaching out for it but Suzanne whacked it out of Doggett's hand.

" No, poison!" Suzanne exclaimed.

" It was vacuumed sealed Sherlock," Frieda said rolling her eyes as Doggett glanced down at the mess.

" You're going to clean that up."

After a game of Uno with Doggett and Suzanne, Frieda went back to their cell where Zoe was taking a nap. Zoe was already awake and had her back to her when Frieda came up behind her and wrapped her arms around Zoe's waist and started kissing the back of her neck.

" I've missed you," Frieda murmured, " That was a long game and I swear Doggett cheated."

Zoe turned around and their mouths met for a long and passionate kiss. Frieda's hands slid under the back of Zoe's shirt as their bodies pressed against each other, the kiss growing deeper and more urgent. Frieda's hand disappeared inside Zoe's pants and Zoe let out a guttural moan as Frieda found her target and worked on her.

After a while, Zoe slumped against Frieda, spent. " That was-we've never done that in broad daylight, right in the middle of our cell." She said, her face turning red, " We could have been caught."

" But we weren't, everyone's outside for rec time," Frieda pointed out. She kissed Zoe.

" I love you," Zoe murmured against Frieda and Frieda returned the sentiment before they pulled away. Frieda went to freshen up.

" Where did you stash those weapons of mine that Suzanne found?" Zoe asked.

" It's in a safe place," Frieda assured her when her conversation with Suzanne and Doggett replayed in her mind. " Sometimes the suspect is right under our noses. And it's always the person you least suspect."

Frieda's blood went cold as she stared at Zoe. No. That's impossible. It's not Zoe.

But Zoe's been in Max before, Frieda reminded herself darkly. She said so herself that she had been friends with Barb. Barb could have easily turned her and Zoe is the one who's going to kill me. Frieda shook her head at her dark thoughts. It was starting to make sense now-too much sense and Frieda's heart shattered into a million pieces.

Zoe turned to brush her hair that had gotten tousled and when she turned back to face Frieda, the older woman was holding a shiv in front of her, pointing it at Zoe.

" Frieda, what-"

" You didn't really think I was going to fall for it did you?" Frieda interrupted, her blue eyes growing cold as she took a few steps forward.

" I don't know what you're talking about," Zoe replied, backing up. The shiv-which had been hers-looked menacing.

" You're a very good actress, I'll give you that," Frieda said, still advancing towards her.

" I still don't know what you're talking about," Zoe stammered, her heart racing in fear. Why was the woman she loved threatening her?

" You're the one Carol or Barb, sent to kill me," Frieda hissed and Zoe turned ashen.

" What? Frieda, no!"

" It all adds up," Frieda continued advanced towards her as Zoe backed against the wall. Frieda pressed the shiv against her cheek-just like she had done that night, two weeks ago. Zoe's knees trembled and Frieda's hand clapped over her mouth.

" You've been in Max before and you know the Dennings. They could have easily turned you and you somehow got transferred to minimum to kill me. But you bided your time and had some fun along the way-using me for your own pleasure." Frieda paused, " but you must have seen the Dennings before you came to B block and they ordered you to kill me. So you stashed some weapons but I found them. So when were you going to do it?" she removed her hand and Zoe shook her head.

" I don't know why you're saying these things Frieda. I haven't been sent to kill you. It's this place, it's making you paranoid-"

" All the evidence adds up," Frieda said as she ran the shiv along her jaw and then pressed it against Zoe's neck-the neck she's kissed plenty of times.

" I loved you Zoe," Frieda told her as Zoe's eyes brimmed with tears, " But you never did-"

" Yes I did! I love you Frieda-I always have. Please I haven't been sent to kill you,"

Frieda stared into her brown eyes and that's when Frieda realised Zoe was telling the truth. Zoe really did love her and hadn't been sent to kill her. Perhaps Zoe was right-it was this place, turning her paranoid and making her think dark thoughts.

" It's also them, " Frieda said as she slowly removed the shiv, " The Dennings. They're turning us against each other-"

Zoe shook her head, " It's not them. It's you Frieda," Frieda let go of Zoe then and Zoe backed away from her.

" It's all in your head-I love you but this place is affecting you and it's affecting our relationship."

"Zoe-" Frieda reached for her, " I'm so sorry-" but her words were lost when Zoe slapped her hard across the face.

" Just-stay the hell away from me." Zoe snapped and ran out of the cell.

Frieda lifted a hand to her stinging cheek, shocked. They have never raised a hand to each other before-their relationship wasn't like that. But Zoe must have been really hurt to lash out like that.

Frieda decided to leave Zoe alone for a bit so that she could cool down. She hated herself for threatening her like that and Zoe had been right. It was this place.

Frieda had disappeared somewhere as Zoe returned from rec time in the yard. She still could not believe what Frieda had said to her. She doesn't trust me, Zoe realised as tears ran down her face, If she doesn't trust me, then she doesn't love me. It's this place-she's slowly losing her humanity and there's nothing I can do to stop it. She was about to lie down when she heard footsteps behind her. " Leave me alone Frieda," she said and just as she was about to turn around, someone yanked a blindfold over her eyes, shutting out the daylight.

Frieda returned from the bathrooms and Suzanne ran up to her, her face white. " Frieda, you gotta come with me," she said

" Why? What's wrong?" Frieda demanded.

" Just come," Suzanne ran towards Frieda's cell and Frieda quickly followed. There were several inmates crowding near the doorway including Doggett. Doggett looked up and paled when she saw Frieda.

" Frieda, I'm so sorry," she said, her eyes full of sympathy.

"What's going on?" Frieda pushed through the crowd and what she saw made her heart stop cold and her face turned grey. Her legs felt like jelly and she held onto Suzanne for support, " Zoe?" she whispered. Two CO's were loading the body of Zoe onto a stretcher.

" She hung herself with a sheet-Frieda, I'm really sorry," Suzanne whispered as the older woman continued to stare at the now covered body of Zoe. This couldn't be happening! It couldn't. Frieda thought, Zoe can't be dead! The cell seemed to be getting smaller and she felt cold all over.

" Frieda?" she heard Suzanne ask before everything went black.

TO BE CONTINUED.