Chapter 3

Alexandra Montgomery sat quietly on the hard, uncomfortable wooden chair propped up against one of the insipid yellow walls surrounding the rectangular expanse in the centre of G wing. The smoke from her cigarette drifted slowly skywards as it smouldered between her fingers. Her eyes were fixed on the scared, green felt of the pool table in front of her where a hard fought game was in progress, but her mind was elsewhere. It had been two years to the day that she had last tasted freedom. Two years… It felt like a lifetime. Life within the walls of HMP Larkhall seemed to drag by, every minute felt like an hour, every day like a year.

At twenty one she was the youngest lifer on G wing. And all of it because of one stupid boy, one stupid night. Even after two years the memories of that night were still nothing more than disjointed fragments. She ran through it all once more in her mind as she sat there staring into space.

It had been a surprisingly warm spring evening and she and Scott were going to a dorm party at one of the most popular residences on campus. She still couldn't believe that they were actually an item. He was practically a god and she was nothing but a plain Jane. Well, in her eyes anyway. She'd stood in front of the mirror that evening after she'd gotten out of the shower and scrutinised every inch of herself before getting dressed. Her long, dark, wavy hair; her green eyes; her rectangular face. Granted she had a good body, toned and athletic, but she didn't see anyone she would consider breath-taking staring back at her. What was it that he saw in her, she'd mused as she stood there in front of that mirror? She'd pushed her doubts aside as she got dressed and added a few touches of make-up, nothing too extravagant, that wasn't her style.

They'd walked through the doors holding hands and every girl in the room had turned to see who Scott Crispin had come with, it had made Alex rather uncomfortable, being watched by all those eyes. Scott had grinned at her over his shoulder as he pulled her toward the make-shift bar and bought her a beer without even asking her if she wanted one. This is where things started to get hazy in Alex's memory. The only explanation she could come up with was that the bastard had spiked her drink while she wasn't watching.

Before she knew it she was in a room somewhere and Scott was on top of her, pressing her down against the bed with his muscular body. She had felt his tongue against her neck and his hands fumbling with the button and zipper of her jeans. She'd tried to say no, tried to make him stop but the more she fought the more he seemed to enjoy it. She heard a crash and smelt the odour of cheap beer mixing in with the tang of Scott's sweat. Thinking back now she realised she must have knocked the beer bottle from the bedside table as she struggled. He was just so heavy; she could hardly breathe never mind move. Panic stared to set in as she'd looked around the room for help, a weapon, anything.

She'd seen the broken brown bottle lying on the floor near her left hand at the moment he'd forced himself inside her. He had been too engrossed in his task at hand to notice her reach for the shard of glass from beneath him. She'd picked it up and instinctively thrust the sharp jagged edge into his neck. He'd gasped in pain and sat upright on top of her, pulling at the piece of glass jutting out from the side of his neck. He had screamed as he pulled it out, the sound of it still rang in her ears. There was so much blood. Scott had slumped forward onto Alex's chest, again pinning her to the bed. She had struggled under his weight, her hands, chest and neck slick with his blood, she could smell it, taste it, the metallic flavour making her gag. It had driven her mad. How she got out from underneath him was still a mystery to her, the next thing she could remember was running. Pushing through the masses of people on the stairs and in the lobby, she had to get outside.

The police had found her two hours later wondering around the streets of downtown London covered in dried blood and practically catatonic. She had no idea how she'd even gotten there, no idea where there even was.

Her eyes came back into focus and she noticed that her cigarette had long since burnt out and left a trail of ash on her thigh where she'd been resting her hand. "Shit," she swore as she dusted it off and banished the filter to the ashtray on the small rickety table beside her. She'd never smoked before coming to prison, never touched the stuff, but now she couldn't seem to live without the nicotine fix. She reached across the table to pick up her cigarettes, it was time to go find something to keep her busy for a while, she'd spent enough time reliving the past today.

Pat Kerrigan stood in the doorway of one of the cells directly across from the pool table. She'd been watching Alex for some time and there was something about the girl's demeanour that was unsettling her. Granted she had always been quiet, a bit of a loner, but something was different lately and it bothered her that she couldn't quite place what it was. She'd tried on several occasions over the past few days to talk to the girl about it but to no avail. Alex was a pro at dodging her questions.

"Oi, Julies," she said to the two older women who were deeply engrossed in the fashion magazine occupying the small table between them. "Have you two noticed something a bit, strange about Alex Lately?" she said as she watched Alex making her way up the stairs to the second floor landing. They followed Pat's gaze upward and caught a glimpse of the girl's back as she disappeared into her cell. "Now that you mention it," started Julie S, "she has been a bit odd lately hasn't she Ju?" "Yeah, a bit odd," chimed Julie J. "always been a quiet girl you know, but ever so polite. Nice to see some of the young ones still have some respect," said Julie S. Julie J nodded in agreement as Julie S spoke, "funny though, the last few mornings at breakfast she hasn't said a single word to us." "Yeah, not a single word," Julie J said, shaking her head. "It's like her body is here, but her mind is somewhere else all together," said Julie S, a look of concern spreading across her face. "What do you think it is that's got her upset like this?" asked Julie J as she looked up toward Pat's face. Pat shook her head and sighed, "I have no idea, but I'm bloody well going to find out."

"Mr Chambers sir," Pat called out as she pushed off the wall, walking quickly to fall into step beside the tall prison officer as he made his way toward the office. "Can I have a word sir?" she said. "It's about Alex Montgomery," she added softly so as only the two of them heard.

Aaron Chambers was Alex's personal officer and had earned the respect and cooperation of most of the girls on G wing with the help of his sincere charm and caring attitude. It also didn't hurt that he was probably the best looking screw ever to walk the corridors of Larkhall, his athletic body and dark brooding eyes always turned heads, not that he seemed to notice the effect he had on most women.

He opened the office door and gestured for Pat to enter. "Take a seat Pat," he said in his easy going tone as he closed the door behind him, "what seems to be the problem?" Pat pulled a face, as if suddenly unsure of what to say. "Well, it's just that I've noticed that Alex hasn't really been herself lately, kind of withdrawn. I've tried talking to her about it but she won't say a word, just brushes me off. I'm just worried that she might do something stupid. I know she trusts you, I thought maybe you could get through to her," she said.

Aaron nodded as he took in what Pat had just said. He'd noticed the change in Alex as well and hadn't been quite sure what to make of it. He also knew that for Pat to come to him with this, as her open disdain for those in a position of power, especial men, was no secret, she must have been truly worried about Alex. "I really appreciate you bringing this to my attention," he said sincerely, "I have noticed Alex's strange behaviour, she's been different of late. I'll go and see her, hopefully with a little gentle persuasion we can get this all sorted out."

"Thank you sir," Pat said as she stood and made her way to the door. With her had on the door handle she hesitated and turned back toward Aaron, "I really appreciate you taking this seriously sir," she said, opening the door quickly, she disappeared into the throng of women on their way back to their cells for evening lock up.

Aaron sighed as he got up from the chair and made his way back onto the wing. He hadn't quite made up his mind about what to do about Alex yet, talking to her would probably be a good place to start he thought. "Come on ladies," he said as he herded a small group of stragglers toward their cells, "It's time you lot got settled in for the night." "How about a good night kiss sir," one of the girls remarked with a wink. "Now now Reynolds, what do you take me for?" he said in a mock serious voice, grinning at her as he closed and locked the door between them.

After checking that all the cells on the lower landing were locked up tight Aaron made his way up to G2 to Alex's cell. He knocked twice, "may I come in please?" he asked through the door. When he got no reply he opened the small peep hole and looked through. He hated using it, it always felt like he was spying when he did. He spotted Alex on the top bunk, head phones in her ears and eyes closed, no wonder she hadn't replied.

Aaron unlocked the green cell door and stepped inside, he cleared his throat loudly to catch her attention, not wanting to startle her with his sudden presence. She opened her eyes and a slight smile touched the corners of her mouth when she saw it was him. She sat up on the bed, pulling the headphones from her ears, "and to what do I owe this pleasure?" she said as she pulled her legs up and crossed them in front of her. He smiled at her as he crossed to the foot end of the bunk and lent against it nonchalantly. "Just came to see how you were doing today," he said casually, watching her for any type of reaction. "Just peachy," Alex replied, he could hear the edge in her voice. He knew not to push her, that would make her clam up even more. "Look," he said softly, "I know there is something bothering you Ali, I can see it. I just want you to know that I'm here, if you ever want to talk about it, o.k.?"

He saw something flash behind her eyes and just for a moment he thought she might start talking, but just as fast as it had come, it disappeared and her face became a mask once more. "Thanks," she said bitterly, looking down into his face, "but I'm quite fine." Disappointed, he reached out his hand and patted her knee, "alright then, but if that ever changes you know where to find me yeah?" he said, holding her gaze. She pursed her lips and nodded. She replaced the earphones and turned up the music while he turned to leave the cell. As he locked the door behind himself he missed the single tear that ran down Alex's cheek.