Chapter Four-
"What happened?" Asked Liz. Boomer looked at her, confused, then shrugged her shoulders.
"I dunno. One minute she was out here with me, next minute she was in there," said Boomer. Franky helped Nikki onto her bed, then covered her with a blanket as she fell into an exhausted stupor. After making sure the young girl was okay, Franky stepped out, pushing Nikki's cell door half closed.
"What happened to her?" Asked Liz, worried.
"I don't know, but I'm looking out for her. She'll be okay," assured Franky forcefully.
"You gonna make sure that Charlie and Emily don't draw her in and put her out to dry?" Asked Bea.
"Of course I am. She's made her position known; she'll stick with us," said Franky. She moved to say more, but Boomer stepped up.
"I'll keep her in line," promised Boomer.
"I believe this discussion is closed. Tomorrow we're back at duties; I've swayed the roster so we're all in laundry. Watch Em and Charlie; they're definitely planning something," said Franky. Liz, Doreen, Bea and Boomer nodded.
"We should get some sleep then," suggested Liz. The other girls nodded in agreement, and split off to their cells. Franky pulled her door closed, then laid down on her skinny bed.
Somehow, she didn't think the nightmares would stay away tonight.
"He left because of you!"
"It's all because of you that Kim left."
"Nikki will never love you."
"No one will ever love you."
Franky woke up sobbing...
"New chick in H2," commented Charlie from her top bunk.
"That crazy one that tried to take a chunk out of her transporting guard?" Asked Emily, pulling on her track suit.
"Yeah, that one. Liz and Franky have taken her in. Watch her though; I reckon she could be the key to breaking Franky," replied Charlie.
"She's pretty broken as it is; did you see her the other day after a visit to the Governor? She was so green, I thought she'd lose her lunch there and then," chortled Emily.
"We'll see how she is when we see her at breakfast," said Charlie, jumping down to the floor. They walked to breakfast together, and spotted Franky up ahead, arms linked with the new girl Nikki.
"She looks fine," said Emily, shocked.
"Give her time. She'll break down," assured Charlie. They continued on to the cafeteria, and took their seats, Simmo and Megs bringing them their trays. Franky waved at the pair, arching an eyebrow as Nikki sat down next to her. She realised they were staring at Nikki and not her, and grinned. She placed a gentle hand on Nikki's arm, a clear territorial sign to the other women in the prison.
"She's claimed," whispered Emily. Charlie let her lips curl into a smile.
"Excellent. This should be easy then." Simmo observed the entire interaction; she'd known the twins when they were younger, and knew that the fallout from something as little as a hand on the arm was bound to make tensions rise.
It was just a waiting game now...
And she didn't know who would win...
"So what do we do now?" Asked Nikki, returning her tray. She joined Franky and the other H2 girls, and started down the hall, Franky's arm draped over her shoulder
"We work in the laundry. Why, what did you do at Dyllwynia?" Replied Bea, following the group down the hall.
"I didn't work; I wasn't a part of general population," replied Nikki patiently.
"Fold sheets, repair them, wash them, dry them, it's all the same really," replied Boomer, grinning.
"Seriously?" Asked Nikki.
"Pretty much. But we get paid to do it, so I guess it's not that bad," answered Doreen.
"And it's better than library or kitchen," added Liz.
"Watch out for Emily and Charlie though," warned Franky darkly.
"Who are they?" Asked Nikki.
"Wilson twins; they are related to an old criminal family in Australia, the Holt family. Think they own the place. We can't have that, can we Bea," said Franky.
"Not on my watch. Bitches deserve to be shown their place," answered Bea severely. They opened the door to the laundry, and immediately split to their assigned duty stations.
"Booms, Dor, Liz, can you man the sewing machines? Franky, Nikki, you take folding, and I'll take the press," said Bea. Nikki nodded, and followed Franky to the large table. She glanced up as Charlie, Emily, Simmo and Megs sauntered in.
"Who is that?" Whispered Nikki, folding a sheet with Franky.
"Charlie and Emily Wilson, Simmo Slater and Megs Knight. They're the girls from H4 Unit. Stick with me, and you'll be okay," said Franky softly. Nikki nodded, and stacked the neatly folded sheet to the side.
"See you've got a new bitch on team. She handle well Francesca?" Asked Charlie.
"Better than you do Charlie," responded Franky.
"Get moving; Charls, Em, you're on wash and dry. Simmo, Megs, I thought you were on kitchen today," said Bea. Emily and Charlie glanced at Megs and Simmo, and nodded briefly. Megs and Simmo left, and Charlie and Emily moved to continue washing.
"Who the hell has been ripping the seams on these sheets? Every time I come in here, I'm repairing the same sheets," griped Liz.
"Probably D Block. They're a little bit wild in there," commented Doreen.
"Can't be anymore wild than G Block," said Bea, laughing a little as she pulled the press down.
"I hear H4 is pretty loud at night," commented Franky, trying to get a rise out of the twins.
"I can hear them banging on the walls!" Giggled Boomer. Emily glared at her twin sister, then rolled her eyes. Charlie immediately understood, and stepped away. She swung a fist around, connecting with Nikki's cheek. Nikki collapsed to the floor, and the room dissipated into chaos. Boomer quickly used her weight to separate Franky and Charlie, and Vera and Linda stepped in.
"Right! Break it up, break it up!" Exclaimed Vera. Franky and Charlie stood each other off, chests heaving.
"It was a misunderstanding Miss Bennett," said Doreen timidly.
"It was, was it? Then why is Miss Gallagher on the floor?" Retorted Vera.
"I didn't have enough to eat for breakfast Miss Bennett, and I was feeling dizzy. Charlie reached out to catch me, and misjudged. It is a misunderstanding Miss," said Nikki softly, cradling her aching face.
"Alright then. Consider yourselves lucky. Nikki, go clean yourself up, and report back here to finish your shift," said Vera sternly. Franky glanced at Nikki, and nodded slightly. Nikki left, and Vera moved back into the small office.
"You could have broken her face!" Hissed Franky.
"You started it bitch. You and Bea. Back off, and it won't happen again. Keep it up, and you might not be able to keep your little bed warmer safe," whispered Charlie. Franky gripped the sheet she was supposed to be folding, and in one swift moment, tore it in two.
"Threaten her like that again, and this is what'll happen to you. Just remember; not everyone is on your side," threatened Franky. Charlie grinned, and stood back, Emily close behind her.
"Not everyone's on your side anymore Francesca; even if Aunty Jac isn't here anymore, she still has followers. People on the outside and inside willing to do something to bring you down. So I'd watch your back clitty licker; life will never be the same," announced Charlie. Bea pulled the press down.
"Enough of your dick swinging; do it later. Right now, you should be washing and folding sheets, and mending them," said Bea, pressing the sheet again. She glanced up when she heard no answer.
"Back. To. Work," she said, voice dangerously low and threatening. Charlie and Franky snapped out of it, and returned to their work stations. The tension in the air was thick and palpable.
There would be hell to pay.
Lunch was a quiet affair, with Franky fussing over Nikki's bruised face until she pushed her away. Nikki had retreated back into herself again, and whilst Franky understood it, it infuriated her that Charlie and Emily had wielded that much power in a single punch. Franky leaned to her left where Boomer was sitting.
"After lunch. It's on," said Franky cryptically. Boomer nodded eagerly, and Franky relaxed on her chair.
"Hey, Liz, do you think you could walk Nik up to the infirmary, make sure her face is okay?" Asked Franky.
"Sure. I guess so," said Liz, a little confused.
"I don't need to go see medical," protested Nikki.
"Babe, you've got a huge bruise on your face; I'm worried Charls may have done something worse. Please?" Begged Franky. Nikki cast her eyes downward, and nodded.
"Well, if you're finished, we'll head up the now," decided Liz. Nikki stood up meekly and followed the older woman out of the cafeteria.
"It's on. Go!" Exclaimed Franky. Boomer headed out swiftly, followed by Jules, Doreen, Bea and a few others from H1. Charlie nodded to Megs, who followed Boomer shortly after, Emily hot on her heels.
"How's it gonna be Francesca? You gonna fight, or let others take the fall for you?" Asked Charlie.
"I look out for my family, unlike you. How could you let your own cousin kill a girl all because of a problem that really didn't involve him?" Retorted Franky.
"At least we're good at what we do," responded Charlie.
"Good at what you do? The Holt family are so fucking predictable! Sent your sister to do your dirty work, just like Jacs sent her own son. You are no better," spat Franky. She waltzed out, then sprinted down the corridor towards the yard seconds before an alarm sounded. Guards swarmed the yard in mere moments, and each woman found herself pressed against the fence. Boomer's chest was heaving with exertion, Doreen sported a laceration across her cheek, Bea was holding a wound closed on her arm, and Jules looked like she had a few broken fingers.
"What the hell just happened?" Roared Fletch, glaring at each woman. No one answered him. Vera sighed.
"Get back to your units," scowled Vera. Everyone scattered.
"Why'd you let them go?" Asked Fletch.
"They're not going to talk, not with you screaming at them. They'll sort this out or kill each other trying. We can restrict their privileges, and watch, but sooner or later, this is going to blow," said Vera. Fletch growled at her then stalked away, clearly frustrated. Vera followed after him, shaking her head a little.
Men always felt they knew best.
"What happened out there?" Asked Nikki timidly. She'd returned from medical with Liz, and was curled up on the couch nursing a cup of tea.
"Nothing you need to worry your rainbow head about," said Franky easily.
"Nothing to worry about? Bea needed stitches in her arm, and Doreen has butterfly tale holding her cheek together! Don't tell me that's nothing," hissed Nikki.
"I swear, it's nothing," said Franky. Nikki stood up abruptly, dropping the scalding liquid down her front.
"Stop telling me that! That's what everyone tells me! You did something out there Francesca, and I want to know what it is and why the hell you think you can just go out there like you own the fucking joint!" Exclaimed Nikki.
"Sure you don't want to mop that up first?" Asked Franky, a little concerned that Nikki had barely flinched at the hot liquid seeping through her pyjama pants.
"Stop stalling. What did you do?" Franky stood up, and started pacing the room. Liz started mopping up the puddle of liquid, and Nikki winced as Liz put pressure on her pants.
"It's because I care that I'm fighting for your safety, okay?" Snapped Franky, whirling around to face the young girl. Nikki flinched at the outburst, and hung her head, allowing the tears to fall. She sat down on the couch, and cradled her head in her hands.
"God, you can be so inconsiderate!" Snarled Bea quietly. Franky crossed over to Nikki, pulling her close.
"Nik, I'm sorry," whispered Franky. Nikki pushed her away before standing up to face her, anger evident in her features.
"You have no idea what you're doing. I've been in the middle of wars like this before, and I'm fucking sick of the fighting! You're no better than the women at Dyllwynia; instead of fighting over who's gonna kill me, you're fighting over who's not gonna kill me! Coming here was supposed to be better, and instead, it's a thousand times worse. You're all fucking idiots, and you're gonna find yourselves killed before you realise." Nikki stormed off, and slammed her door behind her. The five women in H2 sat, stunned for a few moments, before Franky leant her head back.
"We are so screwed."