Behind Bars, Volume 2

Part Six: Cornered

Things stayed quiet for a week. But only a week.

And then the day that Yang had half-dreaded and half-waited for came. The day she thought would be tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow into an infinity of tomorrows.

The day the monitors came back to the Wilds.

Sometimes, she thought to herself, with everything that has happened, I can almost forget where I am.

I can almost – just almost – pretend that I'm not here.

That I'm not a prisoner.

Not branded as a criminal. Not neatly packed away by society, boxed up far away from those who would fear me. Hate me. For what am I and what they've seen me do.

Or think they've seen me do.

Right?

Because I didn't…

The ghost of the video, of that day in the Vytal Tournament – that little wraith of self-doubt snaked up inside of Yang. It wasn't something she still thought about often, but it was never gone from her either.

Not in this place, at least.

It was this little pearl of fear – this living thing that existed inside her. Looking at it was like staring into a void, a widening hole, a blackness, the maw of the Nevermore in her dreams – a piece of herself she thought she knew, but couldn't prove to herself, her family, her friends, her jailers – she couldn't prove it to anyone: that she was innocent.

That she didn't belong here.

That this wasn't supposed to be her life.

That she was supposed to protect and defend, to fight the creatures of Grimm, the monsters that stalked the world of Remnant, threatening each and every life that crawled up out of the muck of existence to dwell on the earth's surface in the light of day – only to be haunted by its fear of the dark.

Yang's thoughts swirled in dark circles, her mood quickly falling and her mouth settling into a tight line. Standing in the wide open floor space at the center of first floor B Block, she stared over and around the milling crowd of bobbing heads and chattering mouths that stood between her and the COs unloading and organizing crate after crate of new Atlas-issued ankle monitors.

That morning, all of the inmates had been roused by the voices of the COs as the lights flickered on. The guards sounded gleeful – anticipating the relief, the sense of normalcy that would return for them once the monitors were back in place.

They'd sent the original B Block inmates off to the mess hall for breakfast, and detained the D block inmates, gathering them in the long, rectangular space between the rows of cells on level one.

At first they hadn't known what was going on. Girls jockeyed for better views of the crates, arguing about what they thought was inside.

Only Yang knew. Only she'd been warned, thanks to Winter.

She had expected outrage. She'd expected shouting. She'd half expected some of the girls to get stupid and riot when they saw the monitors.

But what happened was different. As the inmates in front saw what was being pulled out of the boxes, hurried whispers swept back through the crowd of girls from the Wilds. From one to the next, the news passed back along the rows of inmates, and a hush followed on the heels of the whispers, most of the girls growing silent and still.

They were resigned. Some might have even felt comforted – eager to pretend that everything was like it had been before. That nothing had ever happened. That the Grimm had never come.

When word of the monitors reached Yang and Cadeja, she peered over at the Faunus to gauge her reaction.

They weren't standing side by side as they usually did. Aware of what was coming, Yang had been sucked in by her own thoughts, even as the girls around her tried to push forward for a better look. Gradually, they'd been separated by several yards of sweating bodies and bed-rumpled prison uniforms.

But Yang could still see Cadeja's face. Her eyes narrowed into sharp, little green slits and Yang suspected that Cadeja was watching everything that was happening at the far end of B Block, "borrowing" some of the guards' sight with her semblance.

When the whispers about the monitors finally reached their part of the crowd Yang saw her nod, chin bobbing once as if in confirmation of what she already knew.

Then, as the girls quieted – all staring in the general direction of the COs – Yang watched something sad slip over Cadeja's features. Perhaps unconsciously, her hand came up and touched her brow, just over one of her eyes – as if saying goodbye, preparing to lose the extraordinary gift that aura gave her.

Yang found herself chewing on her lower lip, her fingers fiddling with the edge of the fabric from the bottom of her shirt. For a moment, she was distracted by a clear, deep-voiced shout that arced over the crowd.

"Inmates of D Block! Form two lines!"

A handful of guards trickled through the crowd, ushering girls into two loosely formed lines. However, several pockets of inmates loitered in large groups, slow to move into the gradually forming columns that ran parallel to the two opposing rows of cells.

"Hey!" shouted a female guard. "I said move it!"

Yang turned her head towards the sound of the CO's voice, eyes scanning the crowd. The guard was short, so she was half-hidden in the press of bodies, but Yang eventually spotted her trying to usher a group of Faunus into line.

Yang's eyes narrowed. Judith Verté leered down at the guard, her chin jutted forward and her arms crossed over her chest. She was ringed by a group of Faunus – all wearing the green coveralls of the work crews. Following Judith's lead, they ignored the guard's instructions to form a line.

Yang studied the face of each of the women backing Judith. Most affected a calm look of confidence, but Yang could see through some of them. They hesitated – unsure how long they could get away with defying the CO without getting themselves written up, or worse.

One girl – a rather pale looking Faunus with small ears perched on the crown of her head like a rodent's – took a step back and, after another moment's pause, relented. Turning her back on Judith, she queued up behind the other inmates.

Judith rolled her eyes, showing off perhaps just a little too much how disaffected she was by the girl's betrayal.

"Inmates! In line now unless you want a chit!"

Another couple girls wavered, starting to lose their confidence. But Judith simply examined her nails, as if the guard hadn't said a word.

The guard pulled out her baton but kept it by her side. Looking around, she waved another CO over to help.

But before the other guard could make his way over, another voice rang out.

"Judith!" barked Leonie, a thinly controlled rage coloring her tone. "That's enough!"

The giant mountain cat Faunus strode over to the group, looming over most of the other girls. But Judith looked away, trying to ignore her sister's approach. However, Yang saw her cheeks redden and her eyebrows knit together – betraying her anger.

Leonie's lip curled up into a snarl but she didn't address her sister again. Clearly, a rift had been driven between them, and now wasn't the time to air the family's dirty laundry.

Leonie peered down at the guard, examining the small woman for a moment before nodding to the Faunus from the work crews.

"Let's go," she said, leading them away from Judith.

Through half-closed eyes, Judith watched them go. The guard still looked at her uncertainly, not entirely sure of what had just happened. But her baton remained drawn, her shoulders squared to Judith.

Judith snorted and tossed her hair, turning her back on the guard but taking care not to meet her sister's eye as she strode forward to join the line.

Ignoring the Faunus who had only moments before stood with her, she strode past them and cut the line. Shoving her way through, Yang saw Judith clip Cadeja's shoulder as she elbowed her way through the line of inmates, away from her sister.

"Hey! Oye, cabrona watch where you're goin'!" shouted Cadeja, her eyes boring into the back of Judith's head.

Judith didn't turn her head, but over her shoulder she hissed, "Stay out of this Álvarez you little bitch."

Yang froze, dread sinking in her gut. She saw the outrage plain on Cadeja's face, her wolf's ears bristling on top of her head.

She was about to shout her friend's name when a guard stepped in front of her, backing her towards the line of inmates that had formed behind her. Trying to look around the guard, Yang slowly allowed herself to be backed into the line of inmates that ran parallel to the one where Cadeja and Judith were – but whatever passed between the two of them next she missed.

By the time the guard had moved along, Judith had moved father up the line – leaving Cadeja behind her. However, the wolf Faunus's eyes were still trained on the back of Judith's head, two glaring green slits that flashed in the light of the fluorescents.

If looks could kill… thought Yang, still worrying.

Meanwhile, guards still moved farther back through B Block, trying to form the inmates into two lines.

"LADIES!" shouted the guard with the deep voice. "Settle down and form two lines dammit! This ain't rocket science."

But after a moment – even before the last girls had been corralled along the sides of level one – the lines started to crawl forward as the first inmates had brand new monitors clapped around their ankles.

Here and there a few women mumbled to their companions as they waited, but mostly girls just stared over and around one another, trying to get a better look.

Even though they knew what was coming, even though they all knew exactly what the monitors were and what it felt like to have one clamped in a vise around their ankles, there was just some deep urge to look – to see their fate coming forward, almost as if it would sneak up on them if they looked away.

Yang tried to ignore it, but the memory of the burning pain that blossomed up through the muscles and veins in her leg, shooting up into her chest and wrapping its little claws around her heart – the memory of every muscle in her body locking into place, her jaw jamming shut and her eyes rolling back into her head – it flooded into her mind at just the thought of the monitors.

She remembered the fear, and the panic, and waking up when it was all over – after the electric shock had wormed its way past her aura and wrestled her into unconscious submission. She remembered the pain on Cadeja's face just before she threw up, dizzily rising up into a sitting position beside Yang against the bars of their cell…

Yang shook her head, shivering. She hated the manacles they locked around her wrist and ankles every time she left B Block, but she hated the monitors more. Before her monitor had been triggered, it had simply been this thing, this inconvenience. But after she'd felt what it could do, it became a reminder – of her weakness, her defenselessness.

Her inability to fight and protect herself.

It became a prison within a prison, another thing that chained her to the ground.

Yang hugged herself with her one good arm as she looked around at the other inmates within her line of sight. As the lines marched forward, fewer and fewer women jockeyed for a better view.

Many of them looked resigned and sad. Some even looked afraid. Yang saw one girl shivering uncontrollably every time she took another step closer to the crates and the waiting COs.

These are the aura users of the prison, thought Yang. They know what it's like to wield a power that many people just can't imagine…

Past memories of using her own semblance surged forward as she remembered the utter joy of the fight, the feeling of unparalleled strength burning in her limbs.

It's not easy to relinquish all that. Especially not in a place like this, and especially not after everything that's happened.

Yang's line inched forward again. Looking across to the other side, she saw that Cadeja was ahead of her – nearly to the crates. The Faunus's ears laid flat against her head and her eyes were trained on the floor.

After a moment, Cadeja stepped forward and she was next in line to meet the COs, wielding a freshly unpackaged monitor.

Yang looked away, not wanting to watch.

But looking ahead, she saw that she didn't have much time left either. A half dozen girls stood between her and her turn with the guards.

At the front of the line, Yang saw Sasha and Roxie. The little blonde had just had a monitor locked into place around her ankle, but instead of moving to the next area as the guards waved her forward, she stood and waited for Sasha.

Yang could just make out Sasha's long black ponytail as it swished from side to side and she sidled up to the crates. Her hands rested on her cocked hips, and she leered down at the guard configuring the next monitor. Looking closer, Yang saw that Sasha's fingers were digging into her own skin as they clawed deeper into her sides.

Yang remembered the sound of flapping wings – a small black bird buzzing around her head, a blur of feathers in her face. Then the sound of the Nevermore roaring as it dove towards her through the Yard.

Some are losing even more than others, I guess…

A guard fitted the monitor to Sasha's ankle, locking it into place. She glared down at it, her nose wrinkling in disgust and her mouth pulled back in a lip-curling snarl.

When she received the all clear, she stomped off, tugging Roxie with her and disappearing into the crowd of girls waiting to be escorted to the showers.

Five girls. Then four. Three, two, one.

And it was Yang's turn.

Shuffling forward, she saw several guards that she recognized. The Faunus guard – CO Quinn – was helping out with the other line. But lifting monitors out of boxes at the head of her line though was CO Reilly. Every few seconds he snuffled and wiped his nose with the back of his hand, like he was nursing a cold.

Standing several feet behind him was a ring of other guards, pretending to look busy. Amongst them was Kowalski, with his neatly trimmed sideburns and carefully manicured fingernails. As he spoke, he flashed a series of yellow teeth.

Yang recoiled, images of him and Cadeja and Freya and who knows how many other girls flashing through her mind.

"Inmate," chided Reilly, a monitor held at the ready just inches from her ankle.

Already on the defensive, Yang had to fight with the muscles in her leg not to back away any farther. Knowing now what she did about contraband and the promises girls exchanged for it, Yang didn't trust Reilly any more than she trusted Kowalski.

Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to stay still while Reilly adjusted the size of the monitor's main cuff, eyeing Yang's leg as he prepared to fit the device to her ankle.

As she felt the cold metal make contact with her skin she looked away, staring straight ahead. Beyond the ring of milling COs, Yang noticed Atlas military personnel standing in the back. A few of them seemed to be helping pass more crates forward, full of monitors yet to be unloaded.

But most of them stood at attention in a single group, observing everything that was going on. At the head of this group was Winter.

As Reilly's fingers brushed against her skin, Yang winced and her hand balled into a fist – fighting to stay still. The monitor pinched her ankle, and she felt her eyes water.

Scanning the room, Winter's eyes met Yang's for a moment. Winter didn't say anything; she simply maintained her post – her posture stick-straight as always. But Yang saw a genuine look of sorrow blanche over her features.

They held each other's gaze for another moment, Yang held by the sympathy she saw in Winter's eyes.

But then it was over. Reilly released her ankle and ordered her to move forward and join the other inmates waiting for the showers.

Stepping forward into the crowd, Yang lost sight of Winter. Looking around, she found that Cadeja was nowhere to be seen either.

Alone, and waiting for the hundred or so other inmates who still hadn't been saddled with their new monitors yet, Yang looked down at the thing around her ankle.

It was much the same as the old one, although the band was perhaps a little thinner, the design becoming sleeker and more streamlined in this newer incarnation. Her eyes studied the little green light, and for a moment it was like it stared back at her. Knowing. Watching. Waiting for her to step out of line.

Still staring down at it, a numb feeling crept over Yang's chest.

It would be a long time before she could close her eyes and pretend again that she wasn't here. That she was at home, and this was all just a distant, and terrible dream.

The next day, Yang found herself out in the Yard, sitting in the bleachers to the east of the giant oak tree. She sat alone, sunning herself in the warm rays of light that managed to filter down through the protective force field above.

Half of D Block were at their work assignments, and half were in the Yard for rec time with the girls from B Block. Cadeja was working down in the laundry room, and there wasn't really anyone else that Yang wanted to talk to.

Not that she trusted any of them any ways, especially not these days.

Opening one of her eyes, Yang watched a few girls from the work crews start to clear away the pile of rubble that had been Yang and Cadeja's cover when they'd sparred last week. The women in green worked slowly, mostly stopping to chat with one another. It would be weeks before they cleared the pile.

Bored, Yang closed her eye again and tilted her face up towards the sun, enjoying the warmth. She leaned back on the bleachers, supporting some of her weight on her hand.

For a few moments there was nothing but the reddish-purple light she could see from the sun slipping through the thin skin of her eyelids and a gentle breeze of air being circulated through the Yard, whispering softly as it brushed over her skin. To the rest of the world, it probably looked like she was asleep.

But then she heard a weak metallic groan and something clanked a few feet below her. Sitting up straighter and opening her eyes, Yang saw a girl with dirty-blonde hair and pale white skin sitting on the bottom row of the bleachers, her back to Yang.

As Yang's eyes readjusted to the sunlight, she squinted, recognizing the girl.

Laurel… thought Yang, recognizing her new cellmate.

The girl seemed to ignore Yang sitting above her, but her head swiveled back and forth – as if scanning the Yard. Curious, Yang leaned back and let her eyes close again, pretending she hadn't heard the girl sit down. But every so often, she'd peek out from under her half-lidded eyes to see what Laurel was doing.

For several minutes, the mysteriously quiet girl followed the same pattern: first she'd watch the east side of the Yard, and then the west. Once in a while, she stopped to scrutinize one inmate or another, and then she'd cast a quick glance over her shoulder. One time, she nearly caught Yang watching her.

But eventually, the pattern changed. Her eyes closed, Yang didn't so much see it as she did hear it.

There was a small crinkling sound, like thin plastic rustling. Then a protesting squeak followed by a small pop.

Ears perking up, Yang sat up straight and opened her eyes – abandoning her cover. As she did, the subtle smell of something sweet wafted over her, and unconsciously her mouth started to water.

What in the…

Looking down, Yang saw Laurel fidgeting with something in her lap, her shoulders hunched forward as if to curl herself around her prize protectively. Trying to move carefully, so as not to cause the bleachers to squeal underneath her, Yang peered over Laurel's shoulder.

"Holy crap!" said Yang, not meaning to speak out loud.

"Wha-" squeaked Laurel, practically jumping out of her skin. Automatically, her hands covered the small brightly colored package in her lap. Looking behind her, she saw Yang staring down at her intently.

"Y-Yang!" she exclaimed. "I thought…"

"You thought I was asleep, right?" said Yang, climbing down the bleachers to sit next to her.

Laurel tried to scoot away, farther down the bench, but Yang wouldn't let her put too much distance between them.

Leaning in close, she hissed, "Where the hell did you get that?"

With her finger she pointed at the package Laurel was currently trying to hide in her lap. It was a small, dark chocolate cake with bright blue and white ribbons of frosting laced over its top. Inside, Yang knew there'd be a thick, yellow buttercream filling.

The instant she'd seen the package she'd recognized it – it was an individually wrapped devil's food cake from Peregrine's, one of the largest wholesale producers of baked goods in Vale.

She'd loved them as a child, and often daydreamed about them while eating the grayish slop that passed for food in the mess hall.

But there was no way Laurel had gotten it from the cafeteria or one of the vending machines in Briarcliff. That chocolate little gold mine was contraband.

Looking down at the unwrapped cake in her lap, Laurel avoided Yang's eye and ignored her question.

Studying her Yang, tried to puzzle it out.

She definitely didn't get it from Darrah – and that's just about the only girl I've ever seen Laurel hang around with in here. But not by choice – Laurel seems scared of her.

But how in the world would she get it from Judith or one of her girls? I just don't get it…

"Laurel," said Yang, trying again, "Where did you get that? Was it the Vertés? Are they passing stuff to humans now too?"

Laurel hesitated – her eyes looking around as if everyone in the Yard was watching them. But of course, they weren't. To the rest of them, it was just two girls sitting in the bleachers.

But then once – quickly – Laurel shook her head.

"No, it wasn't them," she said, her voice deeper than Yang would've imagined. It struck her that this was the first time she'd heard Laurel say more than just a word or two.

Yang looked dumbstruck.

"Then who?"

Laurel squirmed in her seat, trying to shift herself farther away from Yang again. She even started to half-rise off of the bench, but Yang slid forward and shoved her back down, her fingers digging into the girl's bony shoulder.

"Who was it?" whispered Yang again, her tone insistent.

Reluctantly, Laurel's eyes slid over to meet Yang's. For the first time Yang noticed little gold flecks in the girl's green eyes.

When Laurel finally did answer, Yang had to strain just to hear her.

"…it was Sasha's friend…"

Yang sucked in a breath –

Sasha? But where the hell did she get it?!

Yang's mind started racing. Laurel watched her face go from shocked to stunned to even a little angry. The girl looked at her with something like fear in her eyes, scooting away from Yang again to the point where she nearly fell off the edge of the bleachers.

Yang's head snapped up and she rose into a standing position. She heard Laurel mumble something behind her, but didn't catch the exact words. She was too busy scanning the faces in the Yard.

And when she found the one she wanted, she went stomping off across the field – leaving a confused looking Laurel behind her.

Heading west, Yang marched past the scarred oak tree and even shoved her way past a couple of the idling girls from the work crew. A slightly bored looking CO cast her a curious glance, but then his eyes slid away and glazed back over with a daydream.

Yang was striding over to a small cluster of girls, in the center of which were Sasha and Roxie. Looking over at the approaching blonde, Sasha's eyes betrayed a brief flash of confusion that quickly disappeared behind her usual look of affected derision.

Pushing her way into the middle of the group, Yang squared her shoulders to Sasha, her chin jutting forward defiantly.

"I need to talk to you," she said, her voice commanding.

Sasha laughed once, rolling her eyes. But she recognized the seriousness in Yang's demeanor, and nodded to the other girls ringed around them.

"No worries, we're all good," she said, projecting a sense of carelessness and jerking her chin once, indicating that the others should leave.

Some of the girls seemed hesitant, but they followed Sasha's orders – and after a moment the group dispersed, heading off towards different parts of the Yard. Only Roxie remained.

Yang glared at the small, icy blonde girl but she just stared back defiantly. Clearly she wasn't going anywhere.

Clenching her jaw and shaking her head, Yang turned her attention back to Sasha.

"How the hell are you sneaking shit in?" hissed Yang. "No way you got it from the Vertés – they wouldn't help you out in a million years."

Sasha's eyes narrowed and Yang noticed a vein throbbing just above her temple.

"I don't know what you're talking about, little Yang."

"Like hell you don't," scoffed Yang, her eyes hardening. "I just saw a girl with contraband – a human girl. She said she got it from one of your crew – not the Vertés."

Sasha leaned forward, trying to tower over Yang – but there was only a couple inches' difference between their heights.

"Who's going around saying shit like that?" demanded Sasha, her voice low.

"Where. Did. You. Get. It?" spat Yang, ignoring Sasha's question. Feeling brave, she decided to shove her face right back into Sasha's, trying to show that she wouldn't be the first to break.

But it wasn't much of a victory. Sasha rolled her eyes and leaned back on her heels, looking down at Yang with something liked mixed curiosity and irritation.

"Why do you even care, Xiao Long?" she asked.

"Because it's dangerous – and this stuff is spreading to girls who have no idea what they're getting in to."

"But you do?" quipped Sasha, her eyes briefly flicking over to meet Roxie's.

Yang's eyes followed hers, and she saw a quick flash of something on Roxie's face that made her feel like the girl was laughing at her.

"Where are you getting it Sasha?" repeated Yang, her tone growing increasingly impatient.

Sasha sighed, shaking her head.

"Fine, little Yang – you broke me," she said in mock-defeat. Her tawny eyes locked onto Yang's, looking almost playful.

Yang had seen this look on Sasha before – and she knew it was a warning sign that something else was going on.

"Honestly, I'm not getting it from anywhere. At least, not anymore. I've just been handing out a few gifts here and there – things I'd saved for a rainy day. Lately my access has… dried up."

"Why now? Why're you passing that stuff around now?" asked Yang, confused.

Sasha made a scoffing sound in her throat and laid a hand on Yang's shoulder.

"Seriously little Yang, haven't you figured it out yet? Loyalty is a commodity in here – it's not something you get for free. You need capital – something to make sure girls keep coming back rather than venturing off somewhere else, looking for another source to help them pass the time in this shithole," she said, as if instructing a schoolgirl.

At Sasha's touch Yang's upper lip involuntarily curled up into a small snarl. Jerking back, she shook Sasha's hand off her shoulder.

"There's a problem with your plan, Sasha. Pretty soon, your little 'rainy day' fund is gonna dry up – and then you'll have nothing. Your system won't work."

"That's where you're wrong," said Roxie, her voice slithering up from behind Yang. Yang nearly jumped – she'd half forgotten that Roxie was even still there.

Yang cast an uncertain glance over her shoulder at the small girl.

"What the hell is she talking about?" asked Yang, directing the question at Sasha.

Irritation momentarily flashed across Sasha's features as she ignored Yang, her eyes focused on Roxie's. But then that somewhat seductive look spread back over her face, her lips curling up into a grin.

"You know, little Yang, it's funny you should ask – that you should be here talking to me at all. Not your usual style, but as it turns out, there's something I've been meaning to ask you to do for me."

"And why in the world would I want to do that?"

"We've had this talk before," said Sasha, a little bit of the sickly sweetness evaporating from her tone. "To keep your friends safe, to repay the debt you owe me for saving your ass… do I really need to explain myself again?"

Yang glared at her silently, her jaw set defiantly. When she didn't give an answer, Sasha continued.

"Didn't think so. Let's put it this way: The work crews are moving too slow. Part of it's the Vertés – they don't exactly keep their girls on task. But another part of it is that they simply don't have the numbers, so they're bringing in more girls. Humans included – this order is coming from the top, so the Vertés' pet guards can't turn down inmates just because they're not a Faunus aligned with Judith or Leonie."

"What's your point Sasha?" demanded Yang, losing patience.

"Your whole time in here you've played nice with all the little animals running around in the Birdcage. Leonie respects you – at least, for a human. I've seen it. And what's more – she doesn't see you as much of a threat. Not with that," said Sasha, pointing at Yang's ruined arm.

Unconsciously, Yang pulled her arm back, half-hiding it behind herself.

Sasha's grin widened.

"So all I need you to do is cozy up to one of the guards and request a new work assignment – ask to be moved onto one of the work crews."

Yang frowned; there was a nagging thought that just wouldn't leave her alone.

"But how does that help you?" she asked.

Suddenly Yang became very aware of Roxie's presence behind her. She could practically feel the girl's breath on the back of her neck. But she didn't want to show that she was bothered or nervous, so she kept her eyes dead ahead.

"You'll be closer to the source – you'll have an in to the channel they're using to bring stuff into the prison. You may even be able to get something from a guard directly – but I doubt it. At the very least, you can keep an eye on Leonie and her sister for me, and you should be able to get them to bring something in for you if you play your cards right. That's how it helps me. Because when the time comes, I will be asking you to get something for me."

A sinking feeling dropped through Yang's stomach.

I'm in over my head here. After everything I've heard about what these girls to get in good with the guards…

Yang shook her head.

"What if I can't get what you want?" she asked.

Sasha's face darkened, something about her grin becoming malicious.

"You'll find a way, Xiao Long. Either that – or you'll watch one of your friends suffer the consequences."

Yang couldn't suppress the shudder that shot up her back from the base of her spine.

"What will you need me to get?" she asked, her tone reluctant.

Sasha straightened up, her hands on her hips.

"You'll find out when the time comes. But for now, I've got a little extra incentive for you."

Sasha nodded to Roxie, who came around Yang's right side – her weak one – and passed something to Sasha. It was a small, oddly shaped package wrapped in an off-white cloth.

Sasha picked apart the folds, uncovering it from the top. Yang stared at the object uncomprehendingly for a moment before she realized what it was.

Where did she get that?!

Seeing the stunned look on Yang's face, Sasha chuckled.

"Raven hasn't been too happy with me lately. Seems that Adrienne bitch blabbed about the little lesson I taught you when you first arrived. But just because she's ignored all my requests lately," said Sasha, her voice resentful, "it doesn't mean mommy won't send her special little girl something to make sure she goes along with the plan."

"So this is her plan…" mumbled Yang as she stared at the gift in Sasha's hand.

Sitting on the cloth was a retainer with two curved ends that would slip around the molars in the back of someone's mouth. The rest of the bar would be hidden behind their teeth. But attached to the front of the wire were two sharp canines – like fangs. The left tooth even had a stud set into it – it almost looked like a real diamond, and for all Yang knew it very well could have been.

She knows about Cadeja… thought Yang.

The gift worried her as much as it excited her. This might be just the thing she needed to turn Cadeja's temper around, and get her to stop picking fights with the Vertés.

If she could just feel like her old self again, maybe she'd be less angry… but, what will it cost me?

Yang's hand reached out toward the parcel, but Sasha quickly covered it and stowed it in her pocket.

"Uh-uhhh little Yang, not just yet. Just because Raven sent it for you doesn't mean I have to hand it over. You'll have to earn this little gift."

Yang's heart sank a little more. She'd known this would come with a price, but every second she spent talking to Sasha, the more she dreaded what would come next.

"How did you even get that?" asked Yang, still a little stunned.

Sasha's eyes glowered.

"I had to use up one of the last favors I had in here to make sure it came through the damn mail," she said, looking down at Yang. "I bet if Raven could've gotten a whole arm in here for you, she would have. But unfortunately for you, something like that would… stick out."

Yang barely even heard the last thing Sasha said. There was a war going on inside of her mind – she kept debating back and forth what was worse: the fear of getting close to the guards, how out of control Cadeja had been lately, or how much farther she was sinking into debt with Sasha.

After a moment, Sasha broke the silence.

"So," she said, her tone assuming that light, almost playful note again, "all I need you to do right now is talk to one of the COs. Reilly's probably your best shot. There's just one catch."

What now? thought Yang, not realizing that this situation could get any worse.

"What's that?" she asked warily.

"You have to distance yourself from your little wolf bitch, at least for now."

"What?!" shouted Yang, her voice loud enough to attract the attention of a few girls standing about fifty feet away. "Why the hell would you show me a gift for Cadeja just to tell me to stay away from her?"

Sasha eyed them before continuing.

"Your friend hasn't been playing nice with Judith lately. And that's a problem. We can't have Judith questioning your allegiance on the work crews – so you need to put some distance between you and her. If you don't, all of this will be for nothing."

"How do you expect me to do that?" hissed Yang. "She's my cellmate, we live together! And she's my friend – quite possibly the only one I have in here. What the hell do you think I'm gonna do?"

"For starters, stop clinging to her like she's your mommy," spat Sasha. "You hang off that dog like you're holding on for dear life. Take some steps, Xiao Long. Start by sitting with us at lunch, instead of all cozied up with your friend by yourselves. You think people don't notice stuff like that? Because they do."

"You seriously can't expect me-"

Sasha's voice snapped, cutting off Yang's protest.

"I can and I do, little Yang," she snarled. "Think of your choices this way: do what I say, and everything'll be just fine and dandy for you and your friends." Sasha's eyes were practically on fire, her anger fueled by something more – almost like fear. "But don't do what I say, and those closest to you will feel it. Trust me. Starting with Raya," she said, rolling the 'r' in an imitation of Cadeja and Raya's accent.

Yang's features blanched; she was shaken by the venom in Sasha's words. For a moment, nobody spoke – the three girls just stood in a tight circle, drawing even more attention from the girls around them.

But eventually a guard's voice cut through the air.

"Ladies! Move along or learn to play nice!" he barked, taking a threatening step towards them. He hadn't missed the tension that crackled between the three of them. Not even a blind man would miss that.

Sasha smiled sweetly.

"Yes, CO," she said, turning to leave. Just as she was about to walk away, she cast one last meaningful look back at Yang before disappearing across the field.

Yang watched her go, conscious of Roxie's presence beside her. Still feeling threatened, Yang felt the hair on her neck and arm stick up, and she started to inch away from the smaller blonde.

"She's worried, you know," said Roxie, her tone perfectly even.

Yang stopped in her tracks.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Sasha. She's worried. And for a good reason."

Yang hesitated to agree with her, but felt that what the girl said was right. Stubbornly, she opted to remain silent.

After a moment, Roxie whispered something that Yang almost couldn't hear.

"She's seen the harbinger… before the monitors came back, she saw it coming."

What the…

Yang stared down at the girl, turning to leave her again.

"She's right you know. About your friend. You need to stay away from her. That one's going to self-implode."

Yang didn't stop walking away this time. She simply replied, not bothering to look back.

"She's fine. Cadeja doesn't need to be drawn into this."

After a moment, even though Yang was some twenty feet away at this point, Roxie's voice called after her.

"Don't believe me? You'll see."

Irritated, Yang snapped her head around to tell Roxie off, but by the time she turned to look for her the stoic little girl was gone – disappeared somewhere in the Yard.

Still angry, Yang stomped away grumbling to herself.

"Doesn't know what the hell she's talking about. What does that even me? Probably just blowing smoke…"

But something creeped up inside of Yang, a small tendril of self-doubt. Something about what Sasha and Roxie had said about Cadeja had struck a chord.

All through the rest of her rec time, Yang found herself pacing around the Yard, going back and forth over their conversation in her mind. All she managed to do was grow more agitated over time – so that when it was time to head back to B Block, she was practically fuming. The other inmates left a wide ring of space around her, her frustration rolling off of her in waves.

She'd practically marched back to B Block, elbowing her way to the front of the group. By the time they got back to the cells, she was at the front of the line – behind only a couple COs.

Buzzed past the final gate, Yang blindly stomped her way up to her cell. She heard voices babbling through B Block, presumably because the girls who'd been at their work duties had already returned.

But something sounded off about the conversation that grew louder as Yang approached her cell. Her ears perking up, she couldn't help but remember Roxie's last words.

Don't believe me? You'll see.

Coming up on the door to her cell, Yang couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in her stomach.

And turning through the opening in the bars, Yang realized why. Unable to stop herself, she gasped.

"Cadeja?"

Author's note: So! I'm sorry that this chapter took longer than usual, time just got away from me! (Ever had one of those weeks where you look up and realize a whole week has gone by, meanwhile you still think it's last Tuesday?)

As always, I promise to do my best getting the next chapter written up and ready to go! We're starting the long climb towards the climactic part of this story arc, the next couple of chapters are going to start putting some pieces of the puzzle into place!

Please, feel free to reach out and let me know what you think! Any and all feedback is very much appreciated :)

Also trying to get this up sooner rather than later, I definitely rushed the editing process a bit so please feel free to point out any errors/inconsistencies!