Today had been such a long day...I still had a few hours left though and next up was taking Kim to go and see Nichkhun to get her punishment for her aggressive behaviour. Personally I believed she deserved nothing but a pat on the back, she stuck up for herself and though that's not how things work in prison, it's what I felt. What was she supposed to do? Let that huge monster touch her? Rape her? I couldn't think of anything more vile.

Once we arrived at his door, I was about to knock but instead something caught my eye, the bandage had come off of her knuckles. I looked around on the floor and back to where we had come from but saw no trace of it. With a frown I looked at her, silently asking with my expression where it was but she wasn't looking at me, instead looking slightly bored and wanting to get this over with as soon as possible. A quick glance downwards reassured me that her hand was okay and wasn't bleeding so with a slight hesitation, I knocked the door and pulled her inside once Nichkhun allowed our entry.

"Sit her down" he ordered almost as soon as we came in, not even looking up from the documents he was shuffling. He was expecting us.

I nudged her further into the room and she stood in front his desk, she couldn't have looked nervous if she tried. I kind of admired this girl a little. I mean, if I had just beat the shit out of four women I'd be petrified of the punishment that would await me. It would almost certainly be solitary but she could also have her visitation revoked, her recreation taken away...the list goes on and on. In this place, violence even when you are sticking up for yourself is just not allowed.

Nichkhun I saw was looking over that same file that had caused me such discomfort and stress earlier on. I still couldn't see the damn thing though. "Let's see… Kim Taeyeon isn't it?"

Kim Taeyeon...finally I knew her name. It's nice, pretty. It suited her too, I know the actual meaning of the name 'Taeyeon' which translates as 'calm' could be a word some people couldn't for the life of them imagine associating her with but I knew her, or I'd like to think I know her a little better than the other correctional officers in this facility. She was calm unless provoked.

She rolled her eyes in response to his question and shifted her weight slightly, finding the random stain on the floor far more interesting than the powerful man before her. He raised his head after not getting an answer and I noticed he looked pretty pissed. Maybe he'd had a long day too...

"I asked you a question. Is your name Kim Taeyeon or not?" He asked, his voice rising.

"Isn't that what my file says?" Taeyeon shot back with slight hostility before looking at me to confirm that that is the name that was on the file...I looked away immediately though had raised my eyebrows slightly at her attitude, she's certainly a little spitfire. She kept surprising me each day, what else was she hiding under those eyes and within that small and petite body?

Nichkhun let out an angry scoff and leaned back in his chair while he studied Taeyeon up and down. No surprises there from my perverted boss, though I guess if you could see past her anger and her violence...she was pretty, in the sort of way you'd think of a child being cute. She had a babyish face that didn't belong in this prison but eyes that belonged to a woman twice her age. They were wise, knowing and gave her an aura that caused you to become filled with curiosity and the desire to find out who she is, what she knows.

"You better watch your tone Kim, you're in enough trouble as it is." He warned.

To me it looked like Taeyeon was not affected whatsoever by his comment nor his intimidating stare. Of course his had nothing over the glare she could give, in fact it looked like the face of an excited puppy in comparison. Due to me being behind her I couldn't really see her own expression though it was kind of funny just imagining what she stared back at him with, a perplexed look perhaps that said 'what the fuck is that?' or 'Are you kidding me...that's it?'

He read over the document in his hand again before looking up at me and then back to her. "We all know why you're in here Taeyeon." Not true, I didn't but I would really like to. Someone enlighten me please! "What happened today... is history repeating itself?" History repeating itself? Did that mean whatever crime she committed to land herself in prison had something to do with violence?

"I don't see why it would. I think those bitches got the message" she replied, cheekily sporting her lone dimple on the side of her chin.

Although I felt like I wasn't too fond of the girl, I had a very hard time not smiling at her words but of course in Nichkhun's presence I could not do that. My eyes wanting to roam around instead travelled down her back until I was slightly alarmed to see her knuckles had started to bleed again, the droplets running between each of her fingers.

"Tiffany" Nichkhun's voice boomed. I tore my eyes from the injury and stepped further into the office, looking at my superior though couldn't help worrying that the girl was in pain. "Take Kim to solitary confinement. Give her some time to cool off."

With a nod and an urge to sigh at the outcome, I placed a hand between Taeyeon's handcuffed wrists and pulled her to walk out of the room where we proceeded down the corridor in silence, only the sound of our steps resonating through the halls. I couldn't help saying what was on my mind when I glanced back at her.

"You've got a mouth on you. You shouldn't talk to him that way" I wasn't expecting an answer, though was strangely pleased when I received one.

"What is he gonna do? Lock me up? Oh, wait… I'm already in prison" Taeyeon replied. I shook my head at her smart-ass comment but now found I couldn't suppress that damn smile that had hidden itself in the office.

After a short while longer, we finally arrived at the secure housing unit also known as the SHU. It was a terrifying place, awful. As we walked, I tried not to hear the screams of the inmates behind the windowless cell doors to be let out,msome even begging to die. A lot of them sounded completely psychotic...who wouldn't be? They were locked inside 23-7 with no contact from another person except being handed a tray of food through a slat in the door each day and being escorted to shower and recreation albeit with no communication. Humans are social creatures, they rely on company and contact, this was no place for a human being.

Recreation by the way, shouldn't even be called that in these parts. The prisoners are led with shackles around their wrists and ankles to a concrete room only around two feet wider or longer than the size of the one they spend mostly all of their time in. It's just them...maybe if they're lucky, a window that shows a view of the bricked wall of the building opposite and if they press their faces against the bars perhaps they could see the sky but that's it. No activities, no people to converse with, no balls or puzzles...nothing. These inmates didn't need to be removed from their cells except for their recreation each day (or maybe even each week depending on the prison) and showering which was usually two or three times a week. Their cells were equipped with toilets so they at least had that but the boredom and the claustrophobic feel of such a place must be...just awful. Even the thought of being in the room with Taeyeon soon and having the door shut, it was enough to make me slightly wheezy.

Sometimes, my job is hard. As I walked slightly in front of this girl, though rude and intense, I hate to admit she had made an impression on me. With her talent in art and her interest in books, the ability to stick up for herself...I pleased to discover that she wouldn't take shit from anybody. And even if she had allowed that woman to touch her, to threaten her back during recreation I of course would have stepped in knowing that I would want to protect her. I don't know what it was about her, she certainly confused me but what I did know was she did not belong in this place with these criminals, regardless at what she did to end up in prison.

Walking by and greeting the officer on duty, I soon unlocked one of the empty rooms that I had chosen for her, somewhere away from the other prisoners and their screaming but unfortunately, these rooms weren't sound-proof. She'd still have to listen to them but it'd be quieter than if she was in the middle of it all. I ushered Taeyeon inside and we stood in the centre of the small room while I positioned myself in front of her to unlock the handcuffs.

I felt her eyes solely on me as I unhooked my keys from my belt and freed one of her hands before meeting her eyes "Have you been here before?" I asked while I unlocked her second hand freeing her completely but I didn't get an answer, just a slight turning of her head to the side.

It's funny how every time I uncuffed a prisoner, they would rub their wrists as they had become chafed and were definitely uncomfortable...she didn't. She didn't want to show any weakness and again, I admired that and also realised that this girl had put her wall up high. Nobody could get to the mushy Taeyeon that was capable of love and trust, if there was any of that girl left or even if there was any of her to begin with. I'd probably never know.

I guessed that due to her calmness and lack of scanning around to study her room, the answer to my previous question was that of a yes and after doing some glancing around her new room myself, I found I had no reason to stay there with her. I went to leave but once I got to the door I found some weird resistance there, holding me back.

I didn't know how long she would be in here, two or three days probably, a very short sentence but due to me telling Nichkhun everything over the radio when I had been waiting for her outside the infirmary telling him how she had been threatened with rape, I guess he went light on her. Thankfully he didn't extend her overall sentence with assault as I had made sure that he knew that it was self-defence even though Kim threw the first punch, I kind of left that little detail out.

It was silent apart from the psychotic screams and begging of the inmates around us and I watched as she sighed before retreating to the makeshift bed in the corner of the room. Looking around for the billionth time, I realised isolation really was horrible. All it was was a cement square room with no windows, not allowing any view of the outside world. It was just her and this room. This...was total loneliness

"Are you going to leave or just stare at me with pity for an hour?"

I turned my head to look at her, surprised at the sudden question that had disturbed the silence between us. I was also surprised at the tone of her voice, it actually sounded slightly emotional. Of course anyone would be upset at having to spend time in here, days in here but she was the last person I'd expect to break down regardless of where she was. She wasn't crying, but I could see she wasn't far from it. I wasn't going to point it out though and make her uncomfortable, instead I approached and winced slightly when I saw she brought her knees up to her chest and hugged her legs similar to the feotal position like a baby would lie in the womb. It seemed like she wanted to be comforted and I had this overwhelming urge to hug her...but I couldn't. Firstly my job wouldn't allow it and secondly, she would probably attack me if I even attempted to do it.

"I'm not looking at you with pity" I lied. "I just...wanted to make sure that wound was taken care of before I left." I said as I pointed to her hand that I had only just seen was bleeding again slightly, dried blood between each of her fingers. I turned away from her bed and walked over to the sink provided "Come" I motioned to her, I wanted her to get out of that position which just screamed depression and sadness because I didn't like it. She was a strong girl and I didn't like to see her upset like that. It took a while for her to listen to me, but finally she let out a loud exhale as if moving was a chore and got up to make her way over to where I was standing.

I held out my hand, knowing this would be a much bigger step than a nurse asking of her the same thing. She hesitated, a lot and looked at me like I was crazy but I was patient. It came to the point where my arm was starting to hurt at being held up for so long but just as I was about to drop it, she rested her palm upon mine, the fresh blood pooling in my hand almost immediately. I gently grasped it where it wasn't injured and pulled her towards me more so I could position it under the cool running water.

I then glanced upwards at her as I rubbed my fingers over her hand trying to avoid her injuries but cleaning the blood that had crusted onto her skin to see if what I was doing hurt her. All I saw though was the straightest poker face you could imagine but she was human, I couldn't help but see now she was clenching her jaw a little.
Keeping her there until her hand was clean, I next told her to sit on the bed and noticed she had a habit of staring at me incredulously before listening to my orders. Is it so weird do be nice? I mean...come on.

"Alright, let's sort this shall we" I smiled and once again took out the packet of tissues from my pocket before kneeling down in front of her and holding one firmly down on her knuckles. I changed the tissues every now and again when they began to get overly bloody and at last after what seemed like hours but was only a few minutes, the blood began to stop flowing. "Finally" I sighed and started to look around for the bandage she had had around her hand before, forgetting that it disappeared back at Nichkhun's office. "'Where is it?" I asked, even using my hands in a rolling motion to describe what I was looking for.

Taeyeon just shrugged causing to me roll my eyes and leaving me think about what we could do only to remember what I had taken. I slowly put my hand in my pocket, rummaged around a little and brought out a brand-new packet of bandages that I had...recently acquired. She frowned immediately.

"Why did you take me to the nurse if you had bandages already?"

I said nothing, it was my time to ignore her because...okay I was slightly embarrassed. The snort that ensued a short while later made me lower my gaze, concentrating excessively on opening the plastic wrapper in hope that she either hadn't figured it out or in would make myself look busy enough so she wouldn't try to bother me. Neither did anything for me.

"You stole that didn't you?"

"I didn't steal it" I replied defensively. "I..."

"Stole it" she answered, a slight smirk on her face.

"Okay I stole it" I hissed and started to wrap it around her knuckles, thankfully she dropped the theft accusations and instead placed her attention on my doings. So, I had been taught how to disinfect wounds and apply pressure to stop bleeding but had literally no idea what I was doing with her hand. Do I wrap the bandage between each finger and then over or just in layers over the top? In between the thumb and index finger and over? Taeyeon could see I was struggling so instead took it from me and did it herself, rather well I might add. "So...self-defence and first aid skills. What's your secret?" I asked with a smirk, pleasantly surprised when she did it back.

"You should know, you looked at my file remember?"

I lost the smirk and turned away, pretending to be busy with my shoelace while she scoffed and finished up with her hand. It didn't take her long and thankfully her wounds didn't bleed again, ruining her handy work. She lifted her hand to show me and I nodded my approval, I joked with my inner self that if I ever punched something I should come to a prisoner to help me bandage it. Maybe she was a nurse or even a doctor that committed fraud, or accidentally went wrong on the operating table...I don't know.

I noticed since my thoughts ended, we had stayed there in silence for a while, the joking atmosphere now long gone once it was clear that I'd have to go soon and I found myself looking into those expressive orbs of hers, finding something or someone I didn't recognise. I'm not sure how her joking manner had disappeared so quickly but maybe it was because she saw me checking my watch ready to leave. She may not like me, but I imagine she preferred to have me there with her than to be alone. Her mysterious eyes also confirmed this.

The fire that had ignited with anger when she had looked at Kong and Nichkhun, the slight glint when she had acted cheeky to me or the indescribable intensity from her glares...none of them were showing through her eyes right now. What I saw instead, was the deep dark depths of something indistinguishable and distorted, something she tried to hide though was clearly finding it hard to at this particular moment. Fear, vulnerability, regret, desperation...if you could mush them all together and create an expression? That'd be close to hers.

I tried to give a reassuring smile, not only for her benefit but also for mine to tell my brain that everything was fine, everything was normal but who was I kidding. I didn't know what I was feeling but as I watched the girl before me avert her eyes and pull her sleeves down to cover her hands, clenching the fabric tight in her fists and shuffling back to rest her body against the concrete wall behind her...It hurt.

By the time I had scolded myself for feeling so peculiar about this, I was up and ready to leave. I got as far as the door and all it would take was a good, hard push to slam that door and I'd no longer be able to see her, she wouldn't be my problem anymore... but I was finding it exceptionally hard to do just that. When I felt a sort of sinking feeling in my gut, I knew there was something wrong.

There was something keeping me here. Whether it was her or me, something didn't want me to leave. I hesitantly glanced over my shoulder and saw her watching me as if a puppy was watching it's owner walk away after being tied up, abandoned, not wanted anymore. I turned away and shut my eyes, immediately feeling something stirring in my heart. I envisioned her child-like face watching as I got farther and farther away from her until the titanium steel door that would both seal her in and shut her out from the outside world was in my hands, ready to slam closed behind me. I turned to face her again, trying not to look directly in her eyes but although they were upsetting, they were also magnetic. What I was now looking at was no doubt a tough woman...but it was as plain as day to see she was also showing signs of fragility.

"Are you okay?" I asked quietly, unable now to even look away for a moment. I saw her eyes glisten until she turned, moving her body to the side and resting her head on her arms that were in turn resting atop her bent knees, shutting me out...putting up her barrier.

"Hwang" Nichkhun suddenly said through my radio, making me jump slightly. Did I respond? No, my attention was placed solely on the girl who had just sniffed, her airways clearly blocked. "Hwang I need you back up here" I frowned and bit my lip as I trailed my eyes down her body, curled up in a position that screamed insecurity. She didn't belong here and the more I realised it, the more upset I started to become. "Hwang pick up!" He shouted, getting angrier the more I ignored him so I slowly reached to grab it and clicked the receiver to acknowledge my boss.

"I-I'm on my way" I replied before looking one last time at Kim Taeyeon...

And then shutting and locking the door.

I'm sorry...