Chapter 3 The snap
Vince's point of view
We were out in the exercise yard.
The charges that we had been imprisoned with were erroneous, but we couldn't prove it because the evidence that had suddenly appeared when we were in court had somehow very conveniently disappeared as soon as we were convicted and they were 'looking' for the evidence but until then we were locked up and my god-daughter was at school - a special needs school for the mentally and physically enfeebled.
The sky was a dark thick grey mass of clouds. A veil of ominous feeling descended over not just the prison but the entire earth itself, it felt as though something unstoppable and cataclysmic was coming. like the Atomic Bomb that ended World War II but. a lot worse and more. inevitable.
It felt like there was something that we didn't know was going to happen coming very soon and that something would bring some very devastating changes.
The uniform worn by all of us prisoners were what could only be described as somewhere between a puke beige and snot green colour. A heavy cotton shirt and pants and a pair of dark grey plimsolls with white soles. Personal items are mostly banned in prison with a few notable but small exceptions. A bathrobe, two pairs of trainers, a pair of Crocs for the shower, A shower cap, a basic toiletry pack, a small basic first aid kit, a small basic sewing kit, underwear and socks. In our valuable boxes were phone cards, a money card for the shop and a card for the library.
My friend and I were tossing a baseball around, Linda was eyeing us from her perch on a nearby bench. She was scrunched up small, like someone had squashed up a paper bag and hurled it violently to the ground. She had her head resting on her knees. Her eyes were a violent cerulean storm. Rage, disappointment, fear and uncertainty swirling around within them. Even when sitting perfectly still, her shoulders shook uncontrollably. Her blond hair was neatly clipped back from her face with sleeper clips. I waved but she didn't respond. That concerned me.
I was the first to reach our usual table in the mess hall.
Linda was next. She sat beside me, like a block of stone. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that Linda looked awful. Her blue eyes were puffy and they had dark purplish circles around them. There was still a storminess to them.
She sat to my left and picked at a very small bowl of dry cereal. Her hands trembled uncontrollably. I slipped my arm around her.
Shane and Lilian joined us next.
Then Paul, Shawn and Steph came down, and finally, my friend.
"Morning" he said
"Good morning" Shane, Steph, Paul, Shawn and I replied, Linda said nothing.
"Linda have you thought any more about what we discussed?" my friend asked gently
"I can't do it" said Linda. Her azure eyes were full of tears.
"Mom. you have to." Shane began. Linda rounded on him as though wounded. She said something which reminded me of a television character on a BBC World show that we both adored.
"I was the chief executive officer of a Fortune Five Hundred company, I ran for Senate twice and now look where I am." she ranted quietly "The place where criminals go!" She closed her eyes and sighed then she said
"That's not even the worst part. The worst part is I would never even dream of doing the stuff I have been accused of!"
"Mom you have to tell the truth about what happened to you"
"That is out of the question, and you know it Shane Brandon"
"Linda. I'm going to ask if we can go to a conjugal trailer. we need to spend some time alone together."
"Linda, you have to stop punishing yourself. None of this is your fault." My friend interjected
"Exactly" I added
Linda's point of view
Part of me knew that Vince's friend was right but the rest of me felt as guilty as if I had been the one to plant the information.
I was humiliated.
After breakfast, those of us with jobs in the kitchen went to work. I was on mopping duty with a girl I had never met before.
"Hi" she said "My name is Drita. I'm a big fan of WWE. as are my girls and my friends."
"Thank you"
"How about I sweep, and you mop? Renee will wipe down the tables and Carla will vacuum underneath"
"OK, sounds like a plan. If we work together, we will get it done in no time."
I filled the bucket, added the soap and when the others had completed their task I did mine.
When I was finished, I grabbed the caution: Wet floor sign and put it by the door of the kitchen.
"Excellent job ladies" said one of the correctional officers "The mess hall and kitchen have never looked better."
"Thank you ma'am"
We went to the workout area.
Drita introduced me to every one of her circle of friends and enemies. Each of them shared their story.
We went outside to the exercise yard. The surrounding chains made me feel like a tiny bird, enclosed within an inescapable cage.
Vince was waiting
"Linda, I've booked us some alone time."
"Girls, this is Vince. Vince, these are my new friends, Renee, Drita, Ramona, Love and Carla."
"You're so lucky. " Drita gushed. "Lee isn't a looker. "
"Thank you" Vince and I said together and then an earth-shattering screech rent the air
"HEY D'AVANZO" shrieked the most adenoidal, irritating and shrill voice I had heard for a long time.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT GRAVANO. YOU GIANT RAT!"
"Linda, come with me. " said Renee
"You do not want to be in between those two when they get going. They are sworn enemies for life. Karen's father cooperated and while I don't condone it, I understand why he did it. My ex did the same but for less honourable reasons." Renee grabbed me by the arm and dragged me away from Karen and Drita. Vince came over, he sat with us.
Karen and Drita squared up to each other, like they were going to fight.
"S'up rat motherfucker?" Drita demanded getting into Karen's face.
With a scowl, Karen glared right back at Drita and hissed,
"Really? That's all you have to say is nothing of importance? All right that's it let's rumble you psycho bitch!"
"Really? Your father is a dumb rat motherfucker and you have the nerve to call me a psycho bitch?"
"Yeah I have the nerve Drita, we've been fighting about this for so long now it's got old. You started it."
"Nah. you're the one who started it because you claimed we were no longer on good terms when Lee and I got together."
"Jesus wept!" Karen screamed "That dumb argument again. You have two kids with Lee, you won that battle it's over." she finished. Drita made a noise that was reminiscent of an angry wasp. Karen rolled her eyes and taunted, "What are you gonna do? Get Love to murder me?"
"Not exactly - she's in Solitary."
"Oh good. One less psychotic whore to worry about"
"Love Majewski is a friend of ours, who makes angry Drita look tame. It's like Drita is the Abomination and Love is the Hulk. Love is SCARY when she's angry" Renee explained and I nodded, still unable to remove my eyes from the sight before me.
"If you cross me though. you're gonna regret it. I can promise you that" Drita snarled
"Really?"
"Yeah really. I'll make you regret it"
"How bitch?"
"Stop calling me names Karen, I'm warning you"
"How bitch?"
"Karen, I'm serious, back the fuck off. NOW!"
"I'll back the fuck off when you answer my question"
"How about I fix you a knuckle sandwich for a snack Karen?"
"You couldn't fix a flat tyre Drita, so don't be thinking you can fix me a knuckle sandwich as a snack. try it bitch and I will knock you into the middle of next week and send you back to last week so fast your head will spin"
"Yeah right. you're all talk Gravano"
"You sure about that?"
"Yeah. all talk no action. I will fustigate you if you step any closer"
"Don't tempt me Dri, otherwise I might defenestrate you later"
"Ha ha ha ha ha we're in prison Karen, in case it's escaped your notice. you know that's your biggest problem. you notice nothing"
"I want to see what happens" Renee hissed "It's probably not wise for you to stick around." and she threw a piece of paper at Drita, it hit her squarely on the shoulder. Drita punched Karen on the nose and knocked her out cold. When she came walking towards us, we scarpered.
"D'AVANZO! GOVERNOR'S OFFICE NOW!" yelled one of the correctional officers.
"Ooops!" said Renee.
"Linda, we need to talk. I've arranged for us to go to a Conjugal trailer. "
"OK"
Stephanie's point of view
Shawn, Paul and I were sleuthing. trying to get to the bottom of who had put us in jail. and why.
When we found out who was behind it. all hell broke loose.
Vince's point of view
Linda and I went to the conjugal trailers.
We were laughing, talking, holding hands, we even danced. but then. there was an almighty, very loud rumble of thunder (it sounded to me like God burped) and Linda disintegrated into a pile of ash.
Panicked, confused and furious, I ran back towards the prison building. but the correctional officers had formed a human wall around the building.
Paul's point of view
Steph, Shawn and I had gone for a walk around the yard and there was an enormous rumble of thunder that sounded like it was right overhead.
Steph became a pile of ash, and as I turned in time to see Shawn turn into a little pile of ash too. Panic scorched its way through me as I ran back towards the now burning prison building.
"Paul,"
"Vince?"
"Where are Shawn and Steph?"
"They. turned to dust"
"Right. Paul, we have to get out of here now. "
"Where do we go?"
There was a series of metallic thuds, and we were surrounded by half of the Avengers. A large weird looking plane hovered behind.
"Mr McMahon, Constance told us you were here, and she's been helping Pepper investigate the whole mess. " Tony began
"Let's get them on the plane first, then we can explain things" said Captain America.
"Fine" Tony snapped then he muttered "Stupid red white and blue spangled Capsicle!"
"I heard that" Captain America snarked Tony turned slowly around, a furious expression on his face.
"I think you were supposed to Steve" said Jay
"All right that's it, Spangles, Your holier-than-thou voice is really irritating, and it's really starting to get on my nerves! Put a sock in it before I put my fist in it!"
"Now, now Tony, you really should learn to keep your temper"
WHAM
Tony's fist hit Cap's nose with extreme accuracy.
"OW MY NOSE!" Cap yelled "MY BEAUTIFUL NOSE!"
"I think you'd better learn to KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!" Tony yelled. Cap had both hands over his nose which was now a venerable fountain of red.
"I can and will make the other nostril gush too if you don't shut up" Tony yelled, peeling back to punch Cap in the face again. Tony was WILD with furious anger.
"Hey, easy" said Jay
"No wonder, he makes me so mad I could spit."
"Tony, I know he should have told you about what happened but you're being irrational OK. You have to try to think clearly"
'Stark I already apologised to you about what happened to your parents. but hey if you want to be childish enough to not forgive me, fine."
Tony wrenched his hand out of Jay's grip and punched Steve so hard that he was knocked out cold this time.
"Next time you bring up what happened to my parents, I will set Bruce on you. " he growled. "He's a lot of fun when he's angry!" he added sarcastically.
"Yeah Tony's right" said Bruce "I'm an absolute riot when I'm angry"
