by Aman Gupta
The guard pushed Sam into the cell and locked the steel gate behind her. He opened a small window on top of the gate and told Sam to behave if she wanted to see the light again.
Sam sat on the floor with her back against the wall. The endless journey had begun. She could see an old sewer grate at the corner. She had identified the source of the foul smell. Sam could hear noises coming from the grate. It sounded like human whispers.
“Vira?” called Sam, as she shouted from the top of her lungs.
“Shh..” said one of the voices.
“Vira?” asked Sam as she bent over the grate.
“Come to the wall in front of you,” said the voice.
Sam looked at the wall.
“Where?” asked Sam.
“To your left. Follow the voice,” said the woman.
Sam isolated the sound. She could spot a small hole almost a feet above from the floor. Sam went towards it and tried to see through it with her right eye. She could see Vira.
“Vira! Oh, thank god,” said Sam.
“What are you doing here?” asked Vira. “Talk in whispers.”
“I killed Trista,” said Sam. “And Fiona killed herself, blaming me.”
“Did you really kill Trista?” asked Vira.
“No. I left her to die,” said Sam.
“Did you do it for me?” asked Vira.
“I think so,” said Sam.
“You don’t sound so sure,” said Vira. “Did they get you too?”
“Get me how?” asked Sam.
“They pretended to be all nice, didn’t they?” said Vira.
“Actually, yes,” said Sam. “Trista and Mart and all the others. They were so nice to me.”
“They were nice to me, too, in the beginning. Then the politics started. They wanted me to break into stuff. Deliver contraband to others. Even sleep with their puppies. I refused every time,” said Vira.
“Guess, I didn’t stick around long,” said Sam. “When do I get out of here?”
“A week. Maybe more,” said Vira. “Depends on Mart.”
“What do you mean?” asked Sam.
“Brotherhood runs the prison. They fill the pockets of the guards. We pay the price,” said Vira.
“I can’t wait to be out of here,” said Sam. “I haven’t seen Gale since yesterday.”
“Me too. I want to avenge Gale,” said Vira.
“Avenge Gale? What happened?” asked Sam.
“A guard told me a couple of hours ago. Daffy and his men beat Gale to a pulp today morning. He might not make it,” said Vira.
“Why?” asked Sam.
“Why do you think? That’s what they do. They prey on the weak,” said Vira. “I don’t even know the Alliance will exist long enough till I get out of here. I guess that was their plan.”
“What plan?” asked Sam.
“They got Deathra to attack me, knowing that I will kill her to defend myself. Then they paid Brad and his henchmen to put me in here,” said Vira.
“Now it all makes sense,” said Sam. “I was confused, too, about why Deathra attacked you. Wasn’t she in the Alliance?”
“She was because I wanted her there. Several people in the Alliance, work for the Brotherhood. They want to keep tabs on me. Us,” said Vira.
“I don’t know if I can survive here,” said Sam.
“You have to stay strong, Sam. One day, we will get out of here and kill every last one of them,” said Vira.
“I can’t wait to look into Daffy’s eyes as I kill him,” said Sam.
“You remind me of my daughter,” said Vira. “She was a pure soul. The world used her and threw her away.”
“Not anymore,” said Sam.
“Not anymore,” said Vira.
The next few days went by. Sam lost the count at 6. There was no way to know when the dawn was upon them or if it was sunset outside. The only way to keep track of the days was the meal. The meals weren’t regular. Somedays, there used to be 2 meals, somedays only one. Vira and Sam would talk every day. They would share stories about their life, and what they will do once they get out of Clarence.
Vira asked Sam about the contest between her and Trista. Sam told her the entire thing. Vira told her that Sam did the right thing. Sam told her about the AI and the security system.
“I’ll be damned!” said Vira.
“What?” asked Sam.
“They want to break out of here,” said Vira.
“Break out?” asked Sam.
“There’s a legend associated with Clarence. There exists a series of tunnels somewhere in Clarence that lead outside these walls. Underneath all the sewer pipes and the drainage systems. There’s a network of tunnels. The conditions are dangerous to humans in case of long exposure, so the AI security system manages those tunnels. It’s a mesh. Somehow, the Brotherhood is planning to find a way out,” said Vira. “It all makes sense. Why they jumped at the opportunity to plan a face-off between you and Trista, it wasn’t a showdown. They needed your help to disable the AI.”
Sam didn’t say anything for a couple of minutes.
“Why didn’t they tell me that?” said Sam.
“Why do you think? They don’t need you anymore. Now, with Trista dead, they can’t get out of here. No wonder they’re pissed,” said Vira.
“But if there’s a way out, shouldn’t we try to figure that out?” said Sam.
“We will, once we get the Brotherhood out of the way. Then there won’t be anything between us and our freedom. With the murder charges against us, we’d be here forever. Do you want to be here forever?” asked Vira.
“Nope,” said Sam.
“Me neither,” said Vira.
Then one day, Vira was escorted out of her cell. Sam overheard the guards saying that she was being taken back to South-West. A few days later, Sam was released as well.
When she got out of those walls, she saw the entire prison had changed somehow. Or perhaps, it was her imagination. The walls looked higher, the grass looked greener, and the inmates looked more groomed. Sam, herself, was filthy.
She learnt from the guard that she had been there for almost a couple of weeks. They didn’t even remember when they put her there. She was given new clothes after being showered down with a pipe.
She was ready to face Mart again. However, she was taken back to South-West. Vira smiled when Sam walked past her. Sam smiled too. The day passed quietly.
The next day, during the morning yard time, Sam was asked by Vira to come with her. They occupied a bench. Around 10 other inmates sat on that bench too. Vira told Sam that it was the Alliance.
Everyone congratulated Sam and shook her hand. Vira mentioned it was because she killed Trista. She told Sam that Trista and Daffy had terrorized everyone in the Alliance.
“You’re part of us now,” said Vira, and gave her a ring.
“What’s this?” asked Sam.
“A symbol,” said Vira. “Of Alliance.”
Everyone else showed their rings on their index fingers.
“You ever get in trouble, the ring would act as your strength. Alliance was formed out of necessity, but exists out of love,” said Vira.
Sam was delighted to be part of the Alliance. She felt she had a family again. The lonely girl in her heart didn’t exist anymore. Vira and her family had welcomed Sam with open arms. Sam nearly cried.
Vira whispered in Sam’s ears that Daffy had killed Gale. Sam couldn’t believe her ears. She walked away from them.
After a few minutes, she returned only to see none of them were there. She looked far away and saw Vira and her friends were in a staring contest against the Brotherhood. Sam was already furious. This made her blood boil even more.
She hurtled towards them and stood next to Vira. Vira smiled as Sam smiled back. From afar, it looked two teams of 10 people staring at each other, standing 10 feet away from each other.
Sam looked at Mart, who shook her head in disappointment. Fred and Fort looked at Mart. They were dissatisfi
ed with her leadership.
Sam looked at Daffy and asked, “Did you kill Gale?”
“Killed? More like butchered,” said Daffy.
Brotherhood members, more than 200 in numbers, stood behind their leaders, yelling and clapping. Sam closed her fist in anger.
“I see you have chosen your side,” said Mart.
“You made the decision for me,” said Sam.
“Watch your back, assholes,” said Vira. “Let’s go.”
Sam looked angrily at Mart. Mart reciprocated it.
Vira and Sam planned their revenge for the next few days. They would often hear news about attacks on prisoners. They knew it was Brotherhood.
Vira and her team would retaliate twice as hard. Daffy had asked for more responsibilities from Mart, Fred, and Fort.
“Ford is dead, due to that bastard Gale. The leadership needs young blood,” said Daffy.
“You want to be a leader because you got young blood? I don’t think that’s a criteria,” said Mart. “Unless you want me to talk to the Supreme one.”
Daffy was visibly distressed.
“No, no. That’s not necessary. I just don’t want us to look weak,” said Daffy.
“You take care of the battle in the field. We’ll handle the battle behind it,” said Fort.
Daffy nodded and walked away.
“What do you have in mind?” asked Fred.
“Perhaps, it was time we explored the options that lied in the East,” said Fort.
“It’s too risky, but that’s a risk we have to take,” said Mart.
“Claudia is too old. Ever since Marge died, she hasn’t been the same,” said Fred. “And the Supreme one couldn’t be bothered to take care of us ever since he left us.”
“He is fighting a bigger war,” said Mart. “Lest I remind you that he is looking out for us, though we haven’t been able to reach him for a while. He keeps the warden and the captain from poking their noses in our business.”
“Still, we aren’t the same anymore. The guards have been pushing us one day at a time. Soon, we might not make it,” said Fred.
“They killed Trista,” said Fort.
“I don’t think they did. I think she’s with Claudia,” said Mart.
“You know this for a fact?” asked Fred.
Mart shook her head. “In my heart.”
“What about Sam? Maybe she’s not a Stone!” said Fort.
“I thought she was. Her eyes reminded me of him. But I don’t know,” said Mart.
“Daffy and others are thinking we’re protecting Sam. Are we?” asked Fred.
Mart didn’t utter a word. She didn’t know what to say.
“Hoping that she’s a Stone, is destroying everything that we’ve built over the past two decades,” said Fred.
“That settles it. If there’s a war coming and blood needs to be spilled, then I’m telling our guys not to see who’s standing in front of them,” said Fort.
Mart nodded after a pause.
And the blood was spilled from that day onwards. Hundreds of inmates from both sides had been injured and wounded in surprise attacks by both parties. The warden, Elliot James, and Captain Brad Bell had apprehended and questioned hundreds of eye-witnesses. Brotherhood blamed Vira. Vira and her friends blamed the Brotherhood.
“227 casualties in the last week,” said the warden. “What the hell is happening?”
“Unshackle my hands and watch me put these assholes where they belong,” said Brad.
“I don’t see how killing our prisoners would serve our purpose,” said the warden.
“Then, allow me to transfer the key players to the East wing,” said Brad.
“Alright. Let’s wait out the storm for the next few days. If the tally reaches 300, we’ll do it your way,” said the warden.
“I think it’s Mart. She’s smart and orchestrating the entire thing,” said Brad.
“There’s a Stone in the South wing, isn’t it? Could she be related to Mart?” asked the warden.
“No, I checked her files. Some other punk is listed as her father,” said Brad. “Plus, why would she go against the Brotherhood if she’s a Stone? It’s practically her family.”
“Maybe Mart planted her there,” said the warden.
“I don’t think so, not after what happened to Trista. I talked to my informers. The word is that Sam was with Trista that night,” said Brad. “That’s why the entire Brotherhood turned on her. Well, that and also Sam is close to Vira.”
“I hate Vira. She has been causing problems from Day 1,” said the warden.
“Why did you ask her here, then?” asked Brad.
“Because she’s smart and keeps the Brotherhood in check. I don’t like being told what to do. First, Marge and her son. Then Mart. The Stones have been ruling Clarence ever since I got here. I wanted the control back,” said the warden.
“We could put her in the East block,” said Brad. “Let her and the old lady fight it out.”
“Who? Vira?” asked the warden. “That’s suicide. The board wouldn’t approve. Claudia is more valuable. She’s been around for a long time. And East block is the last resort. Has it been causing problems?”
“No, the system isn’t showing any improper conduct, if I may say so. Business as usual,” said Brad.
“Maybe we should get the guards there,” said the warden.
“No one wants to go to that shithole. Honestly, I don’t blame them. Scum, the lot of them,” said Brad.
“As long as the money keeps coming, we don’t want to disturb the balance,” said the warden. “How’s the girl?”
Brad smirked for a second. “As good as she should be. We’ll transport her as soon as she gets one good leg.”
“Did you check the system?” asked the warden.
“Yes, it looks like they couldn’t even get past the firewall,” said Brad. “Still no idea how they got there.”
“Well, they won’t repeat that,” said the warden.
Chapter 27: Shock
Sam and Vira were discussing strategy in the Breakfast hall. Vira mentioned that they had lost 102 people to the infirmary and the morgue. But they had managed to take out 168 prisoners from the North block. Sam had personally been attacked multiple times. She recognized them as she had often seen them in the North block. Sam suffered from several broken ribs and numerous contusions on her face and legs. Sam wasn’t the same after she saw Gale’s mutilated body in the morgue last week, thanks to Vira’s connections. The barbarism on display was astonishing. She cried to sleep for the next few nights. She would imagine Daffy gutting Gale one inch at a time.
“We’re running out of people. They have the numbers. We need to put a stop to it,” said Vira.
“How?” asked Sam.
“Truce,” said Vira.
“Are you kidding me? They are taking us out every day, and you want to surrender?” said Sam. “Didn’t you say we’re close to winning?”
“Who talked about surrendering? I say we hit them where they live,” said Vira.
“I don’t understand,” said Sam.
“Out of all of us, you’re the only one that can get close to Mart. She’s the brains of their entire clan. If we take her out, then it’s all over,” said Vira.
“And why do you think that? If I get out, they’ll kill me. I don’t even step out in the yard anymore,” said Sam.
“One of the guards owes me a favor. I could get you transferred to North-West,” said Vira.
“What?” said Sam. She was terrified. Her hands were quivering.
“Just for a day,” said Vira.
“I don’t know if I could do that,” said Sam.
“They’re destroying us. I’m not going to lie. We only have 100 people. 150 tops. They have more than 400, maybe a lot more,” said Vira. “Not everyone in the South wing is willing to fight for us. The more we wait, the greater are the chances we lose the entire thing. My friend, Cindy, was here to serve her 2 months. Yesterday, she killed her. Not put
her in the infirmary. Literally, killed her!”
“I know about Cindy,” said Sam. “She was nice.”
“Damn right, she was!” asserted Vira. “So, I’m asking you this one time. Are you in or are you out? If not for you, do it for Gale.”
Sam looked around the room. She could sense the darkness in everyone’s mind. Some were afraid, and some were waiting for retribution. She could bring justice. She had put them in harm’s way when she decided to challenge Trista for Gale’s safety. It was all on her, she thought.
“Okay,” said Sam.
“Yes! I’m so proud of you,” said Vira. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ll arrange for another couple of women to go there with you. So that they can protect you.”
Sam nodded.
Vira spent the next thirty minutes explaining the plan to Sam. It all hinged on the fact that Sam had to ask for Mart’s forgiveness. She had to win back Mart’s trust. Several contingencies were discussed based on the potential roadblocks that Sam could face.
In the afternoon, Sam was transferred to the North wing as a part of routine transfer by the warden. Several prisoners were transferred between North and South wings. The warden believed that it would bring temporary peace, as each faction would care about its members.
Sam smelled the hostility as she entered the North-West block. She could feel they were gunning for her. As she climbed the stairs to go to her old cell, she again walked past Mart’s cell. There was a slight hold-up ahead, so the queue halted midway.
Sam was looking at Mart, who was looking back at her.
“I’m sorry for Trista,” said Sam.
“Not yet,” said Mart.
“I didn’t ask to be a part of this,” said Sam. “I just want to survive.”
“Well, then you chose the wrong side. Only one of us can survive now,” said Mart.
“Last time I was here, you told me my father would be disappointed. How do you know that?” asked Sam.
“What’s your father’s name?” asked Mart.
“Why?” asked Sam.
“Never mind. I thought you were someone else. But maybe you aren’t,” said Mart. “Your eyes fooled me. They reminded me of my brother. Shame, we can’t see the blood to know the truth.”
