by Nicety
“I ain’t got no story.”
“Everyone has a story. So tell me yours.”
“You know, if we was on the street, I would’ve sold you your fix with your damn belly sticking out like that and why you ask? ‘Cause I wouldn’t give a fuck what your story was. So stop prying into my life trying to figure out mines.” Pandora snapped crossing her arms and turning her nose up at her.
The crack head wobbled over to where she was sitting, posted in the seat directly in front of her. Pandora tried to scoot away but the lady kept invading her space not allowing her to get away that easily.
“What?” Pandora snapped staring her dead in the eye.
The lady chuckled unaffected by her macho attitude. “What’s your name girly?”
“Ugh, Pandora.”
“Pandora, eh? Like the box.”
“What? What box?”
“Oh you know, you’ve heard of the box. Zeus gives this girl the box, tells her not to open it but she opens it anyway.” The lady responded.
Pandora didn’t have the foggiest idea of what she was talking about. The lady rolled her eyes at how young and dumb she was. She knew she had to have heard of the story since she felt everyone had heard of it.
“The girl opens the box right and it’s got all kinds of shit in there, hunger, plague, disease. You name it and it was in that damn box. Well Zeus says don’t open it but he doesn’t tell her why. So her earth husband opens it and ’lets the shit out but only ’lets out a little and closes it but then her dumb ass comes along and opens it letting the rest out.” The lady spat picking at her nails.
“What the fuck does that have to do with me?” Pandora spat back.
“Well, I can bet that your story is you’ve opened that box and tried to close it but all the shit done got out already and now you’re fucked.”
“Thanks for telling me a whole bunch of nothing.” Pandora snarled sarcastically.
“Hmph.” The lady said as she moved over to the seat she was in at first. “Don’t you wanna know the one thing that didn’t come out the box?”
“No. I think I’ve had enough of your bullshit for one morning. Thanks.” Pandora flipped her hair turning her attention to the officers huddled at the window.
She noticed them holding a slew of files, hoping to God one of those were hers. A lady officer opened the door and steeped in looking around at the filth shaking her head. She looked through the files once more before raising her head and calling names. The officer pointed as she called the names of everyone but Pandora’s. She was confused as to why she had skipped over her.
“Um, did you forget me?”
“Why would I forget ya’?” The officer retorted as she took the other girls then exited the cell.
Pandora put her head down and flopped back down on the seat. The waiting was the worst pain she had ever had. She walked to the end of the holding cell banging on the thick paned glass like she had lost her mind.
“Hey! Hey!” She yelled calling after the pregnant crack head.
She turned back to see what she wanted leery of the fact that the cops would grow impatient. Pandora didn’t even have to ask. She had already known what she wanted.
“Hope. There was the spirit of hope left.” The lady yelled through the glass as she allowed herself to be hauled away through another set of thick glass doors.
Her words shattered glass in Pandora’s head awaking her confidence again. She wasn’t about to let this beat her, especially since it was Diamond and Lexi who needed the beating. The sun was done creeping in and was now shining tremendously through the high small square windows at the top of the cell wall. Pandora couldn’t tell what time it was or how much time had elapsed since she was arrested but she felt it wasn’t long. She knew they couldn’t leave her in there to fester without so much as anything to eat or drink and that they would eventually come for her like they did the others.
****
The sun’s rays moved across the floor gradually then slowly made ’its way up the side of the other wall when Pandora noticed she had been in there an awfully long time. She had one hell of a headache from hunger and she had to pee badly but refused to use that grotesque thing they portrayed as a commode. Pandora headed over to the pay phone thinking of only one number she could call that might remotely help her out. She dialed the number hoping that her collect call would be accepted.
“You have one free call. You may make it now.” The officer said on the line before patching her through to the dial tone.
Oh thank God! She thought as she dialed the number again.
“Hello?”
“Pastor, ’its Pandora.”
“Yeah. What do you want?” He replied.
“I need for you to come down to 22nd and get me out of here. I don’t know why they got me here but I need your help. Can you do that for me?”
“Help? Hmph. That’s funny that you call me when you need some help but all I ever asked of you girls was to help me and you see where that got me.”
“Pastor, what are you talking about?” She asked bewildered at his rambling.
“Help. That’s what I’m talking about. Motherfucking help.”
CLICK!
“UGH!!!” Pandora screamed as she slammed the phone against the receiver repeatedly.
“Hey! If you got some money to pay for that then you can break it all you want. Otherwise I suggest you calm it down in there.” A female officer said over an intercom.
Pandora plopped down on the bench as more officers brought in their round up for the morning. She scooted to the edge of the last seat leaning on the wall crossing her arms and legs not wanting to touch or talk to anybody. The noise in the cell boggled her brain wishing she could tell them to shut up so badly but the females they had brought in all looked like they had done hard time before. Pandora was in no mood to get her ass whooped.
“Pandora Durden.” An officer called as she opened the door.
“That’s Burden and yes that’s me.”
The officer grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to the hallway closing the door behind them. Pandora was elated. She was finally making progress on getting out of that hellhole. She wiped her hands then locked her fingers behind her back as instructed and spread her legs a little ways apart.
“Alright, now your bail is twenty thousand dollars. Now you know you only need ten percent of that. So if you got two thousand you get to walk until your court date.” The cop said popping gum in her face.
“No problem. Can I bail myself out?”
“You sure can. Follow me.” The cop led her down to the office where her belongings were being held.
She handed her the bag with all of her stuff as she sifted through looking for her small coach wallet. It was already open when she found it pissing her off a tad bit until she looked through it realizing that the only thing that was missing was $200 in cash. That was to be expected, sucking her lips at their thirsty asses. She pulled out her Chase debit card and handed it to the clerk behind the desk. The clerk snatched it giving Pandora attitude. Pandora returned the attitude not caring about hers. Shouldn’t have brought your ass to work if you didn’t want to be here. She thought as she tapped her foot and grabbed the pen out of the cup waiting for the receipt to sign.
BEEP.
The machine beeped rather loud. The clerk leaned in closer to the screen to make sure she was seeing the words correctly. Denied. She swiped it along side of the computer on the card swipe again just in case she may have swiped it too fast the first time. Beep. Denied.
“Um, your card has been denied.” The clerk spat handing Pandora her card.
“No, that’s not possible. Swipe it again please.” Pandora responded daintily.
The clerk snatched it back out of her hand staring her in the face and swiped it not once but three more times. Every time the machine read the same thing. Denied. Denied. Denied.
“Sorry.” The clerk said as she whipped the card back towards her way.
Pandora stood
there stunned vexed even as to what was wrong with her card. She didn’t panic feeling like it could all be straightened out, easily.
“Could I just use your phone to call the bank? There must be some sort of mistake.” Pandora said coyly.
“You’ve already used your one free call.” The cop said standing next to her.
“Please, I’m begging. It will only take a second.”
The cop reluctantly nodded her head towards the phone next to the clerk’s computer. Pandora could not dial fast enough, punching the numbers profusely keeping the cop’s face in sight. She didn’t want to piss her off hoping that she would be her one best friend at least until she got out. She zoomed through the prompts knowing them like the back of her hand. Typing her card number in and her pin code was done in a flash. Pandora waited as the automated system ran through her information and verified it. She listened carefully as the computer read her the script it was prompted to:
As of today’s date, there are no available funds in this account at this time. If you have any further questions please contact your local bank.
Pandora felt nauseated, sick to her stomach as her headache suddenly worsened and her air was beaten out of her. She had no idea what the hell was going on or who was playing a sick joke on her but it wasn’t the least bit funny. It was hard for her to swallow but she knew somehow, someway Diamond and Lexi had something to do with it. Her head became light, as did her feet unable to feel the floor anymore. Her body plummeted to the floor unwillingly, struggling to grab something to save her but it was too late. Pandora hit the floor dazed and seemingly unconscious.
She awoke only a few minutes later remembering exactly the reason why she fell out in the first place. Her thoughts were distraught, feeling like she was doomed, never to get out of the shitty ass place which the state would deem her home for only God knew how long. With all the cops posted around her trying to revive her, she grabbed one of the guns out of the holster of a nearby cop and pointed it to her head. The team of cops worked to restrain her, grabbing her arms and legs to hold her down but for a little thing she was very strong. She quickly shoved the gun back against her temple, closed her eyes then pulled the trigger.
ACT 2
Juicy 2: Getting Even
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 1
“Why do you want me so bad? I’m not as perfect as you think I am.” –Pandora
“Chow time, line up!” The Cook County correctional officer yelled as he guards the food service attendants at their carts.
“I’m so sick of this disgusting ass shit they choose to serve us every day.” Pandora snarled as she lines up to receive her lunch tray. “You’d think after 3 weeks in this shit hole I’d be used to it by now, but all I want to do is haul it across the room at those black uniform wearing assholes.”
“You say something Ms. Burden?” the officer yelled from across the room.
“No sir,” Pandora grits her teeth in response.
She shook her head knowing that the only reason why the officers kept fucking with her was because of that stunt she pulled when she first got arrested. All she could think about was if she had succeeded in killing herself, she would not be dealing with the bullshit. Ever since then, the officers have been taunting her, teasing her, and fucking with her for no reason. They don’t like it when you fuck with one of their own, in any way, period. They had a low tolerance for dumb shit and Pandora had started off on the wrong foot displaying that she was capable of pulling it at a moment’s notice. The officers made sure to keep an extra eye locked on her.
“Simple motherfucka,” Pandora barked quietly.
“Shut the fuck up girl. Damn, all I’ve heard you do is complain for these past two weeks and I swear I’m sick of it,” Oxy snapped, slightly leaning back to give her a glimpse of the pissed look she had on her face.
Pandora took the blue tray that was handed to her of a single serving fruit punch juice box; a tossed together thick breaded grilled cheese and mystery meat sandwich and an apple. The sight of it made her gag and her hunger pangs nearly ceased. Every time they served the sandwiches it made her stay on the steel seat-less toilet for days. She side eyed Oxy as she walked ahead of her for her remark. To Pandora, it did not seem like all she did was complained, but she needed to vent to somebody and since Oxy was her cellmate, she figured what better person to listen than her.
Oxy was seated at a table alone when Pandora sat down at the same table across from her. She could read the annoyance written all over her face and chose to eat her lunch in silence rather than ruffle her feathers any longer. Even though Oxy was the first person to befriend her since she arrived, the girl had a mean streak. She was known to put bitches in their place regardless of how they or anyone else felt about it. Pandora got lucky that on the day she came to bunk in her cell with her, Oxy was in a good mood and very talkative.
A bad girl most of her 19 years of living, Oxy was a tall, rough neck girl with a bad attitude who was in for unlawful use of a weapon. Her fascination with guns stemmed from watching her dad take apart and put together his guns all the time. He was an army man making her the perfect army brat but she went rogue once her mother left them for another man. Oxy’s whole outlook on life changed in an instant at the tender age of 14, jumping in and out of Juvenile Detention, fighting, and drinking heavily with drugs. Now that she was a grown woman in the eyes of the law, hard time in a real prison seemed to be her future.
Pandora stared at the long scar on Oxy’s face. It curled from behind her ear and made its way to the crack of her mouth. It was heeled but it was dark and slightly rose causing anyone in its path to stop and stare. Pandora tried not to stare when Oxy was looking though. It ticked her off too much when people examined her like some sort of freak of nature. Her short buzz cut and rough demeanor made her resemble a boy, but her blue eyes, Caucasian tanned skin and awkwardly thin lips coupled with her high cheek bones made her look very feminine. Her feminine traits were what Oxy hated the most. Since girly looking Pandora showed up in her cell she had been working out doing pushups three times a day in order to bulk up past her frail looking stature.
“What are you looking at?” Oxy snarled looking up at Pandora while she munched on her lunch.
“Nothing, I was just trying to figure out what snake crawled up your butt today.”
“Man, why something gotta be wrong with me? You the one with the issues,” Oxy ripped open her juice box and threw its contents to the back of her throat, “Let’s just drop it.”
“Have you talked to your Public Defender yet?” Pandora asked nibbling at her choke sandwich.
“Naw that motherfucka don’t give a fuck about me, and he ain’t getting any money for this shit. I don’t give a fuck. I know I’ll be here for minute.”
“Well, I talked to mine yesterday. He said the judge wouldn’t decrease my bail. So I gotta post up for two more weeks until my court date,” Pandora shook her head, “If I had the money to get a decent fucking lawyer, I wouldn’t even be in this hell hole.”
“Yeah, I feel you. My dad wants to bail me out, but I won’t accept his calls. I’m not ready to face him yet after running out on him two years ago. Now he just checks the county periodically to see if I’m here to try to contact me.”
“Shit, I wouldn’t give a fuck. Anything is better than this. If he loves you enough to hunt you down like that you should call him.”
“Naw, our relationship is more complicated than you think. I can’t do that right now.” Oxy shook her he
ad.
“I wish I had an old man to get me out of this mess my bitch ass sisters put me in. Those hoes should be sitting right here with me. They are just as guilty as I am.”
“Have you ever tried taking some fucking responsibility for your own damn actions? Maybe you should stop to think about what you have done to get yourself in this shit in the first place. I can own up to my shit, you need to own up to yours.” Oxy barked before snatching up her tray to toss in the garbage and leaving the table.
Pandora looked on in complete shock; she wondered what brought on the sudden urge for Oxy dumping on her. The entire time that they had been cellmates she had always listened to her problems, never giving an ounce of negativity or advice for that matter. But now she was dishing out a dose of reality that Pandora was not ready to handle. It seemed now that her thinking was premature but she considered her to be something like a friend.
“Nice juice box you got there, Pandora,” a big burley inmate with cornrows smirked as she snatched the juice off of her tray and walked off.
“I didn’t say you could have that,” Pandora whispered to herself keeping her head down.
“What bitch? You got something to say? I don’t see your funky ass body guard around here to fucking save your ass.” The woman searched the chow hall looking for anyone who would help Pandora. “I didn’t think so. Oh yeah, don’t think I forgot you owe me that ass.”
Everyday somebody new tried to pull it with Pandora. She was so tired of the shit, that she figured she would fight one of them just so they would kill her ass and free her from the torment. It was another reason why she stuck like glue to Oxy, but when her back was turned Pandora was free game. She lowered her head fighting back tears knowing she would never stand a chance against any of the big bitches that taunted her every day and decided it was time to get her backup secured. She took her tray tossing the contents in the trash and placed the tray on the lunch attendant’s cart before heading to her cell to confront Oxy.
“Hey, what’s your deal? All day you’ve been snotty with me and I ain’t even done shit to you,” Pandora voiced.
