Oakwood | j.b

Chapter 3

Justin walked with Kate, taking her to the maximum security unit. This unit was worse than Block 5. Prisoners were isolated; alone. The sanitary conditions were horrendous. The doors were large and metal with a slot for guards to bring the prisoners their daily meals. Justin noticed a rat crawling on the floor and dead cockroaches near some of the cells.

The small brunette wriggled in his grip. "If you keep struggling, you're only gonna make it harder for yourself."

She smirked. "What are you gonna punish me, officer daddy?" Justin sighed, rolling his eyes. He heard crying and whimpers coming from each cell. "Cmon." He said, grabbing her arm as they reached her cell. "Go on." He ushered her inside.

"Please, don't do this. I won't use again I promise." She said, her voice shaky and her hands gripping onto his uniform. "You can't do this to me." Her lip trembled as a tear escaped her eye.

Justin's face softened. He knew she was vulnerable. "You know I have to. I have to do this. I'm sorry. It's my job. It's only for a couple of weeks. You can do this. I'll bring you your meals every day. You'll survive, Richardson." He said, with a small smile as he exited her cell, closing the door and locking it. He peeked through the window watching the girl cry softly as she sat on the hard metal bed. He instantly felt bad.

"No. You can't feel bad. She's a criminal. She's in prison. You had to do this. Don't be a pussy, Justin." He said, clenching his fists and looking at Kate one last time. A guard furrowed his eyebrows. "Dude, what are you doing?" He asked, confused. Justin blushed. "Nothing, nothing." He mumbled, walking out of the maximum security unit and hurrying past the guard.

"Did you here what Tolentino did?"

"She ratted out one of her own..."

"...completely ruthless!"

"I heard Richardson has to stay in the Hole for a whole month!"

"We better stay on her good side..."

As soon as Justin walked through the huge metal sliding doors that separated the Hole from low security, his ears were filled with chatter from the inmates. The halls were filled with rumors, all about Mercedes.

Justin figured Tolentino held a big stance at Oakwood, but he didn't realize that she was the number 1 topic on everyone's lips. Even the guards were conversing about her. Justin walked over to his friends JD and Alecia. At least, he'd hoped Alecia would consider him a friend.

"What a first day for you huh? Tolentino really is shaking this prison up," Alecia commented.

"Aren't inmates usually scared to rat people out?" Justin wondered. "Aren't there people that would fire back on her?"

"That's usually how it is, but since she has a gang under her command, she isn't worried about it." JD explained.

"I think she wants to prove her dominance now that 'La Diabla' is back." Alecia made quotation marks with her fingers, mocking the name. "The girls figure if she'll stab a friend in the back, she'll have no problem."

"Maybe it'll be a smooth transition for Ramirez and this will be the last of all the commotion," Justin hoped.

Alecia chuckled. "Yeah, maybe in a fairytale world! Get ready to see some action pretty boy." Justin's face was hot from embarrassment.

"You gotta remember to expect the unexpected bro." JD ruffled his friend's hair. "Hey the warden wants you in a meeting, by the way. Come with us." Justin nodded and followed them to the guards' break room.

The break room was the best space in the entire prison. It was like night and day. With soda machines and snack dispensers in the corner and polished wooden tables in the center, this was an oasis. He already felt like he didn't want to leave. A few other guards centered around the warden as Justin, JD and Alecia took seats in the back of the group.