Chapter 7
Breakfast was a dismal affair, as Binnow made everyone sit in the canteen in silence, staring at the table while stomachs rumbled from lack of food.
At least jobs was next for the first time for Scarlen.
She was supposed to have a placement two days ago, but Kane gave her group extra time in the silent system for all the talking they had done over the past month, which was pretty decent of him in some way, as he could have just sent them all to a dark cell.
Scarlen imagined sorting books in the library, pushing around the small trolley to hand them out to inmates during block time, and having more time to read herself.
Dionne had already told her she wanted to work in the kitchen, like she had when she was there before, and tried to encourage her to venture that way, but Scarlen had her heart set on the library.
Miss Harnish kept the fledglings in the canteen when the pips went to send the others on their way, and Scarlen was pleased it was the nice guard placing them into work, as she was sure someone like Binnow would have her scrubbing toilets for the rest of her sentence.
Scarlen stood at the back of the line, stealing glances at the large bowl of apples Binnow had placed by the trays, daring someone to steal one so she had an excuse to inflict pain, no doubt.
Her stomach growled at the sight of the forbidden food, but she counted her blessings, as things would have been a lot worse had she still been made to push that wheel while weak from hunger.
Dionne gave a small wave as she headed off to the kitchen, and Scarlen wondered if she would be able to sneak out any of the food later. Knowing Dionne, she certainly would try.
‘Smithson, last to place.’ Miss Harnish twiddled her quill close to the parchment pinned in place upon a clipboard. ‘What did you have in mind?’
‘Library, miss.’
‘Why?’
‘I like books, miss.’
‘It’s not as simple as handing out reading material, Smithson. There’s more involved.’
‘I don’t mind dusting the books and keeping the library clean, if that’s what you mean.’
Miss Harnish put the quill down and linked her fingers together as though ready for a long chat.
‘You will be required to take books into Red Block. And when you retrieve them, some aren’t always in the best condition.
’ She paused, but Scarlen was waiting for more information.
‘We’ve had books returned covered in blood, sometimes faeces.
Reading privileges have only recently been reinstated in Red, but it’s best you’re warned before you make your decision to work the library.
You must bear in mind it’s also not too pleasant over there, and once you see certain things in life, you cannot unsee them. ’
Scarlen got the gist of what she was being told. ‘Is it safe for me to go into Red?’
‘Yes. Men and women inmates are mixed over there, and they’re only allowed out of the cells for two hours a day, and one of those hours is spent locked in a yard.
The cell doors there aren’t like the ones here.
They only have a small opening, and that’s where you’ll place the book.
Wait till they put a book on the flap of the opening before reaching for it.
’ Miss Harnish’s eyebrows knitted. ‘Never put your hand inside, Smithson. Do I make myself clear?’
‘Yes, miss.’
‘So, are you sure you want to choose this job? Not many stay long working in the library because of having to walk over to Red and deal with the inmates there.’
Scarlen wrinkled her nose. ‘Is it that bad?’
‘I’ve only been there twice. That’s enough for me.’ She used long, sweeping strokes of the quill to write down Scarlen’s work placement information. ‘Best if you don’t interact with them.’
It wasn’t the best news, but if they’re locked away securely, and all she had to do was hand over a book, she figured she’d be okay.
‘When do I start, miss?’
‘Right now. I’ll walk with you to the library.’ Miss Harnish glanced at the apples. ‘I would give you one, but Binnow’s counted them. Try not to worry. Inmates are only allowed to be starved for two days maximum.’ She almost made it sound acceptable.
The library was small but held the most wonderful fragrance of books, which brought peace to Scarlen at once.
‘Soleil, this is Smithson. Show her what to do.’ Miss Harnish smiled at the redhead stacking books, then left them alone.
‘How can I help?’ asked Scarlen, noticing the anchor tattoo on the woman’s left hand. She’d seen her around with Kylar, but they had never spoken.
Soleil flashed a wolfish grin that said all that was needed. They were enemies. Scarlen would get the worst jobs available. She was being sent straight to Red Block.
It was a long walk to Red, and the corridors were only guarded at each barred doorway. All she had to do was show the trolley of books and she was given access to each area, and as soon as she approached Red Block Two, the stench of decay and excrement burned the back of her eyes.
‘Whoa!’ Scarlen quickly held her sleeve to her nose, pushing the trolley forward with one hand. The disinfectant lurking wasn’t making the stench any better. Worse, in fact, as the combination locked horns.
Oxley was on the ground floor, mop in hand, bucket close by. He grinned at the newbie. ‘You get used to it.’
She wasn’t sure how anyone ever could. ‘You do this every day?’
‘Someone has to clean their shit.’
‘And you volunteered for that?’
Oxley scoffed. ‘I’m a Rebel. I wasn’t given a choice.’ He tapped the trolley with the handle of his mop. ‘Good choice for you though.’ His laugh faltered as a guard frowned his way. ‘Just start at that cell and make your way along.’ He gestured behind her. ‘They won’t all be awake or alert though.’
A shiver had already run the length of her spine on seeing the dark locked doors with small openings allowing little light.
The quietness only added to the eeriness, and now the smell had embedded itself into her veins.
She lowered her arm and went to the first cell, noticing another female inmate from Green with a trolley of art supplies on the other side of the room, and it comforted her to know at least the inmates got to do some recreational things in Red.
‘Would you like a book?’ she asked softly, tilting her head to the space in the door. A groan was her only response, then a high-pitched scream shrilled from the first landing, making her jump.
No one seemed to rush to the inmate’s aid or do anything much at all.
The guards working were few, and most were in one corner talking.
She perused the landings, noticing Raven collecting laundry on the second floor, draping soiled white sheets over the railings, then she spotted Bear coming down the stairs, a bucket in each hand full to the brim with slops.
He caught her eye and stilled for a moment before turning to leave, and she wasn’t sure if she had witnessed shame in his expression.
Swallowing the bile greeting her throat, she went to the next cell to find a book ready for her on the flap.
‘I don’t want another,’ came a rasping voice from inside.
She glanced at the love story, well-thumbed but clean. ‘Are you sure? I have more like that one.’
‘I don’t want to read about love anymore. It makes my time here worse.’
Her heart went out to him, but there was little she could do to offer comfort.
Sorting through her trolley, she found one with sheep on the front.
‘I have one about farming.’ Silence remained as she took his book and placed it on her trolley.
‘If I were in here, I’d read anything I could to pass the time,’ she added softly, sliding the farming book onto the flap to see what would happen.
After a short moment, a dirty hand reached for the book, then disappeared back into the darkness.
Scarlen approached Oxley. ‘Can they see much in those cells? There doesn’t seem to be any light.’
He shook his head while watching the guards deep in conversation. ‘They’re not allowed light in their cells. It’s just the way it is.’
‘Doesn’t seem right,’ she whispered, wary of being heard.
‘Nothing about this place is right. Just be grateful you’re not in this section.’
She was, but she was also angry at how people were being treated, and why Milon hadn’t done anything about the prison on his release.
Another scream ripped through the block, swiftly followed by some banging that made the guards move to the first floor.
Scarlen headed for the next cell to take the book on the flap, her gaze on what was happening above. A hand shot out of the opening and grabbed her arm, taking her breath at once.
‘Princess, I see you,’ said a male voice. ‘I know who you are.’
The whole of her body tingled at his touch as her heart hammered frantically. ‘Let me go.’
Oxley whacked his fist down on the man’s hand, and it moved back into the cell sharply. ‘Watch yourself,’ he said to her, his brow tight with something resembling annoyance.
‘Princess. Princess,’ the voice whispered, and Scarlen was sure her heart stopped.
Oxley removed the book from the flap and placed it on the trolley, moving her along the cells.
‘Ignore him, reckons he’s a seer. Calls me a ghost and Bear a knight.
He doesn’t know which way is up. You can’t pay attention to anyone in here.
Just sort your books and leave.’ He left her to it, and trying her best to ignore the creepy voice of the seer seeping out of the opening in his door, she carried on with her job until someone else caught her full attention.
‘Hey, little southerner,’ said Varklee, his head tilted to one side, his lips to the other as he leaned on the handle of his mop.
There was something so menacing in the coolness of his blue eyes that always shook her to the core whenever she noticed him staring her way. He looked best suited to Red, but not as a cleaner.
‘Are you lost?’ he added.