“You can do this,” he says, kissing me firmly one last time, “Now, I need to go find Ethan. I’ll find Cla-Brutus and send him over. Don’t leave until then,” he warns before making his way out of the room. Dressed and ready to go, I wander the room aimlessly as my hand twitches at my side.
When I first heard Dick’s “decree”, I think I was actually almost relieved. Since the other inmates found out about me, the niggling worry in the back of my head about outside interference has always been there.
The Tomb is such a strange place. It’s a dark awful hole, but there’s an underlying community that’s arisen from the blackness. Sure, there are problems, I mean there are alotof psychos in here, but for the most part it runs well and has few issues.
In Ax’s arms I feel safe temporarily, but that small, growing worry has always been present. The Tomb is just that,a tomb. A prison. It’s easy to forget the rest of the world still exists outside of these walls. Now that I know what to expect, even if it’s another likely bleak outcome, I’m relieved to know what the worse thing is.
The guards want me…
I sigh to myself.
All I’ve ever wanted was to feel safe. Is that just too much to ask?
I find myself wondering about Ax’s supposed escape route. I am baffled he knew this all along yet never said anything. The word institutionalized flutters to the forefront of my brain. He’s been in this place most of his life. He’s never known anything really but the hierarchy of The Tomb, a hierarchy he helped mold. What will he be like on the outside?
We’ve talked many times about the outside world, but usually it’s memories of my childhood with Josh before The Split. Or random stories about my solo travels and the things I’ve seen. We’ve seldom spoken about the actual state of the world since The Split. I doubt if Ax really comprehends what it’s like out there.
Before I can go too far down the rabbit hole of what-ifs following our assumed escape, footsteps outside our chambers bring me back to the moment. A gentle knock on my door brings a smile to my face since I know only one man who would do it so quietly.
“Hi Brutus,” I say as I open the door. The big man gives me an awkward smile and doesn’t move from his spot. After the incident with him walking in on us, Ax banned him from our room.
“Ready to go, boss?” he says in his slow drawl and I nod. Taking one final deep breath, I go to address the inmates.
I recall a movie I loved as a child and a character in it spoke of appeasing the mob. I never understood until recently. Fake it till you make it, right? This is a part I think I know how to play. If I can pull it off, it will buy us some well-needed time. A small reprieve before we need to ask those what-if questions.
By the time we get down to the yard, the morning is well underway. Despite the chaos yesterday, it all seems normal. I notice the lights are still on, so apparently that threat of turning off the electricity won’t be imposed quite yet. I look up to the hole that is the ceiling of The Tomb to see blue skies overhead. Wiping the sweat from my face, I know it’s going to be another hot day. I absently wonder if we can start filling buckets and bins with water but push it out of my mind until later.
The prisoners all eye me uneasily as we stroll out into the yard and I ensure my best boss-bitch face and straightest posture are what they see first. Walking up to the platform, I keep my face straight as I take my seat at the single chair in the center. It feels a bit pompous, but…appearances.
Though I don’t do anything to indicate I am going to speak, the dull chatter around me dies down until all eyes are on me. I let a devilish grin sneak across my face before raising my voice, so it carries across the yard. Suddenly, I know the angle to take.
“Do you know who is in charge of The Tomb?” I ask, letting my eyes gaze at the random inmates in the area waiting to see who will bite. I see confused glances cross more than one face and they all hesitate. After all, I have been known to stab people for pissing me off.
“You?” Brutus finally replies.
“Good guess,” I say with a smile before I stand. Brutus gives me a healthy grin back, clearly pleased with my praise. I let my eyes catch several men around me, and I note John hanging out closer to the pit. I can only assume he’ll cause me more trouble. Ignoring him for now, I get back to my point.
“But no.” I begin pacing the platform and I know I have all eyes on me right now.
Stopping, I turn to the inmates and raise my head along with my arms.
“Weare in charge of the Tomb!” I shout, letting the first few hesitant agreements wash over me. Thumping my chest before pointing off to the gate, I shout again.
“Who are the ones too scared? Too unable to control us? Why is that?” I pause and put a hand to my ear before grinning again.
“Because we are in charge of the fucking Tomb!”
This time, the response is probably audible from wherever the fuck Ax is in the ground. I look up to the second floor to the sound of metal on metal, inmates shouting from their vantage and banging cups against the rail. I smile to myself as the mob thrives, eager to take any offering of blame I can provide.
They are talking amongst themselves already. There are still enough inmates of The Tomb who remember life under the guards. Perhaps the hate against them will be enough for now.
I see Luis off to the side with some of his guys and I wave him over. I have to hide a smile from my face at the man’s jaunt. Luis has always cracked me up. He’s an easy man to like with his constant grin and good nature. He’s much too good for this place.
“Morning, Ana,” he greets me, and I nod in return.
“Luis, can you arrange for the group cooking stuff to be brought out again?” I ask him without delay. His grin grows, and he nods, practically skipping off the platform as he barks orders at a few nearby inmates.
We usually have one midday meal, but I know a lot of prisoners are out of food or close to it. Ax wisely had a decent amount stored away, being the pessimist he is. And a good leader makes sure her people are fed. I give a nod to the men I see carrying out the tables and one of them flushes.