Convicted [3]

Brianna stood at the center of the court; head lowered as she silently received her sentence. Her eyes were dead and her face was devoid of any emotion. Nonetheless, she obediently stood, unmoving and unbothered by the murmurs behind her.

She lost the strength to pay them attention. In her ears, only the words of her father remain, repeating over and over again like a malfunctioning cassette player. She was given a lawyer to defend her, as she asked for one, claiming that she really did not commit a crime.

However, all the evidence pointed at her, including the witnesses' statements and the victim himself. In the end, even her lawyer lost faith in her and lost the case.

"Brianna Adamson Cordova, you are hereby found guilty of first-degree attempted homicide and will receive a maximum punishment of twelve years to life serving your sentence in the Women's State Penitentiary. End of Case." The judge grabbed the gavel and hit the sound block.

The court was dismissed and people started leaving. While Brianna was dragged back to the exit. Before she completely left the room, her eyes darted on her stepmother weeping in her father's arms.

Freda was faking her tears. When she noticed Brianna looking back at them, she hugged Sigmund tighter and cupped his head to prevent him from looking at her daughter, then she gave Brianna a successful smile.

Brianna's eyes widened. Bolts of anger rushed through her body and she struggled with the officer's clutches, shouting furiously, "NO! FREDA DID IT! DAD! PLEASE, LOOK AT ME!"

However, Sigmund turned a deaf ear to her pleas and pulled Freda away. They headed back to the court's entrance without giving Brianna another glance.

Brianna was taken to a prisoner transport vehicle, crying and almost fainting as the gravity of her fate slowly descended on her. Soon after, the vehicle slowed and from the window, Brianna could see the tall, white depressing gates of the Women's State Penitentiary.

The gates opened and the vehicle rolled in. She was escorted inside by a female officer. Brianna obediently followed behind. They entered another gate made of reinforced steel matting, then they walked underneath a long canopy at the edge of a wide green field the size of a basketball court with benches on the other side.

They finally entered the two-story prison building. The center part of the building was open to the second floor, allowing the officers to check the upper cells without climbing the stairs. The open part has a sky roof, which brings natural lighting to the building, while the open hallway is filled with long chairs and tables for the prisoner's leisure time.

There were a few inmates when Brianna entered. All their heads turned to Brianna, a few gave an interesting look, some a bored look, and some whistled and grinned at her. Brianna shuddered from their haunting looks.

She quickly averted her eyes and moved closer to the female officer.

"What~. It looks like our new mate is scared!"

Laughter broke after that playful tone. Brianna only got frightened more. Her timid attitude and weak personality were not suited for that kind of environment. She looked like she was about to cry, so the laughter even went louder.

"This will be your room," the female officer pointed at the cell in the farthest corner, ignoring the rowdy welcome. She opened the door with a key, and added, "The lock-up time is at 6 pm at night and it remains shut until 8 am. Once the door is locked, you can't speak with an officer unless it is an emergency. Your cell has a call button, but if you press it without a valid reason, you will be thrown into an isolated prison cell and will have to spend a week inside. Behave yourself."

The female officer pushed Brianna in and closed the door. Brianna heard the door locked, and her first reaction was to run to the door and shake it open.

A voice startled Brianna, making her shriek in terror. "Shut it, girl! I'm trying to sleep here, you're f*cking disturbing me!"

Brianna nervously sat on the corner and mumbled weakly, "I-I'm s-sorry…"

Her inmate clicked her tongue and resumed her sleep. Brianna hugged her knees and buried her face in them, then she silently wept until she fell asleep in that position.

She stirred from her sleep when she felt something pocking her cheeks. Her long eyelashes fluttered open, and her heart dropped from the two faces ogling her.

"Girl~, you have such a beautiful skin. I'm envious~."

A girl with blonde hair on a buzz haircut, with eight piercings on her ears and a small ring on her nose, spoke as she chewed a gum. She showed her yellowish teeth to Brianna and spat the gum on her after.

"Eek!" Brianna jumped away, dodging the chewed gum that landed above her knee instead. She backed away and blocked her face, "Wh…wha…what are…you d-doing? G-Get…away from me…"

"What~, are you disgusted with us? Hehe, I heard you're a billionaire's daughter who tried to kill her brother for inheritance! Girlie, don't act innocent~ you're worse than us, hahahahahaha!"

The one who was sleeping on the bunk bed earlier was now sitting in front of Brianna as well. She has dry, curly, long, coppered hair which looks like it hadn't been combed for a week already, and her arms are covered with tattoos.

She twirled her fingers on Brianna's long, wavy black hair and remarked, "You have such pretty hair. Well, I guess it's to be expected of a billionaire's daughter. So, how did you try to kill your brother?"

Brianna pulled her hair back and scooched farther to the corner. She bit her lower lip and answered, "I…I…didn't do it. I didn't do it. It's not me."

The two female inmates exchanged glances. The one with a buzzcut sarcastically laughed and responded, "Oh, girlie~. Reality check!" She clapped her hands on Brianna's face and added, "You wouldn't be here if you were innocent, girl! Admit it~. We're not different anyways. We're all criminals here, right?"

She maniacally laughed and the woman with coppered hair shook her head and extended her hand to Brianna, speaking, "I'm Alice, this bitch's name is Melissa. Stop huddling in that corner and go to your bed. The corner bunk bed's lower bed is yours. You have another inmate; she's currently locked away in an isolated prison cell. I'm telling you right now, don't cross her if you want to spend your days here peacefully."

Melissa bobbed her head up and down like she was vibing into some song only she could hear, "Yup. That woman's crazy. She's deranged! So, don't talk to her if it isn't necessary. By the way, how much will be your commissary money? You're a rich kid, aren't ya? Share half to me, yeah?"

Alice's eyes glinted as well. She smirked and patted Brianna's head, then she stood and stretched her arms up. "Alrighty! I'm craving some fried chicken today! Should we order some? Of course, the new kid will be paying~."

Melissa, "Woohoo! I'm on it!"

With that, she stuck out her hand at the bars on the window facing the hallway and waved at the female officer patrolling in the area. The officer agreed to order them food in exchange for some cash and a share of the food, which were all paid by Brianna's money.