"What the hell happened?" Valerie asked, inspecting my bruised face from the other side of the bars.

I lowered my head. "Nothing I can't handle."

She let out a small sigh as she stuck her hand through the cell, resting it on my cheek. "I'm sorry, Dakota."

I looked up into her eyes, the warmth of her hand on my cheek heating up every inch of my body. "It's ok..."

We stayed like that for a long minute before she finally pulled away. "I'll, uh, see what I can do about letting you eat in here, away from any other prisoners."

I flashed her a small smile. "Thanks."

She returned it before grabbing her things and walking out, the older guard rejoining me.

She sat down in her chair, magazine in hand.

I sat down on the bed. "You're not much of a talker, huh?"

"Nope." She replied.

I looked up at her. This is the first time she's replied to anything I've said.

Sadly that was all I was gonna get out of her...

The next couple days passed painfully slow, I still had to eat with everyone else, but that guard from the other day, Teagan, joined me every time, making sure no one started any trouble with me.

It wasn't until that Friday that Valerie joined me again with good news.

"Alright, everything's set, the warden is allowing you to eat all your meals in your cell."

I smiled. "Thank you."

She returned it. "Don't mention it."

I let out a sigh, standing from my bed. "Valerie, I'd be so lost without you here... Ever since you came around, I've felt calmer, more at ease. I was a total wreck when I first got here and-"

She rested her hand on my shoulder then. "Dakota, just relax. Everything's gonna be ok, I promise."

I looked up into her eyes, a feeling of calm washing over me once again. "I believe you..."

She gave me a small smile. "Good, now I have to run, I have a meeting with Benny."

I took a small step back. "Ok... I'll see you later then."

She gave me a wave before exiting the room...

The next day, I found myself being led down a long hallway towards the showers.

Voices rang out from the room as I stepped through the door, the guard escorting me taking her leave.

I lowered my head as I shuffled towards the hangers, gingerly slipping out of my clothes before finding a stall.

I tensed up as the cold water hit my chest, trying my best to shower as quickly as possible.

As the minutes ticked by, I noticed the other voices in the room quiet down until it got eerily silent.

I poked my head out of the stall, noticing everyone else was gone, including the two guards who usually watched over us.

"Hello?" I called out, slowly wrapping a towel around myself.

No reply.

I worriedly made my way towards the middle of the room, not another person in sight.

"Well, don't you look cute." I heard, turning to see the two women from the lunch room standing behind me.

I started to make a beeline for the door when one of them grabbed me, hitting me hard in the back of the head.

I fell to the ground, tears welling in my eyes.

The two women stood over me. "Not so tough without your girlfriend watching over you, huh?" One of them asked.

Tears ran down my cheeks as I looked up at them, my lip trembling.

The second woman knelt down in front of me. "She asked you a question, I suggest you answer it."

"N-no..." I stuttered.

"What was that?" The first one asked.

I averted her gaze, to afraid to speak.

The second one grabbed me by my hair, getting in my face. "She can't hear you!" She yelled.

I pulled from her grasp and started to stand when the first woman kicked me hard in the ribs.

I collapsed to the floor, letting out a pained whimper. "P-please-"

She kicked me again, cutting me off.

"I think we need to teach her a lesson." The second one said.

The first one nodded. "I think you're right."

   My fear grew as she knelt over me, forcefully ripping my towel off.

"No!" I yelled out, but I wasn't strong enough to defend myself...

I rushed towards Dakotas cell, worry filling my gut.

When I got there, I wasn't prepared for the image waiting for me.

Dakota sat against the wall, pillow hugged tightly to her chest. Her whole body shook, a few cuts and bruises lining her face.

I knelt down in front of her cell. "Oh my God... What happened?"

She stared at the floor, tears leaking down her cheeks. "I-I tried to stop them... But I just couldn't." A loud sob escaped her then.

I glanced back at the guard. "Open her cell."

The woman stood without a word before exciting the room, the cell door sliding open a second later.

I nervously stepped into Dakota's cell, kneeling down in front of her. "Dakota..?"

She closed her eyes. "I couldn't stop them..."

I sat down next to her, gingerly wrapping my arm around her shoulders. Her whole body tensed, her breathing picking up.

"Dakota... I'm so sorry..."

She buried her face in my shoulder then, wrapping her arms around me.

I rubbed her back, her cry's growing.

"It's ok... Just let it all out..." I said softly, resting my head on hers.

She pulled back after a few minutes, looking at the floor between us. "I'm sorry..."

I gently wiped a few tears from her eyes before lifting her chin with my finger. "Don't be..."

She finally looked into my eyes, her breathing seeming to steady.

I wiped the reminisce of the tears from her cheek with my thumb. "I hate seeing you cry..."

She closed her eyes, resting her cheek in my palm.

"I promised you everything would be ok..." I whispered, a few tears of my own threatening to leak out.

She looked up into my eyes again. "It's not your fault..."

I rested my forehead against hers, my feelings getting the better of me. "I wish I could get my hands on whoever did this to you. I wish I could-"

"You're here now... That's all that counts..." She cut off, taking my hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

I rubbed the back of her hand with my thumb. "You'll never be alone again... I promise..."

She was silent for a long minute before slowly pressing her lips to mine.

I let out a low breath, relishing in the warmth of her soft lips.

But, only for a minute.

I quickly pulled back. "Dakota, I-"

We were cut off by the sound of the door opening.

We got to our feet quickly as a young guard I didn't recognize walked in.

She glanced at me, then Dakota. "Sorry to interrupt, but I just heard what happened."

"It's ok. I'm Valerie Cross, her attorney." I said, sticking my hand in her direction.

The guard shook it. "Teagan, do you mind if I have a word with Dakota?"

I shook my head. "Not at all."

I stepped out of the cell then, throwing a quick glance back at Dakota before exiting the room...