With a blank expression on your face you looked back at the enforcer through the thick bars of the cell while a woman had her arm wrapped around your neck as if the two of you were best buddies.

A smirk made her blush, curved lips curl. There was a scar at the edge of her upper lip that seemed to be connected to another small one that sliced her left eyebrow in half.

"What?", you asked, threateningly calm.

The young enforcer swallowed hard. He took a huge step back from the bars, so huge, that he almost hit the wall of the other side of the corridor.

"I'm just following orders.", he truly felt the need to explain himself to a prisoner.

Either because he wanted to appease you or your reputation worked better than you had imagined. Loads of benefits came with making it out of the arena alive time and time again.

However, having a cell mate wasn't one of em'.

With your brows knitted together you let your gaze travel to the side to eye the women. She was young, early to mid twenties, with scarlet red hair that she wore in a short undercut.

A tattoo adored the corner of her left eye. VI. The roman letters for six.

She gifted you a smirk before winking. Irritated, you frowned as a response and shook her arm off. Again, you turned to look at the enforcer.

"Why would this be an order?", you pointed over your shoulder at her with your thumb.

Playfully hurt, she curled her lips and blew air into her cheeks. She had a rather roundish face, with a defined, pointed jaw and puffy cheeks.

It was odd how femininely soft yet masculine strong she appeared. Not ugly by no means. Confidence burned in the blue of her eyes, which were framed by simple black eyeliner.

You frowned at the sight.

Prison wasn't a place to get hands on anything. Especially not makeup, which could have been considered luxury goods. Either she had good connections or owed huge favours now.

Or she had simply earned it. However there was only one way to gain some favours down here: the arena. And you were pretty sure you hadn't seen her before.

"Orders.", with a shrug she just smiled.

With a roll of your eyes you turned once more to face the enforcer. A slight growl made the corner of your mouth flinch. Impatience grew.

"Again. Why would this be an order?", you asked, this time more obvious about the displease you've felt.

The enforcer was a bloody newbie and it showed. Instead of just walking off with an insult about the Undercity scum on his lips he remained standing still, his back pressed against the wall.

"The sheriff said she is to be transferred to your cell.", he simply repeated in a manner a little boy would to justify himself.

Curious, you glanced at her.

"You had a cell mate before?", you asked.

She huffed.

"Jup."

"What happened?"

"Died.", the way she said it, very prominently and stretched, gave away that it wasn't just a simple accident.

The sarcastic smug expression that tugged at the corner of her lips didn't help in making her seem innocent either. However at the same time you couldn't help but appreciate the flat out honesty.

"Hm. Good to know where the line is drawn in the sand.", with a nod of acknowledgment you turned away from the bars and retreated towards the shadows. "Listen, kid, make yourself comfortable but stay away from my side of the cell. No touching my shit either. Keep your hands to yourself and we'll be good."

You let yourself fall onto the slim, not very enjoyable bed made of metal that stood against the left wall of the cell. Cold concrete nestled against your shoulder as you made yourself comfortable.

There was barely room to turn around.

Sheets made of cotton covered the criminally thin mattress. You had two blankets, one for cold nights and one for warmer ones. And a pillow.

All three of these things were not a given in the lower levels of Stillwater Hold Prison. You had earned them as favours through fighting in the arena.

They had been paid for with blood, so to speak. Both your own and the one of others.

However, the rest of the cell was just as depressing as the Prison indicated from the outside. The other bed looked as if sleeping wasn't possible in it, with a criminally thin blanket and no pillow.

Your new cell mate seemed to be of the same mind. Judging by the look on her face she was about to make a fuss to you before realising there was still an enforcer standing on the other side of the bars.

"Can a lady get some necessities around her?", she asked, pointing at the bed with no sheets.

He let out a low snort.

"Gotta earn that.", he simply replied and snapped out of his state of fear.

As per usual with the enforcers, he straightened his shoulders, took a deep breath and raised his chin to meet her with a snobby expression.

It seemed he had just remembered that he was the one in charge and she just another prisoner locked away behind bars.

Annoyed, she bared her teeth. The polished ring around her left nostril shimmered in the dim light of the lanterns.

Not interested by her intentions to start a fight with the guard you pulled out a book from under the bed and flipped to the last page you had read. The smell of old, gilded paper drove out the stench of imprisonment.

"Why the hell does she get to have all the fancy shit?", she pointed at you, nuzzled up in rather clean sheets, a pillow tugged between your head and the wall.

"Don't drag me into this.", you said, more interested in the book than supporting her goal. "I earned it."

"Earned it?", she threw her hands into the air. "Is this some kind of game show or what?"

You shrugged.

"If that keeps you motivated."

"The fuck does that even mean?!"