Chapter Text
"Until further defending statement can be made, the trials are to be on hold, and the defendant to be put in the State's Women Prison until further action. Dismissed", the judge said, clanking the gavel as he ended the 21st trial for Dani's case.
At this point, Dani had accepted her fate. She had lost hope of finding new evidence or trying to find people or witness to testify.
"Defendant will be given 4 hours to spend with their families and loved ones at the court bay. A truck from the prison will arrive then", a prison officer said to Dani's lawyer, handcuffing Dani in the action.
"Wait- w-wait. Does that mean there will be no more trials or what?", the lawyer asked, taking out her notebook and a file from her bag as she followed both Dani and the officer to the bay.
"There will be. But you need to make an appealing statement, with new evidence, witness to testify and stronger and more convincing arguments. The court would not continue until this statement follow, and if you exceed 5 months, I would just recommend you plead guilty", the officer continued, opening the door to the said bay.
Inside, Dani's parents had already waiting. Her mom's eyes were red and her father had that worried look on his face.
"Your four hours starts now", the officer said, locking the door behind Dani and her lawyer.
Dani ran straight to her mom, her eyes were filled with tears, her hands were trembling and her breath was shaking.
"Can't you do anything, Ms. Torres?", her mom pleaded, hugging her daughter tight. She probably planned to do that for the next 4 hours.
"I will fix this, Mr. and Mrs. Avanzini. I will find any new evidence and I will bring witness or whoever", Ms. Torres said, her words trembled as her breath caught in her throat.
"You believe me, right? I didn't do it. I swear. It was a mistake", Dani said, pulling away from her mother's hug. Her words were breathless.
"Of course. I know you wouldn't. We will help Ms. Torres. And in a few days, we will be back together. Family again. Everything will be right again", her dad said, joining into the hug.
"I don't understand what was wrong. I had the arguments, the tapes, the witness. Everything was strong enough. The jury was convinced, I can see it in their eyes", Ms. Torres said, sitting down on a chair a bit further from the family.
"What did the judge said?", Dani's dad asked.
"He said that the arguments were weak. That they don't align with my arguments. And they told me to make it better before handing in an appeal. Until I can hand that in, Dani would be in the State Women's Prison", she replied, reviewing her notes and her files.
"What will be of her then?", her mom asked, her eyes was not any less red than before.
"If I failed to make an appeal, or get accepted for the appeal, in 5 months, they recommended Dani to plead guilty. Her sentence would be 10 years if it even got reduced", Torres replied, frustrated at the papers she was holding.
Dani's eyes were filled with mixed emotions. Anger. Sadness. Pain. Terror.
"Why the State Women's Prison? Why not anywhere else? That prison is like for the worst criminals on earth. That's not fair", her dad said, rising from his seat, putting his hands behind his head.
"It was the only one with spot to cater Dani. And given Dani's case, the brutality received by the victim showed it all. It strengthen the prosecutor's argument. Right now, we need to make a plan", Torres said, pulling out empty sheets of her notebook and placed them on the table next to the family.
They looked at her with full attention.
"This is the plan for what Dani has to do, and what I have to do", Torres said, drawing a line.
"So, Dani. At that prison, there will be different kinds of people. But I can say that most of them are terrible. I cannot do anything about that for you, but I can buy you some protections. All you have to do was stay low profile, maintain good behavior and stay away from any inmates that are too up in their ass. I need you to get on the good side, so that we can use this as your defending statement later. This is no good kid only, you have to have this appealing to the wardens so that they write it in the reports. I can use that report as evidence", Torres said, her eyes were wide and angry.
"In the meantime, I will rearrange everything, make new arguments, line up every evidence. I will make a whole book out of it, and they can never fight against it", she continued.
Dani nodded. Her heart was pounding so hard and so fast, it felt like it would just jump out of her body.
"Lastly, try to stay alive. All I know is those inmates are vile and ruthless. You will have protection, but it will only get you so far", she added on.
—
Four hours passed very fast for Dani and her family. The prison truck had parked at the front of the bay, the officers were all armed. They got off the truck and one of them changed Dani's handcuff, before putting a sack onto her head.
Ms. Torres handed the officer Dani's medical report. Her parents had left earlier. They could not bear havign to see their only daughter be taken away for a mistake that is not hers.
"I'll bring you back, Dani!", Torres shouted, as the guards took Dani into the truck.
The ride was insane. It was silent except for the occasional cough and whispering among the guards. Her body ached from the uncomfortable seat. Her heart was pounding insanely fast and her head started to feel very dizzy.
After what felt like eternity, the truck slowed down. She could hear the sound pinged from the card touched onto the scanner. She heard the officer greeting the security and reading out some details.
The truck stopped at the lobby, and Dani was pretty much pulled rather than led into the building. She was unable to see, but her other senses were very strong. The lobby smelled like a hospital ward. It was dead silence. No chattering, no voice other than those of the officers.
The next thing she knew was that she was told to get into a room to change her clothing. All of her belongings were sealed away, and she had put on a uniform with code 'D-078'. She had no idea what it resembled, but she hoped it was a much gentler area of the prison.
Her head was no longer covered, and she peeked inside the prison. There was no one around the common area but she could see some in their cells. Doing normal human things.
"From now on, you are inmate D-078. You will be refered and recognized as that only. You will be placed at block D", the officer said, putting yet another handcuffs onto Dani's wrist.
—
Dani had arrived at her block. She walked into the block while being led by a chain. The officer was fierce, but not rude. She was calm even. Her voice was rather gentle than firm. She had explained some of the inmates' routine and the rights that they have while staying in the prison.
And for Dani, it was not that bad as she had expected. Maybe. As she was still not sentenced, she was allowed for some leisure activities unaccessible to other inmates.
That made Dani calmer. Knowing she would have times away from the ruckuses a bit.
When Dani stood in front of her cell, another inmate was already there. She looked rather young.
"That is your cellmate, D-045. She was just transferred in from the juvenile probation center. She should be nice enough for you", the officer said, taking the handcuff off of Dani.
Dani stepped into the cell and the officer shut the door behind her.
She looked straight at the girl who was curling up on her bed, silent.
"Hi, I would just be here", Dani said, getting to her bed and putting some of her stuff supplied by the prison.
Dani felt awkward to introduce herself. Because what do you say to other inmates? How do you introduce yourself or even bond with inmates? Is it even similar to high school or any college orientation?
D-045 was just still. She nodded a bit before turning her body completely towards the wall, back facing Dani.
'Maybe she just dislike to talk', Dani thought in her head.
She let it slid and just laid on her bed waiting for dinner, which as supposed to come no later than 35 minutes.
"Is it cold here at night?", Dani asked, trying to engage in conversation with D-045. No response.
Dani thought that maybe she hated her. So she just remained silent for the next 10 minutes.
"I can accompany you to grab extra blanket from inventory", D-045 said, more like a whisper actually.
"Yeah, I'd like that", Dani replied, a smile tugged on her lips. She felt glad to finally be able to have a conversation with her cellmate.
It was not much, but it was enough for Dani.