Continue walking

Lauren could've stopped there. But she knew that if someone was going to look for her the first place they would look was in that cabin. Even if it was safe... she still wouldn't be.

The best was to just keep on walking and so she kept on moving one foot in front of the other. She felt the sting of the sun on her skin, driplets falling down from her sweat filled face. After a while she just couldn't take it anymore. The sun seemed worse than the prison at this point. A slight panic engulfed inside Lauren, she would die if she stayed out here.

She walked a few more miles before her body stopped. She fell down on the ground and found herself unable to stand up. what the fuck should she do now....

Lauren pulled her knees up towards her chest and held them tight, lying on her side. She was going to die she knew she was... a tear streamed down her face. How could she have been so stupid.

Right before she lost her consciousness she saw a shadow. was that her rescue? Or her end?

She woke up with her hands tied to a hospital bed. She gazed at her surroundings, her vision still blurry. an IV-drip was connected to her arm probably to give her back some of the fluids she had lost.

Lauren was awake a few minutes before a doctor came in. "well look who's up. Welcome back" She said with a friendly smile.

it was a female doctor probably somewhere in her thirties. The woman had blonde her falling in waves around her face. Her face looked quite young still. The almost plastered smile and calm demeanor made the woman feel trusted. Like she was a friend. Her body was slender and she wore casual clothing underneath her doctor's robe, which made her look less serious.

"What were you thinking silly." She said as she sat down in her chair and rolled closer to the bed. "you can't run off into the forest like that. I know prison can be scary but this.. This could have killed you."

Lauren was surprised that she wasn't mad at her. After all she ran away, she tried to escape from police custody. anyone would've been mad at her. But she just seemed calm and it seemed as if she understood Lauren's situation. Still Lauren wondered what the consequences of her actions would be.

"I don't know" Lauren spoke softly, her throat still hurting. Her voice was cracked and she was on the verge of tears. "I was so scared.."

"I can understand that, but believe me it is not as bad as it seems.. You will be fine! I promise! How long is your sentence?" She asked.

Lauren swallowed a lump away. "n... ni... nine years." She stuttered.

"That's a long time.." The doctor said, a confused look on her face, not knowing what Lauren could've done to be here for this long. "what did you do?" She finally decided to ask.

"it doesn't matter." Lauren replied. "No one believes me anyway."

"How do you mean?" She spoke softly. a sweet undertone accompanying her words, she seemed so sincere. But was she really?

Lauren looked her in the eye. "Would you believe me if I told you I was wrongly accused?"

She looked at her doubting. An eyebrow raised "depends on what they say you did." She finally replied.

"they said I killed a man. Not just any man... my man! They accused me of murdering my boyfriend!" Lauren cried out. she turned from not wanting to share because she felt like no one would believe her to just sharing every detail distraught in hope that someone would. she didn't know this woman at all, but for some reason she seemed like someone who would. Like someone who could think logically. And for some even weirder reason Lauren was right.

"you?" She whispered. Her eyes wide open to emphasise her surprise. "No, I don't believe that. You're not strong enough to do such a thing. not physically... or even mentally for that matter.. well... Unless it was poison."

"he was stabbed to ****." Lauren retorted, her eyes downcast.

She put her hand on Lauren's. "I can't help you Lauren. But it might help for you to know that I don't believe it. I might not know you very well, but I'm a very good judge of character and you my friend are not a murderer."

Lauren sighed in relief. At least she had someone to turn to, someone who would believe her. It wouldn't help her situation one bit. She knew that. But maybe this one person was someone she could talk to.

"I'm Susanne." the doctor said.

Lauren shook her hand. "Hi... Well you knew my name already"

"Yes, Lauren." She replied. "So... what are you so afraid of?" She asked.

"Well... I... Um... I've heard rumors." Lauren said looking to the ground ashamed.

"what sort of rumors?" Susanne asked with the same understanding tone. Curiosity clearly readable on her face.

"Well. that they uhm... that the woman in there. Well... uh.." she had a hard time coming out of her words. Her face was flushed. Susanne just looked at her with the same patience, waiting for Lauren to find her words. Lauren sighed deeply. "They **** other woman..." Lauren finally said, it was all she could manage to describe.

"oh.." Susanne sighed, immediately understanding what Lauren meant. Lauren saw the look of pity in her eyes. "I am sorry Lauren. I can't lie to you about this. I am afraid it's true. The women do tend to have sexual intercourse with each other. And in a few cases I get the victims here and well... those cases weren't exactly consensual."

Lauren started crying, a bit of panic brewing within her "How am I supposed to do this. I can't just let them **** me. I just can't. I..." Her words came out as stutters. She had started to cry uncontrollably by now. Susanne sat next to her and lay her arm around Lauren's shaky shoulders.

"I know Lauren, I know..." Susanne said, consoling her. Her sympathy completely genuine.

Lauren looked her in the eyes. The tears continued streaming down her face. "No you don't."

"how do you mean?"

"I.." Lauren swallowed. "I've never done this before."

Susanne immediately understood what she meant, yet she looked at her confused. "you're 22 years old. How?"

Lauren just shook her head. Burying her face in her hands.

"we'll figure this out Lauren I promise. I can let you stay here for a few more days saying you're not fit enough and we will figure this out."

Lauren looked at her new ally, being grateful for her help. "Thank you so much." She said still sniveling.

The days flew by like crazy and before Lauren knew it she had one day left before she had to return to the prison. In the meantime She and Susanne had gotten to know each other quite well. They chatted a lot and Lauren was even capable of laughing despite her dread of what was about to come. Her stomach turned at the thought of being **** tomorrow. She tried her best not to think of it, but it just kept coming back. As another thought came to the surface Susanne walked in the room.

"Hey how are you?" She said, the look of pity back on her face again. She knew Lauren was scared out of her mind.

"I can't do this Susanne." Lauren started crying again.

"Sssh, ssh." Susanne hushed her as she took Lauren into her arms. "Listen Lauren." She started.

Lauren looked at her waiting. "I really care about you." She continued. For Lauren It felt nice to have someone say that to her. "In these past few days I've grown really fond of you." Susanne added.

Lauren buried herself into Susanne's arms. Craving that little piece of safety Susanne gave her.

"I've looked a few things up and questioned a few people." Susanne went on. "They all say the same. The best thing you can do in there is just cooperate." Susanne carefully looked at Lauren, knowing that this news would be hard on her. She expected another fit of panic.

Lauren started to feel her eyes burning again from the tears.

She carefully continued. "I know that it seems impossible. But it's the only way it won't hurt."

"How can it not hurt?" Lauren almost screamed this time. The frustration and disempowerment clearly hearable in her voice.

"ssh. Listen to me." Susanne said pulling her close, consoling her by gently stroking through her hair.

"I know you won't be able to do this, definitely not if it is your first time. I think you need to know what it feels like first. Because else you will cower in fear. and the only logical response is to resist."

Lauren nodded in agreement "But what can I do?" She asked. Not having the slightest clue what to do.

"I thought it over and like I said I would like to help you. If you want me to. I could be your first time."

That scared Lauren, she pulled back from Susanne's arms and looked at her in shock.

"Please don't be scared Lauren." Susanne said, still as calm as she was before. Like she hadn't said anything remotely weird. "Listen, if you don't want me to, I won't do it. I would never hurt you Lauren."

Lauren calmed down a bit.

"But they will! And they won't care how you feel. Even if they have to hurt you to do it, they will. You have to Look at it as practice. I will help you find out what it is like, so it will be easier in there. So it won't hurt, at least not as much. If you are scared just say so. We can stop at any time. But if you do decide to do this with me. you will go in prepared, you will feel more secure. Besides you know I care for you. I will help you through this ok?" Susanne finished, her hand stroking a lock of hair behind Lauren's ear.

Lauren looked at her contemplating. It seemed a reasonable request. She knew Susanne only did it to help her. Besides Susanne knew what this was like, what she had to do. She was right this would make it easier in there. But was Lauren ready for it? Inside they wouldn't care... Susanne would. This way her first time would be nice. In there it wouldn't. She cursed herself for waiting now. It al seemed so silly, what was it all for. But whatever she chose one thing was certain... the wait was over now.