Episode 48 Lingering Guilt

Ruth was taken to her cell, and Alex and James followed her, standing outside and talking to her. Tears welled up in Alex's eyes as he spoke, "I never thought I was going to see you like this."

"Don't cry, little bro. I will be fine," Ruth reassured him, her voice filled with determination. James watched the two, amazed at the bond they shared. He knew they had been through a lot together, and he was determined to ensure they would be together again.

"This too looks like they truly are related. To think that their bond was forged through such unbelievable circumstances. I have to make sure they are together again," James thought to himself, a smile forming on his face. "She will be fine, Alex. Don't worry. She is a fighter, after all," he said, trying to comfort his friend.

Ruth walked slowly to her assigned cell, number seven. As she made her way, all eyes were on her. She scanned the faces, and some seemed familiar. One of the inmates approached her, curiosity evident in her voice. "What do we have here?" she asked, moving closer to Ruth. "Wow, she is a beauty, isn't she, ladies?" she remarked, and the others agreed. She reached out to touch Ruth's face, but Ruth swiftly blocked her. "Try to touch me, and you'll end up in the hospital," she warned, moving towards her mattress.

"Wow, a new and tough little girl. Do you know who I am?" the inmate, Dorothy, asked, looking Ruth in the eyes. "Yes, I do. Your name is Dorothy, the daughter of Don, a man who used to be a mafia but is now dead. So what?" Ruth replied confidently.

Everyone looked at Ruth in disbelief. "Who is this girl?" they wondered.

"Who are you, and how do you know my dad?" Dorothy asked, pushing Ruth's hair back. "An ugly scar. Are you a drug trafficker?" she taunted. "I am your worst nightmare, so do yourself a favor and go sit down," Ruth retorted. This made Dorothy furious, and she attempted to slap Ruth, but Ruth swiftly blocked her, causing Dorothy to scream in pain as her arm was dislocated.

The warden arrived, questioning the commotion. "What is happening here?" she asked. "Dorothy twisted her arm, and I was just trying to put it back in place," Ruth explained calmly, pushing Dorothy's arm back into its socket. Dorothy felt immediate relief.

"Who is she, and why is she here?" Dorothy asked the warden. "Don't mess with her if you want to live, Dorothy. She will kill you," Jemima, another Warden, warned, instructing the first warden to leave.

"Officer Jemima? Do you know her?" Dorothy asked, surprised. "Yes, I do. She is Ruth, your worst nightmare," Jemima confirmed. Everyone was taken aback. Ruth stood up and went to the cell bars. "Jemima," she called out. "Don't scare them, okay? I'm not here as your enemy, but as a friend. James and I will do anything to get you out," she said with a smile before returning to her mattress. "I didn't kill your brother, if that's what you're still thinking," Ruth added before falling asleep. "I know it was that fool who killed my brother. I'm not here to be your enemy, Ruth. I want us to be friends," Dorothy whispered to herself, a smile forming on her face.

Dorothy sat with her friends, discussing the events that had just unfolded. Ruth could hear snippets of their conversation, but she chose to ignore them. "So, she's a serial killer," one of Dorothy's friends remarked, but Dorothy remained silent.

The next morning, all the inmates were called outside their cells to perform their assigned tasks. Some were sewing, some were making buckets, and others were sweeping. Ruth approached the warden, seeking guidance. "What am I supposed to do?" she asked. The warden looked at her and asked if she had any talents. Ruth shook her head. "So, you only knew how to kill in this world?" the warden questioned. Ruth's eyes narrowed, and she responded with a threatening voice, "How about I kill you?" The warden felt a chill run down her spine. "You can learn to do anything useful," the warden said, stepping back.

Ruth joined the girls who were making baskets. One of them asked if she knew how to make one. Ruth observed them for a moment before attempting to make her own. To everyone's surprise, she quickly grasped the technique and created the most beautiful basket in just fifteen minutes. "How did you do that? Have you done this before?" the girls asked in awe. "It's my first time, but I'm a fast learner," Ruth replied with a smile. In a short time, she made fifty baskets, exhausting the available materials. The girls sat down to chat, but Ruth remained quiet.

During lunchtime, Ruth chose not to go and get food. She sat quietly, and one of the girls asked, "Why aren't you eating?" Ruth replied, "I don't eat lunch." The girl offered to eat Ruth's food, and Ruth agreed, pushing her plate towards her. "What are you going to eat?" the girl asked. Ruth looked around before answering, "Someone is going to bring me food." "Lucky you. No one comes for me. I was arrested because I was a thief," the girl explained, eating her food quickly. "Slow down, or you'll choke," Ruth warned, but the girl smiled in response.

Back at Paradise Village, Alex sat quietly, lost in his thoughts. Susan noticed his distant expression and sat next to him. "You're spacing out, Alex," she said, concerned. "Yes, it's just that things are fine now, but I can't enjoy the freedom with my sister," he confessed, a lonesome tear escaping his eye. "If Benny were here, he would scold me for making that joke. Do you miss him too?" he asked, his voice filled with sorrow. Susan nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I wish he wasn't dead. It's all my fault. If only I had listened to him," Alex lamented. "What are you talking about, Alex? It wasn't your fault. You guys thought it was safe to go there because Ruth called you. Who knew you were going to be attacked? You didn't go with the guards because you were sure it was Ruth," Susan reassured him. "But I still wonder who called us there. If it was Ruth, where is her phone?" Alex questioned.

Alex grabbed his laptop and began searching for answers. "Do you think someone used Ruth's phone to call you to town?" Susan asked, her voice filled with concern. Alex looked at her, realization dawning on him. "The last location I can see is at James's house," he said. "Do you think it's still there?" Susan inquired. "I don't think so, but I need to ask James," Alex replied, dialing James's number.

"Hello, James," Alex greeted as soon as the call connected. "Hi, Alex. Don't worry, I didn't forget to go to the police station. I'll go and give Ruth food on time," James assured him, thinking that Alex had called to remind him. "I know you wouldn't forget, but I called to ask if you found her phone. Ruth refused to admit that she asked me to go to town, and since that day, I haven't been able to find her phone," Alex explained.

James remembered the events of that day. "Oh, yes. With all the chaos, I forgot to look for it. If she didn't text you, then who did?" he pondered aloud. "Who were you with that day?" Alex asked. "I only remember Jemima coming over with her guard. Ruth and I went to my room, while Jemima sat on the sofa with her guard," James recalled. "Do you think one of them did it?" Alex questioned. James pictured Jemima in his mind, remembering where she was seated. He then visualized the guard and noticed a cup under the chair. "Alex, let me call you back soon," James said, his mind racing.

As James drove towards the police station, he called Alex again. "Alex, I found Ruth's phone. It was under the chair where Jemima's security guard was sitting, inside a cup filled with water," James revealed. "So, what's next?" Alex asked eagerly. "I'm going to test the phone for fingerprints," James replied, determination in his voice. Alex agreed, feeling a glimmer of hope.

At Jemima's house, she retrieved a camera and reviewed the videos she had recorded from James's house. "No way! He found the cup," she exclaimed. "I need to change the fingerprints; otherwise, he'll kill me for sure," she muttered to herself. "Good thing I'm a police officer," she added, grabbing her car keys. She called her guard and instructed him to place a bottle of water in her car.

James arrived at the police station, carrying Ruth's phone and a cup of water. He immediately began testing the phone for fingerprints, hoping to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, Jemima arrived at the station, her heart racing. She knew she had to change the fingerprints on the cup before James discovered the truth.

To be continued...