"Behind Bars"

The officer called her name as she was placed in a car and transported to the county jail. Ashley's heart sank further as she realized that this was it – her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even imagine. The car ride was short, but the anxiety building in her chest felt like an eternity. As they arrived at the jail, Ashley was cuffed once more and led towards her cell. The officer's grip on her arm was firm, but not unkind. "You're going to be staying here for the next two months," he explained, his voice neutral. Ashley didn't respond. She was too numb to process anything. The officer led her to a cellblock, and Ashley's eyes widened as she took in the rows of cells. She was ushered into a small room where a jail uniform was waiting for her – grey sweats and a hoodie. "Get changed," the officer instructed, handing her the clothes. Ashley took the clothes and quickly changed, feeling a sense of loss with each item she put on. The softness of the sweats and the warmth of the hoodie were a far cry from the comfort of her own clothes. The officer led her to her cell, and Ashley's heart skipped a beat as she saw that she wasn't alone. A woman with piercing green eyes and long, curly brown hair looked up from her bunk. Ashley's instincts screamed at her to be afraid, but she tried to remain calm. "Welcome to your new home," the woman said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Ashley clutched her tiny photo of herself, Ender, and her mother tightly in her hand. She looked down at it and cried, the weight of her loss crushing her. The woman's gaze softened, and she nodded sympathetically. "My name is Samantha," she said, her voice gentler now. "What's yours?" Ashley sniffled, trying to compose herself. "I'm Ashley," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Samantha nodded, her eyes never leaving Ashley's face. "You're going to need to be strong in here, Ashley. This place can be tough." Ashley looked around her cell, taking in the stark reality of her new surroundings. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that she was sharing a cell with a serial killer.