**Chapter 25: Behind Bars**

Ashley sat in the cell, her eyes scanning the cold, grey walls as fear began to creep in. "What's it like in here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her gaze darting to Samantha. Samantha chuckled, a low, throaty sound. "It is prison," she replied with a shrug, her eyes sparkling with amusement. Ashley's eyes widened, unsure of how to react to Samantha's nonchalant response. Ashley felt a shiver run down her spine. "Is it... safe?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. Samantha giggled, the sound echoing off the cold walls. "Safe? Ha! This place is a powder keg waiting to blow. But, you know, we make do." Ashley's eyes darted around the cell, taking in the rows of bunks and the steel toilet in the corner. She felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. What if she got hurt? What if she couldn't survive in a place like this? Samantha seemed to sense Ashley's unease and leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Listen, kid, I'll give you some advice. Stay out of trouble, keep your head down, and don't get too close to anyone. That's the key to surviving this place." Ashley nodded, taking Samantha's words to heart. She didn't know what lay ahead, but she was determined to make it through her time in prison with her sanity intact. As she looked around the cell, Ashley noticed the other inmates watching her from their bunks. Some of them seemed friendly, while others looked like they'd just as soon eat her for breakfast. She felt a shiver run down her spine and turned back to Samantha. "What's going to happen to us now?" Ashley asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Samantha shrugged. "We'll go before the COs – that's the corrections officers – for processing. They'll take our vitals, give us a prison ID, and then we'll get assigned to a block. After that, we'll find out our sentence and what our daily routine will be." Ashley nodded, trying to process the information. She had so many questions, but she didn't know where to start. As she looked at Samantha, she felt a sense of gratitude towards this woman who seemed to know the ropes. Samantha smiled and patted Ashley's hand. "Don't worry, kid. I've got your back. We'll get through this together."