MISCHA WAS GIVEN a yellow smock and thin green cotton pants that made her look like a color-blind hospital patient. Next she met with a prison administrator, whom she had to assure that she was not pregnant and not suffering from AIDS, hepatitis, or tuberculosis. She requested the infirmary as her work assignment and set up a commissary account.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ps0cBH4eh
Then six of the prisoners followed a guard through three consecutive doors of webbed steel, spaced a good twenty feet apart. A buzzer sounded and the first door popped open. The guard walked through, followed by six prisoners assigned to cell block D, and then the door closed. The second door buzzed open, they walked through, and it closed. Then the first door opened again and the rear guard in their group walked into the first containment area. No more than one door was ever open at the same time. It prevented anyone fro getting a head of steam, from acting aggressively. And the guard at the rear was never in the same containment area as the guard at the front with the prisoners, so if by some chance there was trouble, the guard at the rear was free to take action, or at least summon help. All this had been explained to her before she got there.
All six prisoners marched single file, holding their bed linens out in front of them. On top of each stack of linens sat a large clear bag of toiletries. When they finally walked through the third door, they entered an open space and her heart began hammering.
They were now in cell block D.
On either side, going up four stories, were cells with wooden doors. Guards patrolled narrow aisles lined with high green railings. A series of metal walkways connected the two sides to each other; stairways allowed access from one story to another. A guard tower, large enough to hold two guards, rose from the open middle of the cell block. The whole place was dimly lit, and the last time she smelled this odor, she was with her sisters at the New York City Zoo.
The catcalls began in force, the hazing as the prisoners smelled fresh blood entering the system. They came to their doors and yelled through the small openings covered with metal wiring. Even if she had possessed the vocabulary to understand them. Mischa wouldn't have been able to, as their shouts blurred together in one hellish cacophony.
Mischa steeled herself and moved one foot in front of the other. They climbed stairs. Two of the prisoners were taken, by one of the two guards, to cells on the second floor. Then they climbed another set of metal stairs and repeated the procedure. Finally, she was taken to a cell on the fourth floor.
Was this the penthouse suite? Did they want her on the top floor so she could have a better view of the countryside? Mischa refused to cross her fingers. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIalTqmuhQM
The numbers 524 was stenciled in faded black on the wooden door. Mischa could hear chatter on the other side. Through the small hatch, she caught sight of only two prisoners. The guard unhooked the latch.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ROOo7YRzI
She opened the door, introducing Mischa to her new home.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx6Bj2sBYe
"Dear God!" she screamed.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzIWtOGS70
