The Prison Project (by Bethany Donaghy) novel Chapter 10

Margot’s POV

The hum of the ferry’s engines vibrated through the soles of my shoes, and the metal walls around us creaked and groaned as the ship slowly pulled away from the dock…

Fuck! There’s no getting out of this now then…

I sighed and stood over by the small circular window of our assigned cabin, having now showered and feeling extraordinarily clean for the first time in a while.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the heat of the shower belting down against my skin accompanied by the free coconut scented hair and body wash.

It felt like a vacation compared to what I was used to back at the trailer which consisted of a green garden hose that had been attached to the bathroom taps.

I waited patiently for Cara to finish up, moving across the space to look myself over once again in the mirror.

It all felt so surreal, like an out of body experience almost, as though I had allowed myself to step in to autopilot throughout this entire journey.

We had been given clear orders to change into our uniforms, freshen up, and to report to the assembly point for 6pm – a space in which the scarred man had briefly shown to us on the way to our cabin as I prayed that Cara would remember the way back…

So here I now was, as my eyes scanned over my reflection from head to toe, wearing my pink oversized (surprisingly comfy) tracksuit, with my dark hair still damp – but clean at least.

The vessel continued to bobble across the water, heading toward some unknown destination holding what I’d imagine was some of this countries worst criminals…

I swallowed hard at the thought, debating if we had both maybe gone mad? What exactly was this project?

Hopefully we find out more information at the meet up tonight…

I glanced up at the small wall clock seeing that it was now after four, as my eyes shifted towards one of the two little slim single beds in the room.

I hummed, debating if I even had time to squeeze in a quick nap before the meeting?

I was stunned that I had even managed to stay awake for so long as my body absolutely ached for a rest by this point.

–

Deciding it would be the smart choice, I approach it and sink down the mattress a little harder than what I would have liked – but I was in no position to complain.

I breathed out heavily as I lay there, stretching out my limbs as they cracked like a pensioners before eventually forcing my eyes to close.

I allowed for my mind to race with a thousand questions and possibilities on what would be next in store for us, feeling my chest even itself out in the process.

I could hear the steady rush of water from the shower – Cara’s shower. It was a constant reminder that she was still there, even if she wasn’t in sight, finishing up her own cleansing rituals and enjoying the fresh experience as much as I had.

For a few moments, I let myself drift into a nap, trying to quiet the relentless hum of the ferry’s engines and the creaks of metal that spoke of our isolation. The sound of water, soothing yet insistent, mingled with my thoughts, pulling me between a desire for rest and a mounting anxiety about what awaited us once we would be forced to leave this cabin.

Long minutes seemed to pass in a haze until I felt Cara’s gentle touch shaking my arm.

“I hate to ruin your sleep girl but it’s almost time for the meeting!” She spoke gently, as I groaned and scrunched up my arms before pulling them up in to a stretch.

“How long did I get?” I question groggily, my eyes burning for me to close them again.

“Look at your face!” She turns and suddenly cackles, as she walks us in the directions that she believes is right. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”

I hush her loudly, my eyes darting around at the surprisingly empty corridors, terrified that one of the scary looking men would hear.

“It wasn’t that before, when you were almost near pissing your pants!” I argue, reminding her that she had previously been just as nervous as I had been.

“Yeah but when I was in the shower I got to thinking, this will be a great life experience for us! What a story it will be to tell our kids we made fifty grand by hanging out in a crazily scary prison!” She shrugs before continuing on: “Think about it, they won’t just throw us to the wolves, will they? We will be protected.” She nods, as I chew my lip listening to her.

Maybe she’s right?

Maybe I’m overthinking this?

They can’t just toss us in there without proper training or resources, that would be insane!

“It’s up these steps!” Cara points, as we notice the first guard stood at the top of them, holding his large gun facing down towards the ground – a bored look plastered across his face,

We still hadn’t seen any of the other girls yet, so were we the only two that had signed up?

No, we can’t be!

The guy with the scar had said we were the last two which means there is more around somewhere…