V Games Advanced Readers Club discussion

I suspected Kite would approach me sooner or later, but not so soon as the second day of my sentence. She cornered me in the laundry room, surrounded by three of her meatier crew. Sheets hung around us like ghosts, draped from row upon row of racks. I eyed the security camera in the corner of the room. Was anyone watching? Would someone come to my aid if I was under attack?
“Hey, Daddy killer,” Kite said with a sneer. She might have been pretty if she wasn't always grimacing. Her face was make-up free like all of us, but she had the kind of flawless skin that meant it didn't matter. The teardrop beneath her eye was her only blemish, marking her as a killer. Like me.
“Step-daddy,” I corrected, continuing to fold the freshly dried pillow cases. The faint smell of honeysuckle surrounded me from the washing. Hardly enough powder was used to clean the laundry; it was some non-bio, non-lethal, barely-scented crap that basically screamed 'you can swallow it all you like, but it won't kill you'.
“Whatever,” spat one of the larger women amongst the group. Her belly stretched out the over-sized grey jumper she was wearing and the way her hair stuck out on either side of head gave her the appearance of an enormous owl.
Kite approached the table I was working at, resting her hands on the pillowcase I was trying to fold. I glanced up, fear spiking through my chest. I tried to hide it, keeping my jaw set and my gaze even.
“Something you wanted?” I asked.
Kite tugged off her jumper and threw it at me. The rest of her clothes swiftly followed, until she was standing in front of me in the tasteless skin-coloured underwear we'd all been given to wear. A crescent scar sat around her belly button. “Bring them to me when they're clean,” she demanded, strutting away from me with her barely-concealed body on show.
The Owl cracked her meaty knuckles, folding her arms as she waited for me to make my next move.
It was crunch time. I either bowed down to Kite or fought back. Logic told me to bow, but my instincts flared up, taking control.
“No,” I said, just before Kite exited the room.
She snapped around, her dark locks swinging behind her. “What was that?” Her amber eyes narrowed to slits. “Wanna try again, puppy?”
My hands balled into fists as I struggled to remain calm. “I said no. And I'm not your puppy.”
The girl with a pixie cut and extremely long legs, placed her hands on her hips. “The new pup's got attitude, Kite. Can we drown it?”
I stiffened as the girls surveyed me, feeling every inch of my body being assessed. Why had I taken the whole group on? Not even Cass was here to back me up.
“Hold the door,” Kite barked at Owl and the last of her pack of mutts. The final girl was tall and Grecian looking with thin eyebrows.
As Kite approached me, I glanced once more toward the cameras. Surely someone was watching? They'd arrive at any moment. They had to.
My fingernails cut into my sweaty palms. Kite was half naked and yet she acted like she had the upper hand on me.
“Let's see how hard you can bite, little pup.” Kite launched at me, tooth and nail.
I managed to gather a fistful of her hair as she collided with me and yanked backwards, ducking a slash from her claws.
I shoved her back and she hit the table, screeching her fury.
Before she could launch at me again, a harsh buzzing filled the air and everyone froze.
“Dammit, inspection,” Kite hissed, snatching up her clothes and dragging them on.
I pressed against one of the washing machines, my heart racing like mad. “Inspection?” I questioned but I didn't know who I expected an explanation from.
Kite hacked up bile and spat on the clean washing I'd been folding. “This isn't over, mutt. Watch your back. Or you might wake up with a knife in it.”
The door slammed as they exited and I sagged against the machine, trying to slow my racing heart.
When my hands had finally stopped trembling, I gathered myself together, hurrying from the room. The way that Kite and the others had reacted, meant an inspection was important. But I had no idea why.
As I sprinted up the metal stairs toward my level, I found the place practically empty. If I was late, I'd be in trouble, I was certain. And after just two days in prison, that was hardly the impression I wanted to make.
When I reached the first level of cells, I discovered the women lined up around the balcony. Eyes followed me as I ran flat out to the next level, panting as I hurried down the line of girls to where Cass was standing outside our cell. She shot me an anxious glance as I joined her. One of the guards jotted down a note as she eyed me.
I hung my head low, desperate to catch my breath as the guards moved methodically down the line, checking our cells one by one. Presumably, contraband was their target, so I knew I was safe. The only possessions I'd brought still hadn't been returned to me. So even if I wanted to hide something, I couldn't.
Cass was jittery as the guards grew closer, shifting from foot to foot.
“Something up?” I breathed, trying to move my lips as little as possible.
Her mouth twitched, but she said nothing.
“Cass?” I narrowed my eyes as a bead of sweat slid down her forehead.
“I'm on my last strike,” she hissed. “One more and they'll send me to isolation for god knows how long.”
My heart rate spiked once more. “What? Why?”
“Shh!” A guard hushed us and Cass hung her head.
I leant back against the rail, hiding from the guard before speaking again. “Have you got something in the cell?”
Ever-so-slightly, Cass nodded.
My mouth dried out as two guards barged into our cell, turning stuff over with very little care for our things. One of them, I recognised. My heart did little backflips as I waited for him spot me. He must have known I was in this prison. But I hadn't even been certain he still worked here until now.
“What is it?” I pressed, but Cass shook her head, her lips clamped together.
My veins rushed with heat as I considered the consequences of them finding something incriminating. If she was taken away to isolation, would that mean I'd get a new cellmate? And what if that cellmate happened to be one of Kite's lapdogs?
My breathing grew ragged as Jonas reappeared, his hand clamped around something. “Which one of you owns this?” He unfurled his fist, revealing a sharpened flint.
My heart sank as I glanced at Cass. Her expression grew distant as she released a small sigh, preparing to own up.
“It's mine,” I blurted, making a snap decision. His expression was stern and I couldn't be sure if he recognised me.
Cass's eyes grew to saucers as she turned to me.
“Yours, Grey?” Jonas confirmed, looking doubtful then lowered his voice, “Causing trouble already?”
So he did know me. Why hadn't he spoken to me before now?
I nodded, my hand beginning to tremble. “I picked it up in the yard. I didn't know a rock was banned?” I tried out an innocent expression. The same one I'd used on the stand when being tried for my stepfather's murder. My lawyer had told me to act remorseful, but it was near impossible. That was the single time I'd tried to shirk the blame from myself. But truth be told, I wanted the blame. I was proud of it. I'd defeated the monster who had hurt me and my mother.
“Come with me.” Jonas took my arm, leading me away from the shell-shocked Cass who looked desperate to say something.
I thrust up my chin as I passed by Kite and her cellmate, the Owl. At least this would win me some 'don't mess with her' points.
Jonas pulled me closer as we stepped through a security door. “Sorry, Selena. But rules are rules. You'll only be in isolation for a couple of days.”
I glanced up at him, eyeing his youthful face and soft hazel eyes. “Why are you being nice to me?”
He stole a glance at a camera as we passed through another door. “Because I believe what you said in court.”
My heart lifted as I looked at him. “I wasn't sure you were still here.”
His brow furrowed. “I wanted to approach you, but...I wasn't sure what to say.”
“Do you think I'm a bad person?” I asked in a whisper. It suddenly occurred to me that I cared what he thought. I'd tried to block out the opinions of everyone at school. Most of them weren't my friends. Never had been. So why would I care what they thought?
Jonas gave a stiff shake of his head, but said no more.
We turned into a corridor of thick metal doors; the air was stifling and oppressive. My heart rate immediately increased.
Jonas unlocked one of them, sliding it open and gesturing for me to enter. I took a hasty glance inside the windowless cell and resigned myself, stepping into the coffin-like room.
“I'll be right here,” Jonas said with a sad smile, sliding the door shut with a loud thunk.
I sunk down onto the bed, thinking over the time I'd known Jonas in my life before prison. Before I was a murderer.

***
“Are you smoking weed?” Jonas demanded, bursting into his sister, Nettle's, room. Nettle, nicknamed from her actual name 'Natalie', because she had a mouth that could sting you. Always had, always would. She was my closest friend. I'd known her my entire life, and her brother Jonas.
Nettle had her head stuck out the window, toking on a joint. I vowed to keep away from the thing, lest I go home smelling like the stuff and my step-father smelt it on me. It wasn't worth the risk.
“You're training to be a prison guard, not a policeman.” Nettle snapped her head back through the window. She had dark hair, cut by her own hand with kitchen scissors so it hung at all different angles. Somehow, it actually suited her. Thick eyeliner rimmed her golden eyes and a silver ring hung in one side of nose. She was the complete opposite of me. My clothes were plain, my face bare of make-up, and where I was short in the confidence department, she had it in bags.
Jonas's eyes slid to mine. “You're not stupid enough to do it, too, are you?”
I shook my head, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. He gave me a crooked smile and moved a step closer as if we were now on the same team.
“Nettle's trying to make a statement,” Jonas muttered to me, but loud enough that his sister could still hear.
Nettle rolled her eyes.“Yeah, I'm making the statement: get the hell out of my room.”
Jonas strode over to her, plucked the joint from her fingers and chucked it out the window. Nettle made a noise of absolute fury and launched at her older brother. He was about twice her size and nearly a foot taller, so he fought her off with an easy shove, laughing.
“Get a life, Jonas!” she roared at him and he just laughed harder, heading toward the door.
“Get a hairdresser, Nettle,” he called as he slammed the door shut.
Nettle flung herself down on the single bed, dressed in black sheets, positioned beneath an entire wall of band posters. “God, he's a loser. Why couldn't I have had a cool brother who actually buys me weed, or something?”
I shrugged, hiding a smile. To me, Jonas had been one of the few men I'd actually admired growing up. Not that I'd had many male role models around. But he'd always had a fiercely protective streak in him I'd never witnessed in any other man before. Least of all my step-father. And though Nettle would never agree, I could see how much he cared about her in the way he behaved.
***

The isolation cell was colder than the one I shared with Cass. I could see why people might mad in a place like this. Four walls and your thoughts. For a criminal, that had to be hell.
I didn't want to think about my past, about the life that had crumbled into dust before my eyes. This was my life now. I had to move forward. But how could I, when time seemed to be frozen? Five years, ten, twenty, in this place. No matter how much time passed, I was always going to walk out of here as a killer. Nothing would ever change that.

I just finished reading all 3 chapters posted here and I'm excited about reading the rest of the book!
...ugh, I hate pretending to be patient, haha!

Awesome job, Caroline!

Ooo yay! How exciting. Haha I'm the most impatient person ever so I know how you feel. Not longggg.

First, thank you for inviting me to the group! Just finished reading the three chapters, looking forward to Selena.

Deborah wrote: "First, thank you for inviting me to the group! Just finished reading the three chapters, looking forward to Selena."

Amazing - thanks for reading! :D

WOW! I'm already hooked. This book is so refreshing and different. It's just what I've been looking for. You're incredible Caroline. I really can't wait for the book to come out. I hate waiting.... ugh. lol..... I hope it will be soon!

Anna Lynn wrote: "WOW! I'm already hooked. This book is so refreshing and different. It's just what I've been looking for. You're incredible Caroline. I really can't wait for the book to come out. I hate waiting......."

Ommmggg! What a compliment - thank you Anna!
It won't be long - a day or two at the most now! I'm just getting my final proofread done then it's ready to go :D

Alishia wrote: "Please forgive me. I'm just figuring out how to work this app🤓I messaged you my comment. Lol"

Haha no problem Alishia!

I really enjoyed reading these chapters cant wait to read more

Belinda wrote: "I really enjoyed reading these chapters cant wait to read more"

Thanks Belinda! I'll be giving out ARCs this week! :D

Thanks for telling me about the group. I've loved what I've read so far and can't wait to read more.

☆ ĄňŊǡƂėƮĦ ☆ wrote: "Thanks for telling me about the group. I've loved what I've read so far and can't wait to read more."

Aww thank you - so glad you joined!

I could see why people might mad in a place like this - Might go or just go instead of might would work as well.

This book is definitely on my must read radar now. Do you have any others that are published yet?

Thanks Samuel!
I have a fantasy series out, not quite this genre. More magic and adventure - my very first books hehe.
Feel free to check it out :)
Creeping Shadow

I can tell you have a real understanding of people, of thoughts and feelings and can put them to good use in writing. Cant wait for more, obviously all these people must meet at some stage, wow can hardly wait, will have to check out what else youv'e written in the meantime :-)

Chrissy wrote: "I can tell you have a real understanding of people, of thoughts and feelings and can put them to good use in writing. Cant wait for more, obviously all these people must meet at some stage, wow can..."

Aww thanks so much! Yes it's going to be within the next week I promise. I'm dying to give it out!!

Caroline wrote: "Chrissy wrote: "I can tell you have a real understanding of people, of thoughts and feelings and can put them to good use in writing. Cant wait for more, obviously all these people must meet at som..."
Awesome! Will have my "special book, must have items" a good stash of lollies, popcorn, jd and coke and pizza so i dont have to cook, heh heh