And she hadn't survived everything outside these walls by being helpless.
Before Victoria could take another step, the loudspeaker crackled.
"Kane. Visiting room. Now."
Victoria stopped.
Her jaw tightened.
She pointed at Claire.
"This isn't finished."
Claire nodded.
"I know."
Victoria walked away.
But as she disappeared through the door, one of the older inmates leaned toward Claire.
"You really don't know who she is, do you?"
Claire looked at her.
"No."
The woman lowered her voice.
"Then you better find out."
Claire glanced toward the closed door.
"I will."
The older inmate shook her head.
"Because Victoria doesn't threaten people."
She paused.
"She collects them."
Claire's expression remained calm.
"Then maybe it's time someone stopped her."
And that was the moment the entire prison began to change.
Chapter 2 — The Woman Behind the Reputation
Claire learned about Victoria that night.
Not from a guard.
Not from a file.
From the women who had lived around her.
Victoria had been at Blackridge for six years.
She had built her reputation quickly.
She never needed to start fights herself.
She simply convinced other inmates to fight for her.
She controlled favors.
Food.
Phone privileges.
Information.
Protection.
If someone wanted something, Victoria somehow knew.
And if someone crossed her, life became very difficult.
"She runs half the unit," an older inmate named Evelyn told Claire.
They sat at opposite ends of a table during dinner.
Claire picked at the food on her tray.
"Why doesn't anyone report her?"
Evelyn laughed quietly.
"Report what?"
"Threats."
"To whom?"
"The guards."
Evelyn looked toward the security cameras.
"The guards see what they see."
"And the cameras?"
"Cameras don't hear whispers."
Claire remained silent.
Evelyn leaned closer.
"Victoria has people everywhere."
Claire looked across the cafeteria.
Victoria sat at the center of a table surrounded by several inmates.
She laughed loudly.
She looked completely comfortable.
"She's not invincible," Claire said.
Evelyn studied her.
"You really believe that?"
"Nobody is."
Evelyn shook her head.
"You're either very brave or very foolish."
"Maybe both."
That evening, Claire returned to her cell.
She sat on the narrow bed and stared at the wall.
She had been in prison for only three days.
But already she understood something.
Blackridge wasn't controlled by the people with keys.
It was controlled by fear.
And Victoria had spent years building that fear.
The next morning, Claire found something unusual inside her breakfast tray.
A folded piece of paper.
She opened it.
Three words were written inside.
Don't trust Raven.
Claire looked across the cafeteria.
Raven was watching her.
Their eyes met.
Raven immediately looked away.
Claire folded the paper and put it in her pocket.
Later that afternoon, Victoria approached her.
"So."
Claire looked up.