CHAPTER TWENTY

MYSTRO

 

Mystro paced in her cell back and forth anxiously.

Because she frequently paced, it was a wonder there wasn’t a path worn out in the concrete.

When she saw C.O. Michael coming up onto her tier, she raced to the door.

“So, what happened?” She asked as soon as it opened.

“You tell me.” Her current cellmate Logan said as she walked into their cell.

“Oh, Logan, I thought you were someone else.” She said as she looked over top of Logan’s head and sighed.

“Nah, it’s just me, you know, your cellmate. At least I thought I was your cellmate.” She said sarcastically.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Mystro asked.

“How come I had to hear that you requested a new celly? Why you just ain’t come to me?” Logan asked as she sat on Mystro’s bunk and swept her braids over her shoulder.

Prison was worse than high school with the gossip shit. Once something went down, it didn’t take long for it to get all over the block.

“Lo, it’s not you and it wasn’t just a new celly.” Mystro explained. “You know Baby Dom?”

“Yeah, Lil yo in Bruiser’s cell, right?” Logan replied.

“Yeah, well that’s my homie from ‘round the way and I was trying to get her in here with me.” Mystro continued. “Bruiser is putting her through it down there and I can’t just get her moved, I gotta get her with me so I can look out for her.”

Logan shook her head slowly. “But I don’t wanna go up in there with her either!” Logan replied.

“Lo, she not gonna fuck with you like she doing Baby Dom. The only reason she messing with her is ‘cuz she new, younger and my folks.” Mystro explained.

“Oh, I’m not worried about her fucking with me, but she nasty, Mystro. I ain’t trying to live like that.” Logan confessed.

Mystro understood her concern. She knew firsthand that shawty was trifling.

“Aight, so how ‘bout this, I try and make arrangements for Cinnamon to move in there with Bruiser and you go downstairs to her cell with Chae, her celly.” Mystro asked.

Logan looked up toward the ceiling in deep thought before she spoke. “Well, Chae ain’t bad.”

“Yep, she's my right hand in the kitchen, y’all be cool in there together!” Mystro said excitedly.

“Aight, that works for me, but you still should have told me straight up.” Logan reiterated.

“You right, that’s on me.” Mystro felt bad. “I’ma-”

“Logan, leave us alone for a minute.” C.O. Michael said as he walked into their cell.

“Oh, nah it’s cool if she stays C.O., she knows what’s going on and we actually-”

“Step out, inmate Logan.” C.O. Michael said cutting Mystro off. He was stern and without kindness.

Logan cut her eyes at Mystro before she jumped up and hurried out the cell.

Mystro looked up at C.O. Michael confused but waited for him to speak.

He walked in and up to Mystro. “I was doing you a favor, why did you involve Logan?” He asked.

Mystro took one step back. “Uh–.”

“Answer me!”

He was cold and it put her on pause and she was reminded once again that he was police.

“You know how shit gets around in here. I didn’t have to tell her nothing she already knew about the move. And instead of her going in there with-”

“Well, it don’t matter no way. Nobody’s moving.” He stated.

“Huh?” Mystro asked, confused.

“I got the ok on the cell change but when I went to get Dent, she didn’t wanna come.” C.O. Michael explained, as if he were angry.

“I don’t get it. Why you ain’t make her move?” Mystro asked.

“Make her move? I couldn’t do that. This was a request not a prison order. We can’t intervene like that.” C.O. Michael advised.

Mystro sat down on her bunk and put her head into her hands.

“What about something like on the basis of it being a danger to her well-being or health? Could you intervene then?” Mystro asked desperately.

“Yeah, but Dent would have to make that request herself and from what I can see, she’s not interested in doing that.” C.O. Michael explained.

“What is wrong with her, man?” Mystro blurted out loud.

“Look, I’m not sure, and to be honest I don’t give a fuck. But keep me out of your games and your requests! Are we clear?” He stared down into her eyes intensely.

“I only asked because you said–.”

“Are we clear, inmate!” He reiterated.

She nodded and he walked away.

“Inmate?” She repeated to herself.

It was the first time he addressed her in that way, but she would never forget.

 

Mystro walked into Baby Dom and Bruiser’s cell. Baby Dom was lying on her bunk with her face towards the wall.

She had on a white tank top that displayed red marks on her left shoulder. Her locs were pulled back and held together with a black and red cotton hair tie.

“Baby Dom,” Mystro called out.

Baby Dom didn’t move.

“Baby Dom,” she called out again.

Baby Dom didn’t budge.

“I know you can hear me. Why you ain’t come with C.O. Michael to move into my cell?” Mystro asked as she walked up closer to her bunk.

Baby Dom sighed.

“I want you out of this bitch! Bruiser only fucking with you like she is because she feel like she can. She won’t be able to bother you if you my celly.” Mystro explained.

“Oh, right, like she wasn’t gonna fuck with me no more after the food poison thing too huh?” Baby Dom asked sarcastically.

Mystro sucked her teeth. “Aight, BD, I underestimated this crazy bitch. But that’s why I’m trying to get you moved.” She admitted.

Baby Dom turned her body around slowly to face Mystro.

Mystro rolled her eyes when she saw her bruised and strained face. Shit was getting worse.

It wasn’t just the bruises that had her on edge, but the daunt and distant look in Baby Dom’s eyes.

She felt like crying.

“Look at your fucking face, man! Why you wanna keep putting up with this bamma when you don’t have to?” Mystro yelled as her voice cracked.

“You want the truth, fam?” Baby Dom asked.

“Yes, please.” Mystro pleaded, nodding her head.

“Cuz I’m afraid.” Baby Dom admitted while looking down.

“Afraid of what? I just told you she not gonna be able to touch you once you move out. I got you.” Mystro ran up closer to the bunk. “I promise.”

She had to step on Bruiser’s bed so she could be face to face with Baby Dom, but she didn’t care because, fuck Bruiser.

“I told you I got your back! You my nigga and I’ma make-”

Baby Dom shook her head and closed her eyes. “I ain’t scared for me.” Baby Dom admitted.

Mystro looked at her confused. “Then who?”

“I’m afraid for you.”

It was over, Mystro could no longer hold her tears.

“Baby Dom, come here, man!” Mystro demanded as she stepped down and backed up to give her room.

Baby Dom slowly climbed down off her bunk to face Mystro.

“When we first met you, all I saw was this young, short, wild and crazy dom lady and I thought you was a straight up lunch box.” She recalled.

Baby Dom smirked.

“But the more and more you wouldn’t leave us alone, I realized I liked having you around.” Mystro confessed. “You like my ‘lil brother, fam. It took me a while to get my shit together, but I promise, I’m in this with you now.” She looked down into Baby Dom’s eyes.

Baby Dom looked up at Mystro and a tear rolled down her cheek.

“I gotta plan.” She put her hand on Baby Dom’s shoulder gently. “Just keep your head down, and move with that same energy like we beefing still, but know that I will get you out of this shit with Bruiser and we gonna be cool, together. You got my word!” Mystro stared at her intensely.

Baby Dom nodded and looked up at Mystro and for the first time since she’d been in prison, Mystro saw hope in her eyes.