Chapter Four

The Story of Aubrey Evans

I stood in shock, gazing at the numerous women inside of the prison walls, made from brick. The stench was so strong that I barely wanted to breathe. The concrete floors were cold and with my feet being bare, chills bolted throughout my weak body. The Taser Maryann had used to alert me hurt like hell. Tears were still welled in my eyes, especially at the sight of Sasha who seemed afraid to come to me. Her arms were wrapped around her stomach and flowing tears cascaded down her face. I was happy to see that she was alive, but this whole situation had me in a state of serious confusion. For now, though, all I wanted was to hold my baby girl in my arms. If there were only women inside of this hellhole, I predicted my sons were still alive somewhere else. A place that I didn’t know about yet, but it would be revealed to me soon enough.

“Mamaaaaa,” Sasha cried out as she staggered my way with pain in her eyes. “Wha . . . What’s going on, Mama? Why are we here?”

I reached out to grab her, holding her tight in my arms. Many of the women around us just stared. Some of the others who were probably on the bus with us were searching for their loved ones. Everyone had questions, but I tuned out the noise to focus on Sasha. I backed away from her, holding her dirty face with my hands, while searching into her eyes.

“I don’t know what’s going on, Sasha, but are you hurt? Did they hurt you, the boys . . . how did you get on that bus?”

Her body trembled, mouth quivered as spoke. “I . . . I went to the kitchen to get something to drink. When I closed the refrigerator, that’s when I saw a man standing there. I screamed and he covered my mouth. I bit his hand, but then I was hit with something that knocked me out. I woke up on that . . . that bus. Wanted to say something, but I didn’t because I thought they would kill me.”

I snatched Sasha in my arms again, trying to comfort her as best as I could. The truth was, I was afraid too. Afraid of what was going to happen to us. Afraid of what could happen to her baby.

“Shhhh,” I said, squeezing her tighter. “If they were going to kill us, they would’ve done it by now. Try to calm down and let’s see if we can find out something. I don’t know why we’re here. Maybe someone else does.”

I stood, holding Sasha while looking around. Many women turned their heads. Some continued to stare, while others were gathered in groups talking. Sasha and I made our way over to one woman who seemed eager to share the horrifying news with us.

“Crying will do you all no good,” she said as a group of women stood frightened and listened. “These people are nuts and they will kill you at the snap of their fingers. Cooperation is key to us staying live. Don’t try anything stupid and we all have to stick together. “

“Stick together for what?” A young woman shouted. She appeared real prissy and polished, considering what she’d probably been through. Her nails were manicured and fake lashes were hanging on. So was her silky straight fake hair that looked as if it had cost a fortune. “I’m getting the hell out of here! There are enough of us to knock the fuck out of those people when they come through that door. That’s what we need to do. I don’t get why so many of y’all are standing around here crying.”

Many of our heads snapped to the side to look at a woman who laughed out loud. She was sitting near a corner all by herself, rocking back-and-forth. The crooked smile on her face was eerie in a sense, and as her laughter got louder, she slapped her leg.

“Bitch, what in the hell is so funny,” the polished woman barked. “Obviously, you don’t want to get out of here.”

“Pay her no mind,” the woman who was giving us advice said. “She’s crazy. Stay away from her and let her be.”

The polished chick continued to push. “Crazy or not, I want to know what in the hell is so funny. This is no laughing matter, and to hell with your advice about cooperating. You can’t cooperate with racist idiots.”

She contracted her eyes to gaze at the woman in the corner who was now on her back, kicking her legs and cracking up as if she was front row at a comedy show. I wanted to know what was wrong with her too—the wound to her eye looked painful. Maryann had already warned me about the woman. It wasn’t like I wanted to take any advice from her, but the woman’s actions were a bit much. Not only that, but they were scary. So scary that Sasha held a tight grip on my arm, as if she didn’t want to let go.

“Is that the only door in here?” asked the polished woman. “And do all of these windows have bars on them?”

The woman who had been speaking to us seemed irritated. She latched her hand on her hip; the tone of her voice raised a few notches. “Listen, Miss Newbie. There is no way out. The only time we’re allowed out is when we have work to do. Hard work that you’re not going to like. I’m trying to tell you that all that nonsense you’re spilling won’t work. What will work is a plan. We need a plan, but right now, we don’t know how many people are holding us here. Last month we counted twenty. There could be more by now. We just don’t know”

“Last month,” another woman shouted. “How long have you all been here?”

“Too damn long,” another replied. “I want out too.”

I wanted to know the answer to how long they’d been here too, and as the woman’s laughter in the background ceased, some women said five months, others said two and one.

“See, Mama,” Sasha whispered. “I told you something was going on, didn’t I?”

I didn’t respond, only because I was mad at myself for not taking her seriously. I’d thought about what my friend, Shannon, had said, too, the last time I’d seen him at the bar. He sensed that something weird had been happening as well.

As the women started to pick sides about the best way forward, I backed away from the crowd with Sasha still next to me. Our hands were locked together. I didn’t have the right answers now, but I had to keep it together so she wouldn’t break. I used my hands to wipe her wet face.

“I know you’re afraid, but we will get out of here.” The direction of my eyes traveled to her stomach. She kept holding it like she was in pain. “Are you okay? I mean, how’s the baby?”

“Probably not good,” she groaned. “I . . . I just can’t believe this is happening.” She looked around at the muggy, crowded space that had numerous mats on the floor. Thin, dingy white sheets were in piles and puddles of water were here and there. “Where are we supposed to sit, sleep or whatever? Mama, we can’t stay here like this. There is no way we can stay here.”

I didn’t know how to respond. Of course we couldn’t stay here, but what other options did we have?

“For the sake of the baby, calm down and try not to worry. Let’s just stay to ourselves and pray that God helps us get through this, okay?”

Sasha wiped her tears and slowly nodded. We inched our way over to a wall where two mats were at. As soon as we sat on them, the woman who had been offering advice came over to us.

“My name is Joslyn,” she said. “Been here for three months. I was just trying to help.”

Sasha remained silent, but I spoke up. “I’m Aubrey. This is my daughter, Sasha. We appreciate your help, but—”

I paused when I heard the polished woman yelling that she wanted out. Everyone looked at her as she stormed around the room with tightened fists, gritting her teeth.

“Out now!” she hissed. “Get me the fuck out of here!”

She charged the wooden door with her right shoulder, trying to knock it down. Nothing happened so she banged on the door with her fists. Her actions caused some women to cry louder, others looked on in fear. The woman in the corner, however, just laughed her ass off.

“O.U.T. Out!” The woman pounded the door harder. “Open this door, you coward ass motherfuckers! Let me out!”

Joslyn remained standing in front of us. She closed her eyes, clenched her hands together and bowed her head. While softly whispering, I could tell she was praying. Her prayers were interrupted by a loud boom that came when two white men kicked on the door and rushed inside. Their assault rifles were held high—directly at the woman’s head. She held her hands in the air, begging and pleading for them to let her go.

“I swear I will do anything.” The direction of her eyes traveled below one of the men’s waist. “Anything you want me to do! Just let me out of here. I don’t want to be in this dump with these women. It’s dirty in here, filthy and nasty. I can’t stay here, not now, not ever.”

The two men looked at each other, as if they pondered what to do with the woman’s offer. Before they came to any conclusion, in walked Maryann again. Her wide hips swayed from side-to-side. Irritation was visible in her eyes; her deep sigh implied she was frustrated.

“Don’t you dare try to use your whorish ways to manipulate my men. If they want you, gal, they can have you. Since you done caused such a ruckus in here, I’s gon’ have to make an example out of you.”

The entire place was silent, until the crazy woman broke out in laughter again.

“Hush yo gotdamn mouth, Melody, before I have Ben come in here and deal with you!”

Pure silence returned as Melody clamped her hand over her mouth.

“Now, where was I?” Maryann said, deliberately circling the woman. She evil-eyed Maryann, as if she didn’t fear her.

“I want out of here,” she pouted. “I wasn’t trying to seduce your men, nor was I trying to make a big fuss. I just wanted to know if there was anything . . . anything I could do to leave and go somewhere that’s a little more comfortable.”

Maryann smiled and halted her menacing steps. She opened her bible, licked her finger and flipped through the pages. While holding one hand against her chest, she started to read. “John 14, verses 2 through 4. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you with me, so that you also may be where I am and you know the way to the place where you are going.” She quickly clamped the bible and looked at one of the men. “This privileged bitch wants out of here. Put her out of her gotdamn misery, now!”

Her red face shook behind her harsh words. And right as the woman tried to scurry away, both men fired multiple bullets from their guns. Bullets whistled through the air and ripped into the woman’s back and head. Screams and hollers rang out. I reached for Sasha, burying her face against my chest so she didn’t have to witness the end result of what had just happened. The men dragged the woman’s lifeless body out of the room, as if she was dead meat. A trail of her blood followed, and this time, there was no laughter from Melody.

Maryann examined the room, looking at angry women who stared her down. She swiped her hands together while mean mugging everyone in return.

“How many lessons will you people have to learn? I know you niggers, along with you nigger lovers, are stupid. But please don’t try anything like that idiot just did. I truly want all of us to get along in here, and as long as y’all don’t become unruly, everybody and everything will be fine and dandy.”

Her fake smile returned as she continued to examine the room. When her eyes locked on me, my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. She marched my way, causing me to move Sasha away from me and stand. I didn’t want her to say or do anything to Sasha. Didn’t even want her to know we were related. I wasn’t sure if she remembered it or not, but as she stood in front of me, I straightened my spine and wiped across my dry, cracked lips.

“Have you had a chance to get acquainted with some of the other gals in here, Asia?”

“Not really,” I said, softly.

“Well, chit-chat for a lil while longer and I’ll be back to get you later. I’ve been getting your room at the house real nice and comfy for you. That way, you don’t have to worry about any of the rats crawling on you tonight or bit’en you.”

Sasha reached for my hand, squeezing it with hers. “No, Mama,” she said, tearfully. “You can’t goooo! Don’t leave me in here by myself. Pleeeease!”

I blinked to clear tears that had touched the rims of my eyes. I hated that Sasha had said something, simply because it caused Maryann to focus on her, instead of me.

“Poor child,” Maryann said. She rubbed Sasha’s hair and patted her head like she was a good dog. “Your mammy will be okay. So will you, so stop those tears from pouring down your fat face and hush.” Her eyes traveled south to Sasha’s belly. “When is the little one due?”

I spoke up before Sasha did. “Soon. Real soon, and I was hoping that she could go to the house with me. We won’t be any trouble. I promise. I . . . I just don’t want to leave her like this.”

The smile on Maryann’s face vanished. She lifted her hand and smacked the shit out of me with the bible. The hard slap jerked my head to the side and caused many of the women in the room to gasp. Sasha was getting ready to stand, but I held her shoulder, keeping her down.

“You can’t treat my Mama like that,” she hollered. “Who do you think you are, you stupid bitch!”

Melody started that damn laughing again. Seemed like she laughed, every time something tragic was about to happen. Sasha should have kept her mouth shut. I hurried to defuse the situation, by turning my anger toward her so Maryann wouldn’t.

“Sasha, don’t you ever speak to her like that again! Do you hear me? Don’t raise your voice or curse at any grown person like that. If you ever do it again, I will knock the hell out of you! Do you understand?”

I wasn’t sure if Sasha knew why I had spoken to her in that manner or not, but she slowly nodded.

“Apologize! Now,” I said, as if I was upset with her.

Sasha looked at Maryann who licked across her lips like she got a thrill out of me speaking to Sasha so harshly.

“I’m sorry,” Sasha said softly. “It won’t happen again.”

“It better not,” Maryann replied. “Because if it does, I’m gon’ have to kick that baby out of you and go feed it to some of those hungry animals out there. As for you,” Maryann said and shifted her cold eyes to me. “Don’t you ever try to take advantage of me again. Hell’s no she can’t come to my house, and that’s the problem with you niggers. Y’alls always looking for somebody to do something extra for you. Always wanting us to extend our generosity, like we ain’t already done gave enough. Like I said, I’ll be back later for you. Until then, do what you can do to get some order in this place. Sing like you did on the bus and try to liven it up in here. I’ll send one of my boys down for everyone to take a shower. Maybe that’ll perk you gals up. Then again, y’all have always been afraid of water.”

She giggled as she headed toward the door. I wondered why we all just didn’t rush her and beat the crap out of her. I guess the fear inside was much bigger than I thought it was. And there was no telling what was waiting on the other side of the door for us.

After Maryann left, all eyes were on me. In particular, Joslyn’s. She claimed Maryann liked me. “She is very particular about the women she wants in her house. You’re the one who was sent by God to help us. I feel it in my heart and soul. You can help us come up with a plan to get out of here, can’t you?”

I quickly shook my head, not wanting to give anyone false hope. Nor did I want the responsibility of coming up with a plan. All I really cared about was Sasha and my sons. That was it; these women had to fend for themselves.

“I don’t know why she wants me in that house, but I don’t want to go. Why don’t you go or someone else can take my place.” I looked around the room, searching and asking if anyone else was willing to go in my place. “I need to stay here with my daughter. I’m not going to leave her, so one of you will have to go in my place.”

“You don’t get options here,” Joslyn said. “She wants you and only you. If you want to save yourself and your daughter, you’ll have to go.”

I looked at Sasha; she looked at me. In the moment, all we could do was tightly embrace each other. Unfortunately, that was something we hadn’t done in a long time.