„You don’t have to get used to it. You will see, you will be out of here in no time. Nobody can do anything against the power of a Peabody and Porter together. And the one who still wants to try, well…“

Bette made a dramatic pause and Helena arched an eyebrow that asked ‘well…?’

„Wish him good luck, because it’s going to be really bad. And you know your mother and her ways. And me, let’s just say, I can get pretty aggressiv if I want to“ She grinned diabolically.

Helena had to laugh at that.

„Really…?“ She asked playfully.

„Yup, but I want to spare you with the gory details.“

Helena was still chuckling. She was grateful that Bette tried to cheer her up. Bette looked at her and this time she could see the smile reach her eyes. Which made her smile in return.

„Really, you don’t need to worry, we are going to get you out of here. Just hold on a little bit longer,ok?“ She said in a serious tone and emphasized her statement by gently stroking Helena’s hand with her thumb.

Bette looked so sincere, that Helena believed her and nodded. She glanced down at her entwined hands and followed Bette’s thumb drawing soft circles over her skin of her right hand with her eyes. She felt warmth wherever Bette touched her and couldn’t resist to touch her back. Helena let the index of her left hand run the length of Bette’s still moving thumb and when she reach the fingertip she let her finger slide it’s way back down until she reached Bette’s wrists. They continued to do that for a few more minutes, letting their touches speak for them as they stared into each others eyes.
They were so engrossed in what they were doing, that they didn’t hear the guard approache them.

„Times over. Say your goodbye’s“ he said harshly.

Bette saw instantly the fear rise into Helena’s eyes and felt as she stiffen up and stopped all of her movements on her hands. Bette covered Helena’s hands with her free one in a reassuring manner. Trying to inform her silently that everything is gonna be ok. Helena understood and squeezed her hands a final time before she was being pulled up to her feet and lead away.

Helena looked back at Bette one final time and their eyes met and held each other for a second before she was pushed out the door.

Bette remained sitting in her chair. She had closed her eyes and played Helena’s last look in her head over and over again. A look she will never forget. A look that screamed ‘help me!’

She let out a heavy sigh, stood up and followed one of the guards that escorted her out. She looked desperately for a solution, but Helena hadn’t revealed anything that could have helped her further. Right now there was just nothing else she could do.

———————————————-

As Helena walked down the hall, she noticed that everyone was back. The hour they could spent outside was, for Helena at least, finally over. With this much people around them, ‘her’ guard wouldn’t dare to try something.

He walked up to the door and opened it up. Helena wanted to rush in and be away from him as fast as she could, but he held her back at the last moment.

„See you soon, baby doll“ he said quietly into her ear, so that only she could hear it. Helena shivered and was relieved when he let go of her.

Once she was back inside of her cell, she went straight to her bed. She laid on her side and crossed her arms over her chest, holding herself as she continued to tremble over his last spoken words.

She wanted to give up. She wanted to die. She didn’t think, she had the strength to go on.

But then she thought back at Bette. Something just happend in there. She didn’t know what. She didn’t even start to think what it was, she only let the warmth she had felt as Bette had touched her so softly settle over her body. And that’s when she made her decision.

She will go through with everything that might happen to her. She will be strong and endear what she had to. She will not make problems. She will not get into trouble. She would simply await the day she can get out of here. And whenever that was, she would be ready.