The woman stood motionless in front of him.
The prisoner had leaned so close that his shadow covered almost her entire figure. The rest of the prisoners were waiting. Some were smiling. Others were already whispering to each other, convinced that in seconds they would see the new guard embarrassed, backing down or calling for help.
However, she did not raise her voice.
Not chattering.
He didn’t take a step back.
He just touched the radio on his shoulder and said clearly:
— Dvor B. Situation with refusal to execute an order. The cameras should be fixed on sector three. Senior Duty Officer, please confirm.
The answer came immediately:
“The cameras are recording. An additional team is on the way.
The big man laughed.
“Oh, so you’re going to call for help?”
The woman looked at him calmly again.
“No. I document your choices.
The laughter around them weakened.
This was
not the reaction they expected.
He stood up, still smiling.
“What are you going to document?” That I have spoken to you?
“That you left the line without permission.” That you refuse to comply with a legal order. That you are insulting an employee. That you are blocking the movement of the rest of the prisoners. And that you do it in front of working cameras and witnesses.
He looked at her.
“Do you think any report frightens me?”
“I don’t know what scares you,” she said. “But I know what the report leads: termination of the walk, disciplinary proceedings, loss of certain rights, and a review of your regime.
The prisoner smiled contemptuously.
“Big deal.
“It’s possible, but you’ll decide if it’s worth it.”
There was silence.
A few seconds earlier, everyone was laughing.
Now everyone was listening.
Because her words were not a threat.
They were a fact.
Her name
The new guard was called Ralitsa Doneva.
He was thirty-eight years old and only 135 centimeters tall. People often saw her height first, then her uniform, and sometimes they never got to the person behind both.
But Ralitsa had not come to prison by accident.
