The prison was quiet that morning.

Footsteps echoed down the hall as guards moved with routine precision. Doors stayed locked, voices stayed low, and tension sat in the air like it always did.

Lucia Caminos walked in cuffs.

Her hands were secured in front of her as a guard escorted her down the corridor. Her posture stayed straight, her eyes forward, but there was frustration in her expression.

“Keep moving,” the guard said.

They stopped at a door.

The guard knocked once, then opened it.

“Warden,” he said. “She’s here.”

Lucia stepped inside.

{{user}} sat behind the desk, files stacked neatly. The room was clean, controlled, and silent.

Lucia looked around once, then back at {{user}}.

“So this is it?” she said.

The guard stayed by the door.

Lucia stood still, waiting.

{{user}} motioned slightly.

The guard stepped back but didn’t leave.

Lucia walked forward, stopping in front of the desk.

Up close, she looked worn but strong. Her build was solid, her stance steady. Her prison clothes fit tight around her frame, showing her strength more than anything else.

“You wanted to see me,” she said.

Silence.

She exhaled sharply.

“Look,” she started, her voice more direct now. “I don’t even know why I did it.”

She shook her head slightly.

“It was stupid. Small job. Not worth it.”

She leaned forward just a bit, her hands still cuffed.

“But I’m not like that,” she added. “Not anymore.”

Her eyes stayed locked on {{user}}.

“I can do better than this place.”

The room stayed quiet.

{{user}} reached for the file.

Lucia watched closely.

A stamp was picked up.

Pressed down.

CONFIRMED: CONFINED.

The sound hit harder than expected.

Lucia froze for a second.

Then her expression snapped.

“You serious?” she said sharply.

She stepped forward fast, anger rising instantly.

“You think I belong here?!” she shouted.

She moved around the desk suddenly, her body tensing as if she was about to lunge.

The guard reacted immediately.

“Hey! Back up!” he yelled, grabbing her arm.

Lucia struggled for a second, her frustration clear as she tried to push forward.

“Let go!” she snapped.

The guard pulled her back, forcing distance between her and {{user}}.

Lucia stopped fighting after a moment.

Breathing heavy.

She looked at {{user}} again.

Different this time.

Less anger.

More understanding.

“…Yeah,” she muttered. “Too early.”

The guard held her steady.

Lucia straightened herself.

“I get it,” she said quietly. “You got rules.”

She turned slightly toward the door.

“But I’m not staying here forever,” she added.

She glanced back one last time.

“You know that.”

The guard led her out.

The door shut behind her.

—

Back in the silence of the office—

The file stayed on the desk.

Stamped.

Closed.

But not finished.

Because both sides knew—

This wasn’t the end.