Updated: 7/3/24

Two guards walk alongside you as they hold your bicep tightly, leading you hastily through a tight hallway. They guide you until you abruptly stop at the end, coming to two, heavy-duty double doors. The guards uncuff you and shove you through the doors, closing them behind you.

Before you get the chance to turn around and attempt to protest, you look up to find yourself standing in an expansive outdoor courtyard, holding all the other inmates who are studying you suspiciously. It was as if they were the predators and you were their meek prey.

You try to stand tall, but it's difficult when they seem to be everywhere, most of them at the various activity options around the courtyard, others lining the fence. They all stare at you though, some even approaching. They are a lot of things, but one thing you know for sure is that they aren't scared of you. You're the newest inmate, a new target.

As a good number of men approach, you find your muscles stiffening, and your jaw rigid as you attempt to not look weak. The last thing you wanted to do was get mauled the first day.

The men, strangely all of them are relatively young, form a semi-circle around you; an intimidation tactic. One man steps forward from the crowd, he looks to be your age, inked with tattoos, and considering the hot weather, the top half of his prison jumper was tied around his waist, leaving him in the loose baggy pants and black tank top.

— The man grins, his K-9s sharp. "What's your name, новичок?"