But Adele was finding it difficult to follow Caroline and Peter’s advice. Caroline was a different person from her and she viewed things differently. Adele wondered how Peter had dealt with people like Shazza when he’d been inside. She felt sure that he wouldn’t have taken any shit from Shazza if he had been in her situation. After all, he’d stood up to their tyrant of a father when he was only a kid.

*

After they had finished their work, Adele and Caroline made their way back to their cells. Caroline tried to make conversation but Adele was unresponsive; she was still troubled by Shazza’s behaviour.

When Adele walked into her cell, she found Anna lying on her bunk. Anna quickly pulled down her sleeve and sprung to her feet as soon as she saw Adele.

‘Where have you been?’ she demanded. ‘I thought you and Caroline would have met me. I had to walk back on my own.’

Adele noticed her bottom lip jut out as she finished speaking.

‘Sorry,’ said Adele. ‘We were chatting to someone in the kitchens… Anyway, Shazza doesn’t bother you any more, does she? Not since you… well, you know.’

‘Since I tried to top myself, you mean?’ said Anna with tears in her eyes. ‘She didn’t for a while… but it’s started again.’

‘You’re joking!’ said Adele, outraged. Then she recalled the way Anna had been acting when she had entered the cell. She walked over to her and wrenched up the sleeve of her top. Amongst the scars was a fresh wound, the vermilion blood still moist and glimmering under the harsh glare of the cell light.

‘Jesus, Anna! I can’t fuckin’ believe you’re doing that again.’

Anna quickly withdrew her arm and pulled down the sleeve. Then she stared down at the floor, ashamed.

Adele was troubled. If Anna was self-harming again then Shazza must be really giving her a hard time. Adele had hoped that Anna’s suicide attempt would have been enough to make Shazza leave her alone, but it seemed that Shazza was becoming cocky once more. And Adele’s biggest fear was that Anna might try to kill herself again.

‘What exactly has Shazza done?’ she asked.

‘Just taken a few cigs, that’s all. But I don’t want it to get as bad as it was before.’

Adele noticed the tremble in Anna’s voice. She tutted loudly and said, ‘She’s a cheeky bitch!’

Then Adele climbed up onto the top bunk. She had intended to do some studying but was too wired. For a while she lay there silently, the thoughts whirling around in her head. Adele had had enough of Shazza and Denise. She was sick to death of watching her back and seeing grown women reduced to terrified wrecks because of Shazza. Something needed to be done about them.