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“Bite this,” the older inmate said, handing Eva a wadded-up pillowcase, “It’s going to hurt.”
Her eyes were watering from the fumes of prison firewater splashed haphazardly on her neck, and she stayed stock still.
“No?” The gnarled woman grinned wide enough for Eva to see all her missing teeth. “Suit yourself.” Without further preamble, the sharpened plastic of an old pen cap was jammed into her flesh. Pain forced the air out of her lungs. Was this how he felt, lying in the grass?
“Change your mind?” Such sour breath. Eva shook her head as the pen cap was dipped in soot again. She squeezed her eyes shut, picturing cold dirt, blue sky, white sun. The bootleg needle went into her neck over and over. What went through his mind when the needle went through his skin? How long did he feel the sting afterward?
The ordeal ended with a hearty slap on the back.
“There. One of us now.” Eva opened her eyes, momentarily confused by her surroundings before reality clicked back into place. Her hand flew to her neck where the new ink was embedded.
At least she knew exactly where she was when she woke up.