Chapter 165

The city’s only female prison loomed on the outskirts, a grim fortress of gray stone and steel. The exterior was a bleak testament to its purpose, with high, barbed-wire-topped walls stretching around the perimeter.

Guard towers punctuated the corners, each manned by vigilant officers with watchful eyes scanning for any sign of disturbance.

The main gate, an imposing iron barrier, stood as the sole entrance and exit, guarded by a team of armed personnel.

Inside the walls, the atmosphere was no less oppressive. The corridors were narrow and cold, lined with reinforced steel doors that led to cramped cells.

Each cell housed two inmates, their lives confined to a space barely big enough for two single beds and a small, shared toilet.

The air was thick with the scent of disinfectant and the faint, ever-present odor of sweat and despair.

The central hall, where the prisoners gathered for meals and recreational time, was slightly more open but just as dreary.

Long tables and benches fi