That fateful day was hell. Chained and bound, she walked through the gates of durance. Imprisoned and wrongly accused by irresponsible investigators, they were Ko Qing An’s lackeys. Despite being reduced to a mere internment slave, Scarlett swore to never forget who she was. Scarlett Ko, Ko Qing An’s first daughter.

Wisteria Prison was notorious for admitting ex-convicts who committed callous and deadly offenses. Detective Evans was amazed she was tossed into the hell hole before the autopsy report of the victim was officially issued. The first day she stepped through the doors of confinement, ex-convicts behind bars welcomed Scarlett with tumultuous cheers. Scarlett felt degraded. Humiliated and oppressed. Her life was ruined. All because of her stubborn father who refused her honest advice. And he had let the devil into the house and trampled on quiet peace they had. The elder was murdered, and she was chained behind bars.

The correctional officer had brought her to her designated cell. A mafia lackey, a drug smuggler, and a violent street fighter. To them, she was just another convict who did not deserve freedom to walk the Earth.

“Be good,” the correctional officer advised icily before slamming the metal bars shut behind Scarlett.

Scarlett was left with nothing when she was arrested by the police. Her inmates observed silently as she crawled into the corner of her bunk. Scarlett was impassive and disinterested what her inmates were up to. Their stares were painstakingly impossible to ignore. Scarlett felt gazes were upon her. Some were curious, some had tricks up their sleeves. Most convicts who were sent to Wisteria Prison were callous and ruthless. They had bad habits of not holding back and quick to start a fight. It was one of the reasons why they were caught guilty and were behind bars in the first place.

“Oh, look. We have another companion.” The mafia lackey started the conversation. She had tattoos all over her body. Possibly in her late teens, five feet tall, and bleached hair. Her hair was rough and dry. It must have been years since she had self-care. Her skin was greasy, her hair was dry and unconditioned.

The mafia lackey, drug smuggler and juvenile exchanged glances of glee. The fun begins now. They stood up, gradually encasing Scarlett’s bunk in a circumference. Scarlett’s expression was inscrutable. No signs of new expressions were visible on her delicate features. It was a wonder why she was here in Wisteria Prison in the first place. Her inmates’ questions felt like mockery.

“What do you want?” Scarlett’s voice was small and timid. It felt like she was alleviating their attention. Diverting their focus onto something with more effective impact. Too bad Scarlett was out of luck. There was nothing she could have done in that small cell they shared.

The mafia lackey grabbed Scarlett by her collar. “Look at me when I’m talking to you. We hafta set some rules here, newbie. Show some respect!”

Scarlett’s eyes slowly shifted towards her perpetrator. Despite her short physique, she had gained skills and muscles from her days serving the mafia. This woman was not to be messed with. Scarlett bit the bottom of her lip. She too, was never a pushover. Someone needs to beat some sense into these convicts.

“Unhand me.” Scarlett spoke.

The mafia lackey and the group snickered. “Or else?” they taunted.

“You’ve been warned. Don’t do something you’ll regret.” said Scarlett. Scarlett was more far skilled and experienced than a mere mafia juvenile. Scarlett was a veteran warrior. Scarlett smacked the woman’s hands away and tossed her over the other end of the cell. The woman crashed into the metallic walls with a loud thud. The street juvenile and drug smuggler grimaced, imagining the pain she must have experienced. Both stared at the newbie with newfound courage and astonishment.

Scarlett’s piercing gaze stared at the remaining company. “Who’s next? Aren’t you setting some rules?” Scarlett flexed her arms and shoulders. The juveniles stared at the newcomer, profusely shaking their heads in denial. For the first time since she was tossed into the cell, expression finally painted her gloomy and depressed mood.

“You’re surprisingly skilled, despite being the youngest out of us.” The mafia lackey spoke. She pulled herself together and limped onto her own bunk, embracing the pain from colliding with the reinforced walls. “What’s your name? I’m Lee.”

“I’m Hua Ran.” the drug smuggler introduced herself.

“And I’m Jing Hui.” The ex-street fighter added. “Welcome aboard.” Although Scarlett felt sceptical about their sudden change of attitude, Scarlett silently acknowledged their mistakes and nodded. It was the first time her existence was noticed, and people were finally taking interest in her. Ironically, the people who were supposed to be ‘good people’ were corrupts and ex-convicts who pleaded guilty possessed greater levels of altruism. It was a bizarre experience.

“Age is not a measurement of skills. My name is Scarlett.”

Shortly after her arrival, rumours about Scarlett spread like fire. Many were curious and some desired her skills. Her own predicament backfired and was blackmailed. Scarlett was extremely different from the victims who the ‘boss’ of this prison had picked on. Her actions and movements were unpredictable. Her nerves of steel had done its magic. It was near impossible to read her and come up with effective counterattacks. Scarlett had turned the mess hall into mayhem. Her cell mates had paled. Scarlett was more bravado and audacious than she had let them on. Her impromptu display in their cell was just a preview.

Scarlett had upset the top boss of this prison. Zhao Wei. Nicknamed The Scarred Overlord. He was the lord of this hell hole.

Scarlett and her cellmates have been munching on their salad plate peacefully on one of the tables in the mess hall when Zhao Wei and his goons walked over with an evil look on their faces. Scarlett, being the newbie, knew nothing of the man. Being a righteous person like she was, figured it was wisest to stay out of trouble. She had ignored and embarrassed Zhao Wei in public. All attention was on them. Many of the inmates were curious, and some were horrified. That one mistake had infuriated the owner of this place.

“Well, well. A new face. Seems like someone is in need of punishment.” The inmates had paved pathway on all sides between Zhao Wei and Scarlett. Even her cellmates had scrambled to their feet. They didn’t want another helping of Scarlett’s preposterous antics. Everyone in Wisteria was extremely aware of the silent rule: Zhao Wei was a man to be feared.

Not Scarlett. She adopted views and perspectives differently.

“Say, is this how you people spend your lunch hour? Making powerless people your victims?” Scarlett was not terrified at all. Lee, Hua Ran and Jing Hui watched from the sidelines with worried expressions. It was peculiar. Just moments ago, they were involved in a heated fight. And now they were praying for her safety. Did Scarlett cast black magic on them? One man standing next to them had let out a whistle. He was impressed by her guts. The trio had stared at the man, dumbfounded and clueless. Possibly, the only one who was on her side.

Zhao Wei. There was not one soul in Wisteria Prison who knew nothing of the notorious ex- mafia boss of Heavenly Dragon Triads. Members of the gang were branded and inked, a tattoo of a rising dragon. A distinctive feature of the triads’ property. Fiery red hair, grubby fingers, and a fat ass. Meeting one of the notorious underworld bosses in Wisteria Prison was never on her do-do list. His presence alone in prison alone was questionable. Renowned for his callous deeds, Zhao Wei was a sly ruler. He snaked his hands on his ‘merchandise’ and framed his people in his place. He was a cunning, and virtuously impossible to catch. Him being here could mean one thing. Someone must have betrayed him and landed him in jail.

Zhao Wei occupied the space of one of the many benches in the mess hall. He folded his arms across his chest. “Bow to me, and I shall forgive your imprudence.”

Scarlett’s unwavering gaze penetrated through his soul, the very core of his self. Zhao Wei had flinched slightly, confused and puzzled at the sudden sensation. She could read Zhao Wei like an open book. He had plans to make her his new lackey. Being blackmailed in front of so many eyes. Zhao Wei must have thought Scarlett would never dream of making such a bold move with so many of the violent inmates’ attention on her. She was a sheep tossed into a wolf’s den. Scarlett’s cellmates had paled upon hearing those words. This was how Zhao Wei plays the game. The mysterious man beside them watched the scene in glee. This woman has guts.

Nope. They were wrong.

“Hell no.” Scarlett blatantly rejected Zhao Wei’s proposal.

His goons were turned to stone. The inmates were terrified, and Zhao Wei flared in anger. Some thought she had a death wish. This was the first time he was publicly humiliated by a mere fellow convicted. If he were in his prime, Scarlett could have been scouted as a potential merchandise for the triads. And just like that, Scarlett had taken out Zhao Wei and his goons single-handed with just a metal pipe she found near her feet. Scarlett was surprising agile and nimble. And just like the philosophical sayings in the Sun Tzi’s Art of War: Be swift like the wind. Her techniques were elegant and dignified, diffused the situation professionally with the least amount of effort.

The inmates were impressed. The situation proves this newbie possessed more strength than the ex-gang leader of the infamous triads. Scarlett was a martial artist expert. The inmates exchanged glances at each other. They were too immersed in Scarlett’s perfect execution of techniques that Zhao Wei’s defeat slipped their minds. Scarlett had taken out the top boss of this Wisteria Prison. Wisteria Prison is now liberated from Zhao Wei’s petty dictatorship. Lee, Hua Ran and Jing Hui were appalled as their fellow inmates were. Being cellmates with Scarlett, they were relieved they made the wiser choice. One wrong move, they could have become like Zhao Wei.

Classic underhanded tricks like threatening and blackmailing never worked on of Scarlett.

“Quite a fighter, aren’t you?” The mysterious man who had been silently observing her behind the shadows had crept behind her shoulders. It was already late in the evening. The skies had turned dark and the birds flew home with worms in the beaks. It was soon lights out and yet, here Scarlett was, gazing across the horizons on the rooftop.

Scarlett was spending personal quality time on the rooftop instead of being locked up in the cell like obedient inmates were supposed to be at this time. Scarlett had sneaked out from the cell, correctional officers had yet to make their rounds. His lips had curled into a smile. Scarlett turned around, lost balance and crashed into the man. The next thing she knew, she had pinned the stranger onto the ground. The pair stared at each other awkwardly. Blink once. Blink twice, and blinked trice.

“I’m sorry!” Clumsy and flustered, Scarlett’s cheeks burned. The warmth of embarrassment seeped through the skin, tinted with colors of erubescence. It was a wonder how they had stumbled and got themselves into that cringeworthy positions. The stranger was pushed onto the ground, and Scarlett straddled on his lap.

She hastened to remove herself from the weird position before the strange had grabbed her pale, delicate arms. She had stared at the stranger’s peculiar behaviour.

“Don’t.” He had said. He closed the bare proximity between them and pulled her into a passionate kiss.