Stolen: At the Court
Chapter 1:
I remembered what my guidance counsellor told me before I was going into court:
"It's ok if you're having mixed feelings about you captor. It's one of the side affects of being kidnapped. All the judge needs to know is that you were taken unwillingly by an evil man from your loving and caring family."
I didn't like how she was talking about you. You weren't an 'evil person' – you were a person who loved to paint but you got a little lonely. That's why you took me; but it didn't mean it was right.
I pushed through the crowd of reporters with butterflies in my stomach. I felt sick from the thought that I would see you again. Your tanned, caring face. Your shaggy blonde hair. Your icy blue stare. The stare that watched me non-stop when I was young. The stare that fell in love with me.
I followed my mother into one of the rooms behind the courtroom.
"Do you remember what you're going to say?" She asked me.
"Phone a friend?" I said warily.
She sighed. Annoyed at my forgetfulness. "You will talk about the evil" – There it was again, Evil – "sick person and how he help you captive. He wouldn't let you out of your room, wouldn't give you a change of clothes. Wouldn't give you food-"
"But Ty wasn't at all like that!" I objected.
"Honey, they were the drugs he fed you. You imagined him feeding you. You hallucinated all the good things he did to you."
That's not what I wrote in my statement. I thought to myself.
It was true. I had tried to defend you as much as I could, but my parents wouldn't hear it. My Dad refused to talk about it and my Mum blamed it on the drugs you fed me; but since my parents' weren't allowed to help with the statement, I'd written about everything that had happened. Especially the good.
A man in a black suit had called us into the courtroom then. I wiped my hands on my trousers and followed them into the big room. Immediately I felt everyone's eyes bore into my back – including yours. I sat down on my seat and studied the ring on my finger. Your ring; the one you gave me. I didn't look up until the Judge called my name with his voice booming across the room.
"Gemma?"
"Yes Sir?"
"Would you please come up to the stand?" It wasn't a question – it was a demand.
I got up and walked to the stand, effusing to look in your direction. When I was finally up the judge asked me another question.
"Gemma. Will you please identify Tyler?"
Still not being able to look at you, I looked at your shoes and pointed at them instead. "There"
"Thank you Gemma."
I dropped my arm back to my side and studied my shoes. They were shiny and black. A sob rose up in my throat because they reminded me of the black paint you'd use to paint on yourself. Being quick to hide it, I swallowed and studied my fingers instead.
"Gemma, we have already read your statement so we know your side of the story, we would just like to ask you this: Do you want your captor to have a punishment?"
I was shocked at this question. "I…" words bubbled inside my mouth but none of them made sense. I looked up and met your intense gaze. That's when I realised something about you. I realised why I would get butterflies in my stomach every time I thought about you. Why my hands would become sweaty when I imagined your face.
"No." I kept my gaze locked with yours. "Because I love him"
"Gem…" you said with so much longing in your voice.
"No Ty, I loved the separates, I loved Australia, but most of all; I love you."
I heard my mum gasp. From disappointment or shock, I did not know and I did not want to see. I just kept my eyes on your face, memorising your beauty. A few people began to speak and others just shook their heads in disgust.
The judge banged his gavel. "Order in the court!" When everyone was finally silenced he turned to you. "Tyler. I sentence you to two years in prison for kidnapping a young adult."
A few shouts rose up in the air. They were actually happy that you were going to prison – but I wasn't. How was I going to spend two years without your arms around me?
I heard you shout: "I love you Gemma!" and my heart swelled up with pride.
"I'll wait for you Ty! No matter how long it takes!"
I saw you shake your head telling me not to. But I will Ty.
Always.
Gemma.
A/N So what did you think? I may do another chapter after this but I'm not so sure. Don't forget to rate and review even if it is just a teensy weensy smiley face =)
~Thepurplecheeta
