This all from the authors point of view with Helga. I'm sorry I didn't let anyone know in the last chapter about that.
Thank you all for the kind reviews. :)
"State your name." Mr Griely told him.
"Brian "Brainy" Bartlett. Everyone calls me Brainy." Stated Brainy.
"How old are you?"
"17."
"Your relationship with, Ms Pataki?"
Brainy looked directly at her. "She's my muse."
Helga couldn't tell his lawyers expression, but she did note the tenseness in his shoulders.
"Are you intimate with her?"
"No, but in my heart we are." Brainy continued to stare at her.
"Did she have any part of what you did towards her parents?"
The way Brainy moved his head to regard Griely made it look almost macabre. "Yes."
The courtroom exploded in whispers and excited murmurs at his answer. Helga's mouth opened up in shock as she even wanted to stand up to object even as, Griely looked around him in pride as he came towards her.
"So, Ms Pataki did have something to do with these murders." Putting his hands down flat on the tabletop to stare down at her with hellfire burning in his eyes, Helga heard her lawyer object to him badgering her. As the murmurs started up again and with the judge banging his gavel everyone was soon silenced by an unexpected source.
"I freed Helga. The only part she was involved with was because of the pain she was always in. I wanted to free her. I love her that much. Helga never orchestrated anything. I freed her." Brainy declared.
Moving away from her to go to his client, Helga had a full view of Brainy as his eyes bored through her own.
"I also stayed so I can watch my beauty see my art. Show my creative side. I wanted her to come to me. Make love to me as we bathe in their blood. I love you, Helga. They never loved you. Arnold never loved you. He never loved anyone quite as beautiful as you. I wanted to end him. I wanted to free you from his endless confines." Brainy's voice rose.
She never heard this much from him in her entire life. Never thought of him as insane. She didn't hear him at once wheeze. "He wheezes constantly. How is it that since the murders he hasn't been wheezing?" She whispered to Henson.
Perked up by this, Henson stood up. "Your Honor. With your permission, may I question Mr Bartlett that has been called to my attention?"
Looking to Griely, who looked a bit lost, gave permission for him to do so. As the judge allowed him, Henson walked up to him. "You aren't wheezing. Ever since the murders, you stopped. How is this possible?"
"I guess murder helps asthma in the most wonderful ways."
"Do you regret what you've done?" Henson asked him.
"I regret not doing it any sooner." Was Brainy's response.
"Why did you plead not guilty in this case when you are clearly showing guilt?"
Brainy's eyes went to her. "Because if I did I knew I wouldn't be able to see her face. It was all for you, Helga."
Helga looked away towards her sister. Needed to see someone safe. This was completely unexpected from him.
"I'm here baby sister." Olga whispered to her stricken face. "Remember that."
"Perhaps I should of ruined your sister if she was here at the time." Brainy spoke on his own accord.
Everyone was murmuring until a startled sound was heard prompting Helga to look up in time to find Brainy managing to push past the lawyers and the bailiffs towards her. Getting up, Helga moved over the partition to get away from him as Arnold and Gerald moved in front of her to protect her. Helga heard Brainy crying out to her as sounds of struggling were heard. Peering past, Gerald's shoulder, Helga saw him being pulled away to head to the holding area.
"Baby sis?" Olga wrapped her arms around her.
"Helga?" Phoebe's face was deeply concerned.
The judge sighed as he called for recess after the event. Helga soon found herself being escorted away out of the courtroom and being brought to a private room with the lawyer present, Olga, Phoebe, Gerald, and Arnold.
"All the times he snuck up to me and me socking him, would that have anything to do with his insanity?" Helga questioned the room. "What if I made him like that?"
Olga placed her hand under her chin to guide her to look directly at her. "You listen to me good, Helga. You had nothing to do with that. Nothing. Please don't blame yourself. This could of been a long time coming. Sometimes people snap. Sometimes it is a hidden illness."
"Yeah, listen to her. No one expected this thing to ever happen. You can't predict it." Gerald assured her as his hand rubbed Phoebe's shoulders in a obvious move to release tension.
"Please don't blame yourself." Arnold chimed in.
Her eyes met his as so much felt deep in exposure. "Olga, you are really the only family I have left." Turning her attention back to her, Helga hugged her. "After graduation I would like to visit Alaska for a little bit before college. Will that be fine?"
Her hand rubbed her back. "Sure thing baby sis. You will love it up there. People are so friendly. Nevel would love to see you again." Nevel was her husband of a couple of years. Good guy. Very easy going.
The lawyer remained silent as he stayed towards the side of the room. Helga thought he looked shaken himself. As for Arnold and Gerald they left to get them all something to drink and possibly to eat. Soon the lawyer left to make a phone call outside the room.
"I feel so naked right now. People know too much. What happened between Arnold and me is just a sneeze compared to this. I won't pursue anything with anyone for quite some time. All I think about is that night. I still have the smell buried deep in my nose. Dr Bliss has recommended so many things to help myself. Things that will distract myself." Helga was just talking. "Also the only guy in the world who loves me is crazy. I must have the built in shit magnet inside my skin."
Olga exchanged a quiet look to Phoebe wondering who will speak. "Helga you are quite special indeed. I can't explain how Arnold is or why Brainy did such a horrible act, but I do know that you will find someone good who will love you back. Someone sane." Phoebe told her as she saw the door opening up with the boys coming back in.
Accepting her drink and half a sandwich, Helga sighed. "Oh god, I hope I don't get creepy letters from him when he is behind bars."
"We can always get those blocked." Olga said gently.
Biting into her sandwich, Helga was unaware of how Arnold was examining her.
After eating they were called back into courtroom. Sitting down she saw them bring out Brainy once more. She avoided his gaze. Avoided the evidence. Being told that court will resume in the morning, Helga left feeling fully exposed even as reporters came at her. Olga tried her best to move her out of there, but Helga yelped in surprise when Arnold lifted her up in his arms to dash out of there. Looking behind her she saw them chasing after her.
"Arnold, they're chasing us."
Growling Arnold dashed quickly to a cab. "Take us to the Sunset Arms on Vine street." He yelled out. "And hurry."
Getting placed down she jumped into the backseat with him following her. Both of them looked behind to see them still yelling out questions before she slumped against him. "Vultures."
"I know. I'm really sorry you have to go through all this."
Feeling him wrapping his arm around her, Helga took this as safety right now. "I hope they don't hound everyone at home."
"Hope not either. If so then my grandparents will scare them off." Arnold began to brush his finger up and down her arm. "Please don't think about what Brainy said to you. Also you thinking that only a psycho loves you is untrue."
Helga won't read into that last part too much. "What college will you go off to?"
"Hillwood University. They have a fine archeology department there. Going there will save on student housing with me living at home still. What about you?"
"Same. Olga agreed that tuition there will be far less and the program I'm looking in is always good." Still feeling the way he moved his finger against her arm felt nice with the only unwelcome part of it was seeing them enter Vine street.
"Olga still could of slept at the boarding house. We had one room available."
"I know, but she didn't want to smother me." Stopping in front of the boarding house, she watched as Arnold paid the man before helping her out of the car. Tonight will be a pain before they hear the verdict. What will it be?
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Helga had a very hard time even stomaching her breakfast before they departed. She continued to look to the ground as they drove. Continued to look at her feet as they brought her inside the court building to when she was brought inside the courtroom itself. Hearing the door open and the clanking of the cuffs, Helga continued to look down. Soon they all stood up for the judge to enter. Hearing them tell Brainy to stand up, she held her breath in.
"Has the jury reached their decision?" The judge questioned.
"Yes, your honor." The foreman answered.
"Proceed."
"We of the jury hereby say that Brian "Brainy" Bartlett has been found guilty for reason of insanity. Guilty of two counts of murder. Breaking and entering. Harassment of Helga G. Pataki."
Everyone in the courtroom cheered as Helga turned around to hug her sister. Looking at Arnold she smiled before the sound of the gavel clapped down hard calling the room to order. Turning around she sat back down.
The judge looked over the paperwork he had in front of him before looking at everyone. "Normally we do the sentence proceedings another day, but seeing that he still presents a danger to, Ms Pataki here and even Mr Shortman, we will continue."
Helga's heart hammered once more.
"Mr Bartlett, even though this is your first offense it is still a large one. You planned and executed this plan to murder two upstanding people in the community. You stalked and planned the murder of her family while admitting to want to commit another crime of killing, Arnold Shortman. Also in this court, you threatened her sister, Olga Pataki while going on the attack to, Ms Pataki. You have become a danger to society and will be brought to the mental hospital that treats the criminally insane. If they deem you to be sane, you will be sentenced to life in prison." The judge kept eye contact on Brainy. "Do you understand all that I'm saying to you so far?"
"Yes." Brainy answered.
Nodding his head, the judge banged his gavel. "Any more questions then please direct them to your lawyer. Please take him away guards."
Helga heard them get Brainy up and move him. She didn't want to look at him still in fear of him staring at her.
"I'll see you again, Helga." Brainy promised.
"Please make sure to block any communication from him. You can do that, correct?" She asked Henson.
"We can and I'll put that order in soon." He assured her as they both stood up. "I'm deeply sorry about your parents."
Shaking his hand, Helga tried to smile but it fell apart. "Thank you for your help. I appreciate it."
Nodding his head, Helga walked around to be with her friends and sister. She hoped that this is the last she'll ever see Brainy again.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Helga is now 17
It was spring time which was getting closer to summer. Helga stood on top of the roof just listening to the sounds of the city. She could hear kids playing on the street, and yes she was still living at the Sunset Arms. It still wasn't that long ago when the trial happened so her mind would shift back to uncomfortable thoughts of that night before thinking of that moment in the courtroom when Brainy came after her.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Arnold asked behind her.
Their friendship was a little more better now since she decided to forgive him. What he did was so small compared to what happened with Brainy. "Soon school will be over with." She told him wistfully as she stood there simply staring.
"True and prom is almost upon us." Arnold told her as he stepped closer to her side.
Helga almost sneered at that thought. "Yeah. Who are you taking?"
"Well I haven't asked her yet so I hope she'll say yes." Arnold seemed to have shifted, but she decided not to think of it as uncomfortable.
"Well ask her."
"I will." He shifted again just to face her. "Helga, will you go to the prom with me?"
She crinkled her eyebrows in thought while turning her head to him. "I'm your last choice?"
"First choice. I want to take you to prom. I think we both could have some fun."
"As friends?" Helga didn't know why she wanted to ask that question since she feared of the other answer.
"I want to take my beautiful friend to the prom." He seemed to have sensed what she was thinking about. "If something happens to us while at the prom; You know a possible kiss or many slow dances. I want it to be with you. Only you, Helga."
It would be nice to go out and do something. She did need to take a breather from her own terrifying thoughts. "I'll be your date."
Arnold's face lit up. "Really? Oh that's great! I can't wait. I know you are a fantastic dancer."
"Please don't dunk me in the pool." She requested in good humor.
"I won't. I swear I won't." Coming closer, Arnold kissed her cheek. "I was so afraid you would say no."
"Well I haven't, bucko." Sighing, Helga looked at the time. "Time for my shift, Football Head. I guess I'll catch you later."
"Do you want me to walk you there?"
Shaking her head she decided to compromise with him. "How about pick me up about 9 so you can walk me home?"
"I would like that. I'll see you at 9."
Helga had no clue why he was so giddy just by that so without thinking any further upon it, she left to get herself ready.
At work it was the same hubbub with people ordering food, complaining, someone almost trying to ditch out on their check, and Lila Sawyer wanting to talk to her about Arnold. Ignoring her for the most part, Helga soon found her arm latched on to.
"Helga I've been having an ever difficult time in trying to speak to you." Lila told her as her hands went back down to her lap.
"As you can see, Lila, I'm swamped. If this has anything to do with, Arnold then take it up with him." Moving away from her Helga deposited a milk shake down in front of a young child before moving back towards another customer.
"Arnold won't speak to me. I'm trying to ask him to prom, but he has been ignoring me ever so much. I was hoping you can speak to him for me."
Watching at how she pouted, Helga shook her head as she grabbed a couple of plates down to give to a couple of the customers at the counter. Turning to her, Helga grunted. "You take credit for my poems and the confession I was going to say to him. You lied and lied just to keep him by your side, and you want me to speak to him? No. I don't care right now for you when I have other pressing matters in my life. As for prom, Arnold asked me."
"What?! No you can't go with him. You must of tricked him."
Eyeing another waitress to cover for her, Helga had to remove Lila from the premises. Bringing her outside and away from the entrance, Helga turned her around to face her. "I didn't do no such thing. You are the one who tricked him. I'm the one who has her life wrapped around with people still asking me questions about my parents murder. About Brainy. Forgive me here for not caring at all about you right now, but you tricked Arnold, and Arnold asked me to prom. I want to have fun with him. I want a good time at the prom. Lila, there are plenty of boys in school who wants to go out with you. Go with them. Right now don't disturb me again at work."
Turning abruptly around, Helga dashed back inside to resume her work. She only had a couple hours left of her shift and she could go home.
At 9pm, Helga found Arnold waiting at the door for her so clocking out, she left the establishment. "I can't wait for vacation. The smell of burgers stuck in my clothes is kinda gross."
"And yet you still smell like vanilla. I really don't smell it on you."
Smiling, Helga glanced up to the night sky. "Remember how you guys managed to get the lights out so we can see the stars? That was really cool."
"Yeah it was. I couldn't believe how people listened."
Humming her response out, Helga looked at him briefly. "Lila stopped by here while I was heavily swamped. Wanted me to get you to ask her to prom. When I told her I'm going to prom with you she said I must of tricked you."
Arnold said something under his breath that she couldn't quite catch. "Great, now I have to talk to her before she does something even more stupid. I'm sorry she bothered you."
"Yeah well I don't need to be fired with her doing something that annoying again. I need to make rent. I love my sister but I don't want to live with her. She wanted to push all these rules on me that literally had me shackled to the house. I understood she was scared for my safety but I couldn't do that. Also I asked her again if she still would regulate me like that and she told me yes. No I couldn't live with her."
"So I guess you are stuck with us then."
Helga smiled at his sideways playful smile he had on his face as he kept his focus on her. "I guess so."
Now she wondered if he will truly talk to, Lila. Guess she'll find out sooner or later.
