Shikon Corp Asylum, Chapter 8: Sentences
Repeatedly, a crowbar was brought across the young boy's arms, each bone's stomach churning snap made the members of the court room gasp. The child repeatedly kicked and screamed, his shirt damp with tears and slobber, though the larger man holding him, a guard, did not let go. Rather calmly, Gero stood in the corner of the camera's viewing angle, his arms folded within the sleeves of the lab jacket. The small boy's body jerked which each hit, and it nearly appeared as though he was about to get bludgeoned to death. Blood splattered about until the boy collapsed, his soft whimpers filling the void his screams left. The guard leaned over him, a straightjacket in hand, and began to drag the child's limp arms into its sleeves. He writhed on the cold floor before finally giving into his body's willingness to remain still. He merely wanted to be left alone, away from the doctor.
Around him, Gero and the security guard murmured before he was positioned upright into a chair, only trembling now.
The screen in the courtroom went blank, turned off by Eighteen's lawyer, Ms. Ishigaru. "As the court can see from the videos, Dr. Gero has never had Patient Seventeen's interest in mind. This boy was only eight years, or so, of age at the time of this gruesome incident."
"Objection your honor, irrelevance." Gero's lawyer spat, adjusting his glasses on his nose.
"Overruled, continue on Ms. Ishigaru…" Judge Baba murmured, leaning back in her chair as she glanced about the courtroom.
Everyone grew silent.
No one knew what to say or how to react. Gero could only stare, fixated on his creation.
At the stand, Seventeen watched, his stomach tightening. His brows knitted as he relived the suffocating fear that had claimed him on the day the video was recorded. His fingers were clenching around the wooden rail of the decorative counter before him as he unconsciously swallowed a large lump building in his throat. He had begged and begged for Gero to stop, pleaded, but there was no bargaining, there never was.
"We see here that Gero's intentions with his patient are anything but helpful. If I may request, play the second recording, side B." As she spoke, the screen came on again before shifting to a scene of a much older Seventeen. "How about a more recent video, if this does not convince the jury?"
What Gero had done to him had always been his secret, but now his life's story was on display for the entire world to see. He felt exploited, exposed. Shame flooded his veins, and he grew blinded by self-loathing. How had he allowed Gero to torture him all of those years? All of his gifts, all of his power, and he was incapable of stopping the madman.
The next video showed the various medications Gero had pumped in his veins frequently. He had scars on his arms from the numerous injections, but he thought nothing of it. Before long Ms. Ishigaru approached him, the court room still deathly still.
He was about to be interrogated, he knew. Kagome had explained to him that this was going to happen. Earlier, Gero's lawyer attempted to get underneath his skin, but it didn't work. He was calmer then, not as concerned. Now, he didn't know how he'd react to questions.
"Seventeen…" The lawyer began, her tone somewhat soothing, "…During your time at the hospital, you were forced to wear a straightjacket, weren't you?"
Finding his voice, he nodded, massaging the inside of his palm with his thumb. The videos had put him on edge, "Yeah…"
"How often?"
"…Everyday." All eyes were on him in pity. It disgusted him.
"Everyday? Did you ever take it off?" She pressed on.
"No." He lifted his brow, eyeing the woman. The stares were becoming somewhat unbearable
"Not even to eat?"
"…No."
"Please. Explain to the court why Gero broke your arms that day. Do you remember?"
"I don't remember…" He admitted, his words nearly inaudible.
"No further questions your honor…" Smiling briefly, Ms. Ishigaru nodded, pacing her way back to her seat.
Figuring he was done, Seventeen awaited his command for dismissal, that was until Gero's lawyer made his way over to him, dressed in an expensive pin striped suit. Already, Seventeen could tell that he wouldn't like him.
"…Seventeen, correct?" He began, shoving his hands into his pockets, "…Have you been proven legally sane?"
Furrowing his brows, Seventeen could only stare for a moment. How was he supposed to answer that question?
"Speechless? This boy has not proven that his testimony is even reliable. Though Gero's means of reaching the boy are brutal, I'd like to point out that this patient suffers from extreme bouts of rage. A particular incident occurred last month, did it not? You broke a member of the the hospital security's nose and jaw. Am I, or am I not right, Seventeen?"
"I was defending myse-"
His voice became progressively louder. "Just answer the question. Do you, or do you not suffer from bouts of rage? "
"…Son, answer the question." Judge Baba murmured, gnawing onto her lower lip.
Narrowing his brows, Seventeen stiffly nodded. "…Yeah." More than likely they had proof of his various explosions, so lying wouldn't have been effective.
"And during these fits of rage, you've been known to break the limbs of doctors, nurses, and even janitors. Is that also correct?" The lawyer continued on, casting Seventeen the smallest of glances ever so often.
"They deserved it." He couldn't help but to say. They had fucked with him and gotten hurt. That was the end.
"You see members of the jury. Even if this kid is taken out of the care of my client, he still isn't conditioned for life outside of the hospital. He's a danger to himself, and a danger to those around him. He hasn't been declared legally sane…"
"What?" Seventeen barked.
"He suffers from massive memory loss, apparently." The lawyer snorted, "Not to mention that video of his alleged beating was staged, perhaps a reenactment. Seventeen has no scars to prove that at least "he" has been beaten that badly. For Kami's sake, he doesn't even have a name. He goes by a number." A bit of chuckling erupted near the back of the courtroom as he continued, flipping through various photos of evidence. "If anything, he appears to be in perfect physical health." Stalking his way back nearest Seventeen, he smiled, "But it isn't your fault kiddo. You don't know any better."
Tightening his fingers into fists, it took all of power to not knock that stupid smile off of Mr. Jin's face. It would have only proved that the bastard was right about his temper. He couldn't blow it, not now, not after coming so far.
"Tell us Seventeen, be honest, are you not merely imagining all of these things?"
"Objection your honor!" Ms. Ishigaru scoffed.
"Sustained. Do not patronize him, Mr. Jin." Cleaning her glasses on her robe. Baba glanced to him briefly.
"But of course…." He nodded, offering Seventeen a smug smile, "Come on kiddo, speak the truth. Your father is innocent, isn't he?"
"…My…my father?" He stumbled over his words, his expression horrified as his eyes took hold of Gero.
Shaking his head, Mr. Jin could only laugh faintly, "…This is a joke."
Eighteen screeched, "He adopted us, and not once has he ever tended to my brother!"
"Order!" Baba repeatedly slammed her gavel down. Murmuring began, yet the judge focused her attention on Seventeen, who still sat stark still.
"…I didn't want him to find out this way." Kagome hugged herself as she knitted her brows. "This isn't right…I shouldn't have asked him to do this…"
Casting Mr. Jin a fierce glare, one that dared him to continue further on his current course of questions, Eighteen sat.
Clearing his throat, the lawyer tore his eyes away from the angry blonde and refocused his attention on her brother. "Again…" He swallowed since his mouth had become dry, "Do you believe that your father would honestly harm you?"
"He's not my father…" Seventeen murmured so quietly that Mr. Jin didn't hear him.
"I'm sorry. What was that?"
"He's not by father…"
"Oh, that's not what our records say-"
"I honestly don't give a damn about your records." He shrugged, lifting his brow. "…A father doesn't make his son endure hours of electroshock therapy until he loses consciousness. I remember the beatings, the medication, being isolated. Hell, I might be crazy…" His forced his voice to remain steady, "I could be imagining everything as you've said, but I know that a father isn't supposed to treat his son like a fucking lab rat. You have kids, I'm sure. You saw the video. Have you ever done that to any of them? Ever flayed their flesh apart with blunt objects until the floor was merely a pond of blood, tears, and sweat?"
A hush grew over the courtroom. Not a single person stirred. Mr. Jin grew quiet the same, merely eyeing Seventeen.
"Ever been brought to the point where being dead seemed to be your only form of peace?" He could only smile bitterly, shaking his head as he massaged the back of his neck. "You just don't know…"
"...No further questions your honor." After another long period of silence, Mr. Jin paced his way back to Gero's side, rubbing his temples.
After a moment, Judge Baba lowered her gaze, "…We will pause for a small recess before we end with closing arguments. This case will resume at 2:45."
Xx
"Where's Eighteen?" Kagome asked in a murmur, easing herself next to Seventeen on the bench outside of the courthouse.
"…I made her leave." He answered, merely staring across the large parking lot surrounding the building. The sun was simply an orange blotch in the afternoon sky. They had been virtually there all day, trying to get all of the evidence and witnesses together in order to make a decision. He was exhausted, and all he had been doing was sitting. More than likely, his fatigue was due to the mental strain that surrounded the case.
"…She didn't know how to tell you Seventeen…" Krillin told her about the big argument the two had moments before she caught up with them. Just as she thought, it ended badly, "Don't blame her-"
"I don't want to hear it." He interrupted her before sparing her a small glance, "…Its cold out here. You should be inside, not sitting out here with me."
Sighing, she rubbed her hands together. He was right. It was nearly fall, and the weather was altering, signaling her return to school pretty soon. "I thought you needed company…" She forced a small smile.
"…You were crying earlier." He pointed out, his voice barely above a whisper, "What, feeling sorry for me?" He gave her a playful shove. It was the only way he knew how to lighten the mood.
Managing another small smile, she nodded, "…I was, for a moment…I knew that Gero had done horrible things to you…but seeing it was a totally different thing…" Looping her arms around his own, she rested her head on his shoulder, "I just wish that I would have met you sooner." No, this wasn't right, she shouldn't have been touching him this way, not after that kiss he had given her.
For once, she couldn't help it. Unknown to her, she was doing what he didn't want her to. He didn't need her pity.
"Hn. Its…nothing." It was merely a part of him. It had shaped him into the person he was, and that was never going to change.
"…I hope that he spends an eternity behind bars..." She murmured, her eyes closing as she nestled into him. She didn't dare let go, for some ridiculous fear that he'd be taken by Gero again. She couldn't allow that to happen.
"And then what? You heard him. I'd still have to return to the hospital." He knew that she merely felt sorry for him. He shrugged her off, "Save it…"
Blinking, she knitted her brows, "Seventeen?"
"I don't need your concern." He didn't want their relationship to change. He wanted Kagome to like him with no stipulations, "You weren't this touchy feely when I kissed you."
"Excuse me?" Parting her lips to try speaking, she found that she had nothing to say. Glancing away from him, her fingers clenched, "I told you why I smacked you."
"Yeah, complicated. But you said it yourself, it's not so complicated." Sighing for the millionth time that day, he took her hand in his own, "I told you that no isn't the right answer."
"I did say that…" She was honestly wishing Inuyasha had the guts that Seventeen had. Perhaps then they'd get somewhere.
"Act on it then. Unlike him, I've chosen you. I'd keep you, I'd protect you." Of course that included getting a job along the lines of the sorts, but he didn't care. He was willing to do anything for her. Gently, he brushed his thumb her knuckles, "You liked that kiss, I felt it."
'If only I could get you this interested in your abilities…" The voice spat.
"Just because you like something doesn't mean you act on it Seventeen." Swatting at him, she tugged her hand away.
"So, you're still waiting on him?" He asked in disbelief.
"Well, no, of course not! I'm not that stupid…He hasn't chosen, but I still feel like I'm betraying him somehow. It's hard to explain. He and I have been through so much. He's saved my life hundreds of times."
"You saved mine." He broke in. "What, you owe him?"
"No, its nothing like that…Its just…Its just that I can't help worrying about him. Even if I'm meant to be with you Seventeen, he still has no one."
"He has that other girl." He spoke as if it were obvious.
"…He's a jerk if he'll forget me that easily." She snorted, folding her arms across her chest.
"You're not exactly too forgettable…" Whichever the case, he was still waiting for her answer. Did she, or did she not want to be with him?
After a period if silence, she nodded, a smile spreading to her lips, "You're right. I guess that you'll be one of my first actual boyfriends, Seventeen." Why not take him up on his offer? If anything, they'd more than likely be close friends with a couple of dates in between. He'd be merely someone to spend time with, someone to have fun with it. "Like that decision?"
Xx
"All rise."
The jury had come to a decision. Tension was thick in the air. Everyone was on edge as the verdict was about to be delivered. Faces were solemn and other's hopeful, though a pit of worry developed in Seventeen's stomach. What if Gero had paid off the judge, or hell, even the jury. His brows knitted, and his grip unconsciously tightened around Kagome's hand. She was scared the same, he could feel it. Despite the evidence against Gero, Seventeen's supposed "insanity" and temper were obstacles that were used quite effectively against him. Never in his life had he been so nervous.
Clearing her voice, a woman spoke, "We the jury find the defendant, Dr. Alexander Gero…" -Cliff Hanger! Mwuhahahahahaha!
