Warning: The past scenes in this chapter include descriptions of blood, rape and abuse. If you are uncomfortable reading that content then I suggest you skip those scenes and focus mainly on the present day.
Just to note, incase any of you get confused - Victoria's real name is Cara. She was kidnapped ten years before Bella. James made her change her name, so in Bella's mind she will always be 'Victoria', but in court she will be referred to as Cara or Miss Jennings.
You might want to grab a snack. This chapter is long.
Hereafter
Chapter 28
June 14th, 2019.
Bella.
I kept my head down and focused on the floor as Jason led us towards our chosen seats. Our family were all sitting in the row behind us. Charlie and Edward sat either side of me with Luna at my feet in the 'watch me' command. As my feet began to bounce and my legs tremored, Luna brushed her head against them as a silent way of calming me down. I could feel the countless pairs of eyes watching me, but mainly I could feel the intense pressure of James. I had no way of knowing if he was looking at me, but his presence alone was enough to cause a negative reaction.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and began to count slowly in my head.
One, two three, four, five…
When that didn't work, I began to list other things instead.
Red, yellow, blue, orange, green…
Apple, orange, banana, pear, grapes…
Dog, cat, fish, bear, lion…
My list-making had to stop when the room was called to stand. I could hear the footsteps of the judge, Eric Dahlin, as he made is way to his assigned seat, yet I refused to look up from the floor. We were asked to take our seats again. My hands felt as though they were dripping with sweat - my mouth was dry and my throat ached. That may be an issue when it came to talking, but I wouldn't know for certain until it came time to play my part.
After several long, antagonizing minutes, the judge called the room to order. I felt it was only right to pay him attention as he began to talk. He sat high in his wooden box, dressed in black and with a plaque on the wall behind him. Two state flags were positioned beside the plaque, and although I couldn't work out everything that it said, I noticed the 6 main words - with liberty and justice for all. That is why we were here; why we were putting ourselves through this torture. We wanted justice.
0-0
May, 2018.
I don't know how long I was in the back of that car for - it could have been hours, it could have been days. I already felt bruises forming from the way that my body slammed against the trunk every time that the unnamed man took a tight turn or drove at an unnecessarily fast speed. I had a feeling he was doing that just to torture me some more. It surprised me that he didn't think about following the rules of the road - surely the last thing he'd want is for a cop to pull him over?
I roughly knew the time when the hunger kicked in. My stomach growled from the lack of food, which told me that it must have been several hours since I last ate anything. Will they let me eat something? Or was I going to die from starvation before I died from anything else? Apparently you can go a month without food, but only a few days without water. Maybe my hell will only last for a few days?
I tried not to focus on the negatives, but it was very difficult to block them out. I hoped to survive this and that I could see Charlie again some day, however the chances of that were slim. I wish he had someone to comfort him - it killed me to think that Charlie had to suffer through all of this alone.
Suddenly my back slammed against the trunk as the car came to a dramatic halt. "Fuck!" I heard the man yell from the front. "Fuck!" I wondered what had happened. Had the cops pulled him over for his reckless driving? Was I finally going to be safe? Was I going to get out of here?
Unfortunately I couldn't hear any sirens, so that blissful idea vanished. However what I could hear was the slam of a door and heavy footfalls as the person rounded the car. I didn't have time to think before the trunk opened and I was basked in sunlight. I had been in darkness for so long that it took a second for my eyes to adjust.
"Get up." The man demanded. He had a lit cigarette balanced between his lips. Once I was up he grabbed the top of my arm and pulled me from the confined space. He took a long pull from the cigarette and blew the foul smell directly into my face. I valued my life too much to react. I knew that my brain would be splattered against the upholstery if I dared to flinch or make any sort of sound.
"What are we going to do?" The lady demanded as she came over to join us. "That fucking cop is onto us!"
Charlie? Was that the cop they were talking about? Does he know that I've been taken?
"Shut up and get me a car."
The lady continued to shout. "Where the hell will I find a car in the middle of goddamn nowhere, James?!"
James… the unnamed man has a name…
The click of a gun broke me from my musing. He had the gun pointed straight towards his accomplice. "I said. Get me a damn car. Now!" With a sigh and a few more cuss words, she turned on her foot and went to complete her mission.
I took that second to take in my surroundings. We were parked on the side of a road with nothing but grassland around us. I couldn't hear the faint rumble of the highway, so I imagined that it would be a long time before anyone came our way, and finding a new car may have been easier said than done.
I couldn't help but look at the fields.
They looked like the perfect place to bury a body.
0-0
June 14th, 2019.
"I am calling 19CF20 - State versus James Parker. Mr. Parker appears in person and with attorneys; Glenn Close and Brian Maine. This is a time scheduled for sentencing. I would like to remind everybody that this is a court of law - you may see or hear things deeply disturbing, however if you wish to remain in the courtroom you must remain silent. The court will not allow any outbursts or behaviors which disrupt the proceedings in any way."
He then continued to sort out the papers on his desk. Jason also had a stack of paper, so I wondered whether they were both looking at the same thing.
"Mr. Close…" Eric Dahlin continued. "Have you reviewed the pre-sentence investigation with Mr. Parker?"
"Yes we have."
"And does The Defense have any corrections they wish to make to the factual information given?"
"No, we do not."
It was clear that James' lawyers did not wish to be here. They were simply doing their job and had been assigned to James' case. I doubt they even knew him before this had all started.
The judge then spoke to Jason. "Mr. Jenks, has the victims' rights law been complied with?" I had no idea what that was - it must have been something that Jason spoke about in the room when I hadn't been paying attention.
"Yes, your Honor."
"Do you have any oral victim impact statements?"
"Yes, your Honor; we have four family members who would like to speak. I would like to add that Miss. Swan suffers with Selective Mutism, and so if she has issues making her statement then I will speak on her behalf."
That was another thing new to me. I really should have been paying attention before now. Does that mean that I could refuse to speak and Jason would do it for me? Perhaps I should take him up on his offer?
No. I need to do this by myself. Like Edward said - I had to show James how brave I was.
"Okay. Who would you like to go first?"
"Charles Swan."
I couldn't work out if it was a good thing or not that Charlie was going first. It meant that he would be back soon and would sit beside me for the rest of the case, but I wasn't ready for him to leave my side. Unfortunately there was not a lot that I could do, and so I had to cope with the fact that Charlie was leaving. He gave me a kiss on the head, and made sure that Edward kept a tight hold of my hand, which he did.
I couldn't look away from him as Charlie made his way over to the stand a couple of rows in front of us.
"If you could state your full name and spell your last name, please." Eric Dahlin kept the same monotone voice throughout the entire proceeding.
"Charles Swan. S-W-A-N."
As Charlie began his speech, I kept my head low and held Edward's hand in a tight grasp. I hadn't heard Charlie explain how he felt that morning, but I could no longer block it out.
"To the defendant; on the morning of May eighteenth, two-thousand and eighteen, my entire world shattered. When I found out that I was going to be a father, I made a promise to my unborn child that I would do anything to keep them safe and provide them with a perfect life. You stole that from me. My daughter was a loving girl who would help anybody in a time of need, and you took advantage of her kind nature… Because of your wrong doings, my daughter has to rely on a Psychiatric Service Dog to help her on a daily basis - she can no longer sit in a room by herself for five minutes without fearing the worst. A year later, and we are still struggling through each day. My daughter may be safe in my arms, but the girl she used to be is gone forever. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy and I don't want another family to go through the nightmare that we have endured. Which is why, your Honor, I ask that you sentence the defendant a maximum sentence on each count in this case. Thank you."
Edward held onto me as I fell into his side. I knew I was going to cry, but I never thought that his words would break me as much as they did. Charlie had always been a man of little words, and so to hear his emotional plea was heartbreaking.
"This will be over soon, sweetheart." Edward whispered into my ear. I knew it wasn't going to last forever, but it was going to be a very long time before I felt safe again.
"Next your Honor is Edward Cullen."
0-0
May, 2018.
As expected, it took a while to find a new car. I could tell that James was getting very worked up, and his anger shone through his words and actions. Fortunately for me, the trunk of the new car was far too small for me to lie in, so they threw me across the back seats and covered my body with an old, smelly blanket. I still didn't know why they had to find this new vehicle, but I had my suspicions and I guessed that it had something to do with the police. Perhaps they were tracking down the original SUV? I don't know.
Because I was in the back seats, it meant that I could listen in to every conversation that they had. One was based around food - the lady asked James to pull over at a gas station, but he refused to stop driving. At one point he ran out of cigarettes, but again he didn't want to stop driving. It became obvious to me that his anger only got worse when he didn't have nicotine in his system. Their last conversation gave me the answer I had been waiting for.
"Oregon?" The lady questioned. "We're staying in Oregon?"
Oregon is only a handful of hours away from home. I must have been in the car longer than that, so I guessed that James had been driving around in circles either to confuse me or to work out where to go. There wasn't a lot that I could do with this information, but at least I knew how far away I was from home and especially Charlie.
"I've got a place."
"Where?" She asked. He didn't answer.
When the speed of the car slowed down I knew that we were in a residential area. Surely James wasn't going to take us to a place with neighbors, right?
I thought we had arrived at our destination when James hit the brakes suddenly, but his harsh language and the sound of the car horn told me differently. "Fucking idiot." He spat. "Asshole clearly doesn't know how to drive."
"The guy in the Volvo?"
"Yeah."
"He's hot. Maybe I could sweet-talk him and steal his car…"
"He doesn't live far from our new home. I might invite him over for some fun…"
The idea that James wanted to bring more victims into this situation made my skin crawl, however I made a note of what he said. This man didn't live far from where I was being taken too… that could come in handy if I ever found a way out.
If only that man knew what was going on in the car behind him…
True to his words, ten minutes after that conversation we had finally arrived. Before I was taken from the car, I was made to wear a blindfold to keep the destination a secret. I tried my hardest to take in all of the sounds and smells from outside, but nothing seemed to work. The building was cold and echoey and there was a clear smell of must in the air - I knew it must have been abandoned before I even took the blindfold off.
When I could finally see again, I first noticed how dark everything was. There were no lights on, and the windows were so dirty that the sun could barely shine through them. The lady was made to take me to the 'bedroom' but it turned out that the bedroom was completely bare apart from a rug on the floor. I was told to sit on that rug and make myself comfortable. I wanted to laugh at her sarcasm, but I had lost the ability to show any sort of humorous emotion.
"So…" James wandered into the room with a wooden chair being dragged behind him. The sound that it made against the concrete was like nails on a chalkboard. "I think it's time we introduce ourselves, correct?"
"Can we have food first?" The lady slumped against the wall to my left.
"I feel it's only fair that we welcome our new guest before we have a feast." I didn't like the sound of that. His sickly-sweet voice emphasized his evil nature. "Victoria and I would like to welcome you, dear one, to The Coven."
Victoria… another name to add to the list.
James continued to talk. "Before we can fully invite you in, you have to prove yourself worthy first - The Coven doesn't allow the weak into their party. If you can survive these tests, you can become one of us." He said that like it was a dream of mine to join their messed-up gang. I didn't know for certain, but I imagined that 'The Coven' consisted of only James and Victoria, and so the fact that he spoke about it in third person made me see how mentally insane this man really was.
"Unless I say otherwise," James kicked his feet out in front of him. "You will sit here and you won't mutter a single word. If we hear you say anything or do anything outside of the rules, your lifeless body will be hung from a nearby tree. Do you understand?"
I wasn't sure if that was a rhetorical question or not, but I nodded my head regardless.
"That includes going to the bathroom - shit your pants for all I care; as long as you don't leave this spot. You will eat when I decide to feed you, but The Coven needs to be strong - it is often that we go several days without hunting. You'll need to get your body used to that."
'Hunting'? Did he mean that in the literal sense of hunting animals, or was it another part of his mad story? Like he was a vampire or something? I prayed to God that he wasn't some wannabe vampire - that could have made things so much worse.
Before James could offer me any more information, Victoria begged that she could finally get some food. A haunting smile crossed James' face as he thought about her question. I already knew not to trust that look - nothing good could ever come from someone so evil.
Once I was alone in the room I allowed myself to break down. My butt was numb from the thin rug and pure concrete and I had only been here for five minutes. How was I supposed to survive any longer than that? I knew that I was in Oregon, but I had no idea where in Oregon, or how far away I was from home. I had an idea that Charlie had sent out a search party, but I doubt anyone was ever going to find me - James seemed like a smart man who knew exactly what he was doing.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear. I wiped away my tears as quickly as I possible before he could see, and then noticed the sandwich that he had been thrown down beside my feet. It was plain white bread with some interesting cold meat peeking from the sides. I knew better than to sniff the food or even refuse to eat it, and so I took a bite despite the fact that I instantly wanted to throw it straight back up again. Either this meat was off, or it held another hidden ingredient.
I had my answer a few moments later when my body started to sway and I felt my eyes close. He had laced this sandwich with some kind of drug, but it was too late. I passed out, onto the cold, dirty ground, to the sound of evil laughter in the background.
That was the first night that I was drugged.
That was the first night that James took advantage of my unconscious body.
That was the first night that I was violently raped and beaten.
0-0
June 14th, 2019.
Thankfully Edward waited until Charlie had returned before he let go of me and stood up. The judge never seemed to waste any time, which I was grateful for. There isn't any reason to delay the process.
Like before, Edward stood in the same position beside Jason and was made to state his full name. "Edward Anthony Cullen. C-U-L-L-E-N." I don't think I knew his middle name before now. That was a nice surprise.
"Okay, Mr. Cullen. What would you like to say?"
Edward cleared his throat to help prepare himself for talking. "To the defendant in this case. On the night of August twenty-second, two-thousand and eighteen, my dog brought a very worrying case to my attention. Isabella Swan had managed to escape her nightmare, and now stood in my front yard. It was clear from her appearance that she had been viciously attacked and abused for quite some time." Edward's voice broke, and he stopped talking for a second to control his emotions. When he continued to speak, the tears were clear in his words. It broke my heart to hear the pure, raw emotion.
"For months Isabella was treated like a caged animal instead of a human being. Her body is so weak that it took almost an entire year for her to walk by herself again. You have stolen her voice, her heart, but most importantly you have taken away the person that she used to be. Everyday, as she gets stronger, I can see that original person shining through, however the fear, terror and panic attacks are never going to end. I hope you live the rest of your life dealing with the pain that you put this loving family through. Judge, I ask that you give this man the maximum sentences, but we also ask for justice. Justice for Isabella and Cara, whose lives have been ruined because of him."
I appreciated Edward adding Victoria into his statement. Victoria may have helped James in my kidnapping, and also made my months with them a living hell. However she helped me escape, and she was a victim just like me. Victoria was an innocent teenager when she was taken, and I knew that she went through the same pain that I had to endure.
Thankfully, for my own mental state, Victoria's mother was called to stand next, which meant that I had five minutes to sit with both Edward and Charlie before it was my turn. It was incredibly difficult to listen to her mother describe the pain of losing their daughter so many years ago and having no idea what had happened to her. In her words, 'Cara was a bright, talented girl who had her entire life ahead of her - she would help anybody in a time of need'. Her mother mentioned how they spent almost eleven years wondering what had happened to their beautiful daughter and how they refused to give up hope. I never once expected for her to talk to me, however her final words started off yet another round of tears.
"Isabella, I wish to apologize for the pain that Cara put you through. My daughter wouldn't have done that, but this man had turned her into a completely different person. I would also like to thank you for being strong enough to survive and to put this puzzle together - because of you we now know what had happened to Cara and finally we can lay her to rest."
I hadn't thought of it that way. If I hadn't mentioned her name to the cops that day, her parents would still be searching for their lost daughter. Because of my 'strength' I managed to save myself, but I also managed to save this family. Of course nothing was going to bring their daughter back to them, but they finally have peace and an answer.
"Finally, your Honor, I would like to call Isabella Swan to stand. She is accompanied by her dog, Luna, and due to her Selective Mutism Isabella will be wearing headphones in order to deliver her statement."
0-0
June, 2019.
I had lost all concept of time.
I had tried my best to keep a track of the days and nights, however I had lost count after the first few weeks. I think I had been here for over a month, but I couldn't say for certain. My entire schedule relies on time - five minutes either side can make a whole lot of difference. But now I had no way of knowing what the time was; especially during the summer months when the sun doesn't set until much later.
One thing that I had managed to keep track of, however, were the amount of meals that I had had in the last month or so. This morning I was given my tenth meal. Yes - in the space of four/five weeks, I had had ten meals. They weren't full blown meals either - usually I was given the leftovers like you would give your dog if you couldn't finish the plate. Sometimes James would make me a sandwich, but I had quickly learnt that those sandwiches were always laced with a drug. Apart from once, when the bread had green mold coated on top. I was made to eat every last crumb and threw-up constantly for a few days afterwards.
In the time that I had been here, I had seen James' full potential when it came to violence and power. I once 'broke the rules' because I had asked to use the bathroom, and he tied me up against the wall using a steel dog collar and a chain. I was given three glasses of water throughout my entire week-long torment. I thought about Charlie every second of every day, but I no longer cried. I genuinely think that my body was so dehydrated that I couldn't produce the tears, no matter how hard I tried.
To keep my mind busy, I started drawing little images in the dusty ground - faces, houses, the sun and several broken hearts. I always made sure to rub them away with my hand before anyone saw - I don't know what the punishment would be, but I didn't want to find out.
I had also realized that James enjoys using his belt buckle and boots. I had fading scars littered about my body from the weapons, but he also took advantage of the belt when it came to abusing my body sexually. He would loop the belt around my wrists, to stop me from fighting him off as he took advantage.
I'll never forget the night that I was forced awake as he pulled me up from the ground; he had been drinking and the alcohol always made him angrier and rougher. I was thrown down onto his bed and lay there for hours, biting back scream after scream. I'd never felt a pain or a force like it in my life. It ended with him forcing himself into my mouth. He grabbed handfuls of my hair to keep my head in position. I thought about using my teeth to fight back, but I knew that he would have killed me for that.
0-0
June 14th, 2018.
"Okay, Miss Swan. Whenever you're ready can you please state your full name and spell your last name."
I'm fine. I'm fine. I can do this.
I just need to read off some words.
James can't hurt me…
Right?
All I had to do was say my name and then I could put my headphones on. I followed Edward's advice about thinking the words over and over in my head. I took a deep breath and found myself staring in Luna's eyes for added protection. She was watching me - she would look after me.
"Isa-Isabella… Marie Swan…" The pain in my throat had started. "S…W…A…N."
Okay. One down.
"Thank you, Miss Swan. Please, take all the time you need."
Luna already knew to 'watch me', however I replayed the gesture just to double check that she knew exactly what to do. In all the years that she will be my partner, this will be when I needed her the most.
I moved my headphones from around my neck, placed them over my head and hit play on my Einaudi playlist. The beautiful piano playing was known to help calm me down, so we'd see if it worked this time.
At first I held the paper in my hands, however they shook so violently that I couldn't focus on the words written there. Thankfully Jason caught onto my tremors, so he held the paper for me. He offered me a reassuring smile, and then it was time to talk.
Remember to breathe.
Do this for the beautiful family behind me.
Do this for Charlie, Edward and Luna.
Do this for me…
"To the…" My aching throat closed over as I muttered my opening words. I began to panic, and the panic quickly led to tears. I had already messed up and I hadn't even read out my first line.
I knew I'd regret it if I turned back now, or had Jason say it for me. So with that, I stole another look into Luna's almond eyes. She had sharp teeth and powerful paws - she would hurt anyone who tried to hurt me.
I can do this. I know that I can do this.
I took a brief second to regain my confidence, wiped away my tears, focused on my breathing once more, and then started again.
"To the judge… and defendant in this case… I'd first like to… apologize for the way… that I talk - for months I would get… a-a-attacked and… s-s-starved for making a simple sound… and so now… I suffer with PTSD and… and Selective Mutism… which together makes it incredibly difficult… for me to string words together… I live with the fear… that if I say anything then… my life is… is going to end… I spent… a long time thinking that I was going to… going to die, and even now… I often fear that this man will return…
"I'm not sure how my life… will be from this… moment on, and… that scares… me more than I can explain… My world is full… of fear and sadness, despite… the constant security…around me. I doubt… I'd ever feel safe… again. I'd also like… to apologize to Cara's parents… for their loss - she… may have been in the… wrong, however… she is a victim as much… as I am, and I wouldn't… be standing here… today if it wasn't for her… bravery. James Parker ended… her l-l-life as if… she were a mere… bug on the floor - who knows… what he would have… done to me, or anyone else… he passes? In a way… I am glad that I… became his victim, simply… because I wouldn't… wish this torment on my… worst enemy. He stole me… for ninety-six days…without giving thought… to my family… and all of the other…people he hurt. He has… taken away… my life… and freedom, and… now I want to… take away his… James Parker… may have stolen my voice, but… he hasn't stolen my words, and… I hope we have the… the power to convince… you to give him the maximum… sentence so that no-one… else has to go through… the same pain and torture… Thank you."
A burning sensation crept up and along my throat. I knew that it was going to hurt, I knew that I was going to cry, and I knew that it would have taken me a long time to complete the passage. However I never thought I'd feel so triumphant and powerful. I had done it! I had faced one of my biggest fears and nothing bad happened!
Even as Luna walked me back towards Edward and Charlie, I made myself steal a look at James. He sat in his orange jumpsuit, hunched over the wooden table with his chin resting upon both fists. He had been in charge for so many years, but now it had all changed; he no longer had the power to take control or to hurt anyone. For the first time in a long time, he had become the victim. He was the prey and we were the predators.
Both Edward and Charlie threw their arms around me once I had returned to my seat. They whispered how proud they were of me, and even Edward's family brought me in for hugs and kisses on my cheek. I felt extremely loved and protected. It was an amazing feeling.
0-0
July, 2018.
One thing that I was absolutely sure about - James thought of himself as a vampire.
His talk of hunting turned out to be exactly that. He had these strange, insane ideas that he and Victoria were vampires and that The Coven is some crazy cult which I would join if I passed all of their tests. He also said that they were married and were 'meant to be together', which I knew to be utter bullcrap.
Apparently he had to drink my blood so that he could tell whether I was pure enough to become a vampire just like them. According to James I had been doing really well so far, but this had to happen before the final test; whatever the hell that meant.
"Little Isabella…" He sung as he entered the room. A small knife in one hand and a glass in the other. "It's time to see if you are pure enough to become my mate."
Mate… It appeared as though I would also become James' wife after this. Or his mate, at least.
Of course he never asked before he straightened out one of my legs and held the knife against my thigh. I winced my eyes closed and bit down on the inside of my cheek as he made a small, thin cut. Surprisingly it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would, it almost felt like when you cut yourself shaving - you know you've cut yourself, but it doesn't properly hurt until the air and water get to it.
"You have to watch this next part, Isabella."
James had used the glass to collect some of the blood and then held it up into the air. He swirled it around the glass like a fine wine before he brought it against his lips. Thankfully he never actually drank it, but he acted out the movement and even pretended to lick it off of his lips.
He hummed. "Just as I thought… delicious!"
0-0
June 14th, 2019.
"Any more witnesses on behalf of The State?" The judge asked Jason once I had found my seat again.
"No, your Honor."
"Any witnesses on behalf of The Defense?"
"No, you Honor." One of James' lawyers replied. I knew the judge needed to ask that question, but the idea that James would have had anyone to defend him made me want to laugh.
"Alright. The States' argument?"
Another man stood up from beside Jason and went to the front of the room. I wasn't sure what he was going to do, but then Jason began to talk. This is where everything gets serious - where we finally get our answers.
"The State is asking you to follow the sentence recommendations, given by Agent Hilary Jones in the pre-sentence investigation report. That sentence is as follows: we ask that you sentence the defendant, James Parker, to thirty-five years imprisonment on count one - first-degree intentional homicide for intentionally causing the death of Cara Jennings on August twenty-ninth, two-thousand and eighteen. The State is asking that you sentence the defendant, James Parker to fifty years imprisonment on count two - the intended kidnapping of Cara Jennings on September ninth, two-thousand and eight, and Isabella Swan on May eighteenth, two-thousand and eighteen. For count three - the combined rape and assault directed towards both Isabella Swan and Cara Jennings, the State asks that you sentence the defendant to the maximum years for each felony combined. The State asks that all counts run consecutively to each other without the possibility of release.
"The State's sentencing argument, that you find the defendant not eligible for release on all three cases combined, are based on the following factors: gravity of the offenses, character of the offender, and the need to protect the public. The gravity of the offenses is evident by the very essence of the charges to which Mr. Parker pled guilty to - one count of intended homicide, two counts of kidnapping, and several counts of rape and abuse combined. In every way imaginable, these crimes are aggravated in this case by the premeditated planning the defendant engaged in.
"Your Honor; exhibit one - family photos of Cara Jennings. This is the family that Mr. Parker destroyed. Cara and her family were incredibly close and she had a long life ahead of her."
The man who stood at the top-end of the room brought out large pictures and placed them delicately on the stand behind him. It made me feel very uneasy to look at the pictures of Victoria/Cara. You could easily recognize her in the pictures - the same wild fiery hair and facial features, but this time she held an angelic smile whilst standing beside two people who I assumed to be her parents. I never once saw that expression on her face, but I suppose we weren't in a situation to smile. The girl in the picture was clearly a teenager, and it hurt to think that she could have vanished shortly after this photo was taken.
"She was an innocent, fifteen-year-old girl taken suddenly as she made her way home from school. For ten years Mr. Parker took her around the country, and made her change her name so that they could live out the fantasy in his head. Your Honor; exhibit two - family photos of Isabella Swan. This girl no longer exists. Mr. Parker has taken the life from this loving girl who constantly lives in fear."
My own photos were next to be placed on the stand. I was with Renee in one, and Charlie in the other. You didn't have to know me personally - those photos alone helped describe my true personality and the smile that I longed to return. I had a sparkle in my eye which had also vanished.
"Exhibit three - photos taken from the abandoned ballet studio where Isabella was held captive."
The next pictures were the hardest to look at. Pictures of my room, the dirty rug, and other areas of the building. It is true when they say that a picture speaks a thousand words - the dark windows and bare rooms held all the descriptions needed.
I could recall every sound and scent that filled those rooms. I could remember the tiny drawings that I secretly drew with my fingers. I remembered every pain and ache, and the severe starvation and thirst. I remembered everything, and nothing would rid me of those awful memories.
Once the exhibits had been shown, Jason went into explaining the day that I was taken. He gave a brief summary of what had happened using information that I had given to him previously, along with information given by James himself during his original trial.
"From information given, it is known that Mr. Parker had planned to kidnap 'another girl'. Isabella was held captive for ninety-six days. During that time Mr. Parker repeatedly raped, abused and tortured Isabella. She was made to sit for the entire duration of her ordeal - making a noise or standing for a second would only cause more injuries. He acted out on 'vampiric tendencies' - pretending to drink the blood of his victims in order for them to join 'The Coven'. That was the name of the group that Mr. Parker had made up which included himself and Miss Jennings. He used it as a form of power; to make himself appear stronger and more terrifying. Mr. Parker included his vampiric nature when it came to 'playing games'. One night he purposely let Isabella free in order for him to hunt her down again. It is thought that Miss Jennings had wanted to help Isabella, and had injured Mr. Parker to allow Isabella extra time to get away.
"Isabella described the fear and pain that went through her as she continued to walk. Would he find her as she was walking through the trees? Would you find her before she managed to get to safety? And what would have happened if he had found her? Barely alive and with only just enough energy to stand, Isabella thankfully made it to safety. She was found by Edward Cullen in Mr. Parker's dirty clothes with shoes that were far too big for her feet. Isabella managed to find the strength to talk and asked for help. For her safety, Isabella returned home to Forks, Washington. Mr. Parker refused to give up, and after murdering Cara, he followed after Isabella and even managed to gain entrance into the Swan family home. The only place where Isabella felt safe, and once again he took that safety away from her. This information alone shows that Mr. Parker is a cold-blooded killer, who traumatized two innocent victims for over ten years. Mr. Parker insists that he is a good person, which just shows how dangerous he really is. If he is ever released, Isabella will not be safe; her life will be in jeopardy and so will the lives of anyone who stands in his way. Isabella shouldn't have to spend one second of the rest of the her life fearing that Mr. Parker will be free, nor should the public have to worry about what Mr. Parker is capable of doing."
Next it was time for The Defense to give their own say in the matter. Glenn Close decided to talk for them.
"Your Honor, first and foremost we would like to say that we fully understand that what we say will undoubtedly fall on deaf ears for most people. Mr. Maine and I are with the Multnomah Defense Department, and it is our job to make sure that Mr. Parker's proceedings are conducted in compliance with the Oregon and United States constitutions. During the course of our representation of Mr. Parker, a well-respected forensic psychologist in the state of Oregon had the chance to interview, analyze and diagnose Mr. Parker. He found my client to have sociopathic and psychotic tendencies. He also concluded that Mr. Parker's actions were part of escalating behaviours arising from childhood or adolescence.
"From a young age, Mr. Parker has had to battle with sociopathic tendencies - from issues with family, to bullying at school. Mr. Parker would often commit these criminal acts as a way to help beat the feelings inside. He confessed to being a very lonely man, and it was his loneliness mixed with his disorders that led him to kidnapping both Miss Jennings and Miss Swan. Mr. Parker is full of remorse for the pain and struggle he forced upon Miss Jennings and Miss Swan. The Defense strongly believes that Mr. Parker needs help for his mental insanity, and he understands that."
Lawyers would say anything in order for them to win the case. I didn't believe a word of what they said. Perhaps he does suffer some mental insanity, but he still knew what he was doing. He still followed through with the disgusting plans in his head.
"Does he? Does he really understand?" The judge asked. Clearly he didn't believe them either.
"Of course. Mr. Parker knows that he will die in prison. Does this give him a 'get out of jail free' card? Absolutely not. However, these crimes would not have happened had he had the correct medical attention from the start. Mr. Parker apologized for the pain and suffering that he had caused to both families involved."
"Yes, but how sorry would he have been if he had found Isabella before she reached Mr. Cullen's house? His only remorse is being unable to exercise complete and utter control over Isabella."
I didn't want to think about that. My nightmares were often based around him catching me before Nora had found me. He wouldn't have been sorry in the slightest - he would have killed me without thinking twice.
"We cannot change what happened, but what we can change is the further trauma and the further ordeal that the victim and these families would have to go through. I ask the court to recognize and consider and factor this into this sentence. Again, Mr. Parker understands this, but this court can fashion a sentence in a way that does give him some programmatic possibilities. He will need some help, and The Defense asks that you allow him the chance to receive that help. Thank you for you time, your Honor."
"Mr. Parker, would you like to say anything before I continue the sentencing?" The judge continued to ask.
"…No."
"If he understood he would be apologizing for his actions and saying that he would do anything to take it all back. But he didn't. He doesn't care. He's only sorry that he got caught. He knows that he will die in prison - does that sound like someone mentally insane? He knew exactly what he was doing, and you cannot use disorders as an excuse."
0-0
August, 2018.
Things were changing.
There was a strange atmosphere in the air. It almost felt like James was getting prepared for something. I had been here for so long now that I knew to be scared - whatever he had planned, there is a high chance that I will only end up getting hurt because of it. I have lost count how many bruises I had, or how many times I have woken up to him abusing my body. I should be thankful that I haven't had a period in months - an unwanted pregnancy would only make things worse.
As always I was sat on the rug, staring at the empty room that had quickly become my new home. James had somehow managed to purchase a large supply of candles and had made a large circle using the candles. Once the circle was complete he gave me a wicked grin and left the room. I had no idea what he was doing, but I had seen enough movies to know that this was usually the sign of a ritual. I think it had something to do with The Coven.
Before anything else could happen, or I could get lost in thought, Victoria tip-toed into the room and crouched down in front of me. She looked around cautiously, almost like she didn't want to get caught talking to me. That had also changed - Victoria no longer acted like a criminal and had even smuggled food to me when James wasn't looking. I still didn't trust her, but I couldn't work out why she had changed her ways. Did she feel bad for everything that she had done to me? Had she somehow grown a heart in the months that I had been here? None of it made sense.
"Follow my lead." She whispered with a stern voice.
I frowned in response. Follow her lead? What did that mean?
"Fuck." She rubbed her forehead angrily. "If you want to get out of here then you need to follow my damn lead. Get it?"
I'm getting out of here? She's going to help me escape?
Or is this another trick?
I know that Victoria is a hostage just like me, but if she wanted to help me escape then why has she waited until I am at my weakest? I can't even stand, let alone walk or even run!
I remembered back to the day that I was taken - it played so clearly in my head. Before Victoria threw me up against the side of my truck, she said: "I'm so sorry". Was that part of the act, or was she apologizing for what she was about to do to me? James is an incredibly powerful man and so she wouldn't have had a say in the matter. He made her trick me into caring, therefore landing me into their trap. Had she felt regret this whole time? Had she been waiting for this moment to appear; the moment where I could run to safety?
Again, I wasn't going to trust her until it happened.
However I didn't have to wait for long. James came barging into the room before Victoria had the chance to stand up straight. He asked her what she was doing, and she simply said that she was getting me prepared for the 'show'.
"Ah, yes!" He clapped. "Isabella, my dear, the time has come! The Coven are pleased with what they have seen, however they wish to set you one last task before you can properly become one of us."
"I love this game!" Victoria cheered, but her stern look reminded me to follow her lead. Whatever that meant.
So, we're playing a game? Is that the 'show' I had to be prepared for?
So many questions ran through my head, yet I was still to receive any answers.
"The Coven need to see how strong you are - your ability to hunt and to hide." Without a warning, James lifted me up from the ground so that I was standing. "In a minute we will go outside. You will have thirty seconds to run in any direction you please before we come and chase you down… If you can manage fifteen minutes without being caught then The Coven will have their answer. If you're caught before that time then clearly you weren't strong enough in the first place. But don't worry, I'll find a nice tree to bury you under."
I was thankful that I didn't have any food in my stomach, otherwise I would have vomited all over James' boots.
This was literally a life or death situation.
In fifteen minutes, everything was going to change. I'd either become part of this strange cult, or I'd be dead. I knew that James wasn't joking anymore - he would kill me quite easily.
The number of times that I had wanted to die before now, but I had found the strength to keep going. I no longer had that choice. If I was caught before my fifteen minutes were up, I imagine I wouldn't live to hear the timer go off.
James left the room for a second and returned with some clothes and a pair of shoes in his hands. He told me that it wouldn't be fair if I went outside without anything on my feet. The clothes consisted of a pair of gym shorts and a baggy t-shirt, and the shoes were at least double my size. The stench that James carried lingered on the clothing, but I was used to it at this point.
"Let's go!' He shouted excitedly.
It is a very strange feeling to put all of your weight on your feet after sitting down for so many months. I left like a baby giraffe that had just been born - stumbling around with no sense of balance, trying to work out how to use their feet. My lack of balance and strength sent a well-known wave of fear through my body - there was no way in hell I could manage fifteen minutes before they caught up with me.
I'm so sorry, Dad. I love you.
I was led out of the main doors and into the open woods that surrounded this building. A rain storm had just started, which made walking even more difficult. I thought I would have welcomed the feeling of fresh air against my skin, but I was far too sad and scared to care.
"On your marks…" James literally gave me no time at all to prepare myself. "Thirty seconds start… now!"
I put all of my energy in placing one foot in front of the other, and I used the tree branches to keep myself upright. I had no idea where to go, but it honestly didn't matter. It wasn't like I was going to find help anyway.
Thirty seconds seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, and before I knew it, I heard James shouting that my time was up and they were coming to find me. I had to keep going, I couldn't give up.
"FUCK!" James' scream echoed from the trees behind me. "What the hell are you doing?! You stupid cunt!" I wanted to know what was happening, but I had to keep going. I ignored the pain that rippled through my body - it was nothing compared to a bullet in your brain.
"ISABELLA! RUN!"
That was Victoria. Had she managed to distract him? Is this what she meant by 'follow my lead'?
The screams told me that he was hurt, so I automatically assumed that Victoria had done something to stop him from coming after me. She was giving me a chance to escape. She hadn't been lying…
From up ahead I saw a faint beam of light glistening through the trees. More lights appeared as I made my way closer and closer towards them.
They were streetlights.
Streetlights meant houses, and houses meant… people!
People with phones, who had the ability to call the police. Who had the ability to help me.
My body protested as I continued to walk, but I knew I wouldn't be safe until I had reached those houses.
I refused to give up or look behind me. The rain had soaked through my clothing and shoes, but I couldn't stop looking at those lights. As silly as it may sound, the lights alone had made me cry. I had been shut away in darkness for so long.
I took a few slips and stumbles, but I finally made it to the street without James catching up with me. I had reached the first house, however it felt too close to the woods, so I wanted to continue walking a little further before I knocked on a door.
In order to continue, I had to stop and catch my breath. A car sat in the driveway of the first house, so I used it as an aid to rest upon, when all of a sudden a loud bark came from somewhere nearby. I didn't have the time to move before an animal, that seemed like the size of a bear, made its way over to me. At first I thought it was a bear - the dog was large and black, with more strength in one paw than I had in my entire body.
"Nora?" A guy called out, but I couldn't tell where the voice was coming from. The dog - who I assumed to be Nora - continued to bark and then ran off to find their owner. That was my opportunity to keep going as planned, but the dog appeared again before I could get very far. I didn't know a lot about dogs, or their behavior, but I had a feeling that Nora wanted to help me. I had a feeling that she had raised the alarm.
I could just make out the silhouette of a man as he walked down his driveway. I had wanted to keep going, but what if this was the only opportunity that I had? I couldn't risk getting caught, or being outside for a minute longer.
A look of realization and panic flashed across the man's face as he took in the sight of me. He might refuse to help, but I had to try.
A barrier had formed in my throat, but I fought against it. "Help me." I spoke for the first time in three months.
0-0
June 14th, 2019.
Eric Dahlin spent a few minutes sorting his papers and looking over the statements from everyone who had spoken. Those minutes felt like hours because we all knew what would happen when he made his official speech.
"To start off I'd like to say sorry to the family of Cara Jennings and to Isabella Swan for everything that you have endured. It is impossible for anyone to comprehend what you are going through right now. It is clear from the impact statements just how much this has effected everybody involved - blood related or not. I wish that the Justice System could make you whole again; I wish we could go back in time so that Cara and Isabella never had to endure such tragedy, but I and the Justice System cannot do that. It is my hope that today can bring you a bit of closure to this awful nightmare and bring back a sense of safety and security.
"One of my favorite phrases is 'with liberty and justice for all', and that is what I am here for - to make sure that justice is done. I have considered the statements from the victims and the statements from the defendant, but I need to consider the offense and the nature of the offense. Mr. Parker, you intentionally kidnapped two innocent girls - one ten years before the other, and then intentionally murdered one when you didn't get your own way. Mr. Parker, you have stolen the safety from Isabella which she mentioned in her own statement. Even police cannot enter a home without the owner's permission, yet you made your way into her house, her only safe space, and took that comfort from her. I consider the fact that you planned this - every step of the way - and these are shockingly not normally and I have no idea what rehabilitation can be provided for you.
"I have witnessed a lot of crimes in my career and my years as a judge, but nothing lives up to this, and the steps that you took. Mr. Parker, not only are you a danger to Isabella Swan, but you are also an extreme danger to the public in general. I looked into the statements from the pre-sentence investigator and your interview with them. No-one has included what you said, but I have to. You went on to say: 'I had bad thoughts of kidnapping a young girl and keeping her hostage and completely controlling her. At first I fought them, but after a while I stopped fighting my fantasies. I thought about it every day, and then one day, as I was driving around town, I saw Cara Jennings. It took no time at all to make my fantasies a reality. We were content for many years before the same feelings returned. Now I was just waiting for an opportunity.'
"There is no doubt in my mind that you are one of the most dangerous men to ever walk on this planet. There is talk about your remorse, but there is a difference between regret and remorse - regret means that you are sorry you were caught, remorse means you have empathy for your victims. I have no doubt that you have no remorse. The over-riding factor is the protection of the public; to repeat my favorite phrase 'with liberty and justice for all'. You are the embodiment of evil and the public can only be safe if you are incarcerated until you die.
"Consequently, regarding count one, the court is imposing for the homicide of Cara Jennings, I am sentencing you to thirty-five years imprisonment without the possibility of release. On count two, the intended kidnapping of both Cara Jennings and Isabella Swan, I am sentencing you to the maximum of fifty years. Finally, regarding count three - the combination of the rape and assault, I am sentencing you to forty years imprisonment. Consecutive of counts one and two. Mr. Parker, you will be one-hundred and sixty years old before you are even considered for release. You may as well make yourself at home - you won't step foot outside of those walls for the rest of your miserable life.
"Mr. Parker will start his sentencing immediately. We're adjourned."
And just like that, a sense of freedom returned.
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That is honestly the longest and hardest chapter that I have ever written.
As always, any updates or important information about this story will be over on my Facebook group - RosieRathbone Fanfiction.
I would love to know what you thought and whether or not James has received the correct punishment? Let me know!