Chapter ten: Revenge

Everyone stared at her
As she entered the room
Not because she was beautiful
Or because she was great,
Because she was,
The one who was raped

Ruthie sat there listening, to her surroundings. She was clutching the locket around her neck as her name was called. She walked slowly across the room all eyes on her. Everyone else was invisible in her mind only she and Ryan were in this room. When she sat down she opened her eyes and stared around the courtroom, locking her eyes on the judge.

"The night of the party, can you tell me what happened?" asked Ryan's lawyer. Ruthie thought about the question but she was focusing on the guy asking it, tall brown hair, hazel eyes, around thirty she figured, he looked like a lawyer.

"Ruthie answer Mr. Howards question" The judge said.

"I went to the party with my friend Paige and Martin. When I got there it was loud and smoky and I started dancing. I got thirsty, so I went to get a drink but they were beers and stuff." Ruthie paused. "I went upstairs and went into a bedroom because I was dizzy."

"You didn't sit down downstairs?" He asked.

"It was too noisy," She replied. "I sat down and heard the door close but didn't see anyone, so I turned around and he snuck up on me…"

"Who? Ryan?" He asked.

"Yes," She said.

"What did he do next, introduce himself?"

"No"

"Turn on the lights?"

"No!"

"Say anything?"

"Yeah, Shut up"

"So, how'd you know who it was?" He asked walking up to her.

"I didn't, then." She said.

"Really, ok well what did Ryan do?"

"He pushed onto the bed, and told me to shut up," She said.

"And…"

"And he put his hand up my shirt…" She stopped and blinked back tears. "And pulled down my skirt."

"You didn't scream for help? You had no chance to get away?"

"No,"

"Did Ryan ever threaten you, you know put a gun to your head?" He asked placing his hands in front of her.

"No,"

"Why didn't you report it immediately?"

"He told me not to tell anyone," She said crying. "And I was scared"

"And you didn't know who did it?" He said.

"No I didn't, but that's not why--"

"Why did you go back there then?" He asked.

"I was confused…"

"So how was another party at the same house going to help you?"

"I don't know"

"What happened at Ryan's house that night?"

"I was upset and I wanted to forget everything for a night…"

"So what happened? Did you drink?"

"Yes,"

"A lot?"

"Yes,"

"Then what happened?"

"I ran into Ryan, and he started talking to me. We got into a fight and I told him to fuck off and he told me to shut up. I knew it was him when he said that."

"So you knew when he said shut up?"

"Yes"

"Did he ever say I raped you?"

"Actually he technically didn't, but when I said he raped the girl his best friend liked he said 'Oh please, he would have done it himself that night had he not refused to come because of how you treated him' so he technically admitted it." She spat back fiercely. His lawyer stopped frozen by her words, for a moment.

"So after he so called admitted this you just left? You didn't have anything to say to him?" He said glaring at her.

"No, but he did he told me that I already ruined two lives and should keep my mouth shut" Ruthie said glaring back.

"No further questions" The lawyer said walking back to his seat.

Ruthie sat there waiting; she watched the empty seats fill up as the jury returned. She stared at the hand holding the verdict and watched carefully as if she could read it. As the juror started to read Ruthie just waited for the word she wanted.

"Not guilty" He said. Ruthie froze, that wasn't what she wanted. She glanced behind her to see her parents shaking their heads and then quickly glanced at Ryan. He gave her an evil smile; she looked down at the table and just sat their stunned. Now what?