The gang has gotten to where Randall and Fungus are free from their capturer's clutches! But now they have the aftermath to get through.
Chapter 10: The Trial
Mike was standing at his station, casting glances at him, like everyone else was. He didn't know if he should apologize for what they did to him, or carry on like normal. He placed the new canister in and activated the new door, for Sulley. Everyone was having a rough day from reading the book. Randall and Fungus seemed to notice but didn't bother asking what was throwing them off.
Randall had gotten a cup of coffee, feeling everyone's eyes on him. He looked up to see Mike looking at him, but he looked back on his clipboard. Randall looked at him suspiciously. Why was Wazowski staring at him? He had a quick flashback and shuddered. No. He couldn't think about that. It was too terrible. He stared at his coffee, begging to the clock silently to hurry up. He had a very important appointment to get too and he didn't want to be late. As the bell rang, he drained his coffee and ran off.
Everyone had agreed to go to Claws' place to read the story. Harley had taken the book, opening to the next chapter.
"Chapter 10: The Trail.
After escaping the nightmare, me and Fungus found out we were in Clawsfield. It was 27 miles from the Monstropolis and I've only been no more than a mile from it. Fungus's grandparents had taken us in till my parents could come and get us. I was sitting on the couch, rocking back and forth with my knees closed to my body. I wanted to forget those months, those nights, but they were relived in everything I saw and I couldn't get them to stop. I shut my eyes, hoping to make them disappear and it wouldn't work.
"Randall, dear? Are you okay?" Fungus's grandma asked.
I didn't answer her. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I bit my lip, hugging myself. I wanted to be far away from people as fast as I could. I couldn't even stand to be touched by anyone, not even Fungus. I knew was going to be having trouble with Emilia and Cheryal on it.
"Here Randall, I brought you some cookies, Oatmeal Raisins. Fungus told me that your parents made you these when you were upset." She told me, sitting next to me and placing the cookies on the coffee table in front of her.
I just stared at my feet, refusing to meet her in the eye. In the corner of my eye I saw her raise a hand to pat my back but a knock on the door stopped her and she went up to answer it. She opened the door to reveal my parents.
"Emilia and Cheryal! You made it, I have them in here, please come in."
They came in and quickly went over to me. They started to hug me, but I shuddered away, squeaking in fear. I didn't want to be touch, I couldn't be touch, it felt wrong, too wrong for me. I shut my eyes, trying not to cry. I had cried so much over the past three months that it felt unnatural.
"Randall…" Cheryal started, reaching a tentacle out for me.
I pulled away. Emilia placed a hand on Cheryal's tentacle, shaking her head. They were going to touch me anyways and I had to get over it, whether I like it or not. Fungus had come in. He stood quietly to the side as Emilia took my hand and pulled me off the couch.
"Do we need to take him to the hospital?" Cheryal asked.
"No, it's already been done."
"I'll have his file transferred over to the hospital in Monstropolis. Thank you for watching over to him. It means so much to us," Cheryal told her as she placed her tentacles on my shoulders. I pulled away. I couldn't stand to be touched anymore. Too many awful memories.
"Let's get you two home, thank you again." Emilia thanked Fungus's grandma as we walked out.
"It was no problem." She told us.
I climbed into the car, buckling myself in and went to stare at the floorboard. Fungus had buckled himself next to meet. I knew in my gut there was going to be a trail and I would have to appear. I didn't think I could do, or have the guts to do it either. Teddy was in the car and I had grabbed her and started to hug her. I couldn't bear to part with her anymore.
After dropping Fungus at his house, we drove home. I didn't want to look at anything that reminded me of the hospital and that horrible place. When we arrived at home, I got out and ran straight to my room. I couldn't take being near the outside world! I knew the only safe place I would be would be in my room, the door and windows locked. I ran into it and ran into my closet, the only safe place I grew to love. I was surrounded by stuffed toys and other stuff. I had placed my thumb in my mouth, Teddy in the crook in my arm, rocking back and forth in order to comfort myself.
"Randall, calm down before you end up falling on your face," Teddy told me.
"And by the way, stop sucking on your thumb before you bite it off, baby." Danny, my stuff dragon told me roughly.
"Shush," Teddy hushed him. "He just got back from a traumatizing thing."
"Suck it up and be a man."
"Says the stuff dragon," Teddy told him.
"Shut your mouth before I cut it off!"
"And how are you going the scissors? Randall can't have adult scissors stupid."
"Both of you shut up," I told them. "I don't know what to do. I see him everywhere! I haven't slept in months and I'm so tired I can fall asleep now! What am I going to do?"
"Talk to your parents, tell them everything." Teddy told me.
"How? I have to go to trail and I'm afraid to face him."
"You can do it."
I took a gulp and stood up on shaking legs. I walked out and came down stairs. I was clutching Teddy in my top arms, hoping to comfort me. Emilia and Cheryal had seen me in the kitchen and went up to me, fussing over me. A knock was on the door. Cheryal went over to the door and opened it. A thin blue skinned monster with glasses was standing in the doorway.
"Hello, I am Mr. Austins. See I'm from the court and I'm here to see if your son can testify in court. May I come in?" He asked.
"Of course," she told him, stepping aside.
He went over to me, smiling kindly. I step back, using Emilia's leg to shield me from him. I was having a hard time to trusting anyone and I didn't want to near anyone.
"Hello Randall. I'm Mr. Austins, I'm from the court and I want to ask you a few questions that you might hear in court, do you think you can do that?"
"I-I don't know…" I whimpered.
"Don't worry. This is like pretend okay?" He told me.
I nodded my head, clutching Teddy closer to me. He pulled one of the chairs out and put a large phone book on it. He sat me on it.
"Now can we see your To-"
"Teddy, her name is Teddy." I told him, shyly.
"Right, can I see Teddy, she's going to be acting like a toy that we will use in the court."
I looked at Teddy, unsure if I should hand her over. She gave me an encouraging nod and I hesitantly gave her to him. He placed another chair a few feet away from me.
"This chair will be where Rico will sit."
I nodded showing my understanding.
"Now Randall," He began pacing in front of me. "You were kidnapped, am I correct?"
"Y-yes sir…" I stammered, shaking.
"And do you see the monster that kidnapped you?"
"Yes sir…"
"Can you point them out?"
I pointed to the chair.
"Very good. Now can you tell me where he touched you on this toy…?"
"Teddy," I corrected.
"I know, can you point to the areas?"
"Here," I pointed to the shoulders, "Here," To her waists, "Here," To the private parts, "And he would kiss my neck and go down."
"Thank you Randall. You did very well." He told me.
I nodded. He handed me back Teddy and I hugged her. I didn't want to be without her. I was too scared. Cheryal had placed her tentacle on my shoulder.
"I think your son will be ready. The trail will start in two weeks. I'll see you folks around, and Randall, make sure that you try and stay brave okay?"
I nodded. He gave his thanks and left.
Two weeks had gone by and the trail was coming up. I have been sleeping with Emilia and Cheryal, frightened to sleep in my own room. They were cleaning me up and making sure I've eaten. I was sure I was going to puke. Cheryal took my hand as we left.
The moment the door opened, I saw Cheyenne. She was dressed in a black jacket, a black tank top, slacks and flats.
"Oh hi, Emilia and Cheryal. I just came to check on Randall." She told them.
"Hello Cheyenne. We can't stay. We have to go to a trail."
"Mind if I come? I heard and dressed to come watch. I wanted to show my support." She replied.
"Of course," Emilia smiled.
We've got into the car and drove to the court. I was so nervous that I was clutching Teddy so hard, I was choking her. I loosen my grip on her.
"Don't worry Ran, you'll do great," Cheyenne told me as she placed her paw on my bottom hand.
"Th-thanks…"
"Anything for you, buddy."
We arrived at the Court. We got out and headed inside. I was sticking close to them as I could. I looked around, seeing all sorts of monsters moving, shuffling through papers, talking on the phone and doing many things. We walked into the court room. Mr. Austins was there.
"Ah, hello Mrs. and Mrs. Boggs, and hello to you too Randall, I'm glad you could make it."
"Anything we can do to make this horrible man pay." Emilia told him.
"Good, I'll see you in court." He replied and walked off.
In the court, I was sitting with Emilia, Cheryal, Fungus and his parents, along with Mr. Austins. Rico and his attorney were sitting on the other side of us. The judge was a green skinned monster, wearing a bluish-black robe with white curly hair. He slammed his gravel down, causing everyone to stop talking.
"Okay," he began, putting his spectacles on and looking at the papers in front of him. "The people Vs. Mr. Rico Stevens on Kidnapping and Rape in the first degree, how do you plead?"
"Not guilty your honor," Rico told him.
"Well if we can begin, I…" He stopped and looked at me. "Why does that child have a stuff bear in his arms?"
"Your honor, this child is the one that Mr. Stevens had alleged to be sexually assaulted and this toy is too comfort him, he did have some traumatizing days, sir."
"I'll allow it then. Carry on."
"Judge, I would like to call my first witness to the stand, Miss Cheyenne Wags." Mr. Austins called.
Cheyenne stepped through the doors and walked up to the stand. The cop went to her and placed his hand in the air.
"Do you promise to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?"
"I do," she answered.
"You may sit." He told her.
She sat down. Mr. Austins went up to her.
"Miss Wags, how long have you known Mr. Randall Boggs and Mr. Fungus Oz?"
"Two years."
"So you've been friends for a long time, am I correct."
"Yes."
"Can you tell me what happened on the day Randall and Fungus went missing?"
"Well it was the last day of school. Me and Fungus were going to take Randall to the Arcade; it was going to be his first time. We had to stop half-way for me to use the little girls' room. I was coming out when I saw them getting pulled into what looked like a white Ice Cream truck, but it didn't have the giant Ice cream cone on top. I started to run after them, but it was too fast. So I went to the newest phone and dialed 911. I then notified their parents."
"You knew their numbers?"
"Yes. Randall had us learned them so if something bad happen we could notify them."
"He seemed to be prepared."
"Yes. He's very cautious when it comes to bad things happening in the world."
"And how often is he cautious about this?"
"24/7, sir."
"Thank you. No further questions your honor."
"Mr. Sludge, would you like to cross examine the witness?" The judge asked the guy that was supporting Rico.
"Yes, Miss Wags, when you saw Mr. Boggs and Mr. Oz being abducted, what store were you in?"
"The Screaming Scab," she replied.
"Isn't that the store for gothic monsters?"
"Yea?"
"And isn't their policy that you have to buy something in order to use their facilities?"
"Yes, I purchased a bag of slug worms, I have the recite." She told him, handing him the recite.
"So you were, the only one that saw them get kidnapped?"
"No,"
"Didn't anyone else call the police?"
"The girl at the desk."
"Thank you, no further questions."
"You may step down." The judge told her.
She walked off and went back to her seat. I looked at Teddy, not wanting to make eye contact. Mr. Austins proceeded to do his job.
"I would like to call Randall Boggs to the stand."
I jerked my head up. Emilia took Teddy and motioned me to go ahead. I cautiously went up to the stand, climbing up onto the chair.
"What's your name?" He asked.
"Randall Boggs…" I answered.
"And Randall, how old are you?"
"Nine…"
"And have you ever met this man before?" He asked, pointing to Rico.
"No sir,"
"But you were kidnapped by him, is that right?"
"Yes."
"Do you see the man in this court that touched you?"
"Yes," I nodded and pointed at Rico, "It was him."
"And did this man sexually assault you?"
"Y-Yes…" I whimpered, almost started to cry.
"Can you tell me where he touched you on this doll?" He asked, holding a toy doll to me.
I pointed to the same areas that I did with Teddy weeks ago. I had broken down, crying.
"No further questions,"
"Does the defendant want to cross examine the witness?" The judge asked.
"Uh… we have no questions for the child."
"You may step down."
I walked off, going back to Emilia's lap and took a hold of Teddy. After a while Fungus, Emilia, Cheryal and Rico went on the stand. I didn't dare look at Rico while he was up. I couldn't.
"The jury will go make their final decision," the judge replied, and the jury stood up and left. Everyone got up and left, going to the hall, restroom, wherever people do in the court house will the jury is doing their thing.
After a while, we came back into the court and waiting for the jury to make their decision. They came back in and we stood up.
"Has the jury made a decision?" The judge asked.
"Yes. For kidnapping in the first degree, we have found the defendant, guilty."
"And how has the jury come up with a decision on rape in the first degree of a minor?"
"We have founded the defendant, guilty."
My parents, Fungus's and the others cheered.
"What?" Rico roared. He started charging at me. I yelped and turned invisible, hiding behind Emilia's leg. The cops came back and restrained him, carrying him out. I whimpered, as Emilia's hand rested on the back of my head. I uncamouflaged myself and watched as he was taken away.
"I'll kill that kid! I'll kill him!"
I gulped as I cowered once again. Not only did I have to worry on forgetting what he did to me, know I had to worry about him coming after me and killing me. I didn't know how I would get over it, nor would I survive."
"That must've been hard…" Needleman started.
"How could it not? He was kidnapped, raped multiple times and had to face that guy in court. There's no way he could manage to get through this on his own. As we read he was already on the verge of a break down." Waxford told him.
"I don't know if we should continue…" Claws began.
"We have to, the more we read, the more we'll find out about Randall, then we can be able to understand him." Sulley told him.
"I don't think we can. We haven't gone through half of what Randall had gone through, how can we understand him?" Bile asked.
No one answered. He was right. There was no way they could understand him, for what they've done. Randall had more problems, then what they in a life time. There was no way they were going to understand him… ever.
Yea... I dunno anything about court procedures. I'm going off all the Law and Order episodes I say. So take it with a grain of salt. But even with the horrid mon gone, there's still have a lot left in the book. And it's only a matter of time until they discover more of the reptile.
