Chapter One-Hundred and Eighty-Three

Kemp paced before John, watching as his muscles noticeably tensed under his suit. "Your foster mother, Clarissa Standish was in a car accident shortly after your relapse, correct?" He asked, watching as John fought against something inside of him.

"Yes, Sir." He answered, forcing himself away from the edge of the memory.

"Do you feel any guilt, that the accident could possibly be connected?"

John sat up straighter, scratching Chance's ears. "I feel some guilt that the two were connected. But ultimately I blame the drunk who was driving with too much booze in him." The image of Clarissa laying motionless in her hospital bed flashed behind his eyes, making his body react by slamming his back into the back of the chair. "Can we take a break?" He asked, knowing that it wouldn't be long before he was pulled under by a memory.

The judge nodded, smiling kindly at the young man in the stand. "Ten minutes for a break, then we will return to this subject."

Kemp glared at John as he patted his dog's shoulder before he stood, noticing that the dog had a service animal vest on. "Johnathan," His fingers brushed John's sleeve, and in an instant the dog was snarling at him, "Call that beast off!" He yelped, wondering how simply brushing against John's shoulder could make the animal react this way.

John gave a snap of his fingers, letting Chance know to back down. "Don't fucking touch me again." He growled, his eyes turning to black fire. "I won't call her off next time."

Kemp shrunk back, the way the kid's eyes changed color was unnerving in itself, but his threats made it even more unsettling. "That dog should be euthanized!" He exclaimed, remembering the little girl who lived in the house. "She could attack that child and send her to the hospital!"

John scoffed, his eyes shifting behind Kemp as Prick Dick moved in his seat. "She's never attacked anyone in her life. Just because she was a fighting dog, doesn't mean she's naturally aggressive."

Clarissa wrapped her arm around John's shoulder, pulling him away from Kemp as he drew closer to that edge between Safe John, and Dangerous John. "Pumpkin, come on, let's get something in your stomach. You haven't eaten all day." She spoke softly into his ear, smiling at the way his eyes changed from black fire to dark chocolate. "I brought some chocolate milk for you."

He nodded, his muscles relaxing as she rubbed his shoulder. "That sounds nice." He whispered, stepping with her from the court room.

Asher smiled as he placed the papers from John's rape kits and bloodwork on the table beside Thomas. "I also found something else we might be able to use." He spoke so softly that John couldn't hear him, knowing that this last piece wouldn't be something John wanted to be seen. "They taped it."

Thomas's head snapped up, his green eyes flashing with fear of what that tape might show. "They what?"

John fell silent, thinking back to what he'd seen while in that dungeon. "There was a light." He stated, looking up at Asher and Thomas. "There was a blinking red light. I think… I think it was a camcorder."

Asher dropped his gaze, knowing that the gang was full of sick things like that. "It was, Johnny. They recorded everything they did to you."

John squeezed his eyes shut, leaning into Claire as she held him tight. "I don't want to see it."

Thomas nodded, taking the tape from Asher and taking it from the room. "Only the judge will see it." He promised, praying that John would heal from this over time.