{ Bonnie's POV }

While Freddy was being questioned, Bonnie took advantage of the moment to search for the boys' home Gold had stayed in on her phone. She found it was called Newberry Boys Home, for Gold's record was there, reading that he had run away at age 13. The main foster mother was Shelly Cooke. Perfect. Using various websites, Bonnie was able to get her phone number. She sent a text to the woman and explained what was going on, and if she would be willing to be a witness. She responded with a yes, much to Bonnie's satisfaction.

When Freddy was called to the stand, Bill asked him some questions and she asked him some questions, then they all sat back down. Bill called Chica to the stand.

"What happened the day Gabriel kidnapped you?"

"He tied me up and put me in his truck. The animatronic animals knocked my frineds out," Chica answered. Her voice was nervous and shaky. She was playing with a strand of her short blonde hair.

"What happened in the truck?"

"He made me take a sleeping pill and when I woke up I didn't know where I was."

"Did he ever do anything sexual to you? Hurt you?"

Chica's nervous demeanor vanished and she leaned forward in her chair. "No!" she declared. "He gave me food and conversed with me. Sometimes I even forgot I was a victim of a kidnapping. He kissed me a few times, yeah, but he never tried to do anything more."

"I see," Bill stated. "Did he show any odd behaviour during this time?"

"I saw him videoing himself. It was the video he uploaded to YouTube. He left the room we were in a few times. And he showed me a picture on his phone. It was him as a child and he was crying. He had black marker all over his face. Then he deleted the picture and started getting really distressed. He left the room after that."

"Did he ever threaten you?"

"No, not that I recall."

"I have no more questions."

"Does the defense wish to ask any questions?" Judge Anthony asked.

Bonnie was too busy planning her questions with Shelly Cooke. She couldn't think of anything to ask Chica, so she said a simple no.

"The defense may now call its first witness," Judge Anthony said.

"Defense calls Shelly Cooke to the stand." Bonnie said without hesitation. Nobody moved and the judge looked confused. Bonnie hit call on her phone and it dialed Shelly's number and put it on speaker phone. Bonnie was practically tingling with nervousness, but she did not let it show on her face. Shelly picked up on the second ring.

"Hello? Is this Miss Bonnie? Am I at the witness stand?"

Judge Anthony's eyes widened. "Who is this?" He asked.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Shelly Cooke, the main foster mother at Newberry Boys Home in South Carolina," Bonnie explained. Gold flushed and a small whimper escaped from his mouth. "Gold attended this boys home from the age of one me a half to the age of thirteen before running away and staying at the old pizzeria located, also, in South Carolina."

"Yes, I am." Shelly's voice rang from the phone. Gold let out another whimper at her voice.

"Miss Cooke," Bonnie continued. "Do you remember the day when Gold was first put into the home?"

"...Yes. It was one of the most dramatic sign offs I've ever seen in all my year at the home."

"Can you describe to us what happened?"

"Well, Gabe and his mother came in. Gabe was looking around all confused, and I remember him telling his mother that it didn't look like the ice cream place. His mother signed the paper and started to leave. Gabe then started walking after her so I picked him up and tried to calm him down. He started screaming and squirming, calling out, "Mommy! Mommy!" But his mom just left without a single glacé back," she finished, her voice shaking slightly.

Gold's eyes were shut and his teeth were clenched. He was obviously trying to keep from crying.

"And as he grew up at the home, did you notice any strange behavior?" Bonnie asked.

"Yes. I knew he had Diogenes Syndrome, it was on his papers. But he occasionally tried to play with the other kids, and the way they reacted was just... Was just..." Silence.

"What did the other kids do to him?"

"They bullied him. They ignored him, acted like if they touched him they would die, and they often drew all over his face with markers and put 'kick me' signs on his back. They called him really bad names, one of the main ones being Mold."

"How did he take this?"

"He often came to me crying and yelling me all of the horrible things the others had done to him."

"And is it true he ran away?"

"After his 13th birthday, yes. When I checked on him to tell him breakfast was ready his room was empty and the window was open. The only thing that was left was a note on his bed."

"Do you remember what the note said?"

"Not exactly but it was something along the lines of, 'Shelly, I can't take it anymore. Please don't try to find me, I don't want to go back to hell.' And I never saw him again."

It was silent in the courtroom.

"I have no more questions," Bonnie announced.

"Does the prosecution have any questions?" Judge Anthony asked.

"No, Your Honour," Bill said, crossing his arms.

"Do you wish I call any other witnesses?" Judge Anthony asked Bonnie as she thanked Shelly and hung up the phone.

"Yes," Bonnie answered. "I call the defendant, Gabriel, to the stand." It was extremely unheard of for the defendant attorney to call the defendant, but Bonnie knew it was the right thing to do.

Gold, who was pale and had tears in his eyes, stood and was escorted to the stand. He said the oath and say down, looking distant.

"Gabriel," Bonnie began. She hoped this would work. After the questions, she would make him roll up his sleeves. She had a theory about why Freddy said that, but she would find out for sure when the time came. "Is what Shelly said happened to you at the home true?"

"Yes," he replied. His voice was dry and quiet.

"Do you remember what your mother said the day she took you to the home?"

"She... She told me we were going to the ice cream parlor."

A woman in the jury, possibly Gold and Freddy's mom, broke down in sobs and covered her face with her hands.

"What happened when she signed you off?"

"She started to leave. I was confused and c-called after her but she just left."

"And did the other boys treat you terribly?"

"Yeah..."

"How did that make you feel?"

"Really really bad."

"Were you depressed?"

Silence. Gold swallowed. Then, he said in a small voice, "very. I-I wanted to die..."

"You were suicidal?"

"Yes..."

His mother began to cry more.

"I would like to ask one more thing of you."

Gold looked up at her, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Would you please roll up your sleeves and show your wrists to the court?"

Gold froze. His eyes were wide and full of fear. He instinctively put his hands in his lap. "I-I... Uh.." He stammered.

Judge Anthony lifted an eyebrow curiously.

Bonnie returned Gold's gaze. 'Trust me.' She mouthed to him.

Gold swallowed and shakily unrolled his sleeves, though his wrists were still under the podium, out of sight.

Bonnie's heart was racing. "Please show your wrists to the court," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. Gold let out a short, soft moan and shakily lifted his hands up, then hung his head.

Freddy was correct. Lining both of Gold's arms were scars from self-harm. There were a lot, more scar was visible than skin. They were old and faded, but obviously still there. Bonnie had never noticed them because his white long-sleeve shirt always hid them.

The jury broke out in conversation again. Gold began to cry, putting his hands down and covering his face as he sobbed. His mother wailed and tried to stand, his father trying to calm her.

"Order!" Judge Anthony demanded, slamming down his mallet.

The court quieted down to nothing but Gold and his mother's sobs.

"There you have it, ladies and gentleman," Bonnie concluded. "My client was under extreme pressure of a mental disease and of an extremely traumatizing and abusive past. Hopefully you will realize that his actions were done with influence and that his sentence should be nothing severe."

"Does the prosecution have any questions?" Judge Anthony asked. Bill shook his head, seething with contempt at Bonnie, who allowed a small smile and sat down next to Gold at the defense table, rubbing his back and telling him that he did a great job.

The jury murmured quietly, trying to reach their verdict. After about five minutes, Judge Anthony spoke up. "Will the jury foreperson please stand? Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict?" He asked.

"Yes, your Honour. The verdict is seven against five."

The Foreperson wrote the verdict on a piece of paper, who let the judge see, then read aloud, "Guilty!"

The judge banged his mallet. "Due to the evidence presented by miss Bonnie, the sentence will be nothing more than parol for five years. Any objections?"

Nobody spoke. "The jury is thanked and excused. Court adjourned."

Everyone left except the gang, Freddy's parents, and Gold. The judge and the other important roles left, murmuring amongst themselves.

Gold stood, making sure his sleeves were down, and looked up at his friends and parents.