Hello eveyrone! Welcome to chapter seven! Wow, I can't believe it's almost the end to this story. I had so much fun writing this and I adore you all for your support! Anyway, please enjoy!

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The little girl embraced the woman, the only person to ever show her kindness and affection. "I'm going to miss you," she muttered softly. Was she going to miss this place? Of course not. But the woman held a special place in her heart. "I still don't know why you can't come with me." Of course she knew why, she was just being immature and stubborn.

The woman chuckled, lightly stroking her hair. "It would be too risky, my flower," she explained. "You would be fine by yourself, but your parents have connections. They'd find us both in less than three weeks. It's better you go alone."

The girl pulled away, crossing her arms stubbornly. "I don't want to..."

Smiling, the woman kissed the girl's forehead. "Yes you do," she insisted, gently grabbing her shoulders. "Listen to me. There is a whole world out there for you. When you're finally free, you will do great things. Do you hear me? You'll blow us all away." There was an obvious pain in her eyes, but she did her best to put on a strong front for the girl.

The child resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "You say that all the time. I don't know why you think I'm so special." She hung her head in sadness. "My own parents don't even love me."

Something akin to hatred flashed across the woman's face. "Your parents aren't right in the head," she snapped, then softened at the child's slightly hurt face. "When you get out there, promise me something."

"Anything."

The woman took her face in her hands. "Promise me that you'll find someone out there who loves you as much as I do."

The girl frowned. "Mother says-"

"I know what your mother tells you, Jinja," the woman cut her off. "and she's dead wrong. You're beautiful and anyone who can't see that is a fool. Promise me you'll find that person and you'll never let them go."

Jinja nodded. "I will, Joyce," she vowed.

Joyce smiled sadly. "Now go," she urged. "and be careful."

Jinja was silent as she watched the woman she'd grown up with confidently walk up to the stand. The Joyce she knew never had that much confidence, was never that sure of herself. The Joyce she knew had never stood up to her parents. She glanced at Chase for help, but saw he was just as lost as she was. They could only look to see what the woman would do.

"State your name please," instructed the judge.

"Joyce Hull."

"What is your connection to the defendants?" the judge asked.

"I was their maid for nineteen years, Your Honor," Joyce answered.

"And what is your connection to Miss Jinja Kay?"

Joyce seemed to look right at her. "I'm her mother, Your Honor."

The judge looked at her skeptically. "And how is that, Miss Hull, when she's been in the defendants' guardianship?" he asked.

Joyce stared at her parents with a look that was odd to see on the woman. It was one of disdain, disgust, and hatred all mixed into one. "They took her from me," she spat.

The judge nodded, not seeing it necessary to press more on the obviously sore subject. "And how would you describe their parenting?"

"Horrible," Joyce answered without hesitation. She pointed to Mr. Faustus. "He would use Jinja as his own personal punching bag. I can't tell you how many times I've had to tend to her injuries because of him." She turned to Mrs. Faustus, somehow pouring even more hate into her gaze. "And she would degrade my daughter, telling her she was ugly and would never find a boyfriend. And I'm sure she got a few hits in as well." She clenched her fists in visible anger. "Sometimes, she would go weeks at a time without eating."

Jinja didn't even realize she was gripping Chase's hand until he winced at how hard she was holding it. "Sorry," she whispered, loosening her grip.

"It's okay," he whispered back.

"And why did you not do something about this, Miss Hull?"

Joyce hung her head in shame. "I was afraid," she admitted. "I was a teenager when I had Jinja. I didn't have anywhere else to go and I knew that if we ran or I told anyone, we'd both be killed. They're merciless, Your Honor."

The judge seemed to take in this information. "We'll take a short recess," he decided.

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During the recess, Jinja approached her biological mother. "Y-You didn't have to do that," she said. She knew how terrifying her parents were and she knew how much danger they were putting themselves in by doing this. If her parents somehow escaped... She shuddered at the thought. No doubt they'd pick up just where they left off with her.

"Yes I did," insisted Joyce firmly. "I failed you so many times, Jinja. I needed to do this, I needed to do something right by you at least once."

Tears began to leak out of her eyes without her consent. "Thank you."

"I would do it again ten times over if I needed to," promised Joyce. "You deserved this, my flower."

Jinja nodded before the banging of a mallet was heard. "The recess is over," she realized. "We should probably go back in..."

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"The Jury has found you, Mr. and Mrs. Faustus, guilty of illegal technology experimenting and dealing and child abuse of a STORM elite," the judge informed the courtroom. "You've been sentenced to life in prison."

Jinja watched as two STORM officers dragged her parents away, a huge weight being lifted off her chest. Her mother glared at her and her father screamed death threats at the entirety of the room, but she couldn't find it in herself to care. They lost. They were finally paying for what they had done to her. She beamed widely as she turned to Chase. "We did it!" she shouted, launching herself into his arms.

Chase embraced her back, unable to keep the grin off his face. "They can never hurt you again, Jin," he uttered into her ear. He caught sight of Joyce over her shoulder and pulled away. "I think you have something to deal with"

Jinja turned around and nodded. "I'll meet up with you later," she said before walking over to her biological mother. "We need to talk."

"Yes, we do."

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"So, how did it happen?" asked Jinja as she and Joyce sat down on her bed. "Who's my father? How did you end up working for them?"

Joyce looked at her guiltily. "Your father is Faustus," she answered regrettably. "I was young, Jinja. I was naive. Your father was charming, handsome, and had a lot of money. So, I got involved with him." She chuckled hollowly. "But I didn't know he was married."

Jinja's eyes widened. "Mother," she breathed.

Joyce nodded. "Yes. Your mother was furious when she found out. But by that time, I was already pregnant with you. So, she made me a deal. They would take you and raise you as their own and I would work for them as their maid and watch you grow up from afar." Her eyes narrowed in anger. "What wasn't part of the deal was the abuse they put you through."

"I don't suppose it was."

Joyce flinched at the visible resentment in the girl's voice. "Jinja, I swear I thought you'd get to live a Cinderella life."

"Haven't you ever read Grimm's Fairy Tales?" snapped Jinja before sighing. "I'm sorry, Joyce. Please continue."

"I tried to leave with you numerous times," proceeded Joyce. "but they always caught us and threatened me with your life." She took her daughter's shoulders. "Jinja, they made me watch. Every time they tortured you, I was there. I saw everything."

Jinja looked at her with teary eyes. "I guess I get why Mother hated me," she admitted. "but how could a man do that to his own child?"

"Like I told you, my flower," said Joyce. "they're not right in the head. They enjoyed seeing us both suffer like we did." She suddenly smiled. "I'm glad that you kept your promise, though."

Jinja looked confused before she blushed. "Who, me and Chase?" She laughed unconvincingly. "We're just friends, Joyce. Really good friends."

"Jinja..."

"Okay, fine. Maybe we're a little more than friends..."

Joyce kissed the top of Jinja's head. "I'm glad he was there for you when I wasn't. And I'm glad he loves you as much as I do."

"Chase doesn't-"

"Darling, I can see it in his eyes whenever he looks at you," interrupted the woman. "You have to trust me, dear, a mother knows these things."

You aren't my mother, Jinja wanted to say, but thought better of it. Joyce had basically been her mother while she was growing up. The woman she had 'referred' to as mother regarded her as she would regard a piece of gum on her shoe. Without Joyce, she probably wouldn't have known what love felt like. She wouldn't have her friends and she wouldn't have Chase.

Jinja embraced her mother tightly. "I love you, Joyce."

"I love you too, my flower. So much."

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"So, how'd it go?" asked Chase when she approached him later.

Jinja smiled at him. "Well enough," she answered. She laughed at the irony that just hit her. "Can you believe that after all those missions and all those fights that we've been through, this all happens because we went to a club?" Who knew something so simple could set off such a chain of event? She supposed life was funny that way. Everything happened for a reason, after all.

"It's pretty weird, huh?"

Jinja giggled before pulling him in for a hug. "I owe you, Chase Suno. I never would have been able to do this without you." She was a strong, independent female, yes, but she wouldn't deny that Chase played a big part in locking up her parents.

"Yes you could have," Chase told her. "but I'm glad I could help."

"Chase?"

"Yeah, Jin?"

"What are we?"

Chase seemed to think about this. "We're us," he finally answered. "Me and you, Chase and Jinja."

Jinja smiled at him. "I guess labels aren't really our thing, huh?" She rested her forehead against his, enjoying the simplicity of it all. After the day she's had, she could use simplicity. They gazed into each other's eyes, sea green meeting sky blue. Unfortunately, their moment was interrupted.

"Chase! Jinja!"

The pair immediately jumped apart, coming face-to-face with their friends. "Guys," breathed Chase, a little annoyed at them for ruining the moment. "What are you doing here?"

"We heard about the trial," Bren told them. "And your parents, Jin." He obviously didn't know how to approach the subject. "Are they really...?"

"Core dealers?" guessed Jinja. "Yeah, they are."

"Rotten luck, Princess."

A ghost of a smile appeared on her face. "Thanks, Dax." Jinja realized that the resident monk hadn't said anything. "Beyal?" He was staring at her with an analytical look on his face. She realized something with dread clenching her stomach.

He knows.

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"How long have you known?" asked Jinja once she had gotten the monk alone. Just by that intense look in his gray eyes, she could tell he knew. For how long he had known, she wasn't sure. But it was apparent that he had known for a while. She was kicking herself for not noticing before. Of course Beyal would be the one to figure it out.

"Since a little after we met," answered Beyal, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You put up a good front, my friend, but your mental pain spoke volumes. Your thoughts were so strong that some of your memories were transferred to me before I could block them."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"It was not my place, Jinja Kay," he responded.

Jinja was quiet before questioning softly, "How much did you see?"

"All of it, I believe. Though, it was much of a blur."

Jinja nodded, accepting this answer. "Thanks for keeping my secret, Beyal."

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Well, next chapter's the epilogue. :( But I really did enjoy writing this. Anyway, I hope you liked it and please review (1 Review=1 3)!