Seventeen

AIDEN

If this doesn't work, we're all dead.

I'm going to rot for another 5 years probably, maybe even 10 now that I can be tried as an adult.

And Dan is going to kill Avery and her mother. They were probably already in a lot of trouble just by showing up, and they're probably going to be dead anyway if they stand trial and this fails, but that's the ace in the hole.

Now that Avery and her mother know that I didn't keep their secret, they might back down. Hell, I could tell it took a lot for Avery to convince her mother to come here, she turned down running away with her only flesh and blood to stand by me.

That could now be shattered, with this reveal. I betrayed their trust.

I'm too much of a chicken shit to look back and see their faces. I'm waiting to hear the shuffle of feet and the door open.

But, to my saving grace, there is nothing but silence.

I look towards the jury, to gauge their reaction at hearing this new evidence. The whole point of Avery and her family moving here, was to get away from their past mistake of trying to take Dan down before, and failed. Dan moved them, and tried to keep it secret, and it seems though he couldn't keep the secret of a past attempted conviction, he tried to keep what really happened from everyone today.

I send a silent thank you to Sean, reminding to give a really good thank you later, for spilling the beans. It was a huge risk on me, and Avery, but thankfully everything is working out just the way I hoped.

Dan finally looks a little nervous, the jury is starting to waiver, and even the judge looks skeptical and has thrown a few glares at Dan.

Sean steps down, and the judge calls for a short break. I wait until he and the jury leave, until I turn around and finally face Avery and her mother. To my dismay, they're already turning and heading out the door with the large crowd of people, quickly disappearing.

I try not to let my disappointment show, keeping my head high and shoulders square, feeling the eyes of Dan burning the side of my face. It takes every fiber in my body not to turn and face his glare as I'm hand-cuffed once again and walked through the back door.

I'm placed in a chair in the dark and narrow hallway, half the lights out due to construction, tarps covering most of the walls and floors, with beams and wires hanging about, just asking for someone to stumble into and electrocute themselves.

Wouldn't that be ironic? Someone suing the court house. Even I would go to that court hearing, even if you had to pay to get in.

I toss my head back against the wall and close my eyes, imagining what life might be like if we win this, and Avery is finally free to live her life, and be herself. I have seen snippets here and there of her true personality, the one she had beaten out of her, the strong voice she has had silenced within her.

"Hey, wake up, time to head back in." Griffin kicks my shoe lightly.

I roll my eyes and push myself out of the seat, having barely any mobility without my hands. I shuffle back into the court room, keeping my head down until I get to my seat again. I feel the heat of someone's stare on the back of my head again, but this time it isn't Dan.

I know it's Avery, but I can't look at her now. I don't think I will be able to face her until this trial is over, and we win. If we lose, I don't know what I'll do with myself; maybe a jail would be better.

"Court reinstated; defense please call your next witness."

Wait, our next witness? I thought it was Dan's?

I glance over at him and see his hands trembling slightly as he clutches them together on top the table. His lawyer looks a little nervous himself.

Are they seriously out of witnesses? Has no one else offered to step up and testify on his behalf, other than the sleezy bar owner?

"Your honor, we would like to call Avery Reynolds to the stand," Paul says, earning a collective of hushed gasps from both the crowd and jury.

I can feel Avery's nerves as she walks past me, inches away from my touch. She throws me a terrified look, before climbing to the stand. I can't take the look I saw in her eyes, so I turn my attention Dan.

He is shaking in his seat, and I'm not sure if it's because he's scared or enraged – or both.

Good. He has every reason to feel both right now. He should be scared, that he is finally going to be revealed for the monster he is, and enraged at the fact that he is going to rot in jail for his mistakes.

My own neck starts to sweat, when Dan's lawyer approaches Avery. I can see the evil glint in his eyes from across the room, and see the ghost of a taunting smile pulling at his lips.

He is going to try and tear her to shreds.

"Miss Reynolds, you've known your father since the day you were born. Can you recall any good, fun and love filled memories with your father and mother? Please remember, you are under oath, so please try your hardest to remember."

What the hell is he trying to get at? It's obvious he is trying to make Dan look like a good man anyway he can, but this question seems a little too obvious.

Avery closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

"I can't sit here and say that every memory I have with my family is terrible. When I was a kid growing up, everything was normal, and there was no torment or beatings. I remember my parents as being in love, and loving me very much," she starts saying, looking right at the lawyer, her confidence and voice never wavering.

"But I can also honestly say, that life in my home is not like that anymore, and hasn't been for a long time. I can't recall going the family trips, or even really going to the movies together, but we have good memories of holidays and dinners, a few nights out when we could afford eating out. But over the past few years, Dan has taken a turn for the worst.

"His life changed, and therefore all of ours did. He started drowning in alcohol, and took his anger and regret out on my mother only at first. She made him promise not to touch me, if he was able to beat her whenever he wanted, until one day I thought he was going to kill her, and I couldn't keep it in anymore. I confided in someone, and they brought it to the authorities. My family was investigated, but Dan had earned a reputation in town as a 'good, honest man', the one you saw outside of the house. Because of that, he walked free."

Avery stops, taking another shaky deep breath. Dan's lawyer is speechless, standing there with his mouth.

"Well, to be frank, you haven't really answered my question, Miss Reynolds," he says, coughing nervously.

"If you don't mind, and I'm sure the court and jury would agree with me, I would like to hear Miss Reynolds story. She has a deep connection to the victim, and can account for many personal experiences. I feel the truth of this trial might lie in the head of this young girl," the judge says, giving Dan's lawyer an intense stare down.

Quite a few members of the jury nod their heads, and I turn around to see there are more looks and nods of agreeance in the crowd.

This is working perfectly.

"Miss Reynolds, can you please tell the court and jury, just what kind of life you have experienced with your father. Please, only speak with what you are comfortable speaking about, and if you need a break please let me know."

Avery smiles timidly at everyone, before her eyes settle towards me, but her eyes don't seem to see mine. She is looking at Paul.

He nods discreetly to her, like they are having a telepathic conversation.

What are they planning, or have planned?

"I came here today, because I can no longer hold back the truth, and I want to reveal to everyone today, the entire truth once and for all. Dan has beaten and tormented my mother and I." She stops and stands up, raising her hand to Paul.

He too stands, and walks over to what looks like a small closet, opening it to reveal a much bigger looking storage space than I thought. He disappears inside, then reappears with a large television screen on a dolly. He walks it to the side of the room, where the judge, jury and everyone in the court room pews can see clear as day.

"I have learned from my past mistakes, and know now that trying to speak the truth is nearly impossible, and no one will ever listen to a young, experiences and immature girl, in a large court room filled with businessmen and woman, court officials and authority. So, instead I am going to show you."

Again, she pauses, and this time her eyes do meet mine. I'm taken back by the look of guilt, mixed with regret in her eyes, like she is trying to send me a silent apology.

But for what? What is she going to show on that screen?

"As forewarning, the images and videos you are about to see might not be appropriate for young or sensitive eyes. If you think you cannot handle it, I ask that you please leave the room, and the guard outside will inform you when the presentation is over."

She nods to Paul once more, and he produces a small converter from his pocket and flips open his laptop on the witness stand, plugging a cord connecting from the television to the side of his computer.

"This is evidence, new and old, that Dan has abused my mother and I for years, and will continue to do it if he isn't put away and punished for his crimes."

Paul presses a button on his laptop, and the screen comes to life.

I share in the loud shouts of gasps and outrage, as a slow slide-show of Avery and her mother's bodies, covered in bruises, burns and gashes, flash across the screen, put on display for half the people in town to see.

Avery and her mother are standing in nothing but their underwear and bra in the photos, exposing every inch of their abused skin. It's clear that Avery's body has taken the most of the beatings, and hers are fresher than her mothers, but they are both terrible none the less.

The photos stop, and a low-quality video that looks like it was taken on a phone in a very dark area, flips onto the screen. The screen focuses, and I can see more clearly, that it's someone hiding behind something while filming from afar.

The video is of Dan and Avery's mother, it looks like they're in the kitchen, and he is shaking her violently while he screams in her face. He is yelling so loud, you can barely make out what he is saying, but I can faintly hear him yelling about how she came back too late.

He begins to accuse her of cheating and trying to leave him, to take everything away from him, but he never mentions Avery, just his job and money. He accuses her of ruining his life before, and then suddenly strikes her across the cheek with an open palm. Avery's mother is shocked from the hit and falls to the ground.

Though you can't see the tears in the video, I can clearly tell she is crying., her sobs ringing clear through the television. The video continues, and Dan picks her up by her hair, dragging her back up, but she is unable or refusing to stand. He screams at her to get up, but she still goes limp, causing him to smack her across the face again, hard enough to knock her back down on the ground.

"I've seen enough! This is an outrage!" the judge bangs he gavel what seems like a dozen times, his voice ringing out across the room and bouncing back, even I cover my ears. "Why was this evidence not brought forward at once?"

"Your honor, this evidence is sensitive and private to my mother and I, and we did not want to expose it until we knew for certain, it wasn't going to be for nothing. We have tried to end the silence before, and were met with more torment. We refuse to go through it once again, so please, if you must blame anyone for withholding evidence and information, put all blame on me," Avery says, stepping down to stand in front of the judge.

I'm beaming with pride at how she holds herself high, radiating with confidence. She has come a long way from the slumped over, hoodie girl I first met and fell in love with. I'm falling in love with her even more, now.

In this moment, regardless of what happens, I know that Avery is the one. I will never stop loving her, and finding new ways to love her every day. I will gladly go to jail to protect her, again and again, if it means she will never have a finger lifted to her precious soul and body again.

Judge Henry shakes his head and frowns. "Miss Reynolds, I understand your reasoning, and I won't be putting blame on anyone. I will allow this new evidence to be entered, and considered while the jury depart to make their decision," he says and bangs the gavel once more. "Court adjourned, we will meet back here when the jury has made their decision. If the process goes past 8 o'clock PM this evening, court will reinstate tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock AM."

It takes a moment for anyone to really move, even after the judge and jury have stood up and exited the room. I'm not given a choice, as Griffin approaches me once more, handcuffs already out and ready for my wrists to slip into.

I wince at the cold metal, still not used to the feeling surprisingly. He leads me slowly towards the back door, a lot slower and less aggressive than the first time. I give him a curious look, but he is just staring straight ahead. I follow his gaze, and my eyes land on Avery.

She is still standing by the witness post, her gorgeous, tormented eyes settled on me. I realize now what Griffin is doing, and nudge him softly as a small thanks, without making it obvious, like I stumbled with my hands tied.

We come to a slow stop next to her, and suddenly my mind is wiped. Griffin frowns down at me, looking like he is regretting giving me this chance. I quickly try and think of something to say before he hauls me away again.

"Avery, I'm so sorry you have to go through all of this, and I am so, so very sorry I told Sean. I should have told you what I did at the moment I made the decision, but I was afraid it would scare you into not saying anything. I didn't want to lose your trust. I'm so sorry, Avery," I choke out the end, my throat swelling up.

She bites her lip, her eyes glazing over with unshed tears.

"I don't know what to say, Aiden," she whispers, casting her eyes downwards, all signs of the confidence she showed before gone. I want that girl back, I want to see her beaming again, with a beautiful smile on her face knowing she is one step closer to freedom.

"Say you aren't mad at me, and that you still trust me. Please?" I beg, wanting to get on my knees to push it even further, if Griffin didn't still have a hold on my arm.

My heart sinks when she shakes her head. "I can't say that right now, I'm sorry." Still shaking her head, she brushes past me and back down the aisle towards the open doors. I keep my eyes on the ground, not daring to watch her leave.

Just when everything was going so perfectly.