Athena owns and runs a beauty salon downtown. One day she started receiving random calls and texts from an unknown number.
At first, she brushed it off until they became threats and her best friend, Bethany, urges her to file a police report.
What...
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My eyes trace the room until I see Athena and Bethany with Molly sitting together on a bench. They all seem to be leaning on each other for support and that is the best thing right now.
Before we walked in, Brit didn't like we can't be sitting with the girls and I feel him deeply. This is the one jacked up thing that we have to be in the Officer section for this trial and not the victims. The DA made this trial quick and only has the jury in for the sentencing, all others that may want to be here to support the vicitims and watch were not allowed which the Judge granted.
When we step in, order is called to session as the Judge walks in.
"Please be seated." Judge says and looks over the paperwork in front of him.
"We are here to hold a trial on Dason Sturps. Charges that are currently standing that will been seen if found guilty are as read. Stalking in the first degree. Threatening in the first degree. Kidnapping in the first degree. Eleven counts of manslaugher in the first degree. Shooting an Officer. Holding a hostage while barring a firearm."
"Has the jury taken their oath?" The Judge looks over to them.
"Yes, your Honor." They reply together.
"You are aware that this trial is to see if the suspect is guilty of all charges and that the DA prosecuter is going for the death sentencing?" The Judge states firmly.
A few of the jury seem to gulp but they all answer the same as before.
"Is the Defendants Attorney here to plead his case?"
"Yes, your Honor. I am here representing my client." The lawyer stands up.
I take a deep breath as anger burns through me. He had to take the case. he had to take the case. My only hope is that he doesn't fight to hard for Dason because there is all the evidence against him.
"Bring the Defedant in." The Judge signals.
The court room is so quiet you could hear a needle pin drop. I take a look to the girls and it is almost like they are holding their breathes.
The door opens and Officer Gaperal walks out Dason, who is handcuffed along with ankle shackles on. He gets placed in the chair next to his lawyer. I didn't miss the small smirk he gave when he seen the girls on the bench, with a glance over to Brit he caught it too.
"We will call in the first vicitm to the stands a Ms. Molly Sunastance." The Judge reads from the paper and looks up.
Molly slowly stands and you can see her squeeze Athena's hand before letting go. She walks up to the witness chair, slightly shaking but does not look at Dason. A Officer goes through and she takes the oath, before the court is back in silence.
"We will start with the Defedants lawyer. Do you have any questions for Ms. Sunastance?" The Judge proceeds.
The lawyer stands, before stepping out to the side.
"Ms. Sunastance, it is to my understanding that you was kidnapped by my client. How can you confirm it is him?"
"I remember seeing his face one time when he forced me in the shower, making the blindfold fall slightly."
"What is it that my client done during your time with him?"
Molly shakes and takes a deep breath. My stomach churns that she is having to relive the moments she was held captive.
"He would talk to me and if I didn't respond the way he wanted I would get punished."
"What would he say to you?"
"That I am his love. I must repeat it and show my love for him, is what would say at first repeatedly. Then it moved onto him telling me what my chores would be once I was a good girl for him so the blindfold could come off along with the ropes holding me down."
"So all of this is hearsay?"
"No, it happened and it was like it was yesterday and not seven years ago."
"How did you escape if he held you down with rope?"
"There was a nail and I kept making the rope hit it when I couldn't hear he was around. One day it finally tore the rope and I was free. After that, I just ran until I found someone to help me."
"So your saying through all of this time. You only seen my client once? When you seen him was he talking?"
"I saw his face, but no words when I got my first glance of him." Molly tears up.
"So it could be taken that he could have just been helping someone else. That none of what you went through was him actually doing the phyiscal harm to you."
"It wouldn't be right because I knew it was him with just how his hands felt on my body in the shower. They were the same hands that held me down during the torture."
"No further questions, your Honor." The lawyer sits down.
Gills stands and walks up to Molly.
"Let's go back, Ms. Sunastance. How did it all start before you were kidnapped?"
"I would get a random call or text message. I answered the text one time letting the person know they had the wrong number but it just got worse. There were times I was attacked from behind and ended up needing medical care."
"Objection your Honor. No edivence to support the claim this ties to my client, based on cellular usage." The lawyer speaks up, but with very little care to his voice.
"Edivence your Honor." Gills holds up the cellphone.
"This was found on Mr. Sturps personal body upon arrest. It is the exact phone number connecting to the threats along with all the original messages sent are still on the phone."
"Continue." The Judge waves.
Gills hands the bag with the phone in it to another Officer. "What did he use to torture you with?"
"I am not sure but it felt like a blade of some kind. A knife maybe, I was blindfolded." Molly wrings her hands together.
"Something like this perhaps?" Gills holds up the knife we found at the house.
"What happened once you got out and came across someone to help you?" Gills digs.
"I got checked out at the hosptial and then once they released me I ran. Moving as far away as I could to where he couldn't find me again."
"No further questions, Your Honor." Gills sits down.
"You are free to return to the benchs Ms. Sunastance." The Judge gives her a sad look.
Molly is quick to stand and almost trot back to the girls. When she sits down, her tears pour freely with Athena rubbing her arms.
A/N--- Hey Hey Guys!!!
So Molly was first to be called? Is it sage to say Athena will be next or will they change up now to someone else taking the stand?
