House of Horrors || 18+

Chapter 20| Hannah

Today is the day I go to court with Kyler. The date has been set, and now it's here. My anxiety has been building all week, and now it's a volcano threatening to erupt.

The courthouse is a tall building made of red brick, with big white pillars in the front. I look around, taking it in. There are a few benches on the porch, and a couple trees with some flowers. There is also a statue, and a fountain.

I take a deep breath and head inside. The courtroom is just down the hall, so I don't have to wait long. The walls are painted a light blue, and the floor is a shiny gray tile. Half of the seats are already filled up and I can't help but wonder why they're here. I wonder if anyone is here for the same thing I am.

The room is eerily quiet. A hushed whisper fills the air, as the judge, dressed in black robes, enters the room.

"All rise for the honorable Judge Thomas," the bailiff says, and everyone stands up. I've never been in court before, and this is intimidating.

"Be seated," the judge instructs, and everyone takes their seat again.

I haven't seen Kyler, but Officer Gordon told me that he had been served. I feel like I've been sitting forever, although it could only have been half an hour or so. A man, who was seated at a table on the other side of the half wall stands, calling my name.

I walk to the half wall, where he is standing. "Yes?" I ask.

"Are you Hannah White?"

"Yes, sir."

"Let's go somewhere private to speak."

He takes me through a door off to the side, where a small conference room is.

"So, Hannah. I am our court liaison. I work on behalf of the judge. Now, this is just a warning, the judge does not take abuse lightly. You are filing an order of protection, which can only be done under certain circumstances, and it must be proven that these are valid reasons."

My stomach twists into a knot, and I can feel my nerves bubbling to the surface.

"Now, we have evidence, photos of the injuries, and statements. We can present this to the judge and the opposing party, but the judge will need a reason, or else there will not be an order of protection issued."

"So, basically, the judge won't listen unless he thinks I have a good reason? Even though I've been abused? This isn't fair!"

The liaison shakes his head, a grim expression on his face. "No, it's not. I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do. If the judge doesn't grant an order of protection, the case will go on without one, and then it's out of my hands."

A tear slips down my cheek.

"Now, I am not saying there is not enough evidence, but based on what is in the file, and what the opposing party has claimed, the judge might not agree."

"What do you mean, what the opposing party has claimed?"

"He is claiming that you are lying. That these are self-inflicted injuries, or that someone else did them."

My blood runs cold. How dare he claim that. He is the one that hurt me. I want to scream. I want to yell and tell everyone how abusive Kyler has been. Instead, I bite my tongue and nod.

The court liaison tells me that I can stay in the room until my case is called and I nod again. I feel numb, like this is a nightmare that I can't wake up from. I should have known that this would happen. That this was going nowhere. I tried not to get my hopes up, but I really thought I was going to be free from Kyler.

My mind drifts back to one of the worst fights Kyler and I had. It was over nothing, really, but Kyler had been in a bad mood.

Kyler and I were fighting. Well, not really fighting, but arguing.