White Mustang - Rafe Cameron

The Darkest Hour

"John Booker Routledge, pursuant to the North Carolina statute section 14, you are charged with murder in the first degree with aggravated circumstances. If convicted, the maximum sentence would be the death penalty"

The judge finished speaking and automatically everyone in the room began to discuss what had just happened. Sarah was sitting on the other side of the courtroom along with the Pogues, but from here I could see her heart break as she heard John B's sentence.

"Your Honor, he's 17" JJ said 

"Stop. Quiet" The Judge responded

"He's 17! Are you kidding me?" Pope started dragging him out "Hey, John B, we're gonna figure it out" He called John B out as the police officer started dragging him out

Sarah went behind him "John B! John B! No" The rest of the officers did not let her get closer to John B

As I was about to go with her, I felt Ward's hand grabbing me by the arm

"Okay, let's go."

"You're insane" I spat at Ward as I walked past him.

He specifically asked me to go to the trial with him to show how close the family was, Rafe didn't go because Ward forbade him to.

"Bree" Rose called out to me before leaving the courtroom but I just ignored her.

I went ahead to the car and I could only see from afar the little argument between the Pogues, or more specifically, between Kie and Ward; she was never quiet and I'm sure she told him just what he needed to hear.

Ward came back to the car with a flat face.

---

I parked my car at the Chateau, JJ texted me we were gonna talk about what was next, so I needed to be there.

"Are we just gonna sit here and do nothing? No! we're gonna go get his ass" I heard JJ as I stepped inside the porch, everyone stared at me

"We're gonna do something about it!" JJ yelled at Pope, who was inches from him

I sat on the nearest chair I found

"JJ, we're not storming a jail. It's not happening" Pope said to him

"What?" I asked Kie, who was beside me

"He's gone mad" She rolled her eyes

"No, fine, man. Sit in your comfy chair. Do nothing" JJ said to him

"Come on, J" I said, making him direct his attention to me

"Oh hey, how's the little one?" He asked with sarcasm and I gave him a fake smile

"I'm gonna see what I can do" He continued "Make something happen, even if I have to do it by myself" He started walking out

"Okay" Kie said as he shoved the door 

Pope came closer to where we were, Sarah was inside on the phone, she just waved at me when she saw me.

"Should we be worried?" Pope asked

"Yes, for sure. Look, I'm gonna hit my parents, and I'm gonna see if I can get money for a lawyer"

"John B has a public defender. H e doesn't need that now" Pope said

"Are you crazy? Justice costs money" Kie said to him in a firm tone

"I have some savings we could use" I interfiered

"The money for Standford?" Kie looked at me "I don't think so"

"Look, I''m not going anyway, it's wasted money if we don't use it" Pope and Kie stared at me with shocked expressions