The Dare to Destroy ~Cashby~

Chapter 27 (Final)

"In the case of Mr. Alan Anthony Ashby verse Mr. Stephen Fredrick Ashby, I hearby sentence Stephen Ashby guilty on all charges, including Rape, Pedophilia, GBH, ABH, haressment and threats to endanger lives of Mr. Ashby's family and friends, to life imprisonment, without chance of early release, which he will serve in Florida State Prison. A new protection order has been set in place, which mean's Mr. Stephen Ashby shall not even be able to attempt to make any form of contact with Mr. Alan Ashby, or anyone in relation to Mr. Ashby."

"Oh thank god!" I finally let out the breath I hadn't even realised I had been holding in since the judge walked into the room. Life, the monster got life, he will never be able to come near me again, the relief I felt was over whelming. But I knew it wasn't over, the charges my uncle pressed against Austin for GBH and ABH still hadn't been announced, and nor our charges against Ronnie who stood there, guilt written all over his face.

"In the case of Mr. Stephen Fredrick Ashby verses Mr. Austin Robert Carlile I hearby declare Mr. Carlile not guilty on the charge of GBH and ABH and the court as agreed to rule his act, as an act of self defence. So Mr. Carlile, you are free to carry on as you where and the charges shall not be reflected on your criminal record."

Austin visably relaxed at the news, and threw his arms around me. "Oh thank god, I was so scared." He whispered as he buried his head into the crook of his neck.

"It's okay, you're safe." I held onto him tight and let out a long, happy sigh. "We're both safe."

"And finally, in the case of Mr. Austin Robert Carlile and Mr. Alan Ashby verses Mr. Ronald Joseph Radke, I hearby sentence Mr. Radke guilty on all charges, including GBH, ABH, harressment, aiding and abetting a known pedophile, and intent to cause harm to both victims, as well as others, to two years imprisonment in California City Correctional Centre and following his release, a further two years spent on probabtion. Court adjorned." The judge slammed down his hammer before standing up and exiting the court room.

It was over, it was finally over, all the hell we had been put through the past year, all the tears, all the hate, all the cuts, bruises and beatings, all the fear, it was all finally over, and we could finally look forward to starting our senior year, happily.

"Come on, let's go home an celebrate." My Nana beamed happily, with my grandpa next to her, matching her happy smile. We all nodded in agreement and gathered our things, thanking Mr. Radke, Ronnie's father and his friend Mr. Collin's for helping us win our cases.

"Wait, I-I'd like to speak to Alan and Austin." Ronnie called, as guards cuffed him. Me and Austin looked at each other, both of us clearly debating if we even wanted to hear a word he said. After a moment, we sighed and nodded, but stayed in our place. "I-I just wanted to say I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I know that a simple 'I'm sorry' can never make up for the things I've done to you both, but I am. I never meant for it to go so far, a-and I don't know why I did what I did. But I really hope you two can finally move on and be happy, you both deserve it. A-And tell Vic I am sorry too, and Kellin, and Danny too."

"I forgive you." I took a deep breath, trying to force my next words out of my mouth. "I forgive my uncle too."

"What?!" Austin gasped in horror, looking at me as if I'd gone insane, much like everyone else.

"I'm not forgiving either of you for your sake, personally I hope you both rot and get what you deserve...but I'm forgiving you for my sake. How can I expect to move on so long as I'm holding onto the past? How can I expect to be happy and move forward from the awful things you both did if I bare a grudge? I can't, so that is why I am forgiving you both, for my sake, so I, Austin, Shayley and our families can move on and be happy. Forgiveness will set you free and that is what I'm doing, I'm setting myself and everyone else free, to live a life where neither of you can betray our thoughts. After all, if I had not learned to forgive Austin, I would still be the heart broken wreck I was without him, I would still hate him, and we wouldn't be where we are today...happy. I know there is no hope for my uncle, he is a monster and always will be, but Ronnie...I hope you will not make me regret my choice to forgive you and make something good of yourself. You're seventeen, with your whole life a head of you, take my forgiveness and all this as a long, hard, life lesson and be the great man I know you can be."