➺ 𝙎𝘼𝙑𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙄𝙎𝘼𝘽𝙀𝙇𝙇𝙀 - O.Benson

Chapter 13: Testimony and Trauma

**POV: Isabelle's**
Isabelle sat nervously in the courtroom, her hands gripping the edges of the witness stand. The air felt thick, almost suffocating, as she glanced around the room. She had agreed to testify, to face her father and his accomplices, but now that she was here, doubt and fear clawed at her insides.She looked over at Olivia, sitting in the front row, her eyes filled with love and unwavering support. Olivia gave her a small, encouraging nod, mouthing the words, "You can do this." Isabelle took a shaky breath, trying to draw strength from Olivia's presence. Even though Olivia wasn't a lawyer, knowing she was there, believing in her, gave Isabelle the courage to keep going.The judge called the court to order, and Rafael Barba, the Assistant District Attorney, stood up from his seat at the prosecution table. His expression was serious but kind as he approached the witness stand. Isabelle felt a little calmer knowing that Barba was on her side, that he was fighting to make sure her father would never hurt anyone again."Ms. Shepard," Barba began, his voice steady and calm, "can you please tell the court what happened to you when you were eight years old?"Isabelle's heart pounded as the memories came rushing back—the moment she was lured away from the park, the terror of realizing she'd been taken. She swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she began to speak. "I was kidnapped by Austin Parks and his friends," she said quietly. "They told me that if I ever tried to run away or told anyone, they'd kill me."Barba gave her a gentle nod, encouraging her to continue. "What happened after they took you?" he asked.Isabelle hesitated, her voice catching in her throat. She didn't want to relive those moments, didn't want to remember the pain and fear. But she forced herself to speak, knowing that this was her chance to stand up to them, to take back some of the power they'd stolen from her."They hurt me," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. "They beat me, and they raped me. Over and over. And they told me no one would ever come looking for me, that no one cared enough to find me."

**POV: Olivia's**

Olivia's heart ached as she listened to Isabelle's testimony. She had known the details of what Isabelle had been through, but hearing her daughter say it out loud in front of a courtroom full of people was almost unbearable. All she wanted to do was run up there and hold Isabelle, to take away all her pain. But she knew that this was Isabelle's moment, and all she could do was be there, steady and strong, just like she promised.Barba's face was calm, yet his eyes showed the weight of Isabelle's words. He was a seasoned lawyer, but even he seemed moved by her bravery. As Isabelle finished speaking, Barba nodded, stepping back to give her a moment to breathe.But then the defense attorney stood up, a predatory smile spreading across his face. He was slick, cold, and calculated, and Olivia's grip on her chair tightened. She knew what was coming, and she silently willed Barba to be ready for whatever attack the defense might launch."Ms. Shepard," the defense attorney began, his tone dripping with false sympathy, "you say that these men held you captive for years, yet you never tried to escape or reach out for help. Why is that? Isn't it true that you had plenty of opportunities to get away?"

**POV: Isabelle's**

The room started to spin as Isabelle heard the defense attorney's words. He was trying to make it sound like it was her fault, like she could have stopped it all if she'd just tried harder. The doubt and guilt that had always haunted her came rushing back, and she felt her chest tighten, her breaths coming in shallow gasps."I—I was scared," she stammered, her voice cracking. "They said they'd kill me if I told anyone. I didn't know who I could trust."The defense attorney pressed on, his tone now dripping with condescension. "Ms. Shepard, isn't it true that you stayed because you were comfortable with these men? That you didn't want to leave because you enjoyed the attention they gave you?"A wave of nausea hit Isabelle, and her vision blurred with tears. She could hear the mocking laughter of her father in her mind, telling her she was worthless, that no one would ever believe her. The words caught in her throat, and for a moment, she felt like that terrified little girl again.

**POV: Rafael Barba's**

Barba's jaw clenched, fury burning in his eyes. He shot up from his seat, his voice ringing out in the courtroom. "Objection, Your Honor!" he said sharply. "The defense is badgering the witness with baseless accusations."The judge's gavel came down with a loud bang. "Sustained," he said sternly. "Counselor, you will refrain from harassing the witness. Proceed with caution."Barba turned his attention back to Isabelle, his expression softening as he gave her a supportive nod. He took a deep breath, knowing he needed to guide her back to her strength, to help her find her voice again. "Isabelle," Barba said gently, his voice now the anchor Isabelle needed, "you were a child who was manipulated and terrorized by these men. Can you tell us, in your own words, why it was so hard to escape?"

**POV: Isabelle's**

Isabelle looked at Barba, his steady gaze giving her the courage to keep going. She took a deep breath, her fingers digging into the fabric of her sweater. "I didn't stay because I wanted to," she said, her voice stronger now. "I stayed because I was trapped. Because I was terrified and alone. They made me believe that no one would come for me, that I was worthless."The courtroom fell silent, her words hanging in the air like a challenge—a challenge to the men who had tried to break her, to the defense attorney who tried to twist her truth. For the first time in a long time, Isabelle felt like she had taken back some of her power.As she stepped down from the stand, Barba gave her a brief nod, his expression one of pride and respect. He knew how hard it had been for her to get up there, to relive her nightmare in front of everyone. And he knew that her courage was the strongest evidence they had against her father and his accomplices.

**POV: Olivia's**

The moment Isabelle came off the stand, Olivia stood up and pulled her into a tight hug, holding her as Isabelle finally let the tears flow. "You did it, Izzy," Olivia whispered into her hair. "You were so brave, and I'm so proud of you."Isabelle clung to Olivia, her body shaking with silent sobs. But there was something different about these tears—they weren't just tears of pain. They were tears of release, of strength, of knowing that she had faced her fears and spoken her truth. For the first time, Isabelle felt like she wasn't a victim anymore. She was a survivor.And with Olivia and Barba by her side, she knew she would never have to face the darkness alone again.