Borderlines

Chapter Nineteen

Fawn's eyes grew wide as four guards rushed toward Travis. Travis curled his fists, but one nineteen year old boy was no match for four seasoned guards.
"Wait!" Emma shouted while the guards drug Travis over to the throne in front of Clay, they forced him down onto his knees. Fawn noticed Travis had a split lip. Fawn waited for Travis's reaction as he glared at Clay.
"How ironic." He growled. Clay didn't seem flattered.
"What do you mean?" He asked. Fawn thought it sounded more like a demand.
"You sitting on the throne." Travis smirked.
"One would almost think you were king." Fawn saw the rage flash on Clay's face and he gave a subtle nod to the guards. Fawn took a step forward, fist balled, one of the guards kneed him in the stomach. She ground her teeth, they were like Clay's pets. Travis didn't even cry out in pain, he just kept glaring at Clay. Glancing at Fawn and the rest of her group, Clay straightened, as if just noticing them.
"What are you doing here?" Ruth hissed, making Fawn remember she was still in the room. The blonde had a look similar to a snarl on her face, but Fawn could see a hint of a smile. She thought she had won.
"We are here to vouch for his innocence." Fawn said with a nod at her group and then Travis. Ruth's smug look faltered, but she recovered quickly.
"He forced himself onto me, I have proof." She growled across the throne room, holding up her wrists. Around each of them were scattered purple and green bruises, Fawn glanced at Travis to gauge his reaction. His green eyes blazed with anger.
"Those weren't there this morning." He hissed.
"So you were in her room this morning? How fitting." Clay said from Marcus's throne. Travis's gaze trained back on Clay.
"I did sleep with her last night, but I did not rape her. She drugged me!" He shouted. Clay pretended to care about what he said as he waved Fawn's group over.
"We will see about that. I am bound by law to give you a fair trial so let's see what your friends proof is." Clay's voice held a mocking tone. The first testimony came from Emma who talked about how funny Travis had acted and how eager Ruth had seemed to help him. They had to skip over Willow as she still wasn't back yet, which worried Fawn. They continued to Garrett and Garth, finally ending with Fawn. Travis also pointed out to Clay that he had only drank one glass of wine that night. The whole time Clay listened silently to their speeches while Ruth stood to the side, holding a permanent frown. Minutes ticked by in silence and Fawn felt fingers intertwine in hers. Garth stood beside her.
"Where's Willow?" She asked him in a worried tone.
"She'll be here." Garth whispered back. Travis looked a little annoyed at sitting in the same bent position in front on Clay, he glanced over at Fawn, but looked away quickly. Finally, Clay set his hands on the armrests of the throne, pulling out of his inner thoughts.
"Unfortunately," Fawn felt all her muscles tighten. No!
"I cannot regard any of your testimonies true without any proof." A pit sank into Fawn's stomach and she squeezed Garth's hand tighter.
"A much as it pains me to see the overseer's in such disarray, I have no choice, but to believe Ruth here. For all I know, someone could be paying all of you to do this." Clay tried to sound down-hearted, but Fawn could see right through his bluff.
"Some one could be paying her!" Fawn said pointedly at Ruth. Ruth put a hand over her heart, gasping.
"Now why would I fake something like this, Fawn? You know me." She rubbed her wrists and shivered. Fawn held back the urge to knock the girl flat on the floor. Fawn saw the veins in Travis's neck stick out as he ground his teeth. Determination coursed through her. They couldn't let this happen. She glanced around the throne room frantically. Where was Willow?! Garth seemed equally worried, when she caught his eye. Fawn noticed Clay glance to one side of the throne room and she saw a few Congress members and much to her dismay, a camera crew.
"Travis," Clay started, "I charge you with the rape of Ruth Chase. Your punishment is death and you have no choice, but lethal injection." Fawn panicked inwardly as the guards yanked Travis to his feet, dragging him backwards.
No! Fawn screamed to herself repeatedly. Travis yanked against the guards furiously, and surprisingly they were having trouble controlling him this time. Retaliating, the guards kicked the back of his legs, crumpling his feet beneath him. Fawn gasped, when she heard Travis suck in a pained breath. Clay was watching the whole scene, his face impassive, while Ruth tried to hide a smile the best she could. Travis was almost to the end of the throne room when The doors flew open, crashing back against the walls. Fawn felt a rush of relief when she saw Willow's face. The girl was carrying something as she walked toward Clay, triumph written all over her face. Behind her, a tall dark hair-haired policeman followed with a few others close behind.
"And there's the calvery." Garth whispered in Fawn's ear.
"You want proof?" Willow growled at Clay, she didn't stop her advancement toward him. Clay took a step back as Willow ascended the few stairs the led to the thrones. She shoved a cardboard box into his chest.
"There's your proof." Fawn was surprised at her friends boldness. The whole room had fallen silent and look of horror shadowed Ruth's face. Clay looked at the box and Willow stepped back, standing by who Fawn assumed, was the Chief of Police.
"A cardboard box?" Clay asked. Willow rolled her eyes as if she was speaking to a toddler.
"Open it." She said dryly. Clay opened the box and a plastic bag full of brown powder rolled into his palm. Ruth started forward, but a police officer held her back.
"You had no right-" Clay held up a hand. He looked at the officer beside Willow.
"What is this?" He asked tightly. Fawn looked at Garth and he shrugged. They both had no idea. The officer cleared his throat.
"That would be opium, sir." Clay fingered the baggy, glancing at Ruth. Willow took a tiny step forward.
"It causes memory loss and leaves its patient in a subconscious state, much like the one Travis seemed to be in last night." Fawn glanced at Travis, who the guards had finally released. He stood silently, glaring at Ruth. Fawn saw the hate burning in his eyes, he wanted her dead for this.
"What are you implying, Miss Singer?" Asked Clay, using her last name. Willow looked at Ruth.
"What I suspect is Ruth put this into Travis's wine last night, giving us all the illusion that he was drunk, but in reality she had drugged him. After the fireworks, she generously helped him to her room, where Fawn and Garth both witnessed her inviting him in. After the night was through, Travis woke up to the truth. Ruth had drugged him, used him, and tried to get him kicked out of the competition." Willow finished. Ruth lunged at her.
"You liar!" She shouted, an officer pulling her back. Willow didn't flinch. Ruth turned to Clay.
"They're all lying, every single one of them!" Her gaze traveled across the room to Travis.
"He knew what he was doing!" Travis looked back at the girl calmly. Fawn watched Clay put the opium back in the box.
"Arrest her." He said lowly. Ruth froze as she was handcuffed and pushed forward by the policemen. She looked at Clay fearfully and Fawn thought she saw something spark in his eyes. Ruth was dragged away. She yanked against her restraints.
"Liar!" She screamed at Clay. Fawn felt a nervous jolt. That didn't sit well with her. Ruth passed Garth and Fawn.
"Traitor!" She seethed and with cold realization Fawn saw that her gaze was locked with Garth's. It was only there for a fleeting moment, but Fawn saw it. She watched as they hauled Ruth out of the room, Travis's gaze followed the girl out. When Ruth was no longer in site, the throne room door slammed closed with a loud bang. All was silent in the room, until Clay turned to the group.
"You are all dismissed." He said before exiting the throne room himself. Willow walked over to everyone, bringing the Chief of Police with her. Fawn soon learned his name was Claus Baxter. The reason Willow had took so long was apparently because Ruth had went to great lengths to hide evidence in her room, but she didn't hide it well enough. Garth wrapped an arm around Fawn's shoulder, squeezing her close. Fawn felt a sense of triumph at what they had done. Travis slowly walked over to the group and everyone fell silent. He rubbed his palms together.
"Thank you." He said firmly, looking at everyone. A chorus of 'you're welcome' and nods drifted through the group. He looked at Fawn closely and then at Garth, something like a shadow seemed to pass through his green eyes.

~

The rest of the afternoon Fawn hung out in the garden, studying the books that she and Travis had taken in a small remote corner. She wanted some time away from all of the drama in the palace. Travis hadn't asked her about the rebellion book yet, but she knew he wanted to know. Soon it became too dark to read and the stars came out. The moon didn't even illuminate her path as she made her way back into the White Palace. She climbed the stairs, which were poorly lit, to the second floor. When she reached her room she found it hard to open her door with the books in her hands so she set them down. She was just twisting the knob, when a hand wrapped around her waist and spun her around. Fawn was about to scream when she felt warm lips press against hers. They were familiar.
"Hey, it's just me." A voice whispered to her. Fawn let out a breath.
"Travis, how dare you scare me like that!" She whisper-shouted, half punching him in the chest. She could just make out his outline in the dark hallway. He chuckled and his breath warmed her cheeks, making her realize how close he was to her.
"Sorry." He said quietly. Fawn felt his hand push against her side and her breath quivered, heat flaring to her cheeks. She let herself relax against the door.
"What do you want?" She asked.
"I just thought my thank you to you should be a little more personable." His lips barely touched hers. Fawn leaned forward when he pulled back.
"Stop teasing." She growled. Travis smirked and kissed her again, a little more forcefully this time. Fawn inhaled quickly as electricity jolted up her spine and she pushed her body into his, molding into his form. Travis chuckled and kissed her once more, even more forcefully than he had the last. Then he was gone. The feel of his lips, his touch. Gone. Fawn watched him move off into the hallway. Her heart pounded against her chest, echoing in her mind. She tilted her head back against the door, inhaling deeply through her nose. Travis had lit a spark, and it wasn't going to die down easily.