Stockholm Syndrome // sm

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Good morning Ms. Reed, how are you? I'm officer Kevin." A tall, white male spoke as he approached me. "Would you like anything before we start?"

"Coffee." I answered immediately, my mother sitting beside me. He nodded and took a seat infront of us as another officer went to go get my desired drink.

"How are you?" He repeated his previous question as I tapped my nails against the desk beside me.

The room was small, one desk, three chairs, a large one-way window, and a door opposite of it. Four people, three currently, were stuffed inside of here, and it was almost suffocating.

"Fine." I mumbled and he reached for a tape recorder. "I know the process. I've seen enough movies, known enough people."

"Then you are aware everything you say will be recorded and used in a court of law." He told me and I glanced at the mirror beside me. "You know how this works."

"I'm not dumb." I retorted and he nodded, setting down a notebook and vanilla folder.

"I never said that you were." He told me and an officer brought me a coffee. I thanked him and then took a drink. "I'm going to ask you a few questions."

"But of course, why else would I be here?" I asked and he turned the tape recorder on. Speaking through the legal introduction as he informed me of my rights. "I agree to the terms and conditions and whatnot. I know my rights."

"What happened the day you were taken from your school?" He asked me and I looked at him as he clicked a pen.

"I woke up in someone's office, my hands were tied and my ankles were tied. I watched two men get shot, and killed, in front of me. Now I couldn't tell you what they looked like, even if I wanted to. They were masked men. The shooter, his name is Manuel Mendes. He's big built, salt and pepper beard and hair. Brown eyes with, what I've come to learn, was a slight Portuguese accent." I explained and he nodded.

"Was that the night you were taken to Shawn's house?" He asked and I nodded my head.

"Indeed."

"What happened then?"

"I was frightened, but he was gentle and caring. He told me I was safe with him, something I didn't believe then. He sat me down and then freed my arms and legs, cutting off the ropes and all. I ran to the door but he stopped me, he told me if I left, his father would go after my family, my friends, and my pet, even though I don't-I don't have one. He warned me about everything." I wiped my eyes as tears began to fall.

"Did you believe him?"

"I had to. I wasn't going to risk my family's lives just because I wanted to escape. There's no consequences if he was lying, but if he wasn't, then I just killed my family. So I-I agreed. He took me to a bedroom and I eent to bed after locking the doors. I was paranoid, but there was nothing to be afraid of." I recalled and he nodded.

"He didn't hurt you? Touch you? There's was no forms of abuse occurred that night?"

"No. He didn't hurt me or touch me or belittle me. It wasn't anything like that. He seemed scared too. He was crying when he told me what his dad would do, like he was scared for me." I trailed off and he glanced at my mom.

"What happened after?"

"It-It was a constant game of him... of him telling me he's sorry for me and me telling him that I wanted to go home. He cooked. He cleaned. He made sure I was comfortable there. I thought it was some kind of game, but it wasn't." I smiled to myself.

"Why are you smiling?"

"Because Shawn never hurt me, in any way. All he did was care for me and treat me with respect. Not once did he lay a hand on me, or call me names, or touch me in a way I didn't like. He was... dare I say, a gentleman." I told them, looking between my mother and the officers.