Off the Deep End || Sequel to ATF

*10*

I'm going to be making every ten chapters special! I want to make these chapters where something really important happens... perhaps a plot twist... or even a new character...? Anyhow...hehe...enjoy!

Maia's POV

I'm shaking. In a few minutes, I'll be standing infront of hundreds of people, testifying against my parents for abuse and abandonment. I know my points are strong, but I don't know what they have against me. I grip Liza's hand a little tighter and she smiles down at me.

"You're going to do incredibly, Maia."

I force a smile back at her and she walks to her side of the courtroom. I take a long swig of my water, feeling it dribble down the sides of my mouth. The small stand rattles at the force of someone leaning in it. I look up and into my father's eyes.

"We are taking you home after this case because we are winning. When we take you home, you are grounded. Forever."

I pull up my sleeve and show him the burn mark from just a few weeks ago.

"That's pretty freaking undeniable, isn't it."

My fans snorts at me and walks away, joining my mother. 

"Boo!"

"Crap! Aww, what the heck David!"

I lay my head on the podium, laughing about my getting scared. David puts his arm on my back. I look up to se him grinning at me, not a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"You are going to do incredibly. We are going to win this case, Maia. And even if we don't get to become your parents, we'll do everything in our power to make that happen."

He pulls me into a tight hug, and I succumb to him. He strokes my hair and I breath in he scent of his cologne. I never want to forget that smell. He pulls away from me and looks me in the eyes.

"I love you, Maia."

My eyes start to well up and he pulls me into another hug.

"I love you too."

I hear David sniffle. When I look up at him, his eyes are full to the brim. He looks down at me and a tear rolls down his cheek. He wipes it away and smiles.

"You're out of that hell hole, Maia."

He walks to his side of the court, leaving me with a little more confidence. The judge pounds his gavel and the trial begins.

"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Today we are examining the case of the Greenbergs. Maia Greenberg, nine, is filing for abuse and abandonment against her parents, William and Johanna-Rose Greenberg. Her parents deny these claims. Maia, please state your claim." 

I take a deep breath and launch into my claim.

"Hi everyone. I'm making this claim because I can't be with my parents. They physically and mentally abuse me every single day. When I was kidnapped, they made no attempts to find me. I recently went to the police station, and no Missing Persons claim was ever filed for me. I asked my parents themselves, and they said they didn't even try to-"

"Not true! That's not true!"

"Ms. Greenberg! Silence! I'm sorry, Maia. Continue."

"Right. So I was abducted and put into a sex ring, and nobody ever tried to find me. I'm so, so lucky that Liza - err, Elizabeth Dobrikova - found me in that library. David Dobrikova has taken me into his home and treated me like a normal father would. I am requesting to live with him because it gets me out of an abusive and degrading relationship."