crying on the inside- the end of the fucking world

chapter eleven

james shuffled into the court room, his head down and hands bound in front of him. alyssa turned to see him. it took everything she had to not run to him and wrap him in her arms. he stiffly took a seat next to his lawyer, father, and two officers. james glanced to alyssa. he gave her a light smile, to which she returned one. tears filled alyssa's eyes as the judge took a seat.

"the court of the second judicial circuit, criminal division, is now in session. the honorable judge lòpez presiding." the officer in the front of the room spoke. the judge straightened his back and sighed. a hush fell over the room when he opened his mouth to speak.

"everyone but the jury may be seated." in unison, the court room sat down.

"may the defendant please state their case." sophia stood up.

"my client pleads guilty for manslaughter, robbery, and resisting arrest."

"prosecution may call to their first witness." the manager of the petrol station and her lawyer stood. 

"it was a normal day at the petrol station for my client, mrs. entwistle, when mr. lawram and ms. foley attempted an armed robbery. her co-worker, mr. cave, became an accessory to the crime."

"thank you, you may be seated." the judge mumbled as he began flipping through papers. after a minute or so of reading documents, he addressed alyssa.

"ms. foley, please state your case." lilly stood.

"my client pleads guilty to breaking and entering, resisting arrest, and assisting mr. lawram's crimes." judge lòpez's eyebrows pressed together.

"ms. covell, may your client speak to elaborate?" lilly's cheeks flushed. 

"of course, your honor." alyssa raised one eyebrow as she stood up.

"ms. foley, in your own words, please explain what happened."

"james and i ran away. he punched his dad, stole his car, and we fled town. it was my idea. the car broke down, so we hitchhiked with some pedo. the same shithead molested him in the toilets, then i told him to give me his wallet or i'd tell authorities. he did. so we decided to lie low, and that's when i broke into mr. koch's house. he tried to rape me, so james stabbed him in the neck-" before alyssa could continue, judge lòpez interrupted her.

"thank you, ms. foley. mr. lawram, please stand." lilly and alyssa sat down as james and sophia stood up.

"mr. lawram, please explain the same events. do they coincide with ms. foley's statement?"

here goes nothing... james thought.

"no, your honor." sophia was taken aback. 

"excuse me your honor, may i have a minute with my client?"

"denied. mr. lawram, please continue."

"what the fuck is he going on about?" alyssa hissed to lilly. she shrugged in response.

"i kidnapped alyssa. i stole my father's car to get away, and broke into mr. koch's house. then i killed him. i believe alyssa has a form of stockholm syndrome and a distorted memory due to trauma."

"james, what are you doing?" sophia softly growled at him.

"thank you, mr. lawram. court will resume after a two-minute recess."