Rebel

Chapter 1

Hi so my friend and I are writing this story and its rlly long but you should read it bc its good

The cold metal of the handcuffs seared into Maddy's skin, chaining her to the wooden pedestal and keeping her prisoner to the screeching voices echoing around the room.

"The one who stands before you today, disheveled and hungry, is the infamous Madison Jade Redwood. She has stolen from a local supermarket to satisfy her own selfish hunger. We request a time in jail of 10 years at the least." The man beside the judge cleared his throat, rustling his papers around and meeting Maddy's sea green eyes. Maddy heard a click, and turned to see someone taking her handcuffs off. She winced as blood trickled down her wrist from where they had cut into her skin.

"And does she have a lawyer?" The judge asked coldly.

"Not of her own, m'am. She has been provided one by the Higher's summit, and he is to be arriving soon."The judge nodded slowly, turning her head towards Maddy as she leaned back in her chair, like this was just another ordinary day at work. Maddy tried not to show her worry as she stood taller against the wooden pedestal, fear thumping a steady beat to the rhythm of her heart.

As if on cue, the heavy oak doors at the end of the hall burst open. A man with frantic eyes gasped for breath as he stumbled into the courtroom.

"I am Silas Finnegan, the state issued lawyer for Madison Redwood," he panted, holding up a battered folder stuffed beyond recognition with papers and documents. The judge scowled and the room was silent as the man made his way to the wooden pedestal next to Maddy's, giving her a nervous smile. Maddy blinked. A smile was something you didn't see every day, at least for her. His green eyes flashed, determined. And his bald, dark skinned head shimmered in the dim lights far above.

"Welcome, and thank you for attending the hearing of this young woman. I hope you find the information and evidence provided critical for the decision of what this teenage girl's fate should be." Some members of the audience nodded, but most of them rolled their eyes as if they were here against their will. Before anyone could speak, Silas Finnegan cleared his throat. "This is Madison Jade Redwood, a sixteen year-old youth who lived with her mother for most of her life. Her mom joined the united states marine corps when young Madison was just 10. Fired by the passion of fighting for her country, she fought valiantly but sadly did not return. To this day, her whereabouts are unknown."

Maddy looked down. The military gives money. We needed money. She thought back to those days; her mother faced race discrimination because their family was black, and did her best to protect her daughter from it. Countless times Maddy and her mother had been yelled at on the streets, being told to "Go back to africa!", even though they where both born here. Even some job opportunities were cut short because Maddy's mother was a black woman. As low income as they had, her mother wanted to start the best life possible for her. Tears began to sting Maddy's eyes, and when she opened them, the setting had changed into a memory.

Her mother knelt before her, smiling widely and holding Maddy's hands in her own callused ones. "I am going to leave," She explained gently, tucking strand of black, frizzy hair behind Maddy's ear. Her eyes were sad, yet determined. Maddy shook her head, holding on tightly to her mother's wrist and blinking away tears.

"No, you can't go! Where will I stay? Can I come with you?" Mother shook her head sadly, laughing a little.

"No, you are only 10. Here, this is where I will be, and you can send letters to me. "Her mother pointed to the spot on a map. "You will stay with your father, but when I come back, we can go live in a nice, big apartment, I'll get a good job, and we can spend the rest of our days exploring new places and staying out late dancing, with money in our pockets and happiness on our minds." Maddy nodded through tears, knowing she had to act like a big girl to make her mother proud, and she couldn't wait until her mother returned so they could live a better, happier life "But there is one thing I need you to know before I go. Something I have never told you before. You must remember this always."