Homebound (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 31

Note: There will be legal things written in this chapter. I tried my best to make it easy to read while still sounding professional, but just be warned that I literally know nothing about anything legal and greatly used the internet for information. So if anything is wrong or sounds stupid, I'm so sorry! But, anyways, enjoy :) 

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When Andrew and Rebecca get brought into the courtroom, time slows down. If I was anyone else in the world, my steps would be slower. I wouldn't be able to move as fast and my mind would be thinking in slow motion. Then, all of a sudden, everything speeds up to the exact rate of my heartbeat. Walking would be the same as running. Thinking would feel like how you feel when you skim a page in a book, but don't retain any of the information. The moment I saw them dressed in court appropriate clothes, it feels like the whole world was affected.

Javi must notice my body going rigid because he tightens his grip around my shoulders and starts to whisper soothing things into my ear. But because I'm too focused on staring at Rebecca getting her handcuffs taken off, I don't hear a single word he says. Everything gets even worse when Andrew looks up from the ground he's staring at and turns his head to look at the people sitting in the seats behind him.

When his head turns and looks at the other side of the aisle, his eyes get closer to me. I think every single person in the room notices when his eyes find me. This huge smile that's borderline insane stretches across his lips and he tries to lift his hands to wave, but fortunately, the guard hasn't taken his cuffs off yet, so he can't move them due to the chain attached to his waist. My eyes stare directly at him as he starts to move his lips like he's mouthing to me, but before I can see what he's saying, Javi cups my cheek and turns my head away from him.

"Don't look at him," he whispers, not in a controlling tone but in a concerned one. He rubs his thumb along my cheekbone for a few moments before giving me a quick peck on the lips. "just... don't look at them. They don't deserve to see you, okay?"

"Okay," I whisper because he's right. They don't deserve to see me after all they've done, after all the harm they've brought to my sisters and me. Even if it's true, it's still hard to keep my eyes away from them when they're right there. After spending months wishing I could see them the way I saw them before I knew or wishing to talk to them one more time, the opportunity is right here. I grab Javi's hand, starting to trace the lines on his palm as a way to distract me.

It isn't too long until we're told to stand up as the judge walks in, wearing those black robe things that you usually see on Law and Order and other crime shows. We're seated again and they do a few things before it's time for opening statements. The prosecuting attorney stands up, who is a man dressed in a nicely ironed suit with his hair slicked back. He doesn't look too old or too young, but he does look like he has experience, which I guess he has to have if he's working such a popular case. As soon as he starts talking, I tighten my grip on Javi's hand and he gives me that same strength back.

"May it please the court, counsel, members of the jury; this is a case of kidnapping, child abduction, false imprisonment, and child endangerment on four separate occasions. On September 17th, 2005, the start of the Marsh Family Kidnappings begun. Approximately around 3:45 p.m., Andrew and Rebecca Marsh made their way to Beddurn Park with one goal in mind. To start their family, which they did. Around 4:15 p.m., Andrew and Rebecca sped out of the parking lot of the park and in the 30 minutes between they arrived and they left, something terrible had occurred."

Javi seems to notice the tremble in my hands that's picked up because he moves his arm from off my shoulders to wrap both of his hands around mine. He quickly presses a kiss to one of my palms before intertwining our fingers. I look around the room for anyone that I might know since I had been more focused on preparing myself for this than to actually look at everyone else that's here.