by K.N. Lee
But the satisfaction did not last a good while. A sudden lash and pain emanated from my hands as he held them against my back. Something heavy had landed across my thigh and I could have known that was my right leg.
The creature held me up from my neck and twirled me for seconds before dropping me. I have been oblivious to my current state since everything I seemed to hear was like a train horn and an elephant blare, both mixed together unpleasantly.
I felt a sharp pain coming from my shoulder after some seconds. “Was I bitten?” I asked myself, quivering in pain.
We entered into Paul Ryan's office.
Whenever the old guy summons you, you have to believe you were in for trouble and we were aware even before we were summoned. Since Ryan became Principal of New York City High School discipline and morals had been our watchword, but then again some things don’t change – like thunder and lightning, rainbow and rain, my clique and immorality.
"Juan Carlos Dario and Drayton Randolph, where were you last night? Paul asked, as he held a book he popularly called “The Black List”.
Drayton and I stood before the principal, he continues bantering about how we will be getting a suspension if we didn't give him a good reason as to why we were out past our curfew.
He requested the presence of Faye, specifically telling us to show up in the Dean's office a day after.
Drayton and I have been in the dark ever since our rendezvous last night, no one knew of Faye's whereabouts and it was beginning to drive me insane. We were so scared to tell anyone what had happened and even though some of our schoolmates were in the police net, they all had no idea about what had happened to Faye. At first, I thought she was also captured along with the others. After I searched for her throughout the entire building during the tumult, I realized I was wrong.
I faced Drayton unsure of what to say and how to act, I was also in fear and I knew that if we didn't see Faye sooner than later, we would all be getting more than just a school suspension.
Drayton also asked if she had contacted me as we stepped out of the principal's office, fear and frustration visible in our eyes. I was the closest person to her; if she were fine she would have gotten in touch with me.
"What if she witnessed the whole drama we pulled down there yesterday night and decided to shut us out? "Drayton reasoned out, as we walked towards our locker.
"We found her in the Forest of Fae. She must have been hallucinating sir”, the officer told his partner and brushing off whatever epistle I had been narrating as he enveloped me in another blanket, which brushed cold against my skin.
"We found contents of a drug in her system. With the level of drugs we found and taking into consideration the amount of alcohol she consumed at the party, there was no way she could remember or even recall what she saw“, he explained further to his partner while taking notes.
He held my arms up loosely to check for open wounds. I saw the terror in his eyes; he couldn’t possibly imagine what had happened to me last night. He took his torch, and flashed it in each pupil, looking for any signs of head injuries.
I could see the fear and conflict in his eyes when he looked into my eyes.
"Stephen! Stephen!" he stuttered, calling out to his partner.
Panicking, I shifted a little bit forward in between the two front seats to adjust the rear view mirror in order to see what was going on. I focused on my reflection in the mirror; stared at a bruised face and unkempt hair, and then I saw it.
The lightning.
The blue lightning that replaced my green eyes as I blinked them.
1
I stared absent-mindedly beside the window in the cafeteria, drawing circles playfully around the coffee with the teaspoon, as I eagerly waited for my intern’s call. I had to keep reminding myself my phone was on silent, so Sheila wouldn't notice if it rang.
"Have you heard anything yet?", Sheila asked as she tapped my shoulder. Perturbed at her touch, I looked over at my phone for the hundredth time.
"Don't worry, something tells me the jury will soon pass the verdict”, I answered calmly, ignoring the light tickles I felt around my neck, a feeling that occurred each time my intuition told me otherwise.
Sheila Abrahams was a 19-year-old girl, who worked as a full-time waitress, while juggling being a student at the same time. The cafe she worked in happened to be just a stone throw from my office, which encouraged my frequent patronage, allowing us to develop a special bond.
When she found out about my job, she felt more comfortable to confide in me about her ex-boyfriend’s problems and frequently asked for my opinion on that matter.
Sheila was a troubled young girl who lost her parents at the age of sixteen. She got tossed around from one foster care home to the other until she settled somewhere that called home. It got worse when she was seventeen; her foster parents stopped providing her with necessary care. She got tired of telling foster services, as all they could do was move her from one house to another. She already had a bond with the children she lived with and the thought of letting go again was too heartbreaking. Most nights she would cry herself to sleep, her foster siblings would try to help her through the sleepless nights, but after a while, even they didn’t know how to help her. She had to start catering for herself through the little resources she had until she met Colby. Colby was a drunk and coke addict, but he out rightly hid this from Sheila. Masking his real self and portraying a cool and calm persona whenever he was around her, he basked in his charade for a long time and kept patronizing her café just to get a hold of her. Eventually, she fell for his charm and found herself waiting for his daily drop-ins. He showered her with attention and gave her the comfort she was desperately in need of. She felt safe with him and everything felt dreamy until a few months passed.
When Colby realized he got a hold of the cookie, he stopped displaying his cool, calm exterior and began showing the dark, ruthless black wolf he really was. Preying on Sheila and denying her of some of her human rights, he insisted she should quit her job. His insecurities began to surface when started accusing her of cheating on him, fearful that she would meet other men through the same avenue she met him. He began waiting outside the café for her to finish each work shift, chasing away any men that were even the slightest friendly to her. He physically abused her every time she threatened to leave the toxic relationship.
I jumped at the vibration of my phone, and I could feel the tension around Sheila's body as well. Our eagerness fades out like the fog meeting with the sun, and I sighed as I received the call. The voice on the other end of the line giggled into my ear. "Mini-Kins!” she yelled. "Wow, how professional of you. You did not tell me this is the kind of punishment as a result of what happened yesterday. Anyways, what time are you coming home?” I cringed at the way she called the nickname she gave me and grumbled at the thought of last night’s horrific incident.
Alison was my best friend, a tall and blonde photographer, who had unintentionally remained single with me over the years. We have both had our fair share of romances, but they were never emotionally stable enough to turn into serious relationships. Once she even blackmailed me into going on a date with her college professor. She wasn’t the everyday bad girl, but she had her moments. I admired her ability to get out of her comfort zone and live without limits.
Alison happened to have been with me through the donkey years and sometimes unluckily happened to babysit for me whenever I was in the middle of something. I lost control when I had a suitable threat tool like today.
"I think Bastian misses his mom”, she said. I sighed at the thought of Bastian.
Bastian was my hairy, handsome husky, who had the bluest, most beautiful eyes in the world. His hair was so fluffy; you could never get enough of touching it.
“I should be home in a couple of hours. I left food for you and there are snacks for Bastian in the top drawer above the kitchen cabinet”, I whispered into the phone.
I watched Sheila from my seat as the two
men argued over the food items on the menu, while Sheila waiting patiently for them to make up their minds. They threw filthy glances at her butt and tried to make advances towards her. This was some of the things she endured to make a living and she had lived through it for years.
"Thanks for the food babe. I figured the snacks out already, you should know what Bastian is capable of, he would not stop barking at the drawer until I had to investigate and found the snacks. Seriously, this dog thinks he is a real boy and can do whatever he likes“, she said as we both chuckled.
"Oh, by the way, you have mail. It was registered mail and I had to sign for it at the front door. I think it’s a letter, but there is no return address, so I am not so sure who it could possibly be from”, said Sheila.
I strained my forehead while glaring at the obnoxious, ill-mannered men seated across from me, trying to think of who could possibly send me mail but I was clueless.
My phone vibrated on the table, I look over immediately to see it was Alison calling me. Groaning loudly to myself, I put the phone to my ear and begged her to call me later.
As I was putting my phone down on the table, I receive a text message from Tom. It reads, "Boss, the judge wants us back in 20 minutes. The verdict just came in”, I read while experiencing a sense of uneasiness all over my body.
I walked over and dropped into the seat in front of them...
"Two large cheese burgers, please!” I told Sheila as she gratefully took the orders and stepped away.
My new eating buddies stared fiercely at me, as I stared right back at them calmly, waiting for the first person to make conversation.
"I'm Faye-Minita MacDougal, but I know you already know that, so why don't we cut to the chase and tell me why you won't stop harassing my friend over there?” I gestured at Sheila who was a few feet away.
"She’s the fearless lawyer people talk about”, whispered the bearded guy to his friend.
His friend looked at me shamefully and apologized, promising it wouldn't happen again.
I went over to where Sheila was seated, watching as she plays a game on her phone with little or no interest in her customers.
"Thanks for that Faye“, she smiled and put her arm around me when I approached her.
“I think you should eat something before we go back down. The judge will be ready for us in less than twenty minutes”. I tapped the table, winking at her as I gave her the latest update on the case.
She looked at me with her bright, blue eyes, reminding me of Bastian. Their eyes had more than just the blue color in common. They both possessed this innocence and purity in their eyes. It was impossible not to notice.
After the incident, I had made an oath to protect the vulnerable. Although I was not the most naive at her age, I loved her innocence and I took on the case for that very reason. Truthfully, she reminded me of how I could have turned out.
“After today, there will be no more court hearings. This will all over and you can finally move on and put this behind you”, I added with all positivity. Sheila looked back at me, slightly relieved. This case has been dragging on for two years now. She was tired, burnt out and times where she felt like giving up. I tried to remain a symbol of hope for her and it seemed like it really worked.
She grabbed a sandwich from the vending machine and downed the bottle of water next to her. She sat down and nervously began to eat.
We were both on edge, even though we had a better chance of winning this case compared to her ex-boyfriend. We talked briefly until I turned to see Cameron Jet, the Lawyer representing Colby, walk into the café.
I could tell Cameron is rather fed up with his client’s shenanigans. He was also visibly threatened by my strong expertise. He had lost many cases against me before and he knew today was not an exception. I know he questioned how I do it and with the way I looked at him calmly and rather too composed, he knew I was taking the trophy home once again. This time he was not too disappointed about it, he needed it to happen. His client was far too guilty; he knew all the evidence against him was too strong to overlook. He would rather wait patiently to let the judge deliver that tidbit to him directly.
I had not gotten out from my paradise of self-acclamation, when I saw Cameron taking a seat in front of me, adjusting his black tie and giving me an evil smirk. His gray suit hugging his white, plaid shirt and having the right blend with his dark pants and brown brogues.
"You know Faye, I have been wondering why you make such a good opponent. It’s because you make me doubt my expertise. Is there a secret to this?” he winked at me looking straight into my eyes, as I secretly erase the blush on my face, patting myself on the back for not making my embarrassment so obvious.
He knew I was good, but him admitting it was a first, considering how egoistic Cameron could be.
But he was right, he was not the only person in the faculty that wondered how I was so good at what I do, which I was oblivious to most of the time but still took pride in especially at times like this.
He gazed at my cleavage a little longer than necessary and bit his lips gently, swallowing the saliva that must have formed inside his mouth, becoming visible along his protruding Adam’s apple. He was probably wondering how a hot lawyer like me, who was as smart as a fox and had a body many men worshipped, could still be single.
I had come a very long way and my career changed me at some point. No one seemed to understand that and I was not one to tell the story.
"Is someone flirting with their opposing lawyer just before they know their client might be charged guilty for obsessive compulsive behavior?” I regarded speculatively sipping my cold coffee and smirking right back at him.
"The thought is so tempting. I feel headstrong already.” he sneered.
“Faye-Minita, I wanted to wish you all the best. We both know you don't need it, but congrats anyway, we both know what the verdict will be. I really don’t know how you do it. It amazes me every time. I will see you in court”. He held his hand towards me, initiating a handshake. I pulled my hand against his and with that, Cameron left the cafeteria and headed back to the courtroom. He left me a bit stunned, as I had never thought of myself as the woman who always won the case. I was just doing my job, nothing more nothing less.
I moved slightly away from my seat, conscious that something tickled my neck and moved around inside my body.
I always wondered about it after any enthralling conversation with someone but never investigated it. I was rather nonchalant about its existence until now.
Sheila and I sat quietly in the courtroom. I could tell from her facial expression and body language, she was trying to avoid Colby’s dormant gaze. He knew it bothered her, so he kept doing it. To him, they were still very much involved, more like he owned her. She was his toy, he could remotely have her at any time he pleased, but unknown to him, he lost her a long time ago.
She had moved on from being his property to being the boss of herself.
Colby whispered Cameron slowly under his breath, which had a distinct odor of tobacco and whiskey, asking about what his chances were of becoming a free man. Cameron could have sworn the nigger had taken some shots before coming to the courthouse. He nodded in agreement, while he held his breath for seconds for the choking smell to pass. He knew his client was a bit absent, but delusional was just one of his many qualities. When Cameron first met Colby, he mistook Colby for a victim that was being taken advantage of. Cameron pitied him and wanted to do everything in his power to help until Colby forgot to take off the ugly cloak one day. Since then, all he wanted was for the case to be over.
A voice bellowed throughout the courtroom, which was filled with law students who sat quietly at the back taking notes on the proceedings. "Silence. All rise, please. The court is now in session, the Honorable Judge Jorgensen presiding", announced the court clerk. Everyone stood up and waited for the judge as she walked towards the bench and sat down.
Jorgensen adjusted her black-rimmed glasses and looked down at
her book, tentatively, calling Sheila and Colby to stand along side Cameron and Faye-Minita as she read out her final verdict.
Tension enveloped us, and this was one of the many times my heartbeat sped like a rocket. I was about to hear a final verdict of a case extremely important to me.
“As you know, this case has been a long one and it has been stressful for both parties”, she stressed, as she rested her arms on the bench. "After taking a look at all the evidence, listening to both sides, the jury has finally come to a decision. Colby Winter, you are guilty of the charge of harassment and are instructed not to be seen or be in the same vicinity as Ms. Abraham”, she said in a strong voice. "Also, you will be attending a psychological evaluation. If results indicate you have no psychological conditions that are a threat to society, the charges will be dropped. However, the restraining order still stays in effect. Ms. Abraham, you are to see the inspector on your way out to start the restraining order. Case adjourned!", she pounded the gavel, everyone stood up as she walked out of the courtroom.
Sheila jumped at me with huge relief, hugged me tightly, smiling widely. Her eyes were red, building up with tears. I smiled half heartedly, as I did not understand why the judge would allow the charges for harassment to be dropped after a year. I was certain the bastard had no tendency to turn a new leaf. He was way too damaged.
"But if I could become the person I am today, why can't he?” I thought to myself.
I was relieved knowing Sheila could breathe again and not have to fear for her safety. She no longer had to live in fear. There was nothing more peaceful than knowing that.
I motioned for Sheila to meet me outside, as she slowly approached the front desk with Cameron in tow. They both stood quietly, as the judge signed a few papers and passed it to the officer at her right-hand side.