Blacken

  “How do you mean working on, and someone in the woods?”

  “Both her and I were working on what causes people to come into town since she was one of them. Avie Conrad went out into the forest alone one night, she was chased out by someone, I thought they may have wanted to harm her in some way, and by extension me. I also thought at the time the two instances were connected.”

  “At any point, did the victim know you had the firearm?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did the mysterious person ever make themselves known to yourself, or only to the victim?”

  “Just the victim.”

  He followed his rehearsed script to the letter, changing the narrative. Hopefully, it could get him off scot free, it certainly painted Avie in a bad light, that’s all he cared about.

  Mr. Gabriele hummed thoughtfully, “That never struck you as odd?”

  “It did, that’s when I really started to notice her change in behaviour. I asked her the next day about it, but she relented that she was unable to even see what they looked like. I knew she was hiding something from me, but I didn’t push.”

  “Did you have any altering opinions of the victim before the night of October twenty-sixth?”

  “I fell in love with her. But the more time I spent with her, the more I realized she was acting differently. She put herself in danger by exploring the woods constantly in the middle of the night. I expressed my concerns over and over again, but she never listened. She stopped listening to me for everything, all my advice, all my declarations, finally breaking off the relationship on October twenty-fifth.”

  “She was the one to break away from the friendship... How were you after that date?”

  “Empty. She was the only friend I had.”

  “And you wanted to continue the friendship even after her blatant disregard for her own safety?”

  He shrugged, “I thought I could help. It’s what friends do.”

  “Mr. Zagorski, were you present the night the incident took place?”

  “Yes.”

  “Could you please run us through what happened that night?”

  Owen nodded. He flashed his gaze to where Avie would have been seated for a fraction of a second, desperately wanting her to be there to witness his testimony, before looking up.

  “It was her birthday. We previously made plans together, but after the falling out, Avie wouldn’t speak to me. I went to her apartment to give her a gift and at least say happy birthday in person before the night was up. When she answered the door, she was very short and impatient. She expressed that she didn’t want me there, even as I gave her the present. I noticed a mark on her chest area, right here,” he gestured to the clavicle on himself.

  “What did the mark look like?”

  “It looked like some sort of puncture mark with light bruising on the bottom of the area. I thought she had gotten hurt from traversing the woods again, so I brought it up. She then loudly exclaimed that she was seeing someone, and to leave her alone.”

  “That must have been another blow to you, did you end up leaving after the exchange?”

  “No, I knocked endlessly at her door, I was terrified she was now being promiscuous, adding to her out of character act. I was terrified she wasn’t being safe in that regard as well, I just wanted to talk about it further, but she didn’t answer.”

  “And in this worried state, you decided to wait at her door all night?”

  “No… Her neighbour caught me and told me to quiet down. I had a spare key that I ran home to get. And I entered her apartment to find that she left, presuming in the time that I had moved.”

  Mr. Gabriele was pacing back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back.

  “Mr. Zagorski … Did you see what happened when the victim returned to her apartment?”

  “I did.”

  “As clear and with as much detail as you can, please explain what happened in those moments.”

  Leaning back, Owen huffed, “She returned to her apartment about eleven-forty in the evening, coming through her bedroom window. I was waiting for her inside in the living room, the door between both areas was closed so I could only hear her return through her voice. Avie came out of her room, seeing me immediately. She smelled so heavily of alcohol while she screamed and grew hysterical, calling me a slew of curse words and shrieking how she hated me. Avie ran up to me hitting at my chest and kicking at my legs, trying to attack me. It was completely unprovoked as I didn’t retaliate, I only tried to hold her back. I feared for my life, she was absolutely feral in that moment. I managed to kick her back, but I tripped and fell. She got back up, lunged towards me again with a blunt statue that she grasped from her bookcase, I reached for the gun tucked into my belt and I shot at her, only once. I don’t remember anything else after that, I blacked out until I was being interviewed.”

  “You felt no choice but to fire a gun to try and stop her?”

  “There was none, she would have killed me in that state, there’s no doubt about it. Her sanity was gone, I panicked.”

  “You are quite tall in comparison, six foot two on record. You could not keep a small five foot three woman from attacking you, the only way you saw fit was to shoot them?”

  “Like I said, she persisted with animal-like strength in her drunken haze, I didn’t think she would be able to stop, it took all the strength I had just to push her away from me. I only shot in self-defence.”

  “You said that she attacked you, where exactly did she manage to land her blows?”

  “Mostly on the chest and stomach, she tried to aim for my face, but I kept her far enough away. She managed to get a few kicks onto both of my shins.”

  “Thank you, that’s all the questions I have for you.”

  The opposing woman stepped up for her interrogation on matters. The tip of her tongue pressed into her cheek, eyeing him before she spoke.

  “Mr. Zagorski, the victim had stated that when she arrived, you shot at her without a struggle happening. And here you explain that the events differed dramatically. Even in the event that she attacked you, why not just flee or run out of the building?”

  Owen bit the bottom of his lip in hesitation. “I was terrified, frozen in fear. There was no way I could stand properly, let alone move fast enough in that moment. All I thought about was how she could be stopped.”

  “But you stated that you loved this woman.”

  Fuck.

  “Well, I-I mean I, yes I did,” he sputtered.

  “You thought the best scenario was to shoot her? How is that, in any way, an act out of love?”

  “I couldn’t think clearly, the situation was out of control,” his voice came out quiet.

  “I don’t know about you, but shooting usually isn’t on someone’s mind unless there were other underlying motives.” Owen frowned, painted into a corner, unsure where to go from that statement. Luckily, she continued, “And after firing the weapon, did you call emergency services?”

  He cursed internally. “I don’t know, it’s all blank after that. My last memory was the sound of the revolver, and then talking to Det. Arcand a few hours later.”

  “Thank you for your time, that’s all I needed.”

  The side of his face pulled into frustration as he stepped down, returning to his table, observing the tart lawyer in front of him as they continued on. Frustrated features held in a moment while he sat, before his face held neutral once more.

  It was all a blur of hours, stretching into days.

  The Crown prosecutor and defence lawyer argued their points, bringing out ever-increasing forensic evidence and passionate speeches to further prove their side. It was exhausting to keep up with, having to relive the night over and over as they went through every little detail. Avie was able to sit at the bar finally, allowing her to watch the rest of the court proceedings as witnesses to the initial crime had done their piece.

  For three days, the court proceedings dragged on.

  The woman was nervous
. The defence attorney really painted a picture that she had been slipping in reasonable behaviour, drinking away troubles and taking out frustrations onto Owen. Of course, she knew the truth, even Owen did, yet how the information appeared to the jury was very compelling to his side of the case.

  The Crown counsel argued fantastically with points about what really had gone on. The redhead figured it was the only reason that the trial had taken so long—there was always some argumentative point to be made by the other party.

  Each night, Avie would return to Rhulle, sick to her stomach with worry. Not knowing how the court favour would work, she feared that he would be released, or that she would be the one in trouble instead. And each night, he held her while comforting her mind.

  “No matter what happens, no matter where you go, I will always be with you. I will wait forever if I have to.”

  Both parties gave out compelling arguments for their side, but the counsel woman stated something that was odd on the fourth day, bringing up the initial statement of Owen’s mention of a creature in the woods.

  “Does that sound like a man who one hundred percent can be trusted with recounting events? Exhaustion mingled with stress could verify a hallucination of the creature the defendant had claims to see, however—”

  “Ask the victim about it, she’s the one fucking him!”

  Her head never turned so fast, pivoting to her left to see the blond standing, palms on the table with an ugly sneer plastering his face. She couldn’t believe it. Avie truly thought Rhulle wouldn’t be brought up in that sense at all, he remained quiet about it in her mention of a relationship, but now as soon as he was detailed as a creature, Owen spoke up.

  People murmured all around them.

  She fought to keep herself ignorant, knowing he wanted a reaction from her.

  “Order in the court! Mr. Gabriele, please control your client,” the judge’s gavel boomed, final as his words.

  With a quick apology, he got Owen to sit down with him after a second of resistance. Clearly wanting to say more, a conflict fought itself out over his face, turning to look back at her. Avie met his eyes in return with only a questioning brow to his pouting grimace. This certainly did not look good for him.

  The case continued, finally finishing through all evidence, pictures, forensics, character studies, testimonies, and statements. All that was left was for the jurors to discuss over the verdict. One by one, they left in a single file to deliberate in the back.

  Avie’s heart was in her throat with her stomach in knots.

  She thought over every word she said, and every word retaliated by Owen’s attorney. The woman prayed, desperate that she could remain safe and that Owen could receive the help he needed to become a better person, the one he used to be. Hands clasped in her lap, she bowed her head with eyes fluttering closed, praying silently to a Guardian Angel she was so often told she had.

  An hour passed.

  Two hours.

  Three hours.

  Without announcement, the loud metal door clicked open, snapping her attention to the juror’s bench as they filed back into their stand. It felt as if they were walking extra slow, wading through molasses as time progressed slowly, awaiting news of the verdict.

  She felt dizzy, watching with such focused intent—briefly wondering how Owen was affected by all of this as well.

  Calmly, Judge Neish questioned, “Has the jury reached a verdict?”

  The representative rose, handing the piece of paper to the bailiff, “We have, Your Honour.”

  He took the verdict from the legal officer, reading it over, before nodding approvingly and sending it back to the juror dressed in a regal blue.

  On the edge of her seat, she could almost feel the collective room take a deep breath and await the final verdict.

  Nobody made a sound, only the hum of the lighting above could be heard as it buzzed in the silent room.

  CHAPTER 25

  “We, the jury, find the defendant, Owen J. Zagorski, guilty of attempted murder of the second-degree.”

  “Granted. Owen Zagorski, I sentence you to seven years in federal prison with a professional evaluation done by the Province’s mental institution due before rehabilitation.”

  The redhead started crying, feeling relief flushing through her. Justice was served today, not only that, but they too saw what she tried to convey, that Owen was a man that needed help, and now, he could receive it. If anything, she was hoping this gift would be extended to him, knowing what it was like to be lost as a person. That’s all he was, lost to someone else that had taken over.

  The silent sobs wracked behind her clasped hands, covering her mouth. Todd turned to console her, hugging her shaking form.

  “He can get better. Oh my stars, he can get better now!” she sobbed into his shoulder, returning the embrace.

  “No! No, you go out and you search the woods, that demon is out there! He has taken hundreds of lives and he will continue to take more! Just ask the monster fucker where he is! Her and her disgusting relationship has to end!” Owen stood and shouted, having the officers restraining him while he fought to have his voice heard, kicking and screaming to all that would listen.

  Crap…

  No doubt about it, the outburst would inevitably draw people to the woods now. Avie watched as he was escorted out of the room and out to who knows where. She only knew that it would be a number of years before she may ever see him again.

  History has a funny way of repeating itself. The woman now saw two close people in her life fall through the grasp of reality and take out what they were feeling, all the frustrations, stressors and emotions out on someone close to her; someone that was close to them.

  She walked out of that courtroom with a weight lifted off of her shoulders. Owen would get better, she knew he would, and he would be able to think over all the situations he put her through with a clear mind. Avie would still be the person that held him accountable, but he himself was the one to place his being behind the bars of a prison.

  The redhead walked up to a pay phone, dialing out after placing a few coins in the slot.

  “Hey sugar, you done already?”

  “Sandy… Owen was found guilty.”

  A pause, “No way! What’d they say would happen?”

  “He’s going to be evaluated, Owen will finally receive counselling. Sandy, I-I think it’s finally gonna be okay.”

  “I’m coming to get you, hang tight.”

  Waiting in the atrium, she finally spotted the familiar blue truck pull into the stall down the lane. She hustled, trying to keep what warmth was in the building with her as she made her way to Sandra through the snow and ice.

  “As soon as I’m paid, I’m giving you gas money.” Huffing from exertion, she settled down on the fabric seats.

  “Listen, sugar… I’ve been wanting to say somethin’ about the whole situation…”

  Avie watched and waited for her to continue. Sandy took a breath, trying to force the words she held onto out, “Owen might get the help he needs, but that doesn’t mean he will be the same person as before. He will still blame you for a lot of things, he may see the error of his ways, sure, but to him, you will always be the villain for not takin’ his side.”

  She looked down, away from the brunette. She knew that it was the most probable outcome of all things, but Avie wanted to remain optimistic. Hoping that Owen and herself could one day, in the future, at the very least communicate. With her future goals, it was a bit of a far-fetched idea, and the blond would come out jaded, no doubt, in some way from the experience.

  However, she didn’t make him pull the trigger on her. He made that decision.

  No, she knew deep down that he would no longer be a part of her life, it just hurt to accept it, that things couldn’t go back to the way they were. Avie changed him, and not for the better.

  “But you can’t help everyone, some people are beyond that,” Owen’s voice echoed through her mind.

  “I
think I always knew that. I was still holding out hope that the future may have a surprise down the line,” she laughed weakly, “I can take that he will hate me, I can take that I will probably never see him again. But I couldn’t take that I was the one that broke him and left him in that state. I just want him to return to his senses, and now I think that’s possible.”

  “Aww, sugar bear, come here,” Sandra reached over to pull her into an awkward hug, “I think you’re right; he will come back to himself eventually. And in the end, that’s the most important thing, right?”

  “Yeah, thank you for talking to me, I needed to hear it. And thank you for understanding.”

  “Always,” they broke apart, “listen sugar, my house is hectic, especially in the mornin’, but if you need to spend the night, my home is open if you don’t want to be alone.”

  “Oh, that’s so amazing for you to offer! I was actually going to go out of town for maybe a few days.”

  “Shit, what’s his name already? You said after the trial you’d tell me all about him!”

  She smiled, “I said I could tell you about him, but his name is a secret.”

  “What? Aww, c’mon sugar, why? He some kinda celebrity?”

  “I don’t know if you would believe me…”

  Avie giggled, before recounting how they met—the first meeting interesting in its own way, and how it seemed like he wanted nothing to do with her. But he kept coming to her, finding out he had an odd curiosity, wanting to know more about her as much as she did with him. The two of them bonding over movies, books, dancing, and family matters over time.

  “He was so difficult to read; I could never know what he was thinking. One night, he asked me to dance just out of the blue, and all I could do was stare at his face, his eyes, his lips. That night I kissed him, and I thought I had made a mistake until he was kissing back.”

  “That’s so romantic, y’all are out of a storybook or somethin’. You absolutely light up when you talk about him, you know that, right?”