Tortured Whispers

by Danielle James

  I couldn’t shove my head in the sand because I was terrified. I had to do things precisely in that moment of fear. It meant I was truly brave like a lion. It meant I was fucking fierce.

  Cease and Dr. Hollows stopped talking when I walked around the corner. I know what they saw. They saw dozens of silvery horizontal scars on my arms that were split in half by the bright pink vertical scars I now sported.

  I hated every scar but they were mine. I didn’t have to love them to be at peace with them. I only had to acknowledge that they were there and they weren’t going anywhere. The world would either accept them or not. Neither choice was my problem anymore.

  “There she is,” Cease said, holding his arm out for me. “You look absolutely beautiful, Brook.” His lips found my temple and I shut my eyes absorbing his strength.

  “You do look beautiful, Brooklyn,” Hollows smiled warmly.

  “You can call me Brook, Dr. Hollows. I think after school and after this trial, I’m going to be done with Brooklyn Powers.” Caesar locked pinkies with me and I leaned over to kiss his cheek.

  We arrived at the courthouse and thank god we were escorted through a side entrance to avoid most of the press. I still dealt with cameras flashing and reporters shouting at me but it was nowhere near the frenzy that was on the front steps.

  Caesar and I sat side by side, holding hands while they brought Ashley in. She wore light blue cotton pants and a matching shirt that read: LA COUNTY JAIL on the back in bold black letters. She looked thin and broken.

  Good.

  I caught Cease looking at me from the corner of my eye. He leaned over and whispered in my ear. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine,” I said, my chin pointed forward. He rubbed my knee and focused his attention on Ashley. There was a soft murmur in the room until the judge walked out.

  “Judge Caleb Baxter Sr. presiding.” The bailiff stepped to the side and I eyed the judge, trying to figure out why he sounded so familiar. I’d either heard of him before or seen him somewhere.

  But where?

  I listened to the lawyers and watched the live stream video over and over. I listened to testimonies about how much blood I’d lost and how I would have surely died if Cease hadn’t acted so quickly. I saw blood tests that confirmed my pregnancy then I saw blood tests that confirmed the loss of my pregnancy.

  Each thing presented as evidence was a blow to my soul. There were times when I didn’t think the tears would ever stop flowing. Times where Caesar had to wrap his arms around me and hold me together because the broken pieces would crumble to the floor if he didn’t. It was too much.

  The days seemed too long.

  I thought the trial would never end and at times I asked myself why the fuck I was torturing myself. Every day I walked into court baring my arms and refusing to hide. It pulled and tugged at me until I was nearly transparent from being stretched so thin.

  The jurors even shed tears when screenshots of me cutting my wrists were displayed. I’d seen enough of it though. I’d lived through that so many times that it didn’t phase me. Not the blood or the look on my face. The toughest part was hearing about me being six weeks pregnant.

  The words sounded foreign to me. Like my skin was far too small and tight to cloak me. I wanted to run and hide from the words being tossed around like nothing. Words like fetus, pregnancy, and abort.

  My knee jumped up and down until it was time to read the verdict of the jury. A short, stout man stood and held a piece of paper in his hand. “We, the jury find the defendant, Ashley Hartwell guilty of the charge of attempted murder. We the jury find the defendant, Ashley Hartwell, guilty of the charge of involuntary manslaughter. We the jury find the defendant Ashley Hartwell guilty of the charge of recording without consent.”

  Hearing Ashley break down in inconsolable sobs helped to ease the pain of everything I sat through for nearly a week while going through that trial. Her family had the nerve to cry along with her like she deserved pity and compassion. They were just as bad as her.

  “Order in the court!” Judge Baxter banged the gavel over and over until silence fell like a hush over the courtroom. Caesar gave my hand a squeeze as we listened. “Miss Hartwell, you have been proven to be a despicable human being as per these testimonies and the video that I have seen with my own eyes. You nearly caused Miss Powers to lose her life because of an internet challenge. You were especially cruel taking advantage of someone who had severe emotional damage.

  There is a special place in hell for people like you who disregard human life. For people that push others to kill themselves and think it’s a joke. Something like that is not a joke!”

  Was I mistaken or did I see tears in the judge’s eyes? His gaze was fiery on Ashley and she cowered beneath it. “I am the wreckage left behind after a suicide is successful, Miss Hartwell. I lost my son to the Livestream the Loser challenge. I have seen heartless people like you in my courtroom before and age and prior record don’t mean a hill of beans to me.

  I will punish you to the fullest extent of the law. You see, you’re dangerous and I have a sworn duty to protect the citizens of California, therefore, I will move to sentence immediately.” A buzz broke out in the courtroom and camera flashes clicked softly in the background.

  My fingertips hummed listening to the judge.

  He seemed familiar for a reason.

  I wasn’t losing my mind.

  During my first session with Dr. Hollows, he told me the story about having a bright spot and he told me about a kid younger than me that didn’t have a bright spot and how he killed himself. The kid’s name was Caleb Baxter.

  The judge for my case was his father, Caleb Baxter Sr.

  I pushed all the air from my lungs and dug my nails into Cease’s leg. Judge Baxter had been there before. He saw what happened when someone killed themselves. I could tell by the look in his eyes he wasn’t going to take it easy on Ashley and she didn’t deserve for him to.

  “Order!” Judge Baxter sounded his gavel then bored into Ashley with a stare so cold it sent a chill through the courtroom. “Miss Hartwell the crimes you committed were atrocious and heinous. They were heavily premeditated and torturous in nature. You had no mercy while you repeatedly urged the victim to kill herself. You orchestrated an elaborate plan to watch Miss Powers suffer so you could broadcast it to the world.

  Because of you, this egregious act has been seen millions of times. Miss Powers may never have a normal public life after this is over with. Given all of the information I’ve reviewed on your behalf, I sentence you to life in prison with no chance for parole.”

  A shaky, emotional cry ripped from my throat after the sentence was read. Not one person was quiet in that courtroom. Caesar held me because if he didn’t, I would have surely fallen to pieces. I would have burst into a million pieces of confetti.

  “It’s okay, Brook,” he whispered into my hair. “You got justice. Our baby got justice.” His words were so hushed that only I could hear them. They were only meant for me anyway though.

  The roar of the world could be heard in that courthouse. The only ones who opposed the ruling were members of Ashley’s family. Not one decent human being would ever think she deserved anything less than what she got.

  I hoped she lived to a ripe old age.

  **

  Caesar…

  I decided to wait until after the trial was done to go to the board with concerns of an inappropriate relationship with Brooklyn. I foolishly hoped that they watched the trial with the rest of the world and deemed the journal inadmissible and nothing to investigate.

  That wasn’t the case.

  I sat in a conference room with Ronnie and a handful of board members while they reviewed papers in front of them. “Dr. Powers, we’d like to keep this as low key and out of the public eye as possible. There has been enough surrounding your family this past month. We also would like to not call much attention to Dr. Hollow’s practice as it’s a staple in the community.”

&nbs
p; “Right, of course,” I nodded at Dr. Owens who was the mouthpiece for the board.

  “Now, what do you have to say for yourself? The allegations are pretty steep and definitely immoral.” Owens’ back stiffened as she looked at me.

  “Dr. Owens, I admit to having an inappropriate relationship with my niece in the past,” I said. She leaned over to whisper to her colleagues and Ronnie leaned over to whisper to me.

  “You’re doing fine. You had to get the truth out of the way,” he told me. I wanted to believe that but Dr. Owens and the other members of the licensing board didn’t look pleased.

  “So, are you admitting to the things written in your niece’s journal? There are accounts of sexual intercourse, Powers.” Owens sounded like she was reciting a chant that would conjure a demon and she didn’t have the heart to finish.

  “I know,” I nodded.

  “You expect us to let you continue practicing? You work with children. Who’s to say you won’t abuse one of them?”

  My jaw flexed in response to her line of questioning. I would never hurt a child. I would die first. Ronnie sensed my irritation and moved to settle the energy in the room. It was charged for sure.

  “Dr. Owens, I’d like to speak on behalf of Dr. Powers as well as his niece Brooklyn Powers since I am both his boss and her psychologist.” Ronnie got the nod to speak and he approached the topic with eloquence. “I’m not worried about Powers abusing children any time soon. I’m not worried about it at all. The brief relationship he had with Brooklyn is a direct result of GSA. You’ll all note that I am the pioneer of recent research done on this unique syndrome.

  He’s had a long string of perfectly normal relationships with women. He is not a sexual deviant or anything of the such. You’d have to look at all the research I’ve done over the past decade and see how seamlessly this situation fits in with non-adoption related GSA.”

  Ronnie laid out fact after fact for the board and they took it all in. I waited patiently while they spoke amongst themselves. On the outside, it may have looked like I was fine but on the inside, I was a ball of nerves.

  What the hell was taking so long for them to reach a decision? That couldn’t have been good. Maybe they didn’t give a fuck about Ronnie’s research or findings. Maybe they wanted to nail me to the wall.

  “Powers, Hollows.” Dr. Owen called out. We all took our seats across from each other standoff style. “The board opts to notify you one week from now of our joint decision. So far we’re split. In order to keep things fair, you will be temporarily suspended from practice until further notice.”

  I swallowed trying to loosen the tightness in my throat but I still gave a smile and a nod. This was a part of what it would take to keep Brook in my life then I’d go through it. I’d jump through all the hoops in the circus for her.

  **

  When I got home, Brooklyn was in our room. She leaped off the bed when I walked in and it melted away the stress of the day instantly. “Cease, guess what?” She bounced from foot to foot excitedly.

  “What?” I sat on the bed and it protested under my bulk.

  “My cap and gown came! It’s almost time,” she did a little shimmy and I couldn’t help but laugh. Her hair was getting longer and beginning to stretch down her back. I couldn’t keep my hands out of it.

  That moment was no different. The second she sat in my lap, I threaded it through my fingers. “Are you going to model it for me?” I quizzed.

  “Of course,” she purred. She went to slip on the white graduation gown but I shook my head. After the day I had, I needed a release and that meant I wanted Brook in as little clothing as possible.

  “Caesaw,” she gasped. The way she said my name when she was nervous made my dick so painfully hard. I slid my gaze over the blush on the apples of her cheeks and down to the flush on her neck.

  She was perfect and I wanted to devour her.

  I freed my cock while she stripped out of her clothes and I stroked it watching the rest of the show. She wiggled her cute little ass for me and I growled, hungry to feel her slippery heat. When the slid the silky white gown over her naked body, I stared at her perfect tits and the way her nipples peeked through the unzipped portion.

  I motioned for her to put on the hat and then come over to me. I needed to suck and bite on those hard nipples. The moment my mouth touched her, she moaned and heat flooded her cunt.

  I cupped her hot pussy in my hand and moved my hungry mouth up to her neck while she squirmed in my firm grasp. “I want you to put that sexy pussy on my cock and ride me until I cum, okay?” I slapped her ass and she yelped. It was cute as fuck and it made me anticipate the noises she would make once I was inside of her.

  “Okay, Cease,” she breathed. I held my dick steady for her and she eased down on top of me, whining with every inch that disappeared between her walls. She slid up and down so slowly at first that I knew I’d shoot deep inside of her.

  Remembering how tense I was sitting across from board members earlier in the day had me hammering into Brook from below while she cried out, her slender body jolting from pleasure. Her hips had a mind of their own and I could only hold on for the ride while I watched her sexy tits bouncing and jiggling in my face.

  “Ride that dick, Brook.” It was heaven being buried deep inside of her. I slid my hand between us and massaged her clit, making her body go rigid with an overload to her senses.

  I snatched her hair in my fist and she whimpered. “Keep riding, Kiddo.” Anger flashed in her hazel eyes and she fucked me like a madwoman while I teased her stiff clit.

  Holy shit, when Brooklyn came, she drenched my cock down to my balls. There was no hope for me holding out after that shit. I’d never felt her cum so hard before. I shot my seed deep, deep inside of her.

  “Caesaw!” She screamed, her nails digging into my shoulders. I thought I would cum again just from the way she shouted my name. It drove me crazy. It showed me that I short-circuited her for the briefest of moments and I loved it.

  Heat danced between us while we sat stuck. My tongue drew lazy circles on her pert tits while she caught her breath. “If we’re going to hell for fucking then I think I’m okay with that. I can’t give up dick like this.” She pressed her damp forehead to mine and we shared a slow kiss.

  “I’m with you on that one, Brook. I could never give you up,” I chuckled.

  “You must have had a shitty day. How was the hearing?” she asked, sliding off of me. I soaked in her long lean lines and tight curves as she walked to the bathroom, naked.

  “They’re making me wait a week before they come to a final decision.” Brook poked her head around the corner and frowned at me.

  “A whole week? They let Ronnie talk, wight?” She was getting nervous and her R’s were slipping.

  “Yeah, he did an excellent job. I still have to wait though.”

  “That’s not fair,” she frowned.

  “It takes time to make a decision on something complex like this,” I explained.

  “You told them we weren’t together anymore…wight?” She knew the entire story we were feeding to the board with only half-truths exposed.

  “Yes. Don’t panic. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine,” I sighed.

  Brook came back with a warm washcloth and wiped my soft cock down sending sparks up and down my shaft as she stroked it. I pulled her down on top of me and slid my fingers through her damp hair. “We’re so close to having everything we want, Brook. We’ve been through too much for this to go wrong. Just hold tight. The week will be gone before you know it.” She slid on to the bed and nodded, but she still looked like her mind was working over time.

  With a sigh, I got up and grabbed her boombox. I popped in a Hall and Oates cassette and pressed play while she laid against my chest. The music calmed her energy down immediately as usual and I sang to her even though she hated when I did that.

  **

  Just like I told her, the week flew by. She had to get ready for graduation and d
idn’t look up again until Monday of the next week. Of course, it helped that I fucked her until she came multiple times every day before school and every night before bed.

  “You find out what their decision is today…wight?” Brook asked, nibbling on her bottom lip. She was all ready for her last day of school and I wanted her to be happy and relaxed, not worried about me. There was no dictating Brook’s worrying though. She was going to worry about whatever she wanted to and there was no stopping it.

  I was grateful that she seemed to have no desire to cut. She told me that losing our baby was her turning point. Even though she didn’t know she was pregnant at the time, the fact that she had a hand in it happening at all bothered her down to her bones.

  I tugged her bottom lip free from her teeth and replaced them with my teeth before kissing her. Her whimper made me animalistic but I had to control myself. I had to leave soon.

  “Yes, I find out their decision today. Please don’t sit at school worrying about me. It’s your last fucking day. Don’t stress,” I told her. She nodded but I knew she’d be in school stressing anyway.

  “I’d be a lot more welaxed if you fucked me on the counter.” She slid her hands up and down my chest, making my dick semi-erect.

  “You know I love filling that pretty pussy up with my dick but I have to be on time for this.”

  Brook pouted but I knew she understood. We kissed goodbye and went our separate ways for the day.

  **

  When I got to work, Ronnie was waiting for me outside the conference room. I wasn’t expecting to have them come to me. I didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. “Have you heard anything?” I asked him, straightening my tie.

  “Nope, but they’re all in there waiting,” he said, glancing at the door. My mouth went dry.

  “Already? I’m on time, right?’ I double-checked my watch just to make sure.