Judgement Day: The conclusion

This is the third and final piece of Judgement Day.

 

 

  

"She was choked, twice! We all saw that man do that to her. Yet the judge says that we should be lenient on our decision. Not to give him a long sentence." All the jurors in the room continue to look at Mark. "True. I see your reasoning, but the judge also said it’s what she wants." They all turn and look at Jack. "I don't care! We should make that b*****d pay dearly. He could even end up doing that to his son! We can't take that chance." "I agree with Mark. Besides, she mentioned that he had killed a man. He probably didn't even serve time for that." Suzan looks around. Michael clears his throat. "I think we all think he’s guilty, right?" "Well duh, of course we do!" Casey says. They all raise their hands. "So then how long do we sentence him?" John asks. "I'd say at least six years. I'd say that’s pretty lenient." Everyone turns and looks at Mary. "Six years is not even half of what I want to give him. But I am thinking of what the girl has asked of us. So, what do you say?" Mary looks around at her fellow jurors. "I agree, but we have a few days if we need it, to discuss all of this." Julia says. "Yeah, I agree. So, let’s think of something reasonable to go on." Sasha says. They all group together and begin discussing what to do.

    I run my hand through my hair and shake my head nervously. "I don't know. I mean, my sisters could trample you. Trust me, they do it to me all the time." He grabs my twitching hands and holds them within his. "If your sisters trample me, I know you will come to my rescue. Besides, I am dying to meet the rest of your family." I look up into his eyes. "Yeah, I guess. My mom's the only parent who did support me when she knew I was dating you. Plus she kind of wants to meet you too." "You see, that’s why I want to meet her." "Alright. But I warn you, my family is strange and sometimes they don't know when to shut up."

    As we make our way down the hall to my mom's hotel room, I begin to have second thoughts. Vanden grabs my fidgeting hands and tries to sooth my nerves. We reach my mothers door and stop. I knock on the door and my mother answers. "JANICEI!!!!" She grabs me and gives me a big hug. "I missed my baby." "MOM!!! If you would please let go, there is some-" "JANICE!!!" My sisters come bounding into the room and jump on me. I stumble and lose my balance. I begin to fall when I feel Vanden's strong hands catch me. He helps me up as my sisters continue to maul me.

    When I finally get them all off me, I clear my throat and try once again to introduce Vanden. "If you guys will stop trampling me for one moment, there’s someone I'd like you to meet. Everyone, this is Vanden." I reach for his hand but he wraps an arm around my waist and says, "Hi. I'm Vanden." He looks first at my sister Trixa. "You are Trixa." He looks at Trisha. "You’re Trisha." And then at my mom. "And you must be Mary." Everyone is silent for a moment, then my sisters come up and hug us both. We both stumble at the attack and try to keep our balance.

    When I get my balance back, I shoo my sisters away, and head for the living room. I sit down at the nearest couch, which turns out to be a loveseat. Vanden sits beside me, and my mom sits on the other couch. I look at my mom. She looks at me and Vanden, she smiles. "So, how long has it been for you two?" "Almost two years." We both say it at the same time. We look at each other and laugh. I grab Vanden’s hand and squeeze, indicating that I am nervous. He squeezes back. "So, what do I owe this visit?" "Mom...I came to see you and the girls to see how you were and to introduce you to Vanden. I thought you'd like to meet him in person." My mother eyes me suspiciously. "Ok." I look at my mom. That’s when we hear the crash.

   I bolt up and run down the hall. I see a small foot sticking out of one of the doors and head for it. I peer in. Trixa is on her back. I look for Trisha. She jumps out and startles me. Trixa begins laughing. I sigh in relief. I bend down and begin tickling them. Trisha tackles me and I fall backwards into someone’s legs. I look up and see that it’s Vanden who I got knocked into. He smiles an evil grin as I try to get both my sisters off me. "Oh shi-" He bends down and tickles my sides. I try not to laugh, but it doesn't work. I burst out laughing. My sisters begin to help him. I beg them to stop. When they don't I tell Trixa and Trisha to go after Vanden. They tackle him and I get up to join them.

   My mother walks down the hall. "Trixa." I whisper. "You and Trisha go after mom." They both get up and dash for my mom. I stop tickling Vanden and say, "Come on!!!" I help him up and go get my mom.

  When the doorbell rings, Vanden goes to answer it. I hear him talking to people but don't pay much attention. Next thing I know, I'm being dragged off my mom and dragged backwards. Jake grabs my legs and Vanden grabs my arms. "NOT FAIR!!!" Rachel begins tickling me in all my major tickle spots. I struggle to get them off me. "Trixa, Trisha....HELP!!!" My sisters come to my rescue. "Get Rachel and Jake!" I use all my strength to free my arms.

   When I finally free my arms, I look at Jake. "So why are you guys here?" We just came to hang out. We got bored. Plus, we were thinking about rounding up the gang and going out and doing something together." "Sounds like fun, but what are we going to do in this boring old town?" "Ummmmm..." We all sit there for a few minutes while Rachel struggles to get the girls off of her. "Ok guy’s thanks. But we need to talk for a bit. Go get mom." "Hey, I know." We all turn and look at Vanden as my sisters go looking for my mom. "Why not throw a small party?" "For what?" I ask. "For you. For everyone." "That sounds like fun, and I know just the place too." They all look at me. "Where?" Rachel asks. "The Vibe."

   As we are all getting ready, I grab my mom and two sisters and drag them into the living room. "Hey, me and my friends are going to throw a party, and I want you guys to come too." My mom looks at me kind of shocked while my sisters jump up and down. "Why do you want us to go?" "Because, your my parent and their my sisters. Plus, I was thinking of inviting Nancy too." Just as I was finishing talking to my mom and sisters, Rachel comes bounding into the room. "Vanden wants to talk to you alone. And I need names and numbers of people who you want to go." I look at her and smile. "Well, I would like Justin, Mandy, Ashlee A., Cory, Nick, Tom R., Tasha, Janet, Sarah, Nancy and Josh, and both Jesses." Rachel's jaw drops. "What?" "You want Justin to go? But you don't even really know him." I smile. "I know. But you do. Besides, this isn't just my party. It’s everyone’s." I turn to go. "So get calling."

   When I reach the room Rachel told me Vanden was in, I hear him and Jake talking. "What if word gets to one of her father's friends? And they go and blab it to her father and her father tells them to hurt her?" "No one will hurt her while I am around." I step in. "Your right. No one will. Besides, all my father's friends, whom I know, all like me." Both of them stop talking. "But what about the ones you don't know?" Jake asks. "Meh, I'll take my chances. Besides, I have you guys to worry about." "What do you mean?" Vanden asks. "Well think about it. What do I care more about than anything?" "Your friends and family." Jake says. "Exactly. He will most likely go after you guys. Which scares me, but I am going to try and not be worried." They look at each other. "So, Vanden. You wanted to talk to me?" Vanden looks up. "Oh, yeah. Hey Jake? Can you excuse us for a minute?" "Yeah, sure." Jake gets up and walks to the door. "Behave you two." He winks and bolts out the door, closing it behind him. "That Jake. Sheesh. I swear I am going to ring his neck one day." I sit down next to Vanden. He takes my hands in his. I look up. "When this whole thing started, I was scared. I was afraid I was going to lose you. And I never really got a chance to talk to you because we never really got to be alone." "Yeah, I know." He pulls me to him. I hear footsteps coming down the hall, but I ignore them. "Well, when I got scared I never really got a chance to properly hug you." he hugs me tightly, and I hug him back. "And." He lifts my chin. "I never really got to get a good kiss from you either." He brings his mouth down onto mine before I have a chance to react. I close my eyes and wrap my arms around his neck as he wraps his around my waist. The door opens and I open my eyes just as a bright flash goes off.

   We break the kiss as my eyes try to adjust. I stay tangled in Vanden's arms as I try to get my vision back. "Aw man. They weren't doing anything to serious. But at least I got a picture to tease Janice with. Hehe." Jake says. Rachel snickers. "JAKE!!!" I shout, still trying to get my vision back. "I'm going to kill you!" Vanden loosens his arms around me as my vision slowly returns. "Before you kill Jake, everyone I called says they can go." "Thank you Rachel. Will you call The Vibe and tell them that I will be throwing a party there and also ask my mom to go out and buy some party snack food. Now, where the hell did Jake go?" Vanden gets up. "I think he dashed into the living room." I get up and go after him.

    I stop at the hallway entrance into the living room. I look around. Jake is sitting on the couch. I bolt in and jump on him. "Hey Jake, I owe you a smack!" Jake struggles under my weight. "Vanden. Help me hold him down!" Vanden walks in and holds Jake down. "Oh come on Janice. It was just a joke!" Jake looks up at me trying to look innocent. "Oh no. That won't work on me." I start to tickle him. "Janice! Please. I'm sorry. hahahaha! Stop! Please." "You rat! Don't do that again. You nearly blinded me." I get off him and let him up. Vanden lets him go. Rachel comes down the hall. "The Vibe says they can throw your party at about 8:30 pm." "Great! Do me one more favor?" "What?" "Call everyone back  and tell them when it starts, and to meet us there." She sighs. "Ok."

   As we walk to The Vibe, I start to get a bad feeling. I look around. No one but us are out tonight. But the feeling doesn't go away. "Hey guys, I have a bad feeling. Maybe we should have gotten a ride from my mom." Me, Jake, Rachel, and Vanden look around. "I am going to call her and ask her to come get us." As I dial my mom's number, I smell the faint smell of alcohol. "Hello mom? Could you come get us please?" I look around. "We are by the park entrance area where they pool is." I continue to look around. Then I see them. Five drunks coming towards us. "And mom, please hurry!" I turn and look at my friends. "Be careful. I fear we may have trouble." I point out the drunks. We start walking. Trying to pass them. I hear one stop and shout.

    "Hey boysss. Look. We got comp'ny. Two ladiesss, and sssome boyss." We stop. Vanden gets in front of me but I push him aside. He looks at me. "what are you doing?" "I can fight Vanden if I need to. But we need to protect Rachel. Hey Jake. You in?" Jake looks at me. "Hell yeah." I turn around and look at Rachel, who in turn glares at me. "What?" "I can fight." The drunks stumble towards us. "Oh, I wish my mom would hurry." The drunks surround us. "Hey baby. Want some of this?" One grabs himself in front of me, and I give him a look of disgust. I hear another one say something to Rachel. I look around and say, "F**k off a******s!" "Oooh. Hey Johnny. This ones got a mouth on her." I run up and sock the one who referred to Johnny in the face. He stumbles back. "I think we will have to teach this one some manners." Two others step in front of me. They grab for me but Vanden knocks one on his a*s as I go for the other one. I hear Jake and Rachel fighting behind us. One of the drunks comes up from behind me and grabs me. I growl and kick him between the legs. He lets go and stumbles to the ground. I punch the third guy in front of me in the nose and turn to help the others. The drunk I had punched the first time had recovered and was going after Rachel. I run and ram into him. We fall and I land on top. He recovers quickly and grabs both my wrists in one of his meaty fists. He punches me in the gut. I look around and see Vanden on the ground working his way up. I shout to him to help me when the drunk punches me again. I groan. Vanden gets up and comes towards us. I distract the drunk by spitting in his face. "You little b***h!" He punches me hard in the gut again. Vanden comes up and kicks him in the face and he lets go. I sluggishly get off him trying to recover. Vanden punches the drunk in the face and knocks him out cold. I look at Rachel and see that she managed to get the other drunk off her. "Vanden! Go help Rachel." I look at Jake. He's buried under a drunk and was getting beat about. I run and kick the drunk in his side. He rolls off Jake and I kick him in the nuts. A car horn sounds. I help Jake up and help him walk to the car. "I was wrong. I guess we needed to protect Jake instead." I shout. I hear snickers behind us. I laugh. "Janice. He just caught me off guard that’s all." "Mmhmm yeah ok. What ever Jake." I laugh again. "You still manage to make me laugh, even in the face of danger." I wait for Rachel to climb in, then pull Vanden aside. "I love you." I hug him and turn to get into the car, when he grabs my arm." I love you too. Don't ever scare me like that again." He kisses me lightly and I hug him again. "I can't make any promises but I'll try."

   When we get to the party everyone was wondering what had happened. So, we go and sit down on the couches and tell them each our story. "Wow. Sounds creepy." Sarah says. I laugh. "It wasn't creepy. I was more scared for my friends than anything. Now. Let’s party!" Everyone jumps up as the music starts blaring. As I begin to dance I see Rachel and Justin tangled in each others arms.

   I danced until I was worn out. I played a little pool and conversed with the owners. Finally I sat down on a couch and began watching everyone else have fun. I lay my head back and close my eyes. Soon the music starts going out of focus as my mind begins to wander. But I could still feel the beat thrumming all over.

   Someone plops down next to me and the world comes back around me. I open my eyes and look around. Vanden had sat next to me. Jake and Rachel across from us. "What are you thinking?" Rachel asks. "Nothing." "Bullshit. I know you were thinking." I glance around. "Well, I was thinking about the case." "What do you mean?" "I'm just worried. I mean, we get the s**t kicked out of us tonight, then we come and party. When the next trial comes up, I’m afraid of what will happen." "You know we-" My phone rings. "Hold that thought." I answer it. "Hello?" Mrs. Rice?" "Yes." "This is the secretary from the jail." My body tenses. "What happened?" "Your father got a hold of a knife some how and hurt himself." I gasp. "He was trying to hurt one of the officers. Had him by the collar. Went in to stab him and the officer moved. So he missed and cut his wrist deep." "Where is he?" "He’s at the hospital." "I'm going over." I hang up the phone. "Who was it?" Vanden asks. "The jail secretary. My father is hurt." I get up and start to make my way towards Nancy. "Hold on." Jake stops me. "This is crazy. You’re going to see him?" "Yes." "Your nuts!" "No. I'm his daughter. I need to go and make sure he’s ok." "Even after all he’s done to you, you still want to go and make sure he’s ok?" "Yes." "Why?" "Because I care for him even though I don't love him, and don't respect him, I still care for him." "I see. Well then. We are going with you." I look over at Rachel and Vanden. "I am too tired to argue." I make my way towards Nancy again.  "Nancy Dads hurt himself." "I know." "Then let’s go."

    As we walk into the hospital I feel Vanden's hand snake its way to mine. Jake and Rachel huddle close to me as Nancy and Josh lead the way. When we get to the room I stop. Nancy walks into the room and goes straight to my father. Me and my friends hang back. I look in cautiously. My father is sitting up in the bed with an I.V in one of his arms. Blood flowing from the I.V to his veins. A doctor passes by and I stop him. "Excuse me doc. But I was wondering. How long will that take?" I indicate my father and the I.V. "To be done?" "Oh, well. It should be done later tonight. He lost a lot of blood, but yeah it should be done by tonight. He will be ready for court tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" "Yeah, something about deciding on the sentencing or something." "Oh, ok. Thanks doc." I look in on my father again. I take a deep breath and walk into the room.

   My father glances at me and then my friends. "I see you brought your lackeys. Did you bring a tape recorder too?" I wince and look down. "No I didn't. And their not my lackeys. Their my friends." Tears start to form around my eyes. I try to hide them so no one will see. But too late. "Awww you going to cry? No. You'll hold it in, run off, and cry." I bite my lip." "Go away Janice. I don't want you here." I look up at my father again. Then, I turn towards the door and walk out. "You know. She only did this because you kept hurting her. She didn't even want to do anything. I made her, because she doesn't deserve the treatment you gave her. She's a nice girl. She doesn't need the torment and abuse you afflicted on her." Rachel turns and walks out the door. "Yeah. She used to talk about you how great you were and how much she loved you. How she loved her father and wanted to be with him. Then you turned mean and took your rage out on her. She came here to see you, to make sure you were ok. Because she still cares about you. And I think she still, deep down, still loves you." Jake turns and walks out of the room. Vanden looks at my father, shakes his head, and walks out.

    Out in the hall my tears flow. They betray me. I couldn't make them stop. Vanden comes up behind me and hugs me. Rachel takes my hand and guides me to a bench. She sits me down. "What’s wrong?" I try to make myself stop crying. "I saw such hate. Such betrayal in his eyes. I saw nothingness for me. I told you this trial was a bad idea, now my father hates me." Vanden holds me close in his arms. "Janice, by the way he was treating you, I'd say that he already sort of hated you." "Let's just go home." I stand up and make my way to the door. My cell phone rings. "Hello?" "Is this Janice?" "Yes." Hello. We are calling to inform you that the jury is ready with the results of the case. We just wanted to let you know that the next trial will be held tomorrow at 12:00 pm." "Thank you." I hang up. "Who was that?" Rachel asks. "Nobody. The trial is tomorrow at 12:00 pm." I wipe my face clean and walk out the door.

 

 

 

THE TRIAL: FINAL CONCLUSION

 

    I walk into the court room with fear. I sit down and wait patiently. When my father walks in I glance at him. He looks frail and old. His eyes are worn and his clothes ragged. He looks at me and I see sadness and betrayal in his eyes. I stifle a sob as the judge walks in.

   "Please be seated. As you all know, we come here to hear about a case. A case on abuse. Jury. Let’s get started." A jury member, whom I am guessing was the foreman, stands up. "We find the defendant, guilty of all charges. It took us awhile on figuring out a proper sentencing since Mrs. Rice wanted us to be lenient. But, we have decided on two years in prison." He sits down and the judge stands up. "Two years for Mr. Barker. Starting now. Case dismissed." The judge pounds his gavel. I stand up and walk over to my father. I look up at him. "I'm sorry." I turn to leave. "I'm sorry too." I keep walking as tears begin to form. Vanden stands up and reaches out, but I push his hand away. I run all the way up the aisle and out of the court room. I run and run. Not wanting to be there. I make it all the way outside and to a nearby tree. I stop and go to my knees. I begin crying as I hear footsteps approach. Strong arms grab me, and turn me into a warm body. Vanden holds me as I cry. "I didn't want to . I didn't-" "Shhhh. I know. I know." He rocks me, and we stay like that for a little while. Finally I break away from his grasp. I wipe my tears away and look at Vanden. "Thank you. For being here for me and with me. You’re always here. Thank you." He smiles. "Your welcome But I have to say the same thing to you. You help me out when I need it. I love you so much." "I love you too."

   Rachel and Jake come running at us. "Are you ok?" I look up and smile. "Yeah. I'm ok."

 

Author's Note

This is the third and final piece of Judgement Day. Hope you enjoyed reading all of it. n_n
Btw These are the Jury memebers.
Foreman: John Cusack

Juror 2: Mark Twinkle

Juror 3: Casey Smith

Juror 4: James Postalea

Juror 5: Mary Moore

Juror 6: Julia Franchez

Juror 7: Rocky Michaels

Juror 8: Sasha SeaMoore

Juror 9: Jack Coolman

Juror 10: Ryan O'Mally

Juror 11: Suzan Rockfeld

Juror 12: Michael Manchez

Reviews

[Frances O'Neill]

The dialog seems more straight forward in this conclusive chapter. That was some mean,street

fight! I didn't know girls could fight like that! The cruel dad finally got his just rewards, especially

after being a snarly s.o.b. during the hospital visit, with a timely prison sentence, in the end.

[desertraven]

Very intense piece. I am all too familiar with physical abuse, by the hands of one of my ex's. You described the fear and anxiety perfectly, as only a person who had been threw it. Extreme and poignant piece, but one that needed to be written. Excellent!
Sandra