“My name is Ava Grey, your Justice.”
My voice is clear and even, exactly the way Bastien coached me.
Be respectful, but don’t give them an inch, love.
Luc nods in approval as Miller pulls her head back.
“According to our laws, your name remains 864. Despite your…adventures, the law has not been overturned, to my knowledge. Therefore, you will be addressed as 864 by the court.”
Whispers break out in the court, and I hide my smile. She may not realize it, but her posturing is a point in our favour.
The Justice sitting on the far right glances around the room before he takes over, clearly realizing the same.
“Ms. Grey,” he says smoothly, and Justice Miller shoots him a furious glare, which he ignores. “Thank you for coming to us today. I understand that this is not likely to be an easy situation.”
His tone is kind. “Thank you. I’m… very glad to be here.”
“Why is that?” he asks, and I blink at him.
“Anything that may help to improve the situation of omegas is something that I am happy to support, even if it’s difficult.”
The alpha male is older, in his sixties, with liberal amounts of grey scattered through his dark hair. He smiles at me, reaffirming my suspicion that this is Justice Evans.
“I understand. Having seen your video – as I think most of the country now has – we have some questions to ask you. If you need to take a break, please let us know.”
My hands twist in my lap, nerves springing to life in my stomach, but I nod.
Justice Evans looks to his left. “Justice Johnson, if you please.”
The female beta clears her throat, glancing down at some papers before she looks up at me. Around the same age as Justice Evans, her eyes are a piercing shade of blue.
“Ms. Grey,” she begins. Next to her, Justice Miller flushes a furious scarlet. “I understand that you were removed from the Omega Compound due to issues with a guard there. Can you tell me if this was sanctioned by the Compound Director?”
My stomach threatens to revolt, and I push the nausea down, wetting my dry lips. “Um, no. The Director wasn’t aware it was happening. When he found out, he came to my cell and got Jason away from me. Then he contacted my - Jonathan Stone. Stone collected me the same night.”
Johnson’s mouth twists. “I see. Would it be reasonable to say that the Director did not endorse this behaviour, and that sexual abuse was not tolerated at the compound?”
My mouth tightens. “No. Sexual abuse was not tolerated. But physical and mental abuse was very much encouraged.”
Johnson’s lips part in surprise. “I… see. Could you expand on that, please?”
My eyes drop to the marble floor as I gather my thoughts. “I can give you some examples of my own experiences. Other omegas will have more.”
“We’re not here to listen to what might have happened,” Miller interjects abruptly. “Your own experiences only.”
I glance at Max, and he nods at me, his face tight. We prepared for this too.
“We were forced to kneel for most of the day, every day. On one occasion, when we were made to stand up, I’d been kneeling for more than six hours and my legs collapsed. I was taken to an isolation cell and kept there for more than a day as punishment. No food or water was provided to me during that time.”
A muffled gasp sounds from behind me, and Johnson leans forward. “Can you describe the isolation cell, please?”
My voice quiets. “It’s a pitch-black hole in the ground. There are no steps in and out, and you’re lowered in and lifted out by your wrists. There is no space to sit down, so you’re forced to stand. It was never cleaned, so I had to stand in waste from omegas who had been in there previously. You’re not allowed out to visit the bathroom.”
I glance at the Justices. Both Johnson and Evans look a little pale. Miller narrows her eyes at me. “There is no mention of any isolation cell in the reports we have been given.”
I stare back at her. “I’d be happy to show you where it is on the grounds, although it’s easy to find. You just need to follow the smell.”
Miller bares her teeth at me. “I will not have impertinence in this court.”
