Was he really so arrogant to think he’d avoid charges on a half-assed lie? It shocked me he hadn’t put more effort into thinking this through. For as sick and twisted as he was, John was no criminal mastermind— just a violent moron who thought he could commit terrible things and get away with it.
I studied John as he gave his testimony. I couldn’t help it— Charlie had been working on criminal profiling over the past semester, and I’d picked up things from him as I’d watched my husband study his work.
And from what I could see, there was nothing distinguishable about John Smith. He was hardly a person… he was acaricature. He had no features that could distinguish him from most guys walking the street today. His appearance and personality were just as bland and common as his name. He could be any man, anywhere.
He was utterly unremarkable. A person so incredibly average that his banal normality could mark him as anybody.
And that's exactly what made him so terrifying. John could blend into his environment. He could play the nice guy, act like one of the good old boys and pretend to be the town hero, while his mind went down to dark places even hell was afraid to go.
Everybody thought that criminals could easily be spotted amongst civilized society. A scar across the eye, a swooping black cloak, and a toothless grin to match. Meanwhile, their worst nightmares roamed the streets, sleeping in their homes, attending their sports games and eating their family dinners.
The real monsters had camouflage. And you never saw them coming.
It was easy for people to doubt what he truly was. He played the part of the accused innocent so well. It was hard to believe that someone so active in the community, so seemingly generous, so polite and well-mannered, could commit a crime so heinous. Because if that were true, and someone like him could be so vile… who else was hiding in the shadows?
Rapists weren't always the terrifying men hiding behind the corner, waiting for some poor soul to walk by. They were our brothers, fathers, uncles and friends. They were the very people no one wanted to accuse.
John Smith wasn't a character, a person, or even a hideous beast. He was an unfortunate product of society, an ideal of masculinity placed on a pedestal.
And society had never been very kind to people like me.
The prosecutor poked a lot of holes in John’s story, which I was thankful for. I was impressed with Walker’s analysis— despite this whole situation being really tough, I had to appreciate how she performed her job like a master.
Of course, the defense pounced on any opportunity to make the victims look bad.
“Why do you think Miss Welch is testifying against you today, Mister Smith?” Bernard questioned, whirling on his client for dramatic effect— which looked phony as fuck.
“She’s mad because I broke up with her,” John said offhandedly. “What else is there to say?”
They moved on to character letters. John’s dad came up and read a stupid letter about how John had beendepressedsince the accusations had gone public, that his reputation in town was ruined and that he wouldn’t be able to get a good job now because ofall these misunderstandings.He went on that before his arrest, John hadn’t even been able to grill a steak, one of his favorite foods, because he’d been so worried about the upcoming trial.
Wow. Sorry he couldn’t eat like a king, when I’d starved myself for years after the fact.
“My son’s life is ruined due to these women,” John’s father went on. “When does it end, your honor? When does the crucifixion stop?”
My knuckles cracked as my fists shook.Hislife was ruined? What about my life, the lives of all these girls sitting next to me? Why didhislife matter, and ours were disposable?
Rosary was the next person to petition for the freedom of this complete piece of filth, singing to the world what a good boyfriend John was and insisting the only reason any of us were here today was because we were all jealous he was dating her and not us. She completely refused to admit that John had committed these crimes while he was dating her. After all, he’d never treatedherlike that, so the rest of us had to be lying, evidence be damned.
“If there are no further witnesses, we may proceed with closing statements,” Judge Tellus said as Rosary completed her saintly monologue of one of the worst people on Earth. “The court will take a short recess before I render the verdict.”
Takahashi immediately swept forward and grabbed the handles of my wheelchair. “Would you like some privacy, Ava?”
“Please.” I was worn out. I could tell my family wanted to speak to me, but one devastated expression from me was all it took for them to hold off. We could talk later. I just wanted a moment alone with me and Oberi.
Takahashi wheeled me into a nearby waiting room that was completely devoid of people, down a hallway that was isolated and bare. The noise of the courtroom was gone, replaced by silence and still countenance.
“I find myself rather thirsty. I believe I must find something to drink,” Takahashi stated. “Do you want anything, Ava?”
I shook my head. Without another word, Takahashi left me alone.
I took in my surroundings. The window was open. Takahashi had left the door unlocked. For the first time in two years, no one was here to guard me.
He was providing me with an opening. Saying he was willing to bear the consequences should I make a break for it.
Maybe this had been an agreement with the Demigod Guardians… some sort of plan to get me out. But he didn’t want to mention it to me, because after what he’d witnessed in court today, he wanted it to be my choice.
Oberi shifted into a unicorn. Her Fire mane blazed softly as she knelt beside my chair.
