Chapter 58: Chapter 58

My grip on the tissues tighten and I force myself to look straight ahead. Don't cry Emily, don't cry.

How can I possibly not cry?

Today is the day we find out what Jane is going to be serving behind bars. She already pleaded guilty in hopes to receive a shorter sentence. The charges she's facing are the brutal murder of Dylan Phillips and the kidnap of Ivory Melvin.

Ivory has to re-live her entire ordeal. My thoughts turn towards Dylan, an innocent young man who unfortunately wasn't so lucky with his life. He had no idea what Jane was capable of, no-one did. I turn my head and glance at the older lady sat opposite me. A man that looks like an older version of Dylan sits beside her, his arm wrap around her shoulder for support — Dylan's parents.

Mrs Phillips rests her head on her husbands shoulder, eyes red and raw from the pain she's feeling inside of her heart. Her son was ripped away from her in an instant through no fault of his own.

Jane is insane, deluded and dangerous.

I place my hand over my bump, feeling an overwhelming sense of protection for my own baby. I can't imagine the horror Dylan's parents are living, it must be eating them up apart. I swallow the lump in my throat and tear my eyes away from them.

"Emily?" Jake whispers, lifting his arm and placing it around my shoulders. He shuffles forward on the court room bench and places his other hand on my knee, comforting me.

"Are you okay?" He asks, a look of worry on his face. His fingers begin stroking my knee and I'm amazed at how such a small amount of affection from him could calm my nerves so much. I grimly nod, swallowing the lump in my throat for the millionth time.

"Are you nervous to get up there and speak?" Jake asks me quietly, leaning closer towards my ear. I haven't had a chance to think about what I'm going to say. Thinking about the night I found Ivory always terrifies me.

What if I didn't go through with it?

What if we didn't search the storage space thoroughly?

How much longer would Ivory be trapped there?

Would she have ever made it out alive?

The endless amount of questions causes my brain to hurt.

"A little," I respond to Jake, my voice timid and quieter than usual. I sigh heavily and glance over at Ivory who's sat near the witness box, waiting for court to begin. She's nervously fiddling with her hands, a bead of sweat covering her forehead. I bite down on my bottom lip and wish I could go up there to hold her hand and tell her it will be okay.

Ivory has officially been clean from drugs for two months. It wasn't easy, it took it's toll on her. For a few weeks, all she did was sleep. Her eyes appeared drawn in and she constantly looked sick.

However with the help of her friends and family, she's finally healthy. I remember the amount of times she would crawl into my bed at night, silent tears streaming down her face.

Jake and I never questioned her but silently moved up, letting her lie on the bottom of the bed. One morning, I briefly mentioned it to Tobias who surprisingly told me she'd done the same with him.

Tobias explained when she was younger, she would do the same thing whenever she had a nightmare. The sadness that fills Tobias' eyes whenever he speaks of Ivory causes me to question whether he blames himself.

Ivory glances over at me, her eyes wide with panic and fear. I mouth over to her that everything is going to be okay.

"You can do it Ivory." Jake says, breaking the silence in the room. Several members of the jury shoot him disapproving looks however Jake scoffs, shaking his head. Ivory gives him a small smile in return, a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"I hate court rooms." Jake mutters, fidgeting in his seat. Beside him, Tobias nods —

"It wasn't that long ago we were both here, getting refused bail." Tobias states, looking around the room. His voice is quiet, shaken.

Jake and Tobias are both dressed in dark blue suits, complete with crisp white shirts. Tobias skipped the tie but Jake has a skinny blue one secured around his neck. My eyes roam over his body, drinking in his appearance.

"Are you honestly checking me out right now?" Jake asks in disbelief, a sparkle appearing in his eyes. I look away gingerly, shrugging —

"I have a thing for you in a suit, sue me." I joke, licking my lips at him. Jake laughs, the skin around his eyes creasing. He flashed his drop dead gorgeous smile at me and I grin in return, sitting back in my seat proudly. I feel a tap behind me and turn around to face Trish —

"I have food in my bag if you want any?"

I shake my head, biting back a laugh.

"I'm good, thanks though Trish. Is that your Emergency chocolate stash?" I ask and Trish nods, her brunette locks bouncing around her face.

"You are something else Trish," Tobias states, shaking his head at her. His lips turn up into a smile at her and I notice a blush rise up Trish's neck, tinting her cheeks.

"Do you want some?" Trish asks him, holding out the chocolate bar. Tobias lightly shakes his head —

"Ask me again later Sugar," he winks, a smirk on his face before he turns back around. I look at Trish and widen my eyes, motioning my head at Tobias —

Translation for, what the hell just happened?!

Trish nibbles on her bottom lip, her eyes sparkling back at me in return. She shrugs, acting like it's no big deal however I know inside, she's screaming in excitement. It's so obvious there's chemistry between Tobias and Trish.

A door at the side of the courtroom opens, silencing all of us. First a prison guard enters followed by the devil herself, Jane. She's dressed in all white, her clothes matching the shade of her cheeks. My eyes drift down to her hands where her prisoner status is best displayed.

A pair of silver handcuffs restrain her, holding her hands in place. Her expression is grim, emotionless. She stares down at her feet, almost as if to show a look of remorse. A second prison guard follows closely behind.

"Murderer!" Someone yells in the audience and I snap my head towards the source of the voice. My eyes land on Dylan's father, his jaw clenched with anger.

His eyes burn red with hatred for Jane however I don't miss the tear that runs down his cheek. He wipes it away before turning back to face his wife. My heart breaks from the simple gesture, he'd rather show his strength rather than his pain to his wife.

Beside Jake and Tobias freeze in place. His eyes lock on Jane, urging her to make eye contact with him. He's desperate for her to look up into his eyes, see the pain she caused him. Tobias is perched on the edge of his seat, right leg bouncing up and down as his adrenaline runs through his body. Jake places a hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Let it go Tobias, you get your justice today." Jake mutters, his words intending to calm Tobias down. Tobias barely flinches and his stare remains on Jane, refusing to let it drop.

"All rise for Judge Hendricks," the bailiff booms out and we all immediately stand up, shuffling on our feet. A door at the front of the courtroom opens and a man dressed in an all black gown enters, wearing a white curly wig.

We all wait until he's seated, everyone holding their breath for the start of the trial. The judge takes his time to sit down, his eyes wondering over the entire jury and audience. Finally, he takes a seat, folding his arms in front of him. . .

Let the trial begin.