Hey guys... bit late but these things happen. Im going to end it next chapter ive decided. Sorry if this ones a bit rambly but anyway thats how it is. Those of you reading what happened in highschool as well, im still writing but soon!
cheers
danexx
Rian
Chapter 13
"We can't use him Elizabeth. He's what we would term as a hostile witness. His evidence would be damning for your son. The only thing we can do is attempt a plea against him giving evidence in court but we would need serious psychological grounds to attempt a claim like that."
Rian was listening at the door of his grandparents study. This did not sound good. In fact, Rian could feel his heart pumping. He waited for a response. Something from his grandparents that would cut this idea short.
"Like what?" Elizabeth said. "That psychologist isn't likely to help us. She made that clear."
Swallowing bile Rian retreated back to his room. Something was different now. This was getting seriously screwed up. Rian snuck out of the house and trekked down to the pay phone. He had decided he couldn't handle this himself.
"Gus? I need your help." Rian whispered into the phone as if someone could hear him.
Gus listened to the boy's story and got very concerned.
"Rian. I want you to concentrate on your exams. It sounds like they're going to try and make out as if you're unstable. Don't react to anything they do. If they push it and it frightens you call the police and explain the situation. Give them my number and get them to call me. A complaint with the police won't look good in court for them. God Rian. I wish I could do something." Gus felt helpless and angry and there was nothing he could legally do.
Despite the fact there was little Gus could do, Rian felt assured after the talk. He had to just wait it out. He was going to isolate himself from his grandparents, spend as little time with them as possible.
Rian was relieved when he managed to sneak back into the house undetected. He went to his room and firmly closed the door.
At school the next day, Rian couldn't help but feel jittery as if whatever his grandparents had planned was about to jump out at him. They did little though. Dinners were the normal quiet affair and Rian spent most of his time in his room. Julian was worried for him but decided not to pry and just be the friend he figured Rian needed now. They became closer yet a big gap lay between them. Rian firmed his resolve to tell Julian everything once the trial was over. He didn't feel like he was strong enough to relive it before.
Days before his final exam, Rian had a meeting with the state prosecutor who went over his statement with him and discussed the possible outcomes of the trial. Rian refused to think about the realities of what would happen to his father. The prosecutor was relived to find that his statement had not changed and that the boy seemed just as determined, if a little fragile.
Exams were finally finished. Most were just a blur to Rian and he fervently hoped he went well. The court date was fast approaching and Rian became as reclusive as he could manage. He hardly communicated with his grandparents at all and because he was basically housebound, he couldn't see any of his school friends.
End of school also meant he no longer had access to his email as his grandparents had banned him from using the computers at the house, claiming he would look up `unsuitable and unsavory material'. Bored, Rian started reading books out of the study. He read Chaucer, Jane Austin, Charles Dickens anything that had stories that he could escape into.
On a Monday just four days from the trial Rian was cornered by his grandparents. They were attempting their last ditch at trying to sway Rian's statement. Rian found it was probably much more difficult than if they had threatened him or hurt him. It was his father. He was sending the man who taught him to ride a bike to jail. The idea made him sick to even think about it.
"Rian George and I have been talking." Elizabeth started ignoring Rian's mutinous glare. "W think you're being too harsh on your father Rian. Does blood mean nothing to you?"
Rian glared at them. "Blood means something to me. Obviously it meant nothing to my father who felt quite happy to spill it."
"Now Rian, I know you're probably too young to understand the situation your father was in. Do you think its fair to punish him so severely for childish revenge?"
Rian felt tears develop. Could his grandparents think so little of him? Cared so little that they only appeared mildly concerned that his father had beaten the holy crap out of him.
"Yes. He deserves it. He beat up a minor, his child who was meant to be under his protection. No matter what reasons he can give, the fact is that he did it. He should face the same punishment as anyone else."
"I know this Gus has filled your head with ideas like this but think Rian. You're sending your father to jail with the rapists and murderers."
Rian felt his heart pull painfully. No kid should have to make this decision. But then no kid should ever be abused so badly by his father. Rian felt sick. It was his dad. He would be responsible for his dad going to jail. God, he had never talked to his father after. What if he was sorry, what if he really had a mental breakdown? Rian suddenly thought he was going to throw up. The man had yelled at him, had locked him in his room, had hit him, beaten him, all because why? He was gay? How could his own father do that to him? Sensing his uncertainty, Elizabeth jumped in.
"You don't want that do you? He could be badly hurt. All those murderers and rapists wouldn't think twice about hurting a man like your father." Her eyes were glistening artfully.
It made Rian freeze. He looked scornfully at his grandmother. Crocodile tears.
"I doubt very much that he would be in a maximum security prison. By all chances he'll be put in a minimum-security prison and let out four weeks later. Besides he deserves it. He is a criminal."
His grandmother frowned at the boy. "Have you always been this malicious? No matter what happened he's still your father."
Rian stood up, holding back tears he stared down his grandparents. "I think you'll find even he would disagree with that statement. I haven't been his real son in awhile now."
The car trip into the city was quiet as everyone sat in an angry silence. Rian saw Gus outside the courtroom with Jake and Tristian. They started to make their way over but Elizabeth grabbed Rian's shoulder and pulled him away.
"Your honour, the defense asks that Rian Belmont steps down as a witness. The whole ordeal has been severely traumatic for the child. We feel that it is in his interests to protect him from cross-examination. As an impressionable young man, his view of what happened may have been influenced from either side and as such wouldn't be objective."
Rian frowned at the pompous man. This was obviously their last attempt to stop him from giving evidence against his father. Elizabeth tutted from next to him and put a carefully grandmotherly arm around his shoulders.
The judge looked at the barrister seriously. He glanced at Rian and saw the look of contempt that had spread over his face as he viewed the man speaking in front of him. The boy did not appear to be someone that easily swayed nor incredibly traumatized.
"Do you have a doctors statement to back up that claim? Mr Jones this is very unusual. Why wasn't a request put forward prior to the trial?"
"Your honour, this is obviously a poorly thought out desperate attempt to discredit the only witness, who happens also to be the victim. The victim who was mistreated and abused by his father. I also remind your honour, that although legally Rian is still classed as a minor he is only two weeks away from his eighteenth birthday." The state prosecutor rebutted quickly.
The judge considered the matter. "Do you have any evidence to support your theory that Rian is emotionally and mentally unable to take the stand?"
The barrister shuffled his papers. "I have statements from observations of his grandparents who kindly took the boy in. They say that the boy has been acting out of character, dressing strangely and barely speaking. It is clear that the boy is suffering mentally from the ordeal."
The judge once more looked at Rian. He frowned. "The evidence you suggest is circumstantial. If Mr Belmont was acting so strange why didn't his grandparents take him to a psychologist? In fact in light of what has been put forward, counseling should have been their first action in caring for him. Due to the fact that you have no medical evidence against Rian and that you did not lodge a request as well as the fact that Rian is not just a witness but also the victim, I am going to dismiss the request. Begin with your opening statements."
Rian was the first to be called forward. He had been told what would happen but was still shaking as he sat down. He closed his eyes for a moment. I can do this.
The judge watched carefully as he saw the boy strengthen his resolve and calm himself down. He smiled kindly when he boy looked around and caught his eye.
"Rian, I need to you tell us how this all started. What happened?"
Rian looked at Jake and smiled faintly. Jake was staring back fiercely and gave Rian an encouraging smile. He held no anger or bitterness towards the boy from the way they had parted beforehand. Rian drew strength from this and started his tale.