It's crazy how things can go by in an instance. One moment you're on the phone with a police operator, and the next you're in a courtroom, testifying against a man you lived with all your life, but never really knew.

Time is just funny like that.

Richie and Beverly had been provided a lawyer, she was a nice lady named Ms. Reagan. Eventually, Beverly had to open up to the woman, telling her about the abuse, and sometimes sexual assault, but Richie sat with her through all of it.

It was his job.

They had been directed for the most part about how the trial would go, and they were made aware of the fact that they would have to testify against their father in order for him to pay for what he did.

The two stood as their father entered the courtroom with his defense attorney, the judge pounding his gavel not long after. "This trial is now in session," his booming voice echoed throughout the room.

Many things were said in that courtroom. The time passed by pretty quickly, and Richie had zoned out for most of the trial.

Until he was called up to the stand.

He stood up slowly, walking by his father, ignoring the scowl the man gave him

"Good afternoon Mr. Tozier, how are you?" the defense attorney asked as he approached the stand.

"I'm fine, thank you."

"So, I understand that your mother passed away when you were 11, correct?"

"Yes"

"And your sister was 10, correct?"

"Yes" Richie replied again, a confused tone in his voice

Ms. Reagan must have read his mind or something.

"Objection your honor, relevance?" she called out.

"Get to the point Mr. Clancy," the judge said to the attorney.

"Sorry, your honor. What I'm trying to ask here is you've lived with just your father and sister for six years, right"

"Right"

"So in all the time that your dad has been 'abusing' you and your sister, you never thought to tell a teacher, or a school counselor, or anyone about what was going on at home?"

"I tried once, it only made things worse"

"How so?"

"The counselor spoke to my father about it, and that night he beat Bev to punish me. With all due respect, yeah, I thought about it, even tried it, it didn't work, and I'm not stupid enough to try it again."

The attorney just nodded slowly, turning to the judge, "Nothing further, your honor" he said, walking back to the small table where his father sat. Richie got off the stand and walked back to his seat, watching as they called Beverly up to the stand afterward.

Richie became lost in his thoughts again until the jury announced they had reached a verdict after a fifteen-minute recess.

"Wentworth Tozier, please stand"

There was a pause as he stood up.

"By the state of Oregon, as to the counts of abuse towards a minor and sexual assault in the first degree, the jury finds the defendant,"

At that moment,

time stood still.

It was like a scene from a movie,

Where everyone holds their breath and counts to ten.

You could've heard a pin drop.

"guilty." the booming voice called out, "you are to serve 20 years in prison without parole"

Beverly immediately turned to Richie and began to cry.

"We did it, Rich" she whispered softly "we made it"

The judge stood up from his seat

"As for Beverly and Richard Tozier, there is a family in Derry, Maine that has agreed to take you both in. You are to gather your things and move immediately"

Those were the only words he said before he pounded his gavel once more and Wentworth was taken away.

As Ms. Reagan escorted the two out of the courtroom, Richie grabbed Bev's hand.

"I've got a feeling this is just the beginning"

~

acidtomgue this is for you❤❤❤

Hope you guys liked it

I know some info about trials and stuff but if I got things wrong don't yell at me lmao.

Who's the family?

Kanye West once said

"I guess we'll neva know"

I'm just playing you'll find out next chapter ok love you guys byeeeee❤❤❤❤

-J