Saving Riley

69

Riley's POV

"Ri Ri Ri!" James called as he ran after me
As soon as I got outside I bent over trying to catch my breath, it was evident that I was about to have a panic attack
"You're okay, you're okay" James whispered pulling me in my close
The second I made contact with his chest, I gripped a hold of him and I didn't want to let him go
"Listen to me okay, take whatever they say with a pinch of salt. It's going to get nasty before it gets better" He said stroking my hair
"I can't do this" I whispered
"you can Riley, I'm right here okay" He said
"you aren't alone" He whispered kissing the top of my head again

--

"Any further questions?" The judge asked Lucas' lawyer who stood up
"No your honour" He said before sitting down again
"okay" The judge said before nodding to my Lawyer
He soon stood up heading over to where I sat on the stand offering me a small smile
"Miss Raymond, Can you tell us when you first noticed a change with Mr Daniels?" My Lawyer asked
"I don't the exact date, it just sort of crept up" I said
"Can you elaborate on that?" He asked and I nodded
"There was never a set date that he switched, it was just slowly over time he stopped my doing things, got physical, got mentally abusive" I explained

"Looking back on it, what would you say your first sign was?" He asked, I sighed looking down
"The moment he persuaded me my family were nothing but trouble and everyone back home were holding me back" I said making a lot of the jury start muttering to themselves
"And were they?" He asked and I confidently shook my head
"No. My family were trying to show me what he was doing but I was blind to it. The people back home are the reason I'm still around, they've brought me out of dark days that I didn't see coming to and end" I started
"They became my family and I wish I had never let someone try to persuade me otherwise" I smiled in James' direction. He was smiling back at me and that is all I needed to hear

"Now, we are going to talk about the day of your abduction. Is that okay?" My Lawyer asked and I nodded
It was going to happen sooner or later 
"Run through the events of what happened leading up to that time?" He asked and I nodded
"I had um had an argument with James which lead me to go stay with my dad for a little while just until we had both calmed down, as soon as I walked through the door. The place was covered in photos, roses, candles. It was the picture perfect evening" I smiled thinking of what could have happened that day
"But not even 5 minutes had passed since I walked in, Lucas made his appearance, he came from the bedroom I believe. I don't know what he was doing in there or in my flat at all" I said as I started playing with my fingers

"Okay Miss Raymond, then what happened" my Lawyer asked speaking slowly giving me a small smile for encouragement 
"Lucas came over and picked up a photo of James and I from our first dance competition together and laughed at it before burning it with a candle" I said looking Lucas dead in the eye
"I tried to get out of the flat but the second my hand my contact with the door, so did Lucas' and the second I tried to move I could feel the cold metal of a knife against my exposed abdomen" I said flinching a little at the thought of reliving what had happened

"It was then that he forced you out of your flat?" My lawyer asked and I nodded
"Alright and where did he take you?" He asked
"He took me back to the flat we had rented in for fourth year of Julliard" I said
"Where did he keep you?" He asked
"The guest room until he had a guest over. Then I was thrown into a unstable storage cupboard out of the flat that no one had access to" I continued
"And that is where you were found?" He asked and I nodded 

"No further questions your honour" My Lawyer said to the judge who nodded before looking at the defense
"And more questions?" The judge asked to which his Lawyer shook his head
"Alright, That is all for now Miss Raymond" the judge said offering me a smile before allowing me off of the stand
"Court we continue tomorrow morning, 9am sharp" the judge said before leaving

As soon as I got outside with James he wrapped his arms around me
"You did so good Ri" He whispered kissing my temple