Page 102 of The Spotlight Effect

“I already agreed to be here. Let’s get this done for.” I don’t want to sit in some courtroom and listen to how he deserves to be out of jail, instead I want to tell him to his dirtbag face why he needs to be here. Why Griffin should fuck himself.

I need my peace. I need to face him. To tell him he can’t hurt me. I’ve thought about it a lot over the last two weeks, and this is what I need to do. To let it all out once and for all.

Aaliyah and Dexter sit in the back quietly. Not saying anything, just staring out the windows. No one has talked all ride. Just Mom reassuring us and telling us that none of us have to do this, which we already know. Dexter is writing a letter, he’s going for me and Lia isn’t doing anything at all, she’s support. This is about me.

“Are you all ready?” Mom asks, parking the car.

“Yep.” I open my door, getting out. I’ve calmed my nerves. I’m ready to face my fears. Dexter pulls my hand into his, squeezing it in comfort.

Once we enter, we get searched, then have to put our belongings in bins, then we are led to a room that has a wall of windows on one side and a door across from the entrance door. “Which one is first?” the officer asks. My nerves are high now. I bite my lip, pulling at the skin on my lips, causing raw skin and bleeds. I pick at my nails while I do this, causing that skin to become raw too. My anxiety is skyrocketing, and I have no idea how to fix it.

I stand up and straighten my jacket before going up to the officer. “Okay no touching, don’t go across the table, and I willbe on the corner if you need anything,” the officer instructs me. I nod and she opens the door.

I intake a breath as the door widens enough for me to see him and she ushers me inside. A guard stands in front of the door on the other side of the room while the one who brought me in stands beside the door we came into. The door swings close, and I hear it click into place, causing me to jump a bit, and Griffin smiles. Griffin sits across from me, looking right at me. His dark hair looks tousled, somehow his pale skin is complemented by that ugly orange jumpsuit. His hands are handcuffed together, and I’m pretty sure his legs are too.

“Hello, Alexia,” Griffin says. Those stupid blue eyes. Sparkling at me. I hate him.

“Don’t. Don’t say my name,” I tell him, sitting down.

“How are you?” he asks, sounding so sincere. So kind. It’s all bullshit. He’s not nice.

“How am I? That’s what you have to say.” I roll my eyes.

“What? Do you want an apology because I don’t have one. I only wanted to harm your father, not you,” Griffin tells me.

“But you hurt me. You hurt all of us. You took us, chained us, touched us.” I hear my voice begin to waver as I speak. I don’t want to cry. Not now. I can’t cry in front of him.

“I have a daughter now,” he states.

“Yeah, some pathetic guard fell for your ass. How stupid of her.” I cross my arms.

“Her name…”

“I don’t want to know her name. She’s not a person to me. Neither are you. I don’t need to know her.” Griffin looks away from me and over to the wall.

“I hate you. I hope you rot here, you asshole. You don’t deserve to get out. I’m not afraid of you anymore. I wanted to tell you that,” I manage to say while looking right into his eyes. Even when those dark blue eyes look up at me, I still talk.

“So you're not testifying.”

“Not for someone like you. Not for my kidnapper and assaulter.” Griffin nods.

“I’m ready to go,” I say out loud, hoping the guard knows I’m talking to her.

“Goodbye, Griffin. Rot in hell, you fucker.”

I stand up from the table to walk toward the door.

I faced him.

A MOVIE WORTHY REDEMPTION

ALEXIA

Winning Worlds was supposed to make me happy. I mean, I accomplished my ultimate cheer goal: Become a world champion, and I did. Even with a large golden metal around my neck, I’m still sad.

“Wake up, Lex. Wake up!” I hear a voice scream around me, and I feel shaking on my bed. Are there people jumping on my bed? I open my eyes to find Faith and Lia both jumping on my bed.

“Get the fuck off my bed, you monkeys,” I tell them as I sit up.

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