A few weeks went by,and her situation worsened. She refused to talk, if she was found guilty she would have to leave Japan. There was nothing waiting for her back home, so her only options were to win her case, or run away with Hades forever. Refusing to talk meant lots of mental abuse from the wardens, detectives, and prosecutor. Even with keeping silent her case didn't look good.She would most likely be found guilty, but she held on hope. There was only one week left before her court date. The last week felt the hardest for her. She has spent two months in detention. She never once saw the horizon, the trees, all except for when she was traveling to the prosecutor's office, and she saw through the bus's window. Regardless of the outcome she couldn't wait to be out of that place. The people there weren't people, they were empty shells devoid of life. She had tried making friends, but that only the ended in heartbreak, when her only friend was sentenced to two years in prison.
She remembered when they first met.They were travelling on the bus to the prosecutor's office, and Stephanie was sat next to her. It was her first time being alone with another inmate. She was too scared to speak, so she sat and kept her head forward, sitting stiffly.The girl she sat next to looked at her, and smiled.Stephanie was too scared to react at first, but the girl leaned forward and cupped her hand on Stephanie's ear, and whispered "Why are you in here?".
Stephanie looked at her in shock, and looked around see what the gaurds were doing.They didn't seem to be reacting,so she whispered back.The girl, and her spoke during the trip on the bus ride, and while they waited for their meeting with the prosecutor in the cells below. The gaurds at the prosecutor's office didn't seem to really care whether they spoke,or not, and weren't as strict as the staff at Yamamoto detention center,so they would meet and speak there every now and then, when they were lucky enough to go on the same day.A month later Stephanie was moved into her cell, and they would speak at night when no one was around.It was the only time Stephanie felt happy in that place. When they would get scolded by the officers they would make funny faces and mimic them after they walked off.The girl went to court a few weeks later,and they waited patiently for the results. They were sure she would be free. She spoke about all her plans for when she got out, but the results came in,and the girl would spend two years in prison.They both cried as they said goodbye, and promised to meet again. She wasn't allowed to write the girl's name as the wardens had stopped her from doing so, but she would never forget it and would definitely see her again.She memorized her name and never forgot it, reading it in her head it was clear "Shiori".
Since then she didn't make any friends, and kept mostly to herself.Her only goal, and only thought was leaving this place,and of that she was focused.
One night she was laying by herself looking up at the ceiling trying to listen to music in her head. She has missed the sound of music.No one ever played the radio at the detention centre,except for Saturday's for half an hour. In her mind she could hear songs almost as if they were playing aloud. She swore she could hear what sounded like angels singing from the roof. She stared up at the ceiling,and the sounds began swirling, becoming distorted. A face emerged from the wall. It was Hades! He smiled, and sushed her. Stephanie looked for the gaurds, one was busy checking the cells before her. She mouthed to Hades "Hide!". Hades stayed against the ceiling. The gaurd walked to Stephanies cell and checked around.
"Oi! Pull the blanket down, it can't cover your head!" She shouted.
Stephanie was was startled and jumped up. She pulled the blanket down a bit, apologized,and laid down. The gaurd moved onto the next cell, then back to her desk where she couldn't see into Stephanie's cell. Hades looked at her. His eyes showed his pity for her. He hated that she was stuck here and he couldn't help her. He thought about possessing the judge, but then he could have another problem as with Suzuki. He moved down to join her. Holding her tight in his arms. Both their hearts raced as he whispered "I think about you everyday, and everyday I miss you. I will never let anyone harm you, if things go bad, I will protect you, I promise."
They laid together for a while longer, an hour had passed when the gaurd started doing her rounds again. Stephanie woke Hades up.
"Hades you have to go."
He looked up half asleep and saw the gaurd approaching. He made haste and left through a portal.
***
A week later, and it was stephanie's court date. she was nervous, as even her court appointed lawyer couldn't tell her how it would end. Her nerves sky rocketed as she arrived at the court building. The judge confirmed that she could understand why she was there, then the prosecutor began showing the evidence against her, and asking her questions. They managed to find some conversations on her phone linking her to known yakuza members. As well as a test that showed she had smoked sometime prior to the test. Although the usage wasn't prohibited, possesion was. The police were unable to find any on her person, but managed to find a small ammount in her apartment. It was under the legal limit, but that with proof of frequent use was all they needed for the end verdict. Guilty.
Stephanie began to cry, she cried all day. Back in her cell, the warden handed her a paper notifying her that she will be moved to a prison tomorrow. Stephanie just nodded and signed, void of emotion. It became dark, and it was time to wash up. She felt as if everyone's eyes were on her. The room was fairly small and it was extremely quiet due to the no talking rule, this meant everyone could hear everything the gaurds said, most of them didn't care to whisper. The humiliation she felt was unbearable.She kept her head down most the time, but the warden was reaching over her, and a towel fell in the water next to her.She just stared at it,too scared to meddle incase the warden would blame it on her, but she felt too bad to turn the blind eye, and make it someone elses problem, so she picked it up and put it back. She quickly moved on to another area to brush her hair when the warden shouted at her.
"Hey what did you do to this towel!? It was you wasnt it!?"
Stephanie knew it was actually the wardens fault, but was too frightened to reply. The warden came up to her, and got in her face, shouting so much she turned red. This is the same pig faced warden who had made her life hell these past two months, and smiled with glee as she took Shiori away. Stephanie couldn't take anymore, she snapped. She pushed her, and grabbed her keys. All at once the gaurds began moving towards her. The exit was a double door, and luckily she managed to get through the first door with ease. She left the door slightly opened, and as they all pushed through she quickly slammed the door on them. Locking it, and then unlocking the next door. Most the staff was in the room behind her, leaving only a few night staff on the other side. Stephanie tried a few keys and got the right one. She ran down the stairs skipping a few steps at a time. She started to panic thinking it was a mistake, but it was too late now. She got to the last door that led outside. She could hear screaming and people starting to run downstairs. She looked behind her, and saw someone about to catch up to her, she just managed to unlock the door as they grabbed her. She turned around, wrestling them off of her. She gave them one strong push away giving her a head start. She jumped the wall and turned a sharp corner. She then ran into a park, and hid in a bush catching her breath. She watched, and waited, drawing a symbol on the ground. She was sure that was Hades symbol, but as she waited she saw no reply. She became increasingly anxious and decided to lay, and wait deep in some bushes, hoping she would remember the correct symbol. As it got later, it got more cold. There wasn't an ounce of warmth left in her. She drew numerous sigils hoping for a response. She prayed to no avail. She fell asleep curled in the fetal position. As she was falling asleep she had a flashback to the symbol on Mara's hand. She jumped up to the sound of talking. The police were searching the park. She quickly drew the symbol, and not much later a portal opened up, lighting up the area.
"Hey!" A police man shouted.
"Oh Stephanie, are you alright?"
Stephanie turned to see Mara's beautiful face.
"Close the portal!" Stephanie shouted jumping into Mara's arms.
The portal closed behind them as they fell to rhe ground, and Stephanie sighed a sigh of relief. Finally she was safe, and away from that awful place.
"Oh my look at you! So skinny! I'll prepare some food for you while you get washed up. I'm sure Hades will be so pleased you are back. Oh, and Suzuki too!" She winked as she walked away.
Suzuki is still here? She pondered for a while, but the excitement of a nice refreshing bath,and Mara's amazing food had her lose her train of thought.
****
Update: New book cover out! You can check the full cover on Instagram @hellhascrayons