Chester hung out mainly with Michael while I happily played dolls with little Abby, who insisted that we were both princesses. I didn't mind hanging out with her, not that it would be possible to mind being around a little girl who seemed sweeter than cotton candy.

Dolls lasted for about an hour before she was hesitantly grabbing my hand and leading me over to the living room, where there were a bunch of boxes made up to be a maze of sorts. She went through first, and then I followed behind, getting lost a few times. It made her giggle whenever I'd run into a wall, and so after I learned my way around the maze, I started running into the walls on purpose.

But soon was the event that I was both dreading, and looking forward to. Chester checked his watch and made eye contact with me. I nodded and wrapped up my little play date with Abby, to which she started to pout. Michael looked at me with a curious expression.

"You must have some sort of superpower, because Abby doesn't take to just anyone," he said, and picked her up, before kissing her cheek.

I knew I was blushing as Chester practically shoved me out the door. If I didn't know we were heading to a meeting about Mabel, I probably wouldn't have left. The look Abby was giving me made me feel like I was abandoning her, and I had to make Chester promise that we would come back to visit her.

I stepped out on to the street and crossed my arms over my chest and walked alongside Chester. He checked his watch again before looking at me, "This is all your fault, Miss Kodi."

I'm pretty sure I gawked at him, "What's my fault?"

"We're late, we're late, for a very important date!" he said.

Chester grinned and grabbed onto my hand, before I knew it he was tugging my arm and we were both running down the road. By the time that we reached the meeting hall, my muscles were warmed up and ready to really go. Chester walked ahead and held open the door.

As I walked through the threshold Chester gave my shoulder a squeeze, and then followed behind me, letting the door fall shut. The hall had pews like a church, but it had been set up to resemble a court room of sorts. Mabel was seated in a chair up front, and about six people were off to the side, separate sides, they were likely the third party outsiders who would be helping to determine Mabel's fate.

I sat down next to Chester in the pew that was second to the front. People I'd never met before were walking around and talking in hushed tones, not wanting anyone to hear their opinion. I wondered if they were talking about Mabel, and if they were, what they would do in my situation.

Chester grabbed my hand at the same time that a bell was rang up front. Everyone started to take their seats and then an older lady stood up at the front, along with Doctor Venson. The lady had silver hairs mixed in with the vibrant red bob on top of her head. She seemed to have an air of authority about her, and as soon as everyone was seated she cleared her throat, making eye contact with a few people, putting them to silence with a tilt of her head.

I felt Chester lean closer, "That's Miss B, she's the person who's "in charge" of these sorts of things, she gets final say if the punishment chosen is rightful or needs to be rethought over."

I looked over at him as he leaned back, eyes up front like he hadn't just been talking out of turn. I focused back up front as well, and tuned into what Miss B was saying.

"... several people are going to be on trial today, and to better our understanding, and help along the decision of what is to be done, we'll have three people talk, one person who was present, one who the wrongdoing was done to- if there is anyone it was done to. And finally someone who has been around this person at different times to be a judge of character," the lady paused and folded her hands in front of her, she looked around the crowd and I swear her eyes lingered on me thoughtfully, "First up today is Miss Mabel."

As Miss B spoke, Sam and Beck helped Mabel up to the chair that was sat in the center of the stand up front, "She's been charged with three strikes, as so our rules go, one is attempt of murder," she paused as whispers rippled through the crowd. I myself was shocked, thinking over all of our interactions until I remembered the first strike.

Chester may not have seen what she did, but he didn't have to to know what had likely happened.

"The second, is mistreatment, which wouldn't normally be a strike but in this case, it was done to the same girl who fortunately survived the attempted murder," more whispers, and my hands were shaking. All of these people would know what I had been going through. Maybe it wasn't everything I'd ever gone through, but they'd know that in a messed up world, I had a really craptastic situation.

"And finally, the third, that is known of, if a violent spell that could have ended in death to the same girl that was targeted for the other two acts, and injury to others in the household. She was restrained that night, and today brought forth among you to be tried for her actions."

The room had a few straggling whispers, but most people were looking at Mabel as if she were some sort of monster. I guess in a way she was, everything she had ever said to me, everything she had ever done to me all lead to that very word. At this point I'd rather have to face off twenty zombies, with nothing but a random item I found, then face off with her.

Miss B put her hand up, silencing everyone, and turned to Mabel. I hadn't noticed earlier but Cody stood off to the side, making sure she didn't' somehow try to escape. Mabel looked up with malice in her eyes. Miss B for her part didn't even flinch.

"We will be hearing from the warrior who was subject to all of the acts of violence from Mabel first," she paused, "Her very own sister, Kodi. Kodi dear," she turned and looked right at me, as did the entire room it seemed, "Won't you come up here and tell me your side of the story?"

I swallowed and stood up, not meeting anyone's eyes, I walked to the front. Mabel glared at me, and I could read the hatred in her eyes. I turned away, and faced the crowd. I prepared myself for the looks I was about to receive, but when I looked out to everyone, most of their eyes were on Mabel with frowns placed on their lips. The few who looked my way had faces full of curiosity and... empathy.

Chester gave me an encouraging smile, and I was able to clear my throat and begin.

"Strike one," I said, "was the first night. I had been taking a bath, and I believe I had fallen asleep. I woke up to Mabel, pushing me under the water, and attempting to keep me there. Chester came in and the act stopped abruptly. He never saw what she did, but it wasn't hard to piece it together."

Deep breath, I told myself, "Strike two," with each admission of just a few of the things that Mabel had done to me, I felt lighter. A baggage had been lifted off of my shoulders and given to a group of people who would sort through the contents, and put them all into place.

My only job was to be honest, for the first time, to myself and those around me, what I had gone through. The way I grew up had lead me to believe that I was alone, and if anyone knew about the scars that riddled my past, present, and likely future, that I would be to blame. But then four fantastic boys entered my life and taught me how untrue this was.

Chester took my place, and on the trial went. He was more detailed than I, going on to talk about her attitude towards training, or contributing. There was more, but I had gotten distracted by Sam who gave me a funny face, and Cody who nodded his head as if saying good job. Then there was Beck, who calmed my nerves with a charming smile. I kept my eyes on Beck even as Trish walked up to talk about Mabel from her own eyes.

"She's... cold. She talks ill of almost everyone, and has even inquired about drugs, though I can't tell you if she's done any or not, because I don't know. She has spread many rumors about her sister, to me at least, and from what I know about Kodi, whom I went on a supply run with a few days ago, all of these acts stated here today, are things that I can see Mabel doing."

She walked back to the front row on the other side of the room, and to say I was shocked would be an understatement. Trish had just outed Mabel, on behalf of me, and I wasn't sure what to make of that, much less her.

The room once again filled with murmurs as Miss B told the six people that they could deliberate now, after having offered to let Mabel speak in defense of herself.

Mabel had turned away from the offer.

After a few minutes, Tucker, who I hadn't noticed was in the group of six, stood up, "Miss B, we have come to an agreement."

Miss B nodded for him to continue.

"The person in question, Mabel, has indeed done questionable things. But we believe that she may turn a corner, if put in solitary living," Chester tensed beside me, "Her sister will stay in the house that she is in now, but Mabel will move to the new one that was prepared for the two of them."

I waited for the rest of his sentencing but it never came. Ice crept into my heart, there was no way Mabel would just forget my admissions against her. I looked to Miss B, who wasn't meeting my eyes, and I knew she was considering it.

There was a heavy silence, and then Beck took a step forward, "Forgive me, but I don't think this is fair to Kodi. While I won't ever disagree with giving someone a second chance, this is crazy. She needs to be on patrol, at the very least," while his words were calm, I could see the anger just beneath the surface.

Same reached out and grabbed his shoulder, making him cool down a little, and step back at the same time. Miss B was quiet for a moment before nodding and stepping up onto the stage like part of the room.

"Mabel will be assigned to the new house. Two weeks of solitary living, and she'll have two strikes during that time. The first strike leads to an additional two weeks, while the second strike means she will be kicked out, with only a back pack of two day's rations, and a single knife, that is final," she said, looking at me briefly, "Next case please."