Monster

Do. Not. Ruin. This.

Her orders were simple. She was to take the stand, swear in to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth. Then sit in the wooden-barred box beside the judge. She was told to smile. Told to answer in complete sentences. And if asked to reveal the “supposed” scars and bruises on her body, she was to comply. After all, her mother’s makeup concealed them very well. Basically, she was to make her family appeal as a happy household.

She was to lie in a court of law.

“Señorita Catalina Milan-Santucci?” the judge looked down at her. She sat at the Defense Table with Amelia in her carriage basket to her right, and her mother, father, and their lawyer to her left.

“¿Sí Juzga a Sanchez?” she answered timidly. From underneath the table, she could feel her mom pinch her leg between her long manicured fingernails. She sufficed a yelp.

“Tome por favor el soporte. Es tiempo para su interrogatorio.” (“Please take the stand. It’s time for your questioning.”)

She nodded, getting up from her seat. Breathing deeply, she could feel her heart pound against her ribcage. She felt the sweat build up on her forehead, one bead falling down the side of her face. She glanced over at Iker and Sarah who looked at me with remorse. She never wanted to drag them into this. In all honesty, their chances of winning me and Amelia back into their care, is slim. It tore me apart to even consider that…but it’s true. Her family was composed of pathological liars.

She reached the bailiff at the head of the courtroom. He stood with a bible in his hands. “Coloque la mano izquierda en el fallo de Biblia.” (“Place your left hand on the bible miss.”) she did as told. But the bailiff quirked an eyebrow. It was like a hurricane was rumbling through her left arm. It wouldn’t stop shaking. “Ahora levántele tiene razón mano, y repite después mí.” (“Now raise you’re right hand, and repeat after me.”) she nodded. “Juro decir la verdad. Toda la verdad. Y nada pero la verdad.” (“She swear to tell the truth. The whole truth. And nothing but the truth.”)

Again, the bailiff raised a questioning eyebrow as she swallowed the lump in her throat, before repeating, “Juro decir la verdad. Toda la verdad. Y nada pero la verdad.”

The bailiff stepped back, allowing her to drop her hands and run them along the sides of her body. Her palms was sweating, probably just as bad as her forehead. She took her seat in the very uncomfortable wooden chair set for her questioning. The view before me was surreal; but definitely not in the good sense.

Strangers sat in the juror box, ready to judge and convict. Her mother looked as if she was ready to pass out from all the alcohol she had consumed just an hour before their courtroom arrival. Her parent’s lawyer looked nervous. Her father bore his eyes blankly ahead of him; like he had nothing to worry about.

“Catalina…muy linda nombre.” (“Catalina…very pretty name.”) She didn’t even realize that Iker and Sara’s representation had been pacing in front of me until he said her name. She nodded nervously at him before he flashed me a very sincere smile. She almost wanted to smile back, until the thought of her father popped in her head - so she didn’t. “Catalina, me dice acerca de sus padres.” (“Catalina, tell me about your parents.”)

She inhaled slowly, and responded, “Son personas buenas.” (“They are good people.”)

Lie.

“MShe madre y el padre me adoran.” (“My mother and father love me.”)

Lie.

“Me preven…y Amelia.” (“They provide for me…and Amelia.”)

Lie.

The man before me nodded. She knew he didn’t believe me. Sara and Iker knew too much information - information vital to this court case. “Dígame acerca de Amelia.” (“Tell me about Amelia.”)

“¡La objeción su honor!” (“Objection your honor!”) her parent’s lawyer stood from his chair. “El niño no es el foco de este caso. No hay razón de traerlo arriba.” (“The child is not the focus of this case. There is no reason to bring it up.”)

It. her child is not an “it”. Her child has a name. She wanted to stand so badly and give that man a piece of her mind, but she couldn’t.

Judge Sanchez waved her hand, “Lo permitiré.” (“I’ll allow it.”) She then looked at me and gave me a nod, silently saying to answer the question. She gulped though. She wasn’t prepared for a question about her daughter.

“Es aproximadamente una semana vieja.” (“She’s about a week old.”) she replied. “Es sana. Ella no se agita a menudo. Es mShe orgullo.” (“She’s healthy. She doesn’t fuss often. She’s her pride.”) The entire time she stared at her open carriage. She was sleeping, peacefully, amongst the tension in this courtroom. How she envied her daughter to the world’s extent.

Iker’s lawyer nodded. “¿Quién es el padre de Amelia, Catalina?” (“Who is Amelia’s father, Catalina?”)

“¡Su honor!” (“Your honor!”) Judge Sanchez banged her gavel at their lawyer’s outburst. She ordered him to sit down. Again, she looked at me and told me to continue.

She inhaled and held that breath. What was she supposed to say? Behind her father, in the audience seats, Charlie sat. He looked at me knowingly, the corners of his lips curling into that tight-lipped smirk that she absolutely detested. She glanced back at Marius who had now rested his elbows on the dark wood table, his hands folded together and pressed against his mouth. His nostrils was flared and his eyes was dark. His expression gave me the answer she was to tell. She closed her eyes, opened her mouth and spoke, “El padre de Amelia es-” (“Amelia’s father is-”)

She opened her eyes and they fell on Iker and Sara. They knew the truth. They was waiting for me to say Charles. So why was she hesitating?

Cough.

Her eyes snapped to her father who’s expression intensified. She shook her head and silently prayed to god to save her soul. To save Amelia from a life like mine. And save Iker and Sara in every way possible - they didn’t need her problems dumped on them.

“Su padre es un chico de la escuela…yo, yo fuShe aprovechado de. Ha desaparecido desde entonces.” (“Her father is a boy from school…I, she was taken advantage of. He has disappeared since then.”) From the corners of her eyes she saw Iker lower his head and Sara lean hers on his shoulder in distress. Their lawyer asked me for a name of the boy, but she responded that she simply did not know. He was a level higher than me, and he manipulated me - forcing himself. Not too far of a stretch from the truth.

Not soon enough, she was taken down from the stand. She sat anxiously awaiting the outcome of this case, only to realize that it will not be concluding today. More people was questioned, including her parents and Iker and Sara. Some neighbors was asked to make a statement but none of these people really knew who her family was.

She rolled her eyes whenever someone said, “they don’t bother us, so we don’t bother them” or “they keep to themselves, so we never thought to question their closed doors” or the worse “we’ve never heard anything out of the usual”.

How can people be so naïve and ignorant. She can recall myself screaming at the top of her lungs - begging for help, crying at her father, or Charles to just stop. The homes in her side of town may be spaced apart, but they weren’t that far. Someone must hear her.

She sighed after the man who worked with her father left the questioning stand. It only confirmed that she would be going “home” with her parents for another night. But when she thought it was time for today’s meeting to adjourn, Iker’s attorney called up one more man for questioning…Charlie.

She physically flinched, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to sit still as he blatantly lied to the courtroom. Inhaling sharply, she sat tight lipped as he sat down. His cocky smirk still plastered on his face.

“¿Algo el Sr. Andres gracioso?” (“Something funny Mr. Andres?”) the attorney poked.

Charlie shook his head, “Acabo de encontrar un poco ridículo soy preguntado. Paso apenas tiempo con esta familia. Soy sólo conocidos con Marius.” (“She just find it a little ridiculous I’m being questioned. She barely spend time with this family. I’m only acquaintances with Marius.”)

The lawyer raised an eyebrow, “¿Mas llegó en este caso del tribunal, para un hombre que es sólo conocidos con, con su hija en su vehículo?” (“yet you arrived at this court case, for a man you are only acquaintances with, with his daughter in your vehicle?”)

She could feel a light vibration on the table. She indiscreetly glanced over to see her father’s hands shaking. She then looked at Marius who darted his eyes at her father before replying, “Me preguntó a. Entonces hice.” (“he asked me to. So she did.”)

“Veo,” the well dressed man responded, clearly not believing him. To her left, her father coughed. Again, glancing over, she could see the sweat forming above his brow. He was nervous. Though, he really had nothing to worry about, because a few questions later, Charlie was ordered to step down.

Judge Sanchez banged her gavel, “El tribunal suspendió por el día. Continuará otra vez, mañana en el mediodía agudo.” (“Court adjourned for the day. It will continue again, tomorrow at twelve o’ clock, pm., noon sharp.”)

-X-

“Che l'inferno era ciò!” (“What the hell was that!”) her father boomed upon walking into the front door.

Charles walked in behind him, heading straight to the kitchen to grab a beer. “Non sospettano niente. Calmarsi.” (“They don’t suspect anything. Calm down.”)

“Come l'inferno può tengo sapere di calma che il suo fottere muto stesso potrebbe soffiare questo coperchio!” (“How the hell can I keep calm knowing that your dumb fucking self might blow this cover!”) Marius snatched the beer from Charlie’s hands and threw it against the wall.

Catalina tried to keep Amelia outside as long as possible, but her mother surprised her with a forceful shove. Thus causing the carriage to rock, and Amelia’s eyes to snap open. Yet, she did not start crying. Well, not until she heard the glass bottle shatter against the wall.

“Chiuderlo su!” (“Shut it up!”) Marius turned. Black were his eyes as he looked at Catalina. She set the carriage down and unbuckled Amelia from it. But Cata’s hands fumbled. “Ho detto…HA CHIUSO. ESSO. SU.” (“I said…SHUT. IT. UP.”) Cata began to panic. She began to tear up. She worked as fast as she could. But once she finally got the safety belt unbuckled, her father’s hand came in contact with the side of her face. She fell to the floor with a huge thud and bang to her skull.

Cata felt two large hands wrap around her ankles. She was pulled out of the way as her father slid her body across the floor. He then proceeded to kicker her over to Charles who stood her up by her hair.

“Quando dico ha chiuso su, significo ha chiuso su!” (“When I say shut up, I mean shut up!”) Marius yelled, only causing Amelia to cry even louder. This was the first time Marius ever made his anger clearly directed at the screaming baby.

“NO!” Catalina screamed. She struggled against Charlie’s grip when she was finally conscious again. Amelia was now in Marius’s hands, and he walked her over to the couches.

“Marius? Marius, che lei fa?” (“Marius? Marius, what are you doing?”) Nina spoke up behind her husband. For a split second only, Cata could hear the panic in her voice. The fear. And the cry. But Marius brushed her off, even as she spoke in his native tongue. Amelia was thrashing now - right in his hands. He dropped her on the couch, and Cata screamed another heart-wrenching “no”. She begged for him to stop whatever it was his next move was…but Marius was not listening.

Right now, Marius was not human.

Marius is a monster, the very monster that’s been haunting Catalina for the last fourteen years of her life. And now, he was instilling this same haunting, over the last shred of innocence in Catalina’s world.

In all his rage, Marius reached for a pillow at the end of the couch. He placed it over Amelia’s screaming body: arms, legs, torso, and face. He was going to smother her.

“Marius!” Nina beat on his back, “Marius!” she screamed.

“NO!” the fourteen year old mother screamed in pain. Not physically, but emotionally for her daughter. Cata could feel Charles’s grip loosen as he watched what was going on. Eventually, he had let go.

Even Charlie couldn’t stand by to watch Marius kill an infant. He had run over to his friend’s side and began to pull his hands from the child - who could still be heard screaming. Cata managed to squeeze in; between her mother’s beating on his back and Charlie’s prying, Cata, with all her might, punched her father square in the face. He fell back and landed on the coffee table, breaking it.

Cata moved the pillow from her child who was breathing deeply. “Dios…dios, no!” Cata picked Amelia up and ran her to the kitchen. She set the baby down on the table and ran to wet a wash cloth with cold water. She rung it out and placed it on her baby’s forehead, then wiped it all over the tiny body, trying everything she could to release it from its intense heat.

“Movimento,” a voice broke her actions. Nina gently moved Catalina out of her way as she proceeded to help with the situation. Honestly, Cata had no idea what she was doing, but she’d take all the help she could get. Moments later, Amelia’s eyes closed and her rustling stopped. Cata panicked. But Nina assured her, “No. No. duerme, ve. Su respirar está todavía. Acaba de caer dormido.” (“no. No. She’s sleeping, see. Her breathing is even now. She has just fallen asleep.”)

Cata sighed in relief, before turning to her mother. With the deepest sincerity, Cata told her, “gracias.” Nina nodded, given her the faintest smile.

A throat cleared from the entranceway of the kitchen. Both ladies turned. Marius stood there, looking like he was ready to say something…but he didn’t. He walked away. No other sound was made, only assuming that Charlie had left the home.

Nina sighed and began cleaning the kitchen. Catalina went to put Amelia away, back in her carriage to sleep. She returned to the kitchen and helped her mother. “Lo puedo hacer.” (“I can do it.”) Nina told her, “Siéntese. Ha hecho un día largo.” (“sit down. It’s been a long day.”) Cata nodded and sat at the table, watching her mother work, just like she did when she was little.

“Mama?” Nina ceased. “¿La mamá, qué sucedió a nosotros?” (“Mama, what happened to us?”)

Nina’s shoulders dropped. She turned in place. “Vida. Las realidades duras de la vida.” (“Life. The harsh realities of life.”)

“Pero la vida no tiene que estar como esto.” (“But life doesn’t have to be like this.”) Cata leaned forward and whispered, “Mamá, nosotros podemos testificar. Podemos escapar esto. Esto no tiene que ser nuestro vive ya-” (“Mama, we can testify. We can escape this. This doesn’t have to be our lives anymore-”)

Slap.

“Su padre nos preve,” (“Your father provides for us,”) Nina said. “Haga no usted se olvida eso.” (“Don’t you forget that.”)

Cata slapped back and bit her lip. “Entonces esto no será mi vida. Ni lo hace es Amelia.” (“Then this will not be my life. Nor will it be Amelia’s.”) Nina’s eyes widened, as if she were so surprised. Catalina lifted her head and declared, “Testificaré contra Marius, y yo ganaré…con o sin su ayuda. Amelia y yo huirán de él, y usted será dejado aquí, solo, para aguantar su ira monstruosa.” (“I will testify against Marius, and I will win…with or without your help. Amelia and I will flee from him, and you will be left here, alone, to endure his monstrous wrath.”)

Catalina exited the kitchen, leaving her mom to ponder the thought of turning against her husband. Whether or not Nina chose to comply…Catalina was done. Infinitely.