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5th November 2007.
New York City,
United States of America.
Screams.
That was what woke Rabia up the next day.
The little girl didn't remember what particularly happened last night, she fell asleep right after Maria and her foster father's conversation without getting the water she wanted.
There's just one problem. She couldn't remember the two having a conversation or the thinly veiled threat made. She couldn't remember anything.
So, in simple words, she had no words to explain how she woke up the next day holding a knife in her hand. Or how she woke up next to a dead boy belonging to none other than the man who had been nothing but kind to her.
She didn't know how or when she killed him. It didn't make any sense.
She didn't have enough time to gather her thoughts before handcuffs were placed on her small frail hands that held the only piece of evidence to this murder case.
Her frantic eyes filled with tears glanced at the dead body that's now being covered with a white shroud by one of the cops, whatever department they belong it. A nasty gnash lies directly on the left side of his chest, where his heart is. The blood stained knife that's the only evidence of the murder, which will without a doubt point at her, was sealed in a transparent bag of some sort.
The police officer that held the held the knife threw her a dirty glare that made her shudder.
That was what snapped her out of her confusion. That was when reality came crashing down on her.
"Wait...What's going on?" Her voice sounded frail, and filled with so much fear that made the cop holding her almost feel pity towards her. Keyword, almost.
Rabia looked around when another scream filled up her room. Her gaze fell on the child that just lost his father being held back by Maria who was silently sobbing. Noah screamed as he tried to get Maria's hands off of him to run to his father's body. His face red, but his eyes looked bloodshotâhe had been crying and screaming for a while now. He would definitely have a sore throat later.
The cop that covered the deceased's body with the shroud stood up, his gaze falling on the twelve-year-old that was still trying to figure out what was going on. He walked up to her as some cops started to take pictures of the 'crime scene' for evidence purposes. He didn't stop till he stood infront of her. "Rabia, you are under arrest for the murder of Bilal Malik. You have the right to remain silent. Everything you say or do can and will be used against you. You have the right to call your attorney, if you don't have one, the court will provide one for you"He then turned and offered the cop that cuffed her a nod, a silent go-ahead for the man to take her away.
"Wait I didn't kill him; I swear I didn't!" She screamed as the cop dragged her out, away from the place she had started to consider a home.
Just a day and she's already going to prison for a crime she did not commit.
Her screams fell on deaf ears. No one believed her. Not even Noah. If Maria didn't believe her, she wouldn't be surprised because the woman didn't like her one bit, she made that clear in her actions the day before. Noah however, the two had gotten pretty close and Rabia was happy to have a brother for once in her life.
Judging from the deathly glare he sent her when she was dragged past them, she knew at the moment she lost the brother she made the day before.
It was no sure for her to scream and deny it, but she still couldn't just keep quiet and let the people drag her to wherever it is they're taking her.
Even as she was forced into the backseat of the cops' car, she didn't stop screaming until one of the cops rudely asked her to shut up. She didn't speak since then. She didn't utter a word when two cops sat beside her in the backseat of the car effectively caging her.
She was in too much shock to comprehend what was going on. It was enough that living in a foreign country is new to her. But committing murder and being sent to jail? That was something she'd never imagine for herself.
You know those kind of situation when you're in too much shock to try and defend yourself? That was what she felt.
But then again, if she wanted to defend herself, how could she do that when every piece of evidence points to her?
She didn't utter a word as they drove to wherever it is they were taking her. She didn't say anything when they arrived at their destination, a place she couldn't differentiate whether it was a station or prison. However, judging by the dull orange colored jumpsuit they gave her to put on, she knew it was the latter.
"Name?" A police that sat on the other side of a table she was made to sit asked, his voice gruff with his eyes narrowed at her. She had been getting the same look from all the other cops she had come across, it didn't bother her as much as it should anymore.
"Rabia" She replied, her eyes trained on the wall she's facing. Her lips set into a straight line, with shoulders slumped. She didn't have the energy to deny the accusations made against her anymore. She just gave in to whatever it is they're accusing her of knowing she had nothing to defend herself. What's the point when they won't believe her?
"Don't you have a last name?" He asked using the same tone as earlier.
"No" She replied, his tone not bothering her a bit. She never had a last name considering her parents passed away when she was little, she didn't know their names since neither Anty Maryama or Malam Dalha told her. She didn't use her uncle's last name knowing that he isn't her real father. Besides, she never had anything that required for her to use her name. The Islamiyya she attended back in Miya knew who she was, so there was no need for formalities.
All the documents she uses now are under the name of her foster father. Rabia Bilal Malik. However, considering the circumstances, she wasn't sure if she had the right to use his name.
He scribbled down the answers to the rest of the questions he asked her before she was asked to stand. They handed a placard to her which had her name and some numbers on it. She was told to stand infront of a place covered with some white material holding the card up.
She did as she was told and a picture of her was taken facing the camera. She was then asked to turn to her side, another picture taken. She repeated the same action once more before she was brought back where the man that took her name was. She was made to dab her finger on an inkpad, then pasted her thumbprint on the paper that had her details.
"You will be detained until the date of the hearing, with no bail of any sortânot that anyone would bother to bail you"
Rabia knew not to depend on the words he just uttered.
Hearing or not.
She knew she'll be behind bars for a very long time. That, she was sure of.
So this is how her life took a turn to be. Jailed.
~*~
"Rabia! You have a visitor" Called out of the female cop that work in the prison she was being detained. It had been four days since she was put behind bars. So far, she'd had two hearings in those four days. The day before being the second one.The last hearing was scheduled to take place in a week from them. To Rabia, she didn't need the hearing knowing she had no hope. Not by depending on herself nor on the attorney she was given.
The attorney is supposed to defend her but the man seemed to be doing anything but that.
Why? Simple. Because she's black and non-American.
That should be something that should've been used to help her. She isn't a citizen of America yet since she didn't get her green card. She's supposed to be deported but instead, she's being forced to stay in Juvenile Detention Center before she's made to rot in prison.
Turns out she was sent to JDC instead of prison since she's under 18. That didn't mean that it's any better than prison though. She hasn't been there but Juvie isn't exactly heaven on earth either. She knows because four days only yet she has a black eye from being beaten up by a group of juvenile delinquents who hate black people.
Racism exists in Juvie more than people think. And unfortunately for her, she turned out to be a scape goat they use there. To make matters worse, she couldn't defend herself.
The prison workers didn't help her either. They only step in when it gets 'too much'.
She stood up from the corner she had herself curled up, it was the one place that no one could bully her since they don't see her there. She didn't bother to clean off the dust that stained her orange colored jumpsuit that everyone wears. Her feet covered with a pair of rubber sandals that she was given along with the jumpsuit. Her hair, uncombed and left open.
The inmates took away the scarf she uses to cover her hair.
They hate Muslims too.
Every step she takes, she limps. The girls that beat her up the other day sprained her ankle too. The juvenile officers in charge of them followed closely after Rabia as she made her way out to where everyone receives visitors. There were only a couple of guests who came to visit their children who unfortunately ended up in the place like she did.
Rabia's eyes moved around the place as she wondered who the person that came to visit her was. Her swollen eye widened along with the other one that's perfectly normal when her gaze fell on the guest she has.
Maria.
She limped her way to the table where Maria sat stiffly, her eyes narrowed at Rabia in slits following the girl's steps with her cold eyes. The juvenile officer stood by the door giving them all the privacy they need, but still keeping a close eye on them for any form of contraband.
Rabia sat on the seat opposite Maria, her eyes watching the woman up close. Four days ago she would've been nervous being in the presence of this woman. However, after everything she went through in Juvie in those four days, fearing Maria is the least in her list of fears. She didn't say anything to the woman as she folded her hands on her lap. Her busted lip set into a straight line.
"You look horrible" Maria commented watching the twelve-year-old up close. "You deserve it, after everything you made Noah go through" She added making Rabia look away.
The girl knew it was only a matter of time anyway before Maria say something that'll without a doubt be rude and harsh. "How is he?" She asked instead though she knew that she will not like the answer that will come out of Maria's lips. Her voice sounded hoarse from the lack of use for days.
"Broken. What do you expect?" Maria raised a brow as she placed her hands on the table that sat between the two, "You killed his father after all"
The girl clenched her teeth, "I did not kill him. You know I didn't" Rabia blinked the tears that formedin her eyes. She knew Maria didn't like her but the woman of all people should know that she wasn't capable of murder.
How could anyone believe that a twelve-year-old is capable of murder?
"Do I?" Maria asked, her voice suddenly sounding lower as she leaned towards Rabia, "You're just a homeless Nigerian who came to the states. After a day, you killed the same man that brought you here because you're greedy and mentally unstableâclearly. Who do you think will believe you?" Maria's eyes flickered to the Juvenile officer that stood stiffly a couple of feet away from them, before she returned her gaze back to Rabia.
Rabia gulped. She didn't bother to wipe the tears that streamed down her face. She knew the woman was right, who would believe her?
"You should've stayed in your country" Maria whispered and then leaned back on her seat, "I hope you rot here. You should pay for what you did" She stood up and without a second glance, she walked away.
Rabia looked down and let the tears fall.
Maria was right. She should've stayed in her village. She should've stayed in Miya.
If she had done that, Rahma would still be alive.
Her foster father would still be alive.
Noah will still have a father.
And she wouldn't rot in prison in a foreign country.
~*~
15TH November, 2007.
The Court of Appeals,
NYC, United States of America.
The day came. The last day of the hearing.
"You wouldn't have been convicted today, but because of the stunt you pulled two days ago, there's no way they'll let you go off the hook. You just added to your list of offences. To them, you're now out of control" Her attorney, a middle aged short bald man, ranted as the two made their way to the court room where the hearing will soon precede. "I'm sorry Rabia, but after what you did, I can't get you out of this," He said glancing at the girl beside him who didn't seem to care about what he said.
She just wanted the hearing to be over and done with. She knows whatever she does, it won't get her out.
She didn't regret what she did two days ago. She didn't regret smashing a wooden chair on a girl in Juvie. It was a child prison, one has to what he can to survive and that was what she did. The girl bullied her and successfully drew a razor on Rabia's cheek leaving a wound that will without a doubt leave a scar. The prison doctor disinfected it and placed a bandage on it but it wouldn't help the scar.
She didn't even start the fight. The other girl did when she stopped her from praying by any means possible. Eventually Rabia got fed up and the fight happened.
Smashing a wooden chair on the girl was the only thing she could do at the moment to defend herself. Unfortunately for her, the police didn't see it as that so that added to her list of offences. Thereby, getting her an early conviction.
Rabia sighed as she sat on her seat. The hearing started the minute the judge arrived.
She zoned out. She didn't give much care to the hearings, only answering when it was extremely necessary. She didn't defend herself nor said anything that will defend herselfânot even when she was asked whether she would plead innocent or guilty.
"All rise"
Everyone stood as the Judge walked into the court.
"Without further ado, we'll start the last court hearing of the murder case of Bilal Malik. The accused Rabia Bilal Malik, as indicted for the murder" The court Judge announcedbefore he sat down. Everyone else did the same.
Rabia was then called up, a Quran was handed over to her for the swear. "I solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing else, under pains and penalties of perjury"
Then it started.She said the truth as she swore upon. But no one believed herânot when all evidence is contradicting her words.
So, as soon as it started, it ended.
"Today, on the 15th of November, 2007; this court finds Rabia Bilal Malik, guilty of the following charges; murder of Bilal Malik and, assault against a follow inmate. She is hereby sentenced to 25 years in a maximum security prison. She would serve six years in Juvenile Detention Camp before she would be transported to the Federal Prison when she turns eighteen where she would spend the rest of her 19 years. This court is adjourned!" The judge banged his gavel on his desk.
"All rise"
~*~
Okay how about this, next update is when we reach 1k views! So fiful share o!
Ehen, we've started my favorite part of the story. You didn't see that coming did you?
Favorite character? Thoughts on the characters? The plot?
Goodnight!
Love, Jannah.