A Royal Prisoner (standard:non fiction, 4446 words)
Author: Circles of love	Added: Nov 10 2012	Views/Reads: 2517/2016	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A young man's dreams is destroyed by just one reckless night that sent him to Jail.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

thought he would be dragged out of bed in the middle of the night and 
taken to a remote place for initiation and all but this was far from 
it. It was an evening gathering of boys in expensive suit, glasses of 
wine having a nice time. They talked about football, stock market and 
all forms of business he's not even heard of. He's never seen so many 
wealthy young boys all in the same room; their suits, shoes, watches 
says it all about them, not to talk of their cars. They told him if he 
would join then, his future was secured and would have numerous 
opportunities of wealth in life. They had god-fathers who would ensure 
their future is well taken care of. They stated their rule which wasn't 
so difficult, 'help and support every brother in need, protect and 
guard their interest'. Few days later, he officially joined the 
brotherhood after a ceremonial gathering was called. He was sworn in by 
swearing on the ‘black book', where all their rules and regulations 
were written in. 

His admission into the brotherhood brought many benefit to him, he was
relocated to a well furnished house not far away from the school to 
share with some other members and given a Ford fiesta 2010 to start off 
with. Because of his intelligent in his studies, he was placed in the 
academic department of the fraternity where he would help other 
struggling members with their studies and receive numeration for his 
services. Life was great, I mean, every boy's dream was coming to pass 
in his life; he had nothing to fear, nothing to worry about. He met 
with 

Josh, a final year student who took exceptional interest in him. He
happens to be a millionaire son and a grandson to one of the founding 
member of the brotherhood. His friendship with Josh bought more respect 
from other students and even the lecturers, not that he needed it but 
he was somewhat feared and respected. Few days to their summer break, 
he made plans to meet up with Josh in one of the clubs in London. 

His parents were excited when he got back home; he carefully hid his
fraternity from them. He knew they would frown at such and wouldn't 
understand how harmless they were especially since they were both 
elders in the church and had taught him about God right from his youth. 
He decided to keep his life in school secret to himself and be a good 
church boy when he's home. 

............................ Two days after his return back home, he met
with Josh at a local pub not too far from his house; he tried every 
wine and drank himself to the extreme. Shortly after, Josh decided to 
drive him home, but on their way in the midst of the fun and laughter, 
Josh asked him if he wanted to have more fun and do something he's 
never done before; he was so full of himself and laughed all the way. 
Few distances away from the pub, Josh parked his car by the side of the 
road and both waited in the car. Josh asked him if he's ever had sex 
with a stranger before, someone he did just meet for the first time. 
They both laughed about it and drank more beer.  Shortly after, they 
spotted a young girl on the other side of the road; Josh immediately 
came out of the car and went to her. Ben couldn't make out what he said 
to her but the girl cussed at him and started to walk away when Josh 
grabbed her and carried her into the side of the road, weaving at Ben 
to come out. Ben followed quickly and followed Josh's instructions; he 
helped to push the young girl on the floor and before long, Josh was on 
top of her while Ben held her two hands to the ground, keeping her from 
struggling. The young girl cried, begged and screamed for them to stop 
but he laughed at her while Josh raped her. 

He had no idea how he got home that night but when he woke up in the
mid-day, he knew something was wrong, he knew he had done the 
abominable. He was so scared to think about what happened so he went 
back to bed, sleeping through out the whole day, woke up to have his 
dinner and then went back to sleep until early hours when he was 
arrested. Everything was becoming clearer to him now, the hangover had 
worn out and he knew he was in real trouble. 

The bang on the cell gate jolts him from his thought. 

............................... 

"Hey boy, your lawyer is here." the officer shouted at him. The heavy
gate was opened while they cuffed him and led him outside. As they 
approached a room, he could see his mother from the glass window and 
there, he felt ashamed. He had become a disgrace to his family and went 
against everything they stood for. 

Her eyes widened as he was brought in, she stood up quickly going to
hold him. "Oh God! Ben," she held him close. "Don't you worry, we'll 
get you out of here." she touched his face to assure him. His father 
sat there, stone faced, staring at him. Ben felt his heart pounding, 
'Did he know the truth?" he thought in his heart. "Alright," the other 
man seated in the room spoke out. Ben realized he was the lawyer. "My 
name is Carl Henson; I am going to be your defence lawyer." Ben nodded, 
unsure of how to response. "Why are we defending? He hasn't done 
anything here, they have him confuse with someone else." his mother 
raged out "Ma'am," Carl said. "No! You are going to get my son out of 
here right now, today," she shouted at their lawyer. "this all comes 
back to racial discrimination. A white girl gets raped, probably by her 
boyfriend and then, they blame a black boy for the offence. What has my 
Son got to do with this? He just came back from school few days ago, an 
honours student and a respectable boy in the community. I will not 
stand for this, I will not let anyone use my son as a scapegoat in the 
name of law." she shouted, her eyes widened, staring at the police 
officer behind the window. 

"Sit down Margaret!" the sound of his father startled her. "What!" she
stared at him in disbelief? "Sit down!" he said again. "Are you going 
to sit here and allow them do this to us, to our son? Are you 
intimidated by all of them?" She shouted at him, pointing at their 
lawyer who was also a white man. "Ma'am!" Carl stood up, insulted by 
her words. "Don't you 'ma'am' me!" she screamed at him with tears 
running down her face. "This is my son we are talking about, my only 
child; are you going to sit here and let them do this to us? We are the 
victim here Jonathan, we are." she cried out to her husband. Ben 
couldn't take this. He felt like ripping his heart off his chest. He 
dreads the horror in the room, his mother hysterical, crying for the 
innocent child she once knew and unaware of the evil he's become. "Ben, 
do you understand the charges against you?" Carl directed his question 
at him. He nodded. "Do you know any Melissa Gail?" he asked. The name 
was familiar. “No.” he replied. "Alright, a Miss Melissa Gail claimed 
you raped her two days ago." Carl said. The uncontrollable weeping from 
his mother made him mute; he avoided her eyes. "Now, my job is to 
defend you in court but there are strong evidences against us here." "I 
did not rape anyone." he found his voice, aware of his father's intense 
gaze on him. "You see, he said it, he didn't rape anyone, he doesn't 
even know who she is." his mother cried out. "The police searched your 
room shortly after your arrest and found one of shirts which matches a 
piece of clothing Ms Melissa torn away from her attacker." he stared 
into Ben's eyes, waiting for an answer. 

His mind flashed back to the event, he remembered the girl grabbed his
shirt during the attack; Josh had laughed at her, asking her if she 
wanted to have the two of them at the same time. He was too drunk to 
realize she had torn his shirt. "Do you know how a piece of your 
clothing got into her hands?" Carl looked straight into his eyes. . 
Stunned. He felt his heart pounding. "I was at a pub that night, maybe, 
it happened there. I really don't know." he found himself saying. "Hmm, 
that's could be an explanation." Carl said. "I don't understand all 
these," his father spoke out. "How was he identified amongst every 
young boy in the pub? Was the Melissa girl at the same pub?" his father 
directed the question to Carl. Ben was afraid to look at his parents, 
he had told them he was going to a friend's birthday party that night, 
not a pub. “No, she was coming from a night library not too far from 
her house.” Carl said. “Then, how did she know my son to have 
identified him?” he asked. "That's where it becomes difficult, she 
physically identified him; gave the full description and address which 
means they must have met somewhere or someone she already know before.” 
"What?" his mother said in exasperation. "How?" "That's where we have 
to work harder and bring any evidence that will acquit your son from 
all these charges; you are going to tell me everything that went on 
that night, what you did, what you ate or drank, the people you met." 
he said to Ben which brought a slump in his throat. These were simple 
question but the most difficult he would have to answer to. He knew he 
couldn't involve Josh in this, his life would be over and as rules of 
the brotherhood, and he has to do everything to protect him. He's heard 
rumours of old members who went against the brotherhood and the 
punishment that was issued against them were so severe that it 
destroyed them and their whole families. He understands Josh's position 
in the society and knows the brotherhood would do everything in their 
power to make sure nothing destroys his reputation. It wasn't just his 
life at stake here, his parents and everyone he loves would be hurt in 
the process if he does anything contrary to what the brotherhood stands 
for. 

"So, did you go with anyone to the pub that night?" Carl asked, staring
at Ben and his pen ready to write down his answer. "No." he replied 
quickly. "What did you drink?" "I had a bottle of beer." "How many?" 
"Just one." "But you told us you were going to a friend's birthday 
party, how did you end up in a pub?" his mother asked in anger. “I had 
a change of plans.” He said quietly with his head bowed. “You see what 
‘change of plans' has caused you?” she frowned at him. “So what 
happened after you left the pub?” Carl asked. “I walked back home, 
alone.” He said. ..................................... Thirty minutes 
later, he was back in his cell. Those few hours with his parent were 
the most tormenting in his whole life. He's lied, cheated and sinned 
against his parents. All his dreams of becoming wealthy and successful 
were literally all dreams now and has no hope of coming to pass. He 
lies on his bed, brought his knees to his chest and wept. He felt his 
life was over; the life he was starting to enjoy and be a part of is 
wasting away. The pain in his heart was unbearable; he traded his life 
with the devil and destroyed everything. He knew the days coming would 
be more difficult and for the first time in his life, he felt scared 
and alone. His so-called confident and pride were gone. Even though he 
was just an accomplice but he's more or less a rapist; he held the 
girl's hands to the ground and allowed her to be raped and abused by 
another. What is worst than that? 

................................. 

A few days later, Ben was still in jail as his bail was denied. His
mother had become a regular visitor to the prison while his father gave 
several excuses not to come. In fact, Ben had been relieved when he 
didn't show up; he couldn't bear to see him after all he did. He knew 
he didn't believe every word he said the other day but his mother has 
been the sole believer of his innocence and still believed they have 
him confused with someone else and the judge would see that when they 
go to court. Every visit comes with fervent prayers for his freedom and 
encouragement to stay strong. She told him everyone they knew believed 
in him and all praying for him. All these brought more tears to him; he 
not only disgraced his family but everyone he knew. He left home for 
few months and allowed the world to corrupt the innocence in him; he 
traded his soul for luxurious, wealth and riches. He gave his future 
which had been solely guarded by the Lord over to the devil to maintain 
and keep. Just in few months, he's destroyed everything that he was. 
Everyone was fighting for his innocence but he knew the truth, he knew 
the devil he's done and no one can help him now, not even the 
brotherhood. ........................................ The Court 
proceeding has been going on for several hours now. The prosecution 
called in this last witness, 'Melissa Gail'. For the first time in few 
hours, he lifted up his head which has been bowed ever since he walked 
into court to see the young lady he was accused of raping. The name 
came with a face, the name that has been haunting and tormenting him 
for several days finally came with a face. He recognized her; she was 
in the same class with him in his primary school, which was definitely 
how she identified him. During the questioning, he continued to stare 
at her even though he was deaf to all the questions until Melissa 
pointed at him. He shuddered as their eyes met. "Do you see the man 
that raped you in this courtroom?" the prosecution asked. 

"Yes," she answered, pointing at him. His heart started to pound so fast
as she stared earnestly back at him. He saw the fire in her eyes; he 
saw flashes of the same eyes that stared and begged him the other 
night. He knew she wanted him to pay for what he did to her even though 
she knew in her heart he wasn't the one who raped her. He saw the fury 
and pain in her eyes, someone you've probably laughed and played with 
in school and in turn held you down to be raped. He knew it was over 
and he had to pay. “No further question.” The prosecution said. Carl 
stood up and walked up to her. "How come there is no DNA sample to 
connect my client to you?" he asked. "Objection!" the prosecution said. 
"Speculations!" "I will rephrase your honour." Carl said. "Although the 
medical examiner gave evidence of you being raped but there wasn't any 
DNA to match my client with you." Carl said. "Objection!" the 
prosecution stood up again. "Speculation your honour, the defence 
should ask his question and not give theories." the prosecution eyed 
him. "Sustained!" Judge said. "Go straight to your point, Mr. Henson." 
he said to Carl. "Why did you wash yourself after being raped?" Carl 
asked. "What?" Melissa gasped, repulsed by the question. "I mean, 
anyone who has just been raped and wishes her attacker to be caught 
shouldn't wash themselves from all evidence that could help the police 
to catch her attacker." He explained to the jury. “Now, Miss Gail, why 
did you wash away the evidence that could have help the police catch 
your real attacker?” Carl straightened, looking straight at her. 

“God! I was raped by this animal," she cried out. "I wanted to get his
smell away from me; I wanted him out of me. I ran home and scrubbed 
myself in the shower. I couldn't stand his touch on me, his breath; 
they were disgusting, “She cried out in anguish. “He held me down on 
the ground in dirt, he held me and raped me....." she stood up, 
trembling and hysterical. “He raped me, laughed at me and took my life 
away...” There was an uproar; the judge trying to maintain order in the 
courtroom. Carl watched the expression of the Jury and knew he was 
losing the case; Melissa had won their sympathy. They felt her pain and 
the female jurors looked angrily at Ben, some were almost in tears with 
her. "What makes you so sure my client was your attacker?" Carl voiced 
out. "Because I look into his eyes while he raped me, I wanted him to 
remember my face just like I will always remember his face. I cried out 
his name “she cried out.”I know who he is, Benjamin Cooker!" she broke 
down in tears. Ben felt a heavy weight on him when she called out his 
name. She had known him whilst he held her hands to the ground. He 
wished the case would end and he's given the full punishment to his 
offence. His heart could take no more of this. Everyone looked at him 
in disgust; they saw him as an animal. He had drunk himself to the 
extreme and lost all form of reality when he attacked her.  He knew if 
he was in his right sense, he would never have allowed this act to take 
place, not to talk of being involved in it. “Case adjourned.” The Judge 
announced. Ben was taken back to his cell but he knew it was over; it 
was too late to make amends. He had searched in the court room that day 
to see any of his friends or even Josh, but no one was there for him; 
they left him to face the music alone. What happens to all of their 
promises to protect and help every brother, despite the fact that he 
was doing the same; covering for an act he had not committed alone? It 
was too late to tell the whole truth now even if he wants to. Seeing 
everyone looked at him like a monster made him realized he was better 
off in jail. .............................. 

The following day, they were back in the court room. The jury walked
quietly into the court; they passed their decision to the Judge who 
acknowledges it. "May the defendant rise." the judge said. Ben and his 
lawyer slowly stood on their feet. "On the account of rape, the 
defendant is found guilty and hereby sentenced to eight years in 
prison." 

The sound of weeping from his mother brought tears to his eyes as he was
led away. He tried looking for any sign of the brotherhood again but no 
one was there for him, not even Josh. His heart sank; how could he have 
been so foolish to allow this in his life? When did he leave the place 
of God and walked into the tent of the devil? He remembered the verse 
in the bible, ‘there's a way that seems right to a man but the end 
leads to destruction.'  He knew every truth about the word of God, he 
knew his place in his kingdom, and he practically grew up in Sunday 
school but threw it all away, all for the sake of physical things and 
to be associated with people who are no help to him. He felt ashamed to 
be called the son of God. He knew the whole of heaven would probably 
turn their backs at him, cancel all the good deeds he's done in the 
past and anything that speaks of him away from heaven. He felt bound to 
hell where he most likely would end up. 
...................................................... "I'm sorry Ben; 
we'll have to appeal the decision, something isn't right somewhere and 
I will get to the root of it." Carl said to him in the holding room. 
Ben was in tears, unable to control himself. He couldn't believe all 
that was happening, he had only come home for the summer holiday but 
ended up in prison. "Your mother asked me to give this to you." he 
handed a note to him and left the room. 

Ben stared at the paper for several seconds; he recognized it, this was
one of the drawings he did when he was younger, he had drawn a picture 
of himself and written below a bible passage his mother had taught him 
to memorize, 'But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy 
nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praise of 
him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light'. His 
mother had told him while growing up that he was a special child, 
chosen by God and he was a royal, a prince from the household of God, 
but now, sitting in the cell room, he realized he was no longer a Royal 
priesthood but a Royal prisoner. The story just begun....... 

To be continued. 


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