All characters are over 18.
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I was trembling as my mother and I sat behind my father in court. The police had picked me up at college and escorted the hour long drive back to my hometown to attend court. I had no idea what was going on, but I was scared.
There were new laws put into place in the last few years, and I feared what fate my dad might face. I didn't know what he was being charged with, only that he had pleaded guilty, and this was just a formality to learn what punishment he would face. I hadn't even known that anything was the matter. My parents hadn't said a thing to me at all.
"You're total debt exceeds the amounts allowed by law and you have failed to pay. It looks like arrangements have been made for the immediate payment in order for Mr. Lowery to keep his residence. I've placed a garnishment on your paycheck at your current employer, in which the defendant has signed a contract that he is not allowed to resign for the next three years. Is the candidate in court today?" the judge asked.
"Yes, your honor," my father's lawyer replied.
"Bailiffs, please Kate Lowery into custody. Court is adjourned," the judge declared with the bang of the gavel.
"What?!" I shrieked. "Mom, what's going on?"
My mother refused to look at me, and when the bailiffs approached me, she turned from me and walked away. I tried to follow, but hands took me by the shoulder and my arms were forced behind my back and cuffed.
"I don't understand. What is going on?" I cried out as I was hauled away.
"If you keep that up, we'll gag you."
"Someone tell me what is going on?" I cried.
The bailiff behind me sighed and pulled me to a stop while the other bailiff pulled something off his belt. It was a ball gag. It was forced into my mouth and fastened behind my head. I was sobbing now. I turned my head to look at my parents before they pulled me through the door where the judge had already left and I saw my parents hugging. They never even looked in my direction. I was pulled through the door.
The hallway was deserted and into an elevator. When it opened, there were a couple of cops already inside. We entered and the bailiffs pushed the button for the ground floor.
"Another one, huh?" One cop asked.
"Yup. And they didn't even tell her."
"Of course they didn't," he replied back, almost sounded as if he was disgusted.
The doors opened, and I walked down the hallway and through a set of double doors going outside. A white county van sat outside, with a deputy waiting with the doors open. My hands were released long enough to cuff them in front and then I was the van inside and the deputy buckled me in.
"She's the only one you got today?" The bailiff asked the deputy.
"Yup. It's been a slow week."
The door slammed shut and I could no longer hear their conversation. I sat, freaked out. This could not be happening. I had no idea how my dad walked free when he plead guilty for something and I ended up in this van.
The driver's door opened, and the deputy climbed inside and turned the engine over. He looked at me through the rear-view mirror. Then he turned up the music to drown out my sobs and started driving. We were driving for less than ten minutes before we reached a huge non descriptive building. The deputy drove around the building to the back. There was an awning with doors underneath. He parked there and got out.
The slide door opened, and he unbuckled me and pulled me out of the van. Two more deputies opened the door, and I was handed off. The deputy who drove me handed over a clipboard for a signature. He took the top copy, handed it over and walked away. Then I was inside. It was like a prison. Everything I've seen on tv. They had to use badges to walk through metal doors and lead me through two sets of doors before being led to a counter. A paper was handed to the lady at the desk.
I stood there as she typed away while looking at the paper. I was shaking, though my sobs had stopped. Just tears ran down my face. She stamped something on the paper and got up to make a copy before handing it to the deputies.
"You're all set, Carl," she said as she smiled at him as if I was standing here.
"Thanks, Betty."
The doors buzzed, and we walked inside a single door that lead down a stark white deserted hallway. It had the white painted brick look, and it emanated cold even though it was hot outside. I was starting to get goosebumps and my shaking could have been shivering. We approached a door that said medical and went in.
It was just like any other exam room I'd been in to get a pap. There was a table with stirrups and a counter with swaps and stuff in clear vases. There was a stool with wheels. The rest was barren. No posters or anything. I startled a bit when I felt fingers on my head. They were undoing the gag, and I felt relief when the gag popped out of my mouth. My jaw was sore.
"Take your clothes off and put them on the counter," the one named Carl said. I stared at him in shock. "We will do it for you, but it will be better for you if you did it."
More tears slipped down my face as I shakily started to pull my shirt over my head. I folded it as best as I could and set it on the counter. Then I toed my shoes off and slid my jeans down my legs. I fold them and put them on top of my shirt. I stood with my arms over my bra.
"Underwear and socks too," Carl said.
I slipped my socks off first and stuffed them in my shoes before I turned away from them and unclasped my bra. I almost didn't need a bra as I was pretty small chested but I had decided to wear one today as I had a date with a guy I met at a party. I put my bra on my clothes and then took a deep breath before removing my panties and setting them on top and used my hands and arms to cover myself.