Truth Will Set You Free

Everywhere hurt. Cosette's master had healed every single one of the numerous injuries he had inflicted upon her during these long weeks, but some of the pain remained and it was making it hard to stand. It was also there to remind Cosette what would happen if this all failed, and what she was trying to escape from.
To say Cosette was frightened was an understatement. She was attempting to flee from her prison, and all the beliefs her master had rooted into her mind. All his poisonous words echoed in Cosette's head, telling her to remain and continue being a decoration, a slave, a punching bag. It would be easier that way, only she had to suffer that way.
But no. Cosette shouldn't listen. It was all a trick, treachery. She should be free, she should break away from her shackles and reclaim her life. Life that was only just beginning, and Cosette didn't want to spend it here with her master.
It was a war inside her mind, as Cosette walked over to where she and Ghum always sparred. It was a safe place, there she could tell him everything.

Cosette arrived, and without further ado she summoned Ghum. After briefly taking away her suppression bracelet, of course. Yes, the bracelet. It was the key to her freedom, the thing that enabled all of this. Cosette would use it to get back the wings she had lost.
The moment Ghum would arrive Cosette would take a tight grip of his hand and look at him with a determined, but panicked and scared eyes and expression. It was clear to see everything was not alright.
"Ghum, listen to me. My real name is Cosette,Cosette Cygne. I'm a swan maiden, I was kidnapped. He took my robe and gave me so many orders and I couldn't go against them for so long. But now I have this bracelet and I can talk and I'm actually telling all of this to you. He hits me so much, it hurts so much, I'm so scared, what if he hurts you, or someone else...?"
Cosette was overwhelmed, and her words were hasty and slurred and her eyes started to wander halfway her words. Cosette kept mumbling, mostly about France, her family and how much her master scared her, and she would probably go on forever if no one stopped her.

Cosette wanted, needed, to get all of this information out as fast as possibly, and that was why she was rambling. Her mind was in chaos and her mouth had the mind of its own, as Cosette desperately hung onto Ghum's hand like it was a lifeboat on the sea. She didn't even stop to consider Ghum might've been confused or overwhelmed.

Cosette looked up at Ghum with slight confusion and shock when he smiled, she didn't pick up on how murderous hearing all of this made him. Cosette could feel panic rising and opened her mouth to ask why Ghum was smiling. But all of Cosette's panic and sadness and fear died down considerably, when Ghum picked her up and hugged her close. The warmth of someone friendly and the consoling hand on Cosette's head made her break, and Cosette began crying silently, her face buried against Ghum.

"I...I didn't. He released me...just few hours ago. Y-you're the...strongest person I know, and I-I have...nothing. I don't have a place to go, I don't know anything, I'm all alone."
Cosette explained with small gasps, as she cried, and shook her head a bit. She didn't know anything about the island's legal system or her rights, how she became a citizen, how she could go to school, anything. Ulric had kept her strictly oblivious.

Cosette knew Ghum well enough, that even in this shook state she didn't expect him to know what to say to console her. Just letting her cry was enough, and as Ghum suggested different places Cosette could stay at she was able to even her breathing and stop her crying. She was still a mess, but she was bit more together.

Cosette shook her head slightly.
"N-no, I couldn't possibly impose like that. I have enough t-to stay in a motel for few days. Ghum."
Cosette sniffed a bit and looked up at her friend with pleading eyes, her cheeks wet from tears. But there was still resolve in her eyes.
"Please help me alert the authorities. Ulric needs to be brought to justice. He hurts many people, not just me."
Cosette's voice shivered a bit, she didn't have the confidence to go to the police on her own. She didn't know how these things worked. And Cosette could guess, what Ghum was thinking. Though she had no idea about the extent of it.
"P-please don't avenge me, if that was on your mind. I j-just want him arrested and in prison. T-that is where he would go, right? Prison?"

Cosette chuckled a bit, weakly, and tried to send Ghum a small smile.
"I will be feeling shitty no matter what, whether I'm alone or with people. It's a small prize to pay if I can be free."

So he had really been thinking that, avenging her. Cosette considered Ghum's words, if she wanted to make Ulric suffer. The answer, no matter what perspective Cosette looked at it from, was clear.
"No. No, I don't want him to suffer."
Cosette said quietly, her head hanging a bit.
"He needs to take responsibility for his crimes, he needs to stay alive so he can realize the weight of what he has done. If he dies, then he loses the chance to learn, maybe become a better person. And I don't want to take that away from him."
Cosette's voice was a bit louder and surer this time, she meant what she said, but her head was still hanging. She'd be lying if she said that there wasn't resentment. But Cosette was strong enough to look past it, let go of it. She wasn't a hateful person, and would never be.

It was fine if Ghum didn't understand what Cosette was trying to convey. She didn't want to force her views on others. But she was relieved he was willing to listen and respect her wishes, and Cosette exhaled a bit, trying to even her still shaky breath. Cosette had to be composed enough so when she told everything to the police she'd be convincing enough. Ulric had told Cosette the police would dismiss even murder if the one telling about it was a whiny mess, and though Cosette didn't want to believe anything he told her she couldn't help the fear in her chest. What if they didn't believe her? What if they just told her to stop spouting nonsense and go home?
Cosette pressed her hands together, concerned expression on her face.

Cosette hadn't seen Garrett's new human form and for a moment she just stared at him with empty, confused eyes. She snapped out of it upon his question.
"Oh, uh, yes, yes please. To, um, to the speeding there, also."
Cosette said, her voice bit muttery.