A silence, so thick that you could hear a pin drop, echoed in the courtroom. Everyone, including the persecuting and defending sides, held their breaths as they waited for the Honorable Judge Martin to cast her judgement.
Most people in the audience were anxious for the judgement to be given. Others like the persecuting team just smirked as they already knew the outcome.
Afterall, the outcome had been decided the moment they had stepped foot in the courtroom.
A woman, who seemed to be in her late fifties, pushed up the pair of glasses on the bridge of her nose. She cleared her throat as she furrowed her grey brows, deep in thought.
Her frown, combined with her curly gray hair, made her look like the evil grannie children usually curse in TV.
'This case....'
Her eyes trailed to the woman in orange who sat in the defendant seat. Her amber eyes were visibly swollen with huge eye bags round them.
Her once lush brown hair was now a tangled mess.
Her appearance was unsightly.
But it wasn't just her appearance that made her an eyesore, it was the charges made against her. She had been charged with four heinous crimes namely;
Capital murder,
Terrorism,
Kidnapping,
And a Felony murder.
She was a threat to the city, to the nation. She was a mistress of crime. Everyone in the nation had been awaiting her capture, because only then would they be safe.
And now, she had finally been captured. Finally.
But looking at her now, Judge Martin just couldn't find the woman who committed all of those crimes. She couldn't find the said monster.
All she saw was a shattered woman whose eyes were hollow, just like her soul.
Judge Martin sighed as she glanced at the persecution and then the defendant. She turned to the woman in a suit beside her and nodded.
"Please read the verdict for the court".
The woman in a pants suit nodded. She swallowed her saliva and read
"In the matter of The State vs Eliana Reed..."
The man of the persecution smirked along with his lawyer. He glanced at the woman in orange who perhaps was Eliana.
This woman just didn't know what was good for her. She crossed him, therefore, she would pay the price.
He humphed as he returned his attention to the reader, awaiting the verdict.
The woman in the pants suit continued,
"On Count one: Capital/Aggravated murder — we find the defendant Guilty".
A woman in the second row sniffled as tears rolled down her face. Her right hand clutched her dress until her knuckles turned white.
Eliana, the one being judged, raised her head ever so slowly. Her hollow eyes fell on the reader.
The reader continued,
"On Count two: Terrorism and possession of fire arms — Guilty".
A girl sitting next to the crying woman stood up suddenly, "Impossible! My sister isn't a terrorist! What the hell is this?!"
Judge Martin frowned. "Watch your mouth, Miss Reed-—"
"No! No, I won't watch my mouth! How can I just sit here and watch you convict a perfectly innocent person?! This is an outrage!
It's clear as day that it's that piece of scum who did all of this! He simply wants to punish Eliana for doing the right thing! And you guys are helping him!
I thought this was supposed to be a fair system everyone could rely on, but now, all I see is garbage!!"
"Miss Reed!"
The woman continued her rants as the man in the persecution scoffed. He gave his lawyer a look and the man nodded in response.
His lawyer, Gavin Harris, stood up and addressed the judge,
"Your honor, this is unbelievable. Miss Reed is accusing my client of framing the defendant. In addition, she is criticizing your decision!
Your honor, this is an embarrassment to The Court as well as my client. If Your honor agrees, I would like to file a case of defamation against Miss Reed!"
Melanie Reed, or rather Miss Reed, screeched in response.
"You shameless, spineless bastard! How dare you!?"
She launched at him but fortunately was held back by the officers on guard.
Judge Martin frowned as she glanced at Melanie and then at Barrister Gavin.
"Order! Oder in the court!!"
She glanced at the defendant and said, "That won't be necessary".
Judge Martin signalled the officers and the officers grabbed Melanie by both shoulders. They dragged her off with her kicking and screaming like a maniac.
The crying woman beside her tried grabbing unto her daughter but it was too late. She had already been dragged too far from her.
Melanie screamed her sister's name as she was being dragged away, tears in her eyes while looking at Eliana.
"Ellie! Ellie!! El-—"
The doors closed and finally peace was restored in the courtroom like nothing had happened. Gavin dusted off the invisible dust on his suit jacket and sat down gracefully, nodding at his client.
Meanwhile, Eliana sat still, gazing at a distance. She didn't seem a bit bothered by the commotion caused by her sister. Matter of fact, she seemed strangely calmer than before.
Considering her current crimes and background combined with that calm expression on her face, one would come to the conclusion of her being mentally unstable.
Judge Martin looked at Eliana and frowned. But nevertheless, she motioned for the reading to continue.
"On Count Three: Kidnapping of a minor -— we find the defendant Guilty".
The courtroom felt like it was shrinking.
"On Count Four: A Felony Murder -— Guilty of all charges!"
Eliana lifted her head slowly and stared at the judge's gavel. A faint smirk tugged at her lips as she awaited her fate.
Judge Martin heaved a sigh. She raised her gavel, raising along with it the anxiousness of most of the nation.
The sound of the gavel striking echoed in the room and it was soon followed by the judge's emotionless voice,
"Eliana Lucia Reed,
you are hereby sentenced to three consecutive life sentences with no possibility of parole.
You will spend the rest of your natural life in federal custody, reflecting on your mistakes and paying your debt to society.
The Court is adjourned."
"All rise."
But no one rose, excluding the judge who left the courtroom shortly.
Instead, a heavy silence fell on the room as they watched one of, if not, the nation's most notorious criminal being taken away by the police officers.
The clanking of chains could be heard with every step she took. Every step meant a step closer to eternal doom to Eliana and a step closer to freedom for the people.
The woman who was crying cried harder and stumbled her way to Eliana, who was almost at the door. Her cries increased, her tears and snot mixing together on her face.
"Eliana, my dear, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! This is all my fault, it's Mama's fault! If only I didn't force you into any of this, you wouldn't be in this mess! You wouldn't be considered a criminal, my dear! I'm sorry. Mother is sorry, Eliana!!"
Eliana watched her mother cry and cling to her clothes. Her ever hollow eyes, for the first time since this trial began, showed some emotion as she stared at her mother.
But she didn't cry or beg, she simply gave a small smile and left, leaving her mother with:
"Mother, please take care of my daughter for me".
.....
A woman jolted awake from her sleep panting. Her baby hairs stuck to her forehead as she was drenched in sweat. The air conditioning in the room didn't help calm her or cool her down at all.
Her emerald eyes were wide, evident with fear.
Whatever nightmare she had scared her to the bone.
She placed her left hand on her chest as she tried to calm herself down, evening her breathing. Fortunately, her breathing evened up to an extent and she immediately threw her legs out of the bed.
She put her slippers on and went straight to the bathroom to wash her face.
While drying her face with a towel, she stared back at her reflection in the mirror.
"It's that dream again. Just who is that woman?"