| abstract
| - Carolina White was sweating bullets. It was the day of the trial, on September 5th, of 2016. Her hands tapped her desk while the proceedings were already well underway during the late afternoon. Against her was Prosecutor Bailways, ready to pulverize his opponent. Bailways begins to cross examine the witness, Jacob Hemsworth. He picks up a slightly burnt knife with pictish symbols decorating the hilt. Bailways: Is this knife the murder weapon? Jacob quickly examines the knife and shakes his head. Hemsworth: No sir. Mayor Naise was strangled. Just look at the autopsy. However, the knife itself is a key component to our case. Bailways looks away, dumbfounded. Bailways: What is the relevancy of this knife, then? Hemsworth thinks, and then delivers an answer. Hemsworth: That knife has blood on it due to the mayor being stabbed multiple times. Now let’s address the whole autopsy. The mayor has bruises, cuts, burns and was finally strangled. Most of the body bruises probably came from a fight. The burns was due to the building they engaged combat it was on fire. Hence why this weapon is a bit burnt. Does this all make sense? Bailways nods. Hemsworth: As I analyzed the evidence, I had come to an unbiased conclusion: the murderer could not be easily figured out from evidence alone. Carolina, looking up from her paperwork, takes this hint to heart. Carolina: Then how does the prosecution expect to prosecute our defendant? Bailways: Don’t be too quick, Ms. White. Hemsworth is right: the evidence is too vague to give a definitive culprit. However! The placement of the evidence and the defendant, plus a key witness will help us determine that! James Barmms, the defendant, is casually watching the case next to his reluctantly-chosen lawyer. James: May I suggest, Ms. White, that we provide a proper alibi or definitive proof to get this case over with? 'Carolina:' Can’t. The evidence was all overseen by the Prosecutor so he knows every move we make. We have to work the way he works. James: Then we’re destined to fail. Carolina: I wouldn’t be so certain. As Bailways continues his examination, Carolina gets a text. It’s from Stephanie. Stephanie: Hey Carolina. I have something crucial for you to present. I need you to get to the police department. Carolina is about to reply when the Prosecution calls “Your witness.” ~~ Stephanie, still at the police department, is awaiting Carolina. She checks her watch. It’s been 30 minutes since she sent the text. Stephanie runs out of the Police HQ and gets into her car. However, as she gets in there, she hears a faint whisper. She looks down at the mask in the bag. But before she touches it, she holds back on the decision. She pulls out of the driveway and hits the street. ~~ Carolina: Hemsworth, why do you and the prosecution think James Barmms is the culprit? Hemsworth: I don’t. I’m here to provide evidence and represent the police. You, Miss, are making assumptions. Better quit that. Carolina nearly talks back to him, but holds her tongue. Then, with politeness, she asks the next question. Carolina: What does the placement of the evidence have to do with making out the defendant as the culprit? Hemsworth: Mr. Barmms lacks a definitive alibi, and the fact that security footage shows Barmms heading into the same building. Carolina: Wait what? Bailways: Oh yes. We must show her. The bailiff brings in a tv. The security footage shows James Barmms opening the doors to the abandoned warehouse. Carolina takes a deep gulp. Bailways shakes his head. Bailways: I think this footage proves that Mr. Barmms was definitely there. Now do you still think he's innocent? Carolina: Yes. I'll prove it to you! With the next witness that is. Your witness. Bailways: Hmph. Fine. You’re making a mistake. Jacob Hemsworth leaves the stand and goes to the audience. The prosecution calls up the commissioner of police. James: Is he the only witness? Bailways: Have an issue with that Mr. Barmms? James: No no. I'm just thinking about my situation out loud. Commissioner Hawthorne takes the vows and heads up to the stand. He scratches his bald head. He states his name and occupation. Bailways: Commissioner, where were you during the murder of Mr. Naise? Hawthorne: I was simply on my coffee break in a shop when Mr. Naise was murdered. Many people can attest to this. And then, at 9:45 I got off my break. A nearby building was set on fire, so I checked through the window at a distance. And then, I saw the face of James Barmms! Bailways nods. Bailways: So Mr. Barmms was in the building. Now, can you confirm certain evidence for me? Hawthorne: Certainly. Bailways picks up a burnt cigarette lighter. Bailways: Is this Mr. Barmms’ lighter? Hawthorne: From what we found at the scene of the crime, yes. That must be his lighter. The mayor never smoked. Hawthorne: Of course, I never went inside. All I did was see the building burn and call the other police and fire department. Bailways: Why? Couldn't you go in there? Hawthorne: No sir. The fumes would have been too much for me. After all, the air would have been scarce. Bailways nods. Bailways: Your witness. Carolina gets up and inspects the commissioner. Then, the puts on her reading glasses. Carolina: So you wouldn't be able to save a man due to the fire. Hawthorne: Miss, I didn't even know the mayor was IN there. All I saw was the defendant's face. Carolina: So how can we blame him for murdering Naise if we're not even certain he laid a hand on him? The jury begins to talk. The judge brings down her gavel and orders that order should be in the court. Carolina: So the lighter isn't yours. But it doesn't belong to my client either. And one doesn't have to use a lighter for smoking. One could buy a lighter simply to have it as a tool. So that doesn't leave you out, Hawthorne. Hawthorne: You’re insinuating that I could have killed him? Carolina: I'm just leaving options open. Hawthorne: Miss, do remember that I have several people who were around me who could testify my innocence! Carolina stays quiet. Then, she nods. Carolina: Your alibi is strong Hawthorne. I can't accuse you. But it makes me wonder: where was your lead detective that night? Hawthorne stays silent. His eyes move around, and then return back to Carolina. Hawthorne: I don't actually know. I presumed he was out that night. Carolina: Thank you commissioner. Apologies for getting the wrong idea. You were quite a help. Carolina completes her examination. Then, she checks her phone for a quick instance. Bailways makes a smirk. But before he can say anything, Carolina tells the judge she wants to call a witness. Judge: You have a witness? Carolina: If it's alright, I'd like to call up the Prosecution's first witness again. I have more questions for him. Bailways: Objection! Ms. White is just trying to waste our time, Your Honor. I won't allow her to call a witness. The judge muses. Judge: Overruled. I'll give you a chance, White. But if you waste it, this case will go to the jury to be determined. Carolina: Thank you Your Honor! Carolina gets her evidence ready to take on her next witness. ~~ Stephanie, of all times, gets stuck in traffic. Stephanie: What's causing this congestion? Stephanie tries to get a glimpse of the situation, but can't see anything. She begins to sweat. The mask in the bag begins to make that chant again. She looks for an opening in the road and takes a turn. She parks her car and heads up the sidewalk. An officer is looking over a body, near a crashed car. Stephanie knows who the man is. Stephanie: JACOB! She comes to the officer and Jacob’s battered body. As she overlooks the unconscious Jacob, she asks an officer what happened. Officer: Something rammed into his car. We don't know what it was. Stephanie gently examines the car. The tires are melted and the car has a huge dent in the front. Stephanie looks around, and then, with much speed, she runs away from the crash and behind a building. After a few minutes, Emerald emerges out of the alley and runs, with the bag with the mask, to the courthouse. But as Emerald runs past South Block apartments, she is knocked off her feet by a pink cloud. Emerald falls into a parking lot construction area and rolls down the gravel. She rubs her head and coughs. ???: Emerald. Welcome to round two! Emerald looks up on the top of the gravel. Termite, Ms. Matter, and Virus stare down at her with particularly evil smiles, the orange clouds shining behind a scarlet sky as they look to kill their enemy. This was the Coalition.
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