Chapter 111

Zayden

Unfortunately, our intimacy had to be cut short because the trial was about to start. I only managed to tell her fragments of what I heard from my father, there wasn't enough time to tell her all of it.

Lillian left first, her eyes brimming with another round of fresh tears.

She was crying because of me again. I hate seeing her like this and it would only become worse if I was found guilty.

She was suffering emotionally and I hated it. I want her to be happy always, but at this rate, I'm only going to continue causing her pain.

Ten minutes later I was standing before a crowd of people, my left hand on the bible, reciting the oath.

Funny how this many people came to see my downfall. I couldn't even recognize some of them.

My father was seated among them, in the front row of seats, a relaxed expression on his face. Loren was right beside him, as always, staring at me with an amused expression on his face.

After taking the oath, I was ordered to sit, and the trial began.

The judge started by reading out my crimes.

" Zayden Kent, you are charged with the murder of Laura Kent, Tristan Smith, manslaughter, escape from custody with the application of violence, Aggravated felony of the authorities and destruction of state vehicles."

The crowd murmured, whispers echoing here and there. My crimes sounded like a list of trophies but destruction of vehicles?

What the fuck!

I only took out the tyres for crying out loud!

The judge continued." Mr Malo Kent has laid the charges of murder of Laura Kent, Tristan Smith and manslaughter on you. While the others have been charged on you by the authorities, there will be no defence or plead against that as you would be facing appropriate punishment for going against state security."

I remained quiet. Just as I thought, even if I managed to win against my father, the escape and assault of officers would still be pending. I must be punished for that even if I had a good reason to break out of prison.

The judge hit his gavel on the desk." Now, let the trial begin. The Plaintiff, please step forward and present your accusations with substantial proof to support your claim."

My father's lawyer stepped forward with a big file in his hand and began talking.

There is no need to bore you with long talks, but in summary, they provided evidence that was obviously fabricated.

My father just sat there with a triumphant expression on his face as his lawyer narrated how I had been deranged since early childhood.

Photos of me on the crime scene of my mother's murder were displayed on the screen then photos of those men Tyrell sent were also displayed on the screen with Lillian Included.

She was called to the stand as a witness to that day, and she testified that it was self-defence as Tyrell had sent them to Abduct her and kill me off.

Noah also testified that they had broken in forcefully and just as he was about to raise an alarm, they attacked him, leaving him with serious injuries. His medical records were brought forward as evidence

Questions about my possession of a firearm were raised, and it was countered with a registration certificate.

And then a question I had been avoiding endlessly was put forward.

The judge asked what I did with the bodies.

The courtroom fell silent, all eyes and ears on me, waiting for me to open my mouth to speak up.

Fuck!

I still hadn't thought about what to say to this. If I speak the truth it would only make me look worse and more psychopathic.

And then, if I lie, there's a possibility that I would be caught, and it would only worsen the situation, so I decided to speak the truth.

" There's a landfill at Kearny. I put the bodies there." I responded.

The courtroom turned into an uproar again.

" The landfills are scouted by agents every week, how come nothing out of the ordinary was found?" The judge asked.

I swallowed, contemplating what to say.

Ahh!...fuck it.

I might as well spill everything." I put the body...parts in small plastic bags and deposited them in different locations. "

"How small is this plastic bag?"

The room fell silent again; I could practically sense how terrified the crowd was of me.

I don't give a fuck, actually; as long as Lillian doesn't see me as a monster, then I'm cool with it." As small as those plastic bags that are used to wrap bread."

Once again, the courtroom switched into an uproar, people murmuring about how inhumane I was.

" You are a monster." Someone from the crowd yelled.

And I answered back." I know right?"

Another round of whispers and gasps filled the room.

"You're worse than a psychopath!" Another person yelled.

" You should rot in prison for eternity!"

The judge had to hit his gavel on the desk multiple times to quiet down the crowd or they wouldn't stop cursing at me. They were all one-sided people; no one thought about how we were attacked or if we sustained any injuries.

I didn't feel a thing.

The only person's opinion I cared about was Lillan's, and fortunately, she doesn't think I am a monster or psychopath.

" So what you're trying to say is that you butchered those men. You cut them into tiny pieces like meat. And what do you have to say to that?" The judge continued.

" They were attempting to kidnap my wife, probably kill her and kill me too, so no, I have no remorse for what I did." I answered back, my eyes never leave the judge." Additionally, those men were criminals, so you could say I did this country some good."

He stared at me through those grey lashes and glasses. " Do you understand the implication of what you did?"

" Yes, I do, and I'm willing to accept whatever punishment you see fit."

The judge remained quiet and then hit his gavel on the desk again.

" Move on to the next accusation." He spoke.

My father's, or rather Malo's lawyer, stepped forward. I think I should start addressing him by his real name now since he wasn't my father.

He provided evidence for Tristan's death, and I only pleaded guilty to that because it was purely an accident.

Oliver took the stand as a witness and testified on my behalf that he fell down the balcony by accident and also pleaded on my behalf.

As a token of my appreciation, I'm going to let him have Jade.

The judge asked them to move on to the next charge against me, which was my mother's death.

And that was my major issue, I had no evidence whatsoever to support my claim except Noah, who volunteered to testify that he knew something was suspicious on the day of the murder.

Apart from that ,Oliver couldn't find anything else except old newspapers that had articles of my parents.

So, in summary, we had a zero per cent chance of winning this round.

My eyes fell on Lillian in the crowd. She gave me a reassuring look and I flashed her a grin just to lessen the tension on her facial muscles.

She smiled back, and that gesture gave me hope.

She's waiting for me.

She's got my back and it filled me with energy.

I'm not losing hope because there's always a light at the end of every dark tunnel.

She's the light at the end of my tunnel and I'm going to do everything to reach her.