C O U R T

Her eyes moved towards the shadows flickering on the wall, she was abstracted. Sweat dropped off the forehead, her hand reached inside her pocket pulling out a handkerchief to wipe it off. Physically she was there but mentally elsewhere, the thoughts revolving around her head broke the tranquillity.

A hand patted her shoulder making her go stiff at the sudden touch. She moved her eyes to see Officer Alison standing, trying to comfort her.

The trial was about to start.

'Coffee.' A cup was held in front of her. Her brown orbs looked up to see Kris standing there. She took the warm cup in her hands sniffing the pleasant smell of hazelnut.

'The hearing is about to start, come on.' The attorney named Jonathan informed them. Collecting their stuff they moved inside the courtroom full of people. Stepping inside a sigh left Bellona’s mouth, she was trying to be calm but a certain disturbance and panic was mounting inside her.

Her mother’s words rang inside her head.

“Bellona you can do this! Come on!” Remembering the time when she first balanced herself on a bicycle. Her mother's encouraging words were warm comforting her from inside.

”Don’t give up! Never!” The words of hope when she was on the edge of breaking down. When she needed someone by her side and her mother would always be there.

“You make me proud, you are our nation’s server, a mother’s pride.” When she got accepted into the police department. When her mother proudly gazed at the batch on her shirt. The eyes that beamed with happiness. She was a mother's pride.

'All rise! The court is now in session.' A voice snapped her out from her thoughts, standing in her place she looked at front and exhaled.

-

The attorney stepped forward, walking to the judge where the curious people behind him could also listen.

'Your honor, I am extremely honored to be here. Today, I am going to be challenging the facts and pieces of evidence that proved Mr. Marcos Fey not guilty.'

He looked over to the defensive team and back at the judge.

'Your honor, Mr. Marcos was seen the previous month by Senior Officer Alison on Malcolm road at around midnight, he was with a person with whom...

He said the last statement out loud.

'He was exchanging what are said to be drugs.'

The defender eyeballed raising his hand in a stopping manner.

'Objection Your honour! My client is innocent, he stated that his car broke down there.'

'Objection overruled.' The judge spoke sternly.

'Thank you. I would like to give out a shred of evidence proving him guilty. As for now, permit me to bring Marcos to the stand as I would like to ask him a couple of questions.’

The judge permitted the attorney and Marcos was brought to the stand, yanking his hand as the policeman gripped him.

'Mr. Marcos..you gave your statement before that you were alone in your car that night when Officer Alison seemed to pass by..'

He walked closer to him delivering the words.

'..she saw you and another boy there exchanging something from your car to his but we suspect there was another person in your car with you! leading us to a third person in this scenario...do you agree to this statement?'

Marcus eyeballed before answering in a low voice.

'No.'

'Speak up for everyone to hear it.'

He gritted his teeth before shouting out a loud no.

The attorney then stepped back to his desk and brought out a plastic bag in which there seemed to be a pack of peanuts. He lifted the bag and showed it to everyone.

'Your honor, this pack of half-eaten peanuts were found from the back seat of Marcos's car, he has a history of severe nut allergy, two footprints of a person that can not be recognized as Marcos were found. The size of Marcos's shoe has a vast difference from that found in the car.'

Whispers were heard from the crowd, Kris sat smirking at the scene before him. A side of himself knew that the evidence was solid.

'This person right here has been lying since he got here, the exchange of drugs that night did take place but unfortunately no packet got our hands as the other two fellows escaped before Officer Alison could stop them. Isn’t that right Mr. Marcos?’ The attorney smirked at him making this man all angry, his eyes turned towards the defence attorney questionably.

'Objection Your honour! My client is innocent, it was stated by him that nobody was present there and if there was why couldn't Officer Alison see him that night? Why didn't she catch the so-called two more people present there!?' He rose from his seat furiously.

'Because the two had already escaped while she dealt with Marcos!'

'It is an offense to arrest a person who brought nothing to threat! You can't simply arrest a person that is fixing his car at midnight!.'

You could hear the two harsh voices as they debated on the facts while the crowd watched curiously not knowing who was right.

'Your honour! Officer Alison knew Marcus had a previous criminal record thus, she suspected him alone at midnight with a person whom he was exchanging something.'

'Silence!' The judge's voice boomed across the courtroom making everyone silent. Both the attorneys sat in their respective seats not uttering a word.

'Attorney Jonathan, aware us of Marcos's previous criminal record.' The judge spoke stating the opposing team.

Attorney Jonathan walked up to the judge and again began to speak.

'Your honour, Marcos has had two other criminal records before this, one was officially taken to the court and the second one is yet to be discussed.’

Pulling out some documents from a file he flipped the pages and handed it to the judge.

'On February 19th Marcus was accused of stealing medical records from the cabin of an officer. It was said to be a case of a person whom a lot of people spoke about...Patricia Campbell was the victim's name and her daughter ex-Officer Bellona Campbell had taken an action, she filed a case against Marcos but he was released soon because of the lack of evidence...But there is a case I shall put here today that is yet to be discussed as he tried to sweep it under the rug.’

The attorney stepped back from his place at looked over at Marcos to see him standing wide-eyed and it was fear of knowing that he was indeed trapped.