Trials to the sinner

My uncomfortable sleep was disturbed in the middle of the night hearing the door been unlocked, I looked up to see Dandeline in a proper prison cleaner outfit, carrying a bucket and mop. I checked outside for the guard but there was barely any movement, 'That's strange, he always keeps a watch when any cleaner enters!'

She moped the floor starting from the cell door making her way towards me, and did a way better job than the cleaners that worked here! The entire atmosphere felt cleaner as I breathed dust-free air for the first time in the last few days.

The concern about the guard still haunted me a little bit, not for myself but Dandeline. I knew she wasn't here to clean but actually brought me food which was probably at the bottom of the bucket she carried. I kept quiet so as not to alert the guard if he was awake!

My eyes fixated outside waiting for the guard to at least take a peep inside once, but it was around 3 o'clock in the night and the door to my cell was wide open with no signs of any security!

And then here it was, in midst of the pin-drop silence, a huge uncontrollable Whale call escaped my stomach like a loud morning alarm.

Embarrassed I put my head down with blood rushing to my face, god knows how many times I had missed my dinners and lunches because of that Cheif Jack. Dandeline Immediately reacted as she kept the bucket beside me and acted as if cleaning the chains, well not exactly acted.

Bending down she would give me a morsel of food and then go back to cleaning chains, it was simple bread and sauce but anything tastes good to an empty stomach. There was no conversation at all between us just occasional glances and a poker face.

Little by little my stomach bloated from the crazy amount she fed it and the cell got cleaner alongside!

'Dandeline!' I sighed smiling to myself as the thought crossed my mind 'how did my faulty luck get such an efficient lady into my life?'

When she was done with the food, she crouched down in front of me and reached her arms behind my neck. There was a small metal click and then another one, a sudden relief flooded my back and my neck. The shackles were loosened and there was nothing more that I would have asked for right now.

"Thank you!", I worded to Dandeline only moving my lips.

She had a delightful expression on her face as she quickly worded something, if anyone else was here they would probably miss it because of how fast she said it, but I knew what it was. Her typical response to my every Thank you - "Pleasure to serve you, princess"

I can't help but be uplifted by her pleasant personality, the warm aura that she carries around everywhere lit by a touch of kindness and innocence.

Dandeline left without wasting any more time and locked the door behind her, I could only assume either the guard fell asleep or she took care of the fact that he doesn't open his eyes for the rest of the night.

~**~

With my chains loosened, I had a way better sleep than any other day in this prison. The breakfast siren went off and the guard came inside replacing my chains with silver cuffs on my wrists, the rest was just loosened enough for me to walk.

As customary, he manhandled me picking me up by my right elbow and throwing me outside my cell, I lost my balance as I stumbled outside with desperate steps to keep myself from falling.

But it wasn't any help, a little wobble in my knees send me ahead, landing on the ground like a turtle.

I checked around rapidly whether anyone had seen or not, getting up, turned around towards the stairs and sighed that no one did.

Most of the inmates didn't bother about me, the fact that they didn't know about why I was being kept here made things more at ease for me. 'As long as they don't know, little bullying is fine by me. Or else goddesses Luna knows what I will face!', my attention was taken away by my worrisome thoughts as I descended down the stairs unaware of my footing.

There were only 3 steps left when a leg appeared in my path, which obviously I didn't see, and there I went tumbling down the stairs and rolling across the floor. Here comes my luck raining down on me! Sometimes I wonder how did my luck even permit me to be the princess.

The entire prison was filled with laughter, there was nothing else more embarrassing at this moment. Avoiding to meet all those eyes I turned to see the lady who had tripped me walk down elegantly, keeping one of her hand on her chin, "Oh dear, that must have hurt!"

She came closer to be followed by a girl with a shy demeanour who was asked to give me a hand, "Suzan, help this lowlife here"

Suzan, the shy girl, extended her hand to me and I looked at it gratefully to take it. Suzan was pulling me up and here came another blow, the lady who tripped me pulled Suzan's hand back which made us lose our grip and I fell down again. Everyone's laughter just multiplied, even the guards joined in the fun this time.

"Oops! Sorry about that," the rude lady slyly extended her hand towards me, "Here!"

Well, my luck did play jokes on me but with people, I wasn't that dumb repeating my mistakes.

I got up on my own to face that nasty woman, her face was flooded with make-up even in prison which showed she was favoured here as well with special privileges. Her hand extended towards me, "hie I'm Zelda, did that fall hurt? well it wouldn't have, since a lowlife like you just fell to your own level of cheap standards"

What was she even trying to pull? People really seem to misunderstand my background here.

Her feet clicked as she stood right beside me to whisper, "why don't I take you in my care? If you serve me like this little Suzan here, no will ever dare laugh at you in this prison!"

It was amusing to see her try but I wasn't born to serve, "No thanks, I'm not here to stay, unlike You" and I parted my way towards the food counter.

All I wanted was some peace and space to think about my next steps when the case commences in court. The less I am in the spotlight, the lesser chances of my false crimes being revealed.

As general, minding my own business I took a seat at the far corner of the room, far away from the eyes of the crowd.

"Where is that witch!?" I heard a familiar voice shout from the other end of the room and I clutched my fist immediately, Chief Jack was shouting at the guard that stands outside my cell, "With whose permission did you send her out for breakfast!"

Scared, the guard pointed my way and it flared me up, blood rushed to my head as my palms twitched for a punch or two. But I stayed calm, knowing exactly what Jack would say, carrying my plate to the bin I dumped everything heading back towards my cell.

A smug smile covered the chief's face, "That is exactly how you should behave murderer, or did you wish to live a comfortable life in prison after killing this village's beloved Beta!?"

I inhaled sharply knowing how the other prisoners will react, Jack always finds ways to make me suffer, and he found an accurate one this time. 'I need to stay calm!' was all I could say to myself as I made my way back to my cell, only hoping to get caught up in the crowds rage.

Tomorrow I don't know what will happen during the trials, I just hoped Channing returns with evidence to prove my innocence and not bail on me!

The murmurs of the inmates surfaced slowly as the chaos increased,

"Is she the one! how can she do such a hideous crime!", came a voice

"True, she should be hanged by trials, why is she still here!", said another

"Take her to the trials!"

"Yes, Trials to the sinner!"

"Trials to the sinner"

"Trials to the sinner"

The chant resonated through the white walls of the prison as I looked up to see Chief Jack having the time of his life, watching me suffer through my Fury. Didn't he hint of John being his brother yesterday!? I see where that hatred towards me come from.

This is possibly my last day in the prison but Jack made sure that if he can't touch me, I get cornered by the public and a horde of criminals for that matter!