The Dark Forest Show: Part I

4. The Court

You arrive at the court. You can see Samantha's sister's eyes. Although you never met her, her face sounds familiar to you. She has black hair and some extra kilos. She wants to finish with you.

She's next to his lawyer John Somerset, one of the best in the city. His fees are not cheap.

Even though you wear your expensive suit and your best clock, you don't smell really well because you haven't had a shower and the judge notes it. Your hair is disheveled, although Stella tried to comb your hair during the journey. You can see on her face she doesn't like you.

Actually, the judge had bet her husband she could guilty more than 50 persons in one week. She jailed 46 and she just has five more judgments today. It's the last day of the week and only 1 hour remaining to finish her turn.

Judge: "On the 14/03/2082 Samantha Wayne was brutally murdered in the harbour and remains of your blood were found among her body. How do you declare?"

"Innocent"

Judge: "Okay son, I don't have too much time and we have to go fast. I see you have no lawyer"

"I have no money..." you lie to her hoping she doesn't notice that you forget about today.

John: "Your honor, I bet my reputation he lost all his money because of the drugs and guess what other stuff he did inside the jail. Am I lying?"

"Oh course you are!"

John: "Your honor, here you are a drug test he made one week ago. 4/5 drugs positive, your honor. I haven't seen anything like that in my life. I bet if I take him a sample of his blood I can prove he's on drugs right now."

Judge: "Authorized".

You don't resist and because of the nerves you begin to laugh.

John: "Your honor, as you can see he's not mentally stably"

Judge: "Anything to declare?"

You know you haven't had drugs for one and a half weeks and you are not sure about the results. You have to think fast.

"If I stay clean I'll convince you that I'm innocent. if I am not, I will accept any sentence you tell me"

Judge: "Okay, take him a sample" orders to the guard "If the sample turns green you'll have the opportunity to defend yourself. If it turns red the judgment ends here"

You wait 2 minutes for the result. It turns red.

Judge: "Enough!"

You swallow saliva.

Judge:"Okay, time is gold. I declare you guilty of Samantha's Wayne murder."

Samantha's sister smiles.

Judge: "However I'll give you the chance to get your freedom, but you'll have to earn it. I will let yourself choose your sentence. You can go back to jail with life imprisonment or you can take part in the next episode of The Dark Forest Show today."

She takes her notebook and with a smile writes "47/50"

Judge: "Do you know what it is?"

"Yes"

Judge: "Good. Which one do you choose?"

"If I have a chance to live, I choose The Dark Forest Show, your honor"

Judge: "Well, in that case I wish you luck, you'll need it. I'll see you die on TV tomorrow. In the name of the New People Order and The First Revolution, I close that case. Next one please, and fast".

The only thing you see before someone puts a bag in your head is Samantha's sister laughing.