Chasing His Rose

13. Entrapped

29th October 2019

Court Case: Embalian Forest Killings

Coverage: The Embalian Grand Newspaper, Twin news articles, Lily Gardens journals and That Embalian Police's National Journal.

Nyla

Zayan's fists were curled. There was an underlined frown on his face, and I could see him resisting the urge to clench his jaws. Momentary happiness of Zayan staying with my side and the creatures not showing up had distracted me, but now it was back to a dire reality.

Asher's death had literally damaged my case.

Mr Jaffar was brutally slaughtering the proof of my innocence before the court. Videos had been provided. My own mother's retelling of how I used to kill cats when little had been given as a piece of evidence. That little bit had really broken my heart. I remembered that day...it was traumatizing. But I don't blame my mother for sharing moments of my past. She had to do the right thing. My demons weren't easy to register. My medical case files had been brought forward.

My mental state was so questionable.

Currently, the owner of the mental asylum I used to stay at was being questioned by the prosecution. The woman was spitting garbage about my sanity. Zayan had stood up to object, state that the prosecution was leading the witness, but alas...there was so much proof.

I wanted to pull on locks of my hair and scream that I wasn't insane. I wasn't silly, hurt and a murderer. I was scared-just so terribly scared.

Chewing on my thumbnail in anxiety and nervousness, I eyed Zayan with a teary and mute expression, hurting over how harshly I was being accused of such sinister crimes. I actually felt quite embarrassed to have my issues displayed so publically. I used to feel annoyed by this annoyingly frank detective sitting next to me, but now, with him as my husband, I didn't like my image being tarnished. I felt ashamed.

The audience was watching in silence. So many families were waiting for the verdict...already considering me as guilty. I could feel the anger, the pain....it made me feel so suffocated in this atmosphere-so hurt and alone.

After Mr Jaffar had presented the case, I nervously watched as Zayan got up to address the prosecutions' witness.

"Your honour, I would like to ask some questions from Doctor Haya." His powerful stance was quick to demand control over the courtroom's environment. The lady stenographer stopped typing for a minute. The judge nodded.

Folding his arms behind his back, Zayan began pacing before the witness stand...his stance showing no hint of humour. He was so ridiculously confident and charming that I felt intimidated on the behalf of Doctor Haya. My husband was one dangerous man. I had been taking him lightly, being so straight-forward when he was offering me charming and sweet smiles. I needed to be more appreciative of his humorous side.

"You have confessed to one of your doctors being fired on the basis of temper issues, and you have claimed that Nyla was a complicated case. Is that true?" He questioned; though, it was obvious that he just wanted her to agree.

"Y-Yes." The woman seemed to be working too hard to keep up the act of being unaffected and unintimidated. She had her hands folded and her voice in control. I remember seeing her once or twice during some counselling sessions, yet I didn't hate her.

Doctor Sana...she was the woman who had been so ruthless with my case.

"Okay. Does your institute record or supervise the sessions you have with your patients?" Zayan sharply asked.