This Is That Story:The Writer

Part 8 TRIAL

April 4, 2023

3RD PERSON

'Slap'

The echoing sound of skin hitting skin was heard inside the interrogation room. "It was you" Aurielle snarled, "It was you all along" Randave's face remained passive. Once he was done confessing, he was suddenly quiet and stared into space. Randave was locked up in his minds, in the memories with the person he loves, with the person he killed. 

Aurielle yelled at him, cursed him but it was all a blur. He could not think straight, could not remember anything. He was sure, some other friends also came to visit him. His family also did, he could make out words that sounded like 'lying', 'confused', 'gonna go to jail' but other than that, he could not remember what they said. 

What was it that his guardian angel told him? Face the gloaming despair and only then will you be free from it? How is being locked up in mind free?

REEVEN

"Am I right to believe that you are the best friend of the suspect?" The lawyer asked. 

Today is the trial of Randave, can you believe it? It was him all along. 

"T-That's right" I answered, trying to suppress my anxiety. It's not me, it's her, this lawyer is making me feel nervous. "What can you tell us about the suspect?"

I cleared my throat "I- uh.........don't think he's capable of murder" I said, hesitantly. Lady Lawyer's eyebrow rose, "Unless he's not in his right mind" I added. "Are you saying that Mr. Anderson was not thinking straight during the time of the crime?" I gulped, "Yes, I believe so"

She nodded before turning to face the judge. "As we have established, the suspect and the victim were in a romantic relationship and this just proves that during the crime, Mr. Anderson was under the inflluence of toxic-" My eyebrows furrow as I interrupted her, "No"

Lady Lawyer turned to me, "Sorry?" Licking my lips, "I........didn't say he was high" I explained, "Then what did you meant?" Clearing my throat once again, I answered her question "I think he was.........furious?"

She narrowed her eyes, "Go ahead"

I inhaled sharply, "You see, when Randave is filled with rage, no explanations, no excuse can get through him and he can also get......violent" I heard the audience's sharp intake of breath. "You believe that the suspect was angry with the victim which is the reason he lost control and killed her?" Lady Lawyer asked rather slowly. "Yeah" I nodded. 

"Was there any indiction to this?" 

"No"I replied as I remembered that day, "They were the same......until" I trailed off, "Until?" 

"Until that afternoon when it was dismissal, I saw Randave pulling Francine and he looked angry" I explained. "I see"

After that, Lady Lawyer said her conclusion before telling me that I can return to my seat. As I was making my way back, I can't help but glance at Randave. His eyes were hollow, it was like seeing the eyes of a dead person. There were no emotions, no sign that it used to be the eyes of someone who tried to so hard to be happy. 

I guess, it wasn't on his fate to be happy. 

RANDAVE

"Wake up"

What?

"It's the day of your trial"

But I just came here. 

"It is time to wake up"

The last thing Randave remembers was the four walls of the interrogation room but right now all he sees is two sets of chairs with people standing in his left, two people wearing robes with a typewriter in front of them and one more person wearing robes with gavel. It really is the day of my trial. 

"Did you kill Francine Buenaventura on the night of March 13, 2023?" My neck snapped to the direction of that voice. There stood a woman, "Say yes" The voice in my head said. "Yes" I chocked out. 

I ignored the screams of rage and sorrow coming from the other people. "Why did you commit such crime?" I heard the woman ask again.

"You don't need to answer that"

So I didn't, I stayed quiet returning to my cell. It was only a matter time before I was let out again. 

"I hereby declare, Mr. Randave Anderson guilty of murdering Ms. Francine Buenaventura on the night of March 13, 2023. He will then be sent to San Isidro Medical Asylum to spend 20 years of his lifetime"

As I heard the words of the judge, I heard myself muttering the almost the same thing 5 years ago. My eyes went to Aurielle as the police drag me through the door. "Aurielle!" I called and she turned around. "In my home, under my bed, there's a notebook. I believe it's the reason why the Star Section failed!" I explained quickly but before I could hear her reply, I was already on a van making my way to asylum.

3RD PERSON

The screeching sound of a car parking woke the raven-haired girl. She jumped, glancing around then she stood straight as her eyes saw the van where Randave was. The girl watched as Randave was escourted inside the asylum. Once Randave met her gaze making her smile. "You did the right thing as I knew you would" she thought in her mind.

She saw how Randave's eyes widen in surprise making her chuckle. She was certain that once he was inside, his mind will let him out. Let him live. Let him be free. 

It was done. 

Their ill-fated destiny was done. 

Now, one last thing.