•Lighter Than Air•

•Chapter 28•

That week leading up until the court date was... very busy to say the least. The days were spent preparing, going over documents, practicing for speaking in front of the court... and many many different meetings with the lawyer. All four of them were running around like mad, trying to gather everything in the week they had to prep for the meeting. Stress was at an all time high, but it wasn't only stress! There were high hopes for this trial. There were high hopes from the public and the group of four alike.

Though, the day had finally come. The group was facing the hearing head on. It was time for the courts to decide Billy's fate.. and needless to say, he was much more than just a little bit anxious. Reality had finally settled in. What would happen if they didn't win the trial had finally settled in. If he didn't win, if the court didn't believe him to be not guilty... He very well may have been placed right back on death row. If he was to lose, he could lose his life. Not only the life he was living, but the life he had built with her.

He couldn't bear the thought of losing the people he loved. He couldn't bear the thought of losing Rebecca. He couldn't bear the thought of how she would feel if he was to lose his life because of the court hearing. Everyone knew his name now. There was no way he could just escape like he did the first time. This was the real deal. If he lost, he would lose everything. He was dressed nicely, but his face was changing for the worst. He had dark circles under his eyes, becoming cold and clammy. His anxiety was settling in once again. His heartbeat could be heard through his own ears while the organ pumped against his chest.

Of course, Rebecca was the first one to notice. So, without thinking, she did exactly what she had before. She reached her hand out and took it in her own hand. In an instant, his head turned and he looked down at her. His eyes were glossy once again with worry and fear. Every little thing he had done from then had led up to this moment. Everything he did would be nothing if he just died now. Rebecca gave him a reassuring smile while she gave his hand a comforting squeeze.

"Billy, I've got a good feeling about this." She told him. "Think about it like this. From our article and interview, we have a good amount of the public on our side. The people in the jury have likely seen those things and.. well, the majority of the people were on your side when that was booming in the media.." she continued. "Not only that, but this evidence we have is practically gold. I'm surprised they didn't use this before from how much it could tell us! I think we have this handled. I've got a feeling we're going to win this." She did her best to reassure him.

Billy sucked in a breath and let it exhale shakily. He returned that gentle squeeze to her hand despite the shakiness, dampness, and sheer cold temperature of his hand. "You're porn alt right about all of this. I just can't fathom what the hell is going on in this place... I can't believe this day has finally come." He commented. "You do realize what happens if I lose this, right?" He asked. "If I lose this trial... I could be put back on death row, just like I was before. It was pure luck that I'm alive today. It was pure luck that I was able to meet you. If those zombie dogs hadn't killed the people escorting me.. I would have been executed. I likely won't get that lucky again if I lose."

At that moment, Rebecca knew exactly what was so scary to him. She felt the sudden weight of realization on her shoulders. Her chest was heavy, a breath being trapped in her throat while the situation truly dawned on her. Though, she swallowed it down and took a deep breath. "Well... No matter what happens. We'll get through it together. I've still got high hopes for what's to come!" Rebecca commented.

"Guys, it's time. Come on." Claire urged them, waving them over with her hand.

The pair looked at one another, nodding as they both entered the courtroom. The judge was stationed in her chair above all. The stand beside her was currently empty. There were two sides of the argument, one table for Billy and one for the opposing side, along with their teams. The jury bench was currently empty, it seemed as though they were elsewhere making oaths and becoming more informed on the case than they were when they arrived. The opposing side was readying their argument. Meanwhile, Mr. Augustus was readying their argument at their table.

"Alright, it's showtime." He said, clapping his hands together as he took his position. "Are you all ready?"

Billy frowned, nodding as he went and sat where he was supposed to. Each of the four took their places as well in the court. The jury would come out and sit in their bench, the opposing team was ready and so were they. When they were asked to rise, they all did. When they were asked to give their oath of honesty, they did. Then... the trial was ready to begin. First, the announcer came forward and gave a recap of what had happened back in the war.

"We meet here today to discuss what truly happened back in the civil war. What had happened when second lieutenant Billy Coen was sent to an innocent village with his team. There were twenty three villagers in that village and all of them were dead when Billy was found unconscious on the scene back in 1997. Today, we'll be discussing whether Billy Coen had actually committed these murders or not." The announcer stepped back, looking up towards the judge while the person on her side typed up everything that was said in the court.

"Defense, state your case." The judge said, looking towards Billy and Timothy.

Mr. Augustus spoke first. "Your honor, my client has been nothing more than innocent. Their team was actually ordered by their commander to raid this village. They had no idea what they were walking in on. This was in no way out of color blood at first glance. Although... their commander had given them these orders to exterminate everyone in that village. Men, women, children, families... all alike." He then picked up the file. "In this file states direct orders where the team was asked to have the villagers killed."

The judge raised an eyebrow. "May I see that?" She asked, reaching her hand out.

"Of course, your honor." Timothy moved forward and gave the judge the file.

While she read it over, he continued to state his claim. "Now, my client states that he didn't actually want to commit these murders. As a matter of fact, he refused to kill any of them! Though, his team was a lot more keen on following those orders from their commander. So, they hit their second lieutenant over the head with the butt of a rifle. To which, my client still has a scar to this day. We actually have the medical report from when he was found unconscious on the scene." The lawyer stepped forward, handing the judge two more files. The medical report from the war and photos of the scar on his head.

The judge set down the first file, then she began to look over these files. "These are official documents." She stated. "This report was written by one of the nurses in the medical tents they brought him to during the war."

"That is correct, your honor. In conclusion, my client was framed by his teammates. There is no way Mr. Coen could have committed these murders. Rather, he was used as a scapegoat. Considering the majority of the original team has all passed on by now, their primary cause of death being suicide... Most notes mentioned guilt and PTSD from the war. Perhaps this guilt could have been for those murders of the innocent. We cannot say that for sure, but the evidence clearly points to Mr. Coen being innocent."

"Thank you, Mr. Augustus. You may be seated. May the prosecutor now state their case?"

"Yes, your honor." The opposing lawyer then stood up and moved forward. Although, there was something on his face that said he already knew how this trial was going to end. "There is no true way of telling what happened that day. As Mr. Augustus has stated previously.. The entirety of the team has passed away. Whether it be from suicide or sickness. We cannot have a proper witness to this case if everyone who has come into contact with it has passed on. Who says that the scar isn't from something else?" He questioned, looking towards Billy on the other side. "The only eye witness we have in this situation is Billy Coen himself. How can we trust him as our only witness when he was the one who was accused of no less than twenty three murders?"

"Is that all you have to say, sir?" The judge asked, looking towards the opposing prosecutor.

"Yes, your honor."

"You may be seated. I would like to call none other than Billy Coen to the stand."