Death Diaries || A Dork Diaries Fanfiction ☑️

Entry 05

Disclaimer: The Dork Diaries series is owned solely by Rachel Renée Russell. This is only a fanfiction -a new take on the books, made for the purpose of entertainment and self-expression. I do not wish to offend anyone, including the author and readers of the book.

Cautionary: This story may be gruesome, appalling, or disturbing to some audiences. Please read at your own discretion.

Verdict: Guilty (pt.2)

"Your honor, I'd like the court to acknowledge the fact that there was another person with defendant that day, and that he is a crucial part of this case." Felix added.

The judge gives her approval, "Your honor, may the defense ask for a 10-minute recess?"

Outside the courtroom, Felix tells me his plan: he will put me on the stand, as a first-hand witness to what happened that day. Telling me to explain from the beginning, the pepper spraying until the time she hit Brandon and what happens after that. I wondered what difference would it make, the fact that I killed her still stands. I-I just don't understand why he's trying so hard. I don't want his efforts to go in vain.

"F-Felix, I'm sorry, I don't think I can do this. I-I don't want to remember what happened that day."

"You can, Nikki, and you must."

"But why? I-I don't know what happened, okay? I felt so lost after she hit Brandon, I couldn't see anything like- like I fell asleep but my body was moving, moving to— to end her life." I said the last part so slowly, it was almost like I was choking every word out.

"Nikki, listen to me. You have to get on that stand and tell the court what happened. Your charges could be -no- will be dropped to voluntary manslaughter." He assures me with a hand gently tapping my shoulder.

"V-voluntary manslaughter?" I'm still not very keen on those two words since, well, the second word's 'manslaughter'.

"MacKenzie hit Brandon, right? Brandon's your boyfriend, the court understands that he is someone you care for. Your actions may have been the heat of the moment sort, get it?"

"F-Felix, I don't seem to understand."

"She hit him, that provoked you, so you attacked her. Trust me on this, they'll sentence you to 11 years in jail, at most." Eleven years? I don't know if I'll survive in there for that long. But if I get a murder sentence I'd be there for more than 25 years. I wanted to cry but I couldn't, nothing came out. I've already cried all I can, I don't think my eyes have anymore tears to let out. "They'll consider aggravating and mitigating factors. You hit her once, that's hardly as brutal than any other manslaughter cases this court has faced. You don't have any criminal history, they won't see you as much of a threat to keep you in jail for a long time, trust me."

Trust him? I barely knew him. I just had to entrust him the things that happened that day because he's my attorney. But with the situation now? I don't know if anything or anyone could lessen whatever punishment will be given to me. Even I know I did, I know I killed her.

I did it, it cannot be denied. I did it.

A few minutes later, I found myself on the stand. God knows how much my legs shook as I walked toward where I am sitting now. And still, as I spoke, my body continued to tremble in fear —in fear of the court, the law, in fear of remembering.

"Brandon was trying to teach me how to skate. We were there for almost 30 minutes already. Then when I fell down, MacKenzie went up to us and invited Brandon to join her and her friends. Words were exchanged, a little harsh from her side, s-she brought up the fact that Brandon was pretty popular and how unbelievable it is that he's dating a nobody. Then when I talked back, she pepper sprayed my face." I said it with so much hurt in my voice, it was as if I was feeling the burning, seething pain in my eyes again. "Then— then Brandon, he tried to take me to the hospital because I was having a hard time catching my breath, but she pulled me back and threw me to the wall. Then I lunged at her pulled at her hair while clawed my face. Brandon pulled me up and we tried to get out of there again but— but he let go of my hand. I couldn't see and I didn't know what was happening but I heard it from the people around us that she hit him with a hockey stick and that— that—" I couldn't bear say it, I really thought he was gone, "he wasn't moving."

This is the part I dreaded. This is the part that I didn't want to talk about —the part I barely remember. This is when I lost myself.

"Defendant, what happened after that?" The judge asked. I looked at Felix and he gave me an encouraging smile. I had to help him help me —I have to help myself.

"I grabbed the first thing I could and hit her with it. I-I really didn't mean to do it, I didn't know I was holding the skates. I wasn't thinking, I'm sorry." Tears continued to flow like the faucet in my eyes were broken and far from fixing, "I just wanted to get out of there and get Brandon some help, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I killed her —I didn't mean to."

I swear, I didn't mean to.

"You're a monster! Quit acting and making excuses, you were always jealous, for all we know, you wanted to kill her from the start!" Jessica spat with so much venom.

"Can the witness please refrain from talking when she is not addressed?" The judge said sternly enough to get Jessica back on her seat. "Defendant, are you sure this is what happened?"

I nodded. I turned to face Felix and he had a glint in his eyes like he had an idea, but he wasn't he wasn't looking at me to confirm it.

"Do you understand how much your testimony can change the course of this case?" She didn't wait for me to respond, she just asked the the prosecutor for his cross-examination and everything shifts.

Note: I'm not very aware of the justice system in the west, as they vary in different states so I'm sorry if some happenstances in these courtroom chapters are inaccurate, also because I got lazy AHAHAHA.