Hunted Predators✔️

Chapter thirty three

"What am I supposed to do? The entire case was based on him vouching that Katherine was trying to kill him."

"You're supposed to get creative! What the hell are you being paid for if you can't outsmart a teenager?"

"Mr. Grimson, that's hardly appropriate etiquette."

"This whole case hasn't followed etiquette. The girl was mugged at her own trial for Christ's sake. The media will have our heads."

"She doesn't have rights! She's a vampire. It says man in the bill of rights, not vampire."

"Hold on. Where's Katherine lawyer?"

"Your honor, I think she quit."

"She what? When?"

"Around the time the, er, double was exposed."

"The media will have the judge's head then. She let Katherine's trial go on without her having a lawyer."

"You're every bit as responsible for this situation as I am!"

"I'm not the judge. I'm not in charge of this circus."

"Well I am not responsible for your malpractices!"

The group of shouting adults is so distracted they don't notice the girl they're screaming about stand up and leave the room. Immediately after entering the hallway, she's stopped by a group of officers angling their guns at her chest.

Slowly, they lower their weapons. "There's a car waiting for you outside, Ms. Cruz, ready to take you home."

Katherine blinks. When the officers don't move, Katherine takes a cautious step down the hall. Then she quickens her pace, grinning.

"Katherine!"

It's Darko. He strides out of the room, easily catching up to her even with her head start. 

"The hell are you doing?" he says.

"I'm going home," Katherine says.

"They're-"

"They don't care what I have to say. I'm leaving." 

"Without a word?"

Katherine fixes him with a stare. Then she cracks a smile. "Looks like it!" she says and throws opens the doors to the courthouse, greeted by the sight of thousands of protestors. Amongst them is a reporter, with her back turned to the courthouse steps.

"I'm standing here, on the steps of the Cruz versus Grimson trial," she narrates, "Only an hour after the trial was postponed with no..." she raises her voice to be heard over all the shouting. "With no explanation! As we wait for a new..."

The camera man's jaw drops. The reporters turns around, following his stare to see Katherine Cruz standing on the courthouse steps.

At the sight of Katherine, the mob turns into a frenzy, screaming, pushing each other to get closer to the police tape. The protestors throw signs, shoes, whatever they have on them. Katherine catches a match box an inch away from her face.

Katherine leans forward to whisper in Darko's ear. "What?" Darko yells. Katherine repeats herself, but the words are lost in the uproar. "Will I see you again?" Darko shouts. Without breaking her stride, Katherine turns around, throwing him a meaningful look over her shoulder.

Halfway down the steps, she comes to a stop, facing the thousands of screaming strangers. Katherine smirks, lifting her fingers to her lips and blowing them a kiss.