"RING RI--"

Ugh...I need to get a less annoying alarm clock...

After shutting off his alarm clock, he sat up and checked his phone.

"Nathan, you must attend court 6 hours from now, at 2 pm." That was the first notification he saw after turning his phone on.

Today's the day, huh?

Nathan left his bed and began his daily routine, entailing hygiene care and a 2-hour extensive exercise. He made breakfast of an egg and cheese sandwich with chocolate tea in a white, fancy cup. Nathan also tuned in to the news channel while he ate.

"Good morning, I am Ashley bringing you the 11 am news. Today, we have something spicy, the trial of suspected triple murderer Nathan Hayes will be taking place later today. His parents, Tomas and Anna Hayes, were executed for treason by the state. They were known for constantly hindering technological advancements, such as the development of the super so--"

Ashley was cut short as the television was turned off by Nathan.

"These assholes always have to bring my parents into every conversation, huh. Damn, bastards." Nathan aggressively remarked. "Since I have some time, guess I'll go visit Lilith." He decided as he left the house. He left in a blue hoodie shirt, a black jeans and shoes.

'Apple Garden' The restaurant where Lilith works was near his house. On the road, Nathan couldn't help but notice the stares and whispers of fellow civilians.

"That's the murderer...to think that they allow this guy to be out on bail..." a civilian said with a disgust-filled voice. Civilians also kept away from Nathan as they walked past, while badmouthing him.

"Tsk...if you're gonna talk about me, at least try to whisper, bastards," Nathan muttered. It took him fifteen minutes to arrive at the restaurant. Nathan then called Lilith.

"Nathan, Why are you calling? I'm at work, you know?" Lilith answered.

"It's 11:30. I know you're on lunch break now...come outside. I wanna chat," Nathan responded.

"You're outside right now?"

"Yeah."

"Fine...Give me a minute." Lilith said before hanging up.

"I'll just sit and wait." Nathan decided. He sat on a bench next to the restaurant and waited for Lilith. 5 minutes later, she exited the restaurant, and sat with him.

Lilith was a fairly tall and beautiful woman with brown hair that reached to her back. Since she was currently at work, she was wearing her uniform, which was a white, size-fitted shirt and pants that showed her curvature.

"So, what's up?" Lilith wondered.

"Today's the day of my court hearing," Nathan responded.

"Oh yeah...that's true." Lilith frowned.

"I just want to get the trial out of the way and go back to my regular, miserable life," Nathan said as he lay back on the bench.

" How can you be so nonchalant about it?"

"What do you mean? It's not like it's the first time I've got accused of a crime I didn't do." Nathan stated, "I always get accused, go to the court trial, and then get found innocent because of a lack of evidence against me...this trial won't be different."

"Nathan...how can you tolerate your reputation being dragged through the mud these years?" Lilith asked.

There was a few seconds of silence as Nathan tried to figure out how to answer that question.

"I...don't know. I guess I'm fine as long as you believe that I'm innocent." Nathan finally responded.

"Of course, I would believe...I am your friend, after all, Nathan. I'll always be on your side."

Nathan cracked a smile upon hearing this but immediately turned away from Lilith.

"Ooh, was that a smile I saw? That's rare!" Lilith teased, "C'mon, don't turn away your head." Lilith's teasing caused Nathan to get up.

"B-be quiet...I'm leaving. I have to get ready for the court hearing anyway." Nathan said abruptly.

"But why so soon?" Lilith asked.

"Yeah, I have to reach home before my prison officer comes to pick me up...plus your lunch break will be over soon."

"Oh, you're right...you should be glad I came to talk to you in the middle of my lunch break, ya know."

"Yeah, yeah...see you after work," Nathan said as he left and headed home. He decided to watch television to pass the time. Before he knew it, he drifted off to sleep.

"--an!"

"-than!"

"Nathan!" Nathan had been awaken by the shouts of an officer in front of him.

"Yawn...Huh? Officer Dan, it's already time?" Nathan asked.

"Yes, idiot...to think you could sleep so soundly in a day like this...let's go." Officer Dan said, visibly annoyed.

"...okay."

"Without saying anything further to each other, they went in Officer Dan's police vehicle to arrive at the court. Neither exchanged any words throughout the drive. They eventually reached right on time.

"Sigh...this stupid court again...the bland monochromatic white building, those annoying pillars with cracks on the third, that useless security guard, only drinking coffee on the job...I've been here so frequently that I memorized even the little details...sigh." Nathan said as he stood in front of the court.

"Get inside, Nathan." Officer Dan remarked.

Without any objections, Nathan listened and went inside. What greeted him was a couple of things: the deafening silence in the court as everyone that should have been there was there waiting for their 'main guest' Nathan to arrive and multiple officers guarding the entrance. To his right, the angered expressions of the members of the public. To his left, the cold gaze of the jury members pierced into Nathan's core, and finally, the man that would decide his fate, the judge.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Hayes," the judge said politely.

"...Judge Reid," Nathan said with disdain.

Officer Dan brought Nathan to a bench separated from everyone and sat with him.

"No need to be nervous, Nathan...all you have to do is prove your innocence and be on your way...you've been through this shit many times...you'll get through this one too." Nathan, motivating himself. "...Wait." Nathan had noticed only Officer Dan sitting beside him.

"Wait...where's my lawyer?" Nathan asked but was ignored by Dan.

What the hell?

"Alright, let's start...Mr. Hayes, you're being charged with three counts of murder of the Greeves family. How do you plea?" Judge Reid inquired.

"C'mon Judge Reid, you know me, I'm always going to plead innocent?" Nathan responded.

"Okay, let's get on with it."

"Where's my lawyer, though?"

Judge Reid smirked at him. "Can the prosecuting attorney bring the evidence to me?"

Evidence? Where would they possibly get MURDER evidence against me from?

The attorney brought some files to the judge, which he began skimming through.

"I see...this file I have here shows an extensive fingerprint scan which matched the fingerprints on the murder weapon...it's your fingerprint, Nathan."

What!? There's no way that's true!

The judge noticed Nathan's surprise and began smirking.

As the trial went by, a multitude of evidence against Nathan was brought to the judge and jury to be made aware of by the prosecuting lawyer. At no point was Nathan allowed to defend himself. The prosecutor then stood in front of the jury to solidify his prosecution.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, as you can see from the evidence I have brought, Mr. Hayes, without any doubt, had coldly, methodically, and brutally carried out the murders of that family for nothing more than his sadistic pleasure. He has had numerous run-ins with the law, and I think I can say this on behalf of everyone that it's about time his reign of terror ends." The prosecutor concluded his presentation and glanced at Nathan, who looked extremely nervous and hyperventilating.

W-why does this trial seem like I'll be guilty of a crime I never committed?!

Nathan had truly realized the dire situation he was in.

"Thank you, Mr. Garfield." Judge Reid added. "Before we go to the deliberation, would any affected relatives like to give a victim impact statement? No one wanted to address the 'monster' Nathan until a woman approached the podium.

"...My name is Vanessa Clarke, the best friend of Laura Greeves."

"Alright, Ms. Clarke, you can say what you want to Nathan."

Vanessa took a deep breath, "Nathan...or monster...whatever you are...not only you killed my best friend, Laura...you killed her husband...her child! You couldn't even spare her, you wicked monster!" Vanessa's harsh words towards Nathan had made him depressed and a bit angry. "YOU ARE A MONSTER, AND I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"

As if her words were getting muffled, Nathan could no longer hear what she was saying. He was so depressed and scared that he would be found guilty for something he never did.

How could she call me these horrible things? Why is this even happening to me? Why does this one-sided trial remind me of my parents?

"I...have nothing further to say," Vanessa concluded as she returned to the bench she was seated in.

"Thank you for that, Vanessa." Judge Reid began speaking, "We will now be moving to the deliberation pha--"

"No need...we have made our unanimous decision." A jury member interjected.

"Is that so? Alright, please bring me the decision then."

The same jury member brought a sheet to the judge. Upon looking at the sheet, Judge Reid couldn't help but smile a little.

At this point, Nathan was breaking out in a sweat, afraid to hear the decision.

"Ahem...in the case of Nathan Hayes...you are found guilty of all charges. We, the jury, recommend the death penalty."

Nathan immediately stood up. The sentence uttered by Judge Reid has caused him to finally reach his breaking point.

"T-That is a complete and utter lie, and every single one of you know it," Nathan uttered. The guards were immediately on alert when he got up.

"Sit back down, Nathan." Judge Reid ordered.

"But, how can I sit down in a place that wants to kill me!? No lawyer defending me, that prosecutor getting evidence against me from God knows, and you expect me to sit down and listen to this...this bullshit!?"

"Nathan...sit down."

"Why do you guys hate me so much!? Because of you guys constantly accusing me of crimes I never did, my reputation is crap!" Everyone could hear the depressive tone of Nathan, although the effects of his words were falling on deaf ears. "I can't get any good jobs, and I even lost my friends...my life has been shit, and now...you guys want to end it after branding me as a murderer!!"

"NATHAN...TAKE HIM AWAY!" Judge Reid ordered in aggression.

"YOU GUYS ARE JUST DOING THE SAME THING YOU'VE DONE TO MY PA--"

"BANG!"

Suddenly, the sound of an explosion followed by the shattering of glass interrupted Nathan's ranting. Well, that wasn't the only thing that interrupted him. It was more so that Judge Reid's cranium was all over the judge's desk.

"Hu--" Before Nathan could rationalize what happened, everything devolved into chaos. Ear-piercing screams filled the courtroom along with escaping individuals, the jury members instinctively hiding beneath the jury desk, and even the officers guarding the door were distracted by the unfolding chaos. Suddenly, Officer Dan grabbed Nathan, attempting to put handcuffs around his wrists.

"I have to secure you!" Officer Dan said.

"Let me go!" Nathan demanded as he tried to escape from Officer Dan's hold. "You won't arrest m--" Nathan was once again cut short as blood splattered onto his face. It was not his blood, but the blood of Officer Dan as his head met the same fate as Judge Reid. Fright immediately came over Nathan, and he broke out in a cold sweat. "W-What the hell...wh--what's going on?"

"BZZZT....BZZZT..." Nathan immediately snapped out of his fright from his phone vibrating in his pocket. He took advantage of the chaos in the courtroom and checked his phone. Someone was calling him, an unknown number.

"...No way this is a coincidence." Nathan surmised before answering the phone.

"...Hello, Nathan."