I panicked hearing all the murmurs from the crowd, Everyone was accusing me. I gazed at the front rows where our pack was sitting and half of them already had a smile on their face, while the other half were nothing but shocked. Suzan and Sam looked at me with a concerned expression and thought they were now feeling the need to not trust me anymore.

The walls started caving in on me as all the stares and the voices increased inside my head trying to eat me alive, my feet staggered to stand still and certain numbness started setting into my body.

“Order in the court!” The judge shouted, but I couldn’t focus! It was as if the words were evident to my ears yet my brain failed to register them. The judge continued warning the advocate for Waterwoods, “We work with evidence here! Accusing without evidence will not be accepted as an argument.”

Everyone was quiet now, but even after the judge stated that evidence of my betrayal was not presented, the vibe in that environment did not faze. The Waterwoods’s lawyer screamed in counter-argument, “But Sire! If you can see the reports it clearly states that Selene inflicted severe wounds on John, and severe wounds would have caused excess bleeding. She must have realised that John was dead and to cover up for herself is pointing her finger towar-”

“Waterwoods!” Roared the female judge sitting on the left side, “You blame with shreds of evidence! If we hear another argument from you without any strong backing to it, then we will consider that as an attempt to deviate from the accused statement.”

“But-” the lawyer tried to protest but she wasn’t done yet and lifted her palm for him to stop talking.

“IF…you are done with your claims we would like to see your suspects or testimonials come forward, call them in the box or you go back to your place!” She was fierce with her words and the lawyer couldn’t say anything further.

I was worried about what would happen if another question was asked to me? would I be able to even speak with the lump that formed in my throat? This is exactly how I was framed as a 10-year-old when the king and the queen decided to lock their own child up inside the dungeon for the next 14 years of my life. There was not a single soul alongside that little girl, and it made me feel alone and cornered even at this moment!

My thoughts were cut short by the sound of clicking heels as I looked through my hazy vision, a lady dressed in a perfectly ironed suit stepped inside the witness box. I didn’t know who she was, but as Channing had mentioned she must be the Beta serving the village Waterwoods.

The lawyer appeared pretty pissed so he kept his question short, “Mrs Lindsey Agnarson, please tell the court what you know about this case.”

Lindsey confidently turned to the judges as if she has been doing this since forever, “A few weeks back we received a letter addressed to our Alpha saying the Winterwells are to attack our land and our Alpha chose to ignore it. But a similarly deceiving letter was addressed to the recruits this year, I can testify that they were provoked. The letter addressed to them said – ‘They should kill the Alpha of Winterwells to show their loyalty towards Waterwoods’.”

She had the projector remote in her hand and clicked it on, showing the two letters, “This was clearly a trap laid by someone, that is the exact reason why our Alpha ignored the letter which was addressed to him.”

“But that is not all”, she continued “The attack on Channing was in fact done by the new recruits from Waterwoods pack!”

The mumbling in the crowd increased again and the judges quiet them down,

“Silence! Mrs Lindsey, are you confirming the attack was done by the Waterwoods?”

“Yes Sire, the attack on Channing was done by our aggravated rookies, you know how hot-blooded the newlings can be!” The causality of her tone completely reduced the weight of her ghastly claim, “but the attack on John has nothing to do with us!”

There it was! Everyone got their final statements out, and I was yet again thrown to the corner with whispers of the crowd closing in on me.

The judges didn’t pay any heed this time and said, “You may go back, I request Winterwells to bring Channing inside the box.”

It meant I had to go back, no longer stand on this high pedestal where all the eyes bore in the back of my head. I turned around slowly and walked down heading to the sofa, as Channing crossed me he patted my head for a mini second, “You did well” And went off.

I took my seat hanging my head low, a constant fear of going back to the prison haunted me this time. To be charged with a false crime yet again haunted me. The voices in my head haunted every last cell inside my body.

“Mr Channing,” said the elderly judge in his slow-paced voice, “Your claim of attack from the Waterwoods has been confirmed, but what do you have to say about Selene’s claim?”

My head shot up now afraid of Channing as well, would he bail on me? All the fingers point towards me, would he leave my side as well?

Channing looked up confidently, “I think what she said is true!”

My ears couldn’t fathom his words, everything went in an ear screeching silence. Channing’s words lingered in the air for me, echoing and assuring me of what he had said when he hugged me outside,

[ “Don’t be scared, I promise to stand with you through it all Selene, just like you did for me back then.”]

Waterwoods lawyer immediately got up before Channing could continue, “I object! He is trying to accuse us without evidence!”

“Waterwoods!” Announced the elderly judge in a stern voice, “This is a court with law and order, not a place where people’s opinions are part of the judgement! Do not interrupt the testimonies.”

The lawyer exasperated and took back his seat folding his arms. Channing continued with his testimony,

“Sire, I have checked and matched the unknown marks on John’s body with nearly every werewolf in our village. Nothing from the database matches those wounds! But as a testimonial, I cannot surely confirm Selene’s claim, I can only believe. I was unconscious that night but I remember the last thing I heard, Selene’s telecommunication asking me to stay awake, to fight for my own life. But the fact that she reached me before John, our Beta, seems a bit odd to me. That is all I can confirm!” Channing bowed apologetically.

This was enough for me, I don’t expect false help from him. But what he said, the stand he took, the belief he rested in me…It was enough.

“Okay you may go back to your place,” said the aged judge, “The testimonials expected today have now ended, but one name is still missing – Fang Warchild! The Alpha of Waterwoods was expected to attend here. If his presence is not seen inside the court after lunch as requested by Waterwoods, it will be considered as defiance from their side. For now, the judges along with the jury panel will promptly discuss the case”

The female judge then dismissed the court, pounding the gavel, “We will continue after lunchtime, till then the court is dismissed.”

I wondered who this Fang Warchild was, such audacity to not even comply with the court’s notice! Well, there hasn’t been any such progress in proving me Not guilty, what big of a difference would his presence make for me?

I got up to leave immediately after the judges took their exit, Channing was following me but was called back by our lawyer. I couldn’t wait any more inside here, it was making me feel claustrophobic.

I expected to have a breath of fresh air when I went out, but as soon as I opened the door I wished I never exited the courtroom. Chief Jack stood there with a cynical smile, “Having fun with the case butcher?”

His remarks were getting more and more prickly over time, I wanted to ignore him but he cracked up saying, “it’s funny how you assured me that I won’t have my go at torturing you, but looks like the case has all the evidence to prove you NOT guilty”

I inhaled sharply as there was truly no argument to this, John’s betrayal is not getting proved plus the Waterwoods are denying their attack on John. There is no way open that I will be proved guilty.

Chief Jack was relishing in what effects his words were having on me, “Don’t worry murderer, this time when you are back in prison I will book a special Darkroom for you. I am waiting patiently to see all those chains you as you rot starving and surviving daily torture in there!”

His gleeful face made it all the more difficult for me to withstand here, he winked and left me standing there struggling to breathe naturally.

I wanted someone, but I was holding there alone yet again. No matter how hard I tried to gather my courage, turning a blind eye to the situation was the last thing I could do right now.

“Hey, You did well in there…” Channing’s voice came from behind me trailing into the thin air as he saw me slumped with unbearable thoughts running my sanity.

Holding my chin he made me look at him without saying anything and saw the tears that I was holding back all this time. Averting my face, I wiped the drops that rolled down my cheeks. And before I knew it, I was in a warm embrace, so warm I wanted to burn in those arms, “it will be alright Selene”

He was the only person who has sided with me even without the strong pieces of evidence. His presence made me stronger and forget about everything Chief had threatened me about, the dark future where everything right now was leading to.

I just wanted to stay here, in Channing’s arms, enjoying my possibly last moments in the light.