"Juniper Allison Carter, please rise."
I stood up and looked at the judge. Cameras from eager reporters flashed around me, thousands of eyes burning holes into my body.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" His honor asked, looking over to the box of forty or so men in suits. A pre-maturely bald man stood a glazed look in his eyes.
"We have, Your Honor," he announced. "We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of 1st degree murder, genocide, manslaughter, aggravated assault, arson, and kidnapping."
The judge looked at me, hatred and disgust in his eyes. "Miss Carter, you will be hanged for your crimes against the world powers on December 24th of this year."
The gavel banged against the desk, thousands of camera flashes went off, screaming reporters shout for a statement from me. I said nothing.
Well it wasn't as bad as it could've been… a sultry, female voice said.
I ignored her. The guards pushed me out of the court room and down a narrow hallway. I just walked; there no point in struggling right now.
At least they're not complete idiots, she continued. They gave you the best death sentence you possibly could've had…
Will you shut up! I screamed inside my head, looking at the guards next to me. You got me into this fucking mess.
Hey, don't blame me… Anger flashed to my ears like fire. Shit happens…
I scoffed, making one of the guards look at me strangely. It was a good thing I was the only one who could hear her. Another good thing that I didn't have to talk to her out loud. They would've pleaded insanity on me. And that would've sucked ass.
We walked through the double doors at the end of the hall and outside. A large, white van waited for the three of us, idling. The officer next to the open back doors of the van slapped the smooth-metal cuffs on my wrists and pushed me in.
I sat down on the bench and glared her. If it were for these fucking cuffs, I'd rip out her throat…
Like that's stopped you before…
I smiled at that. The van rumbled, pulling out of the driveway and back down to the Fluffy Cloud Mental Hospital. Would've thought they'd put me somewhere more confined. Then again, how much more confined can you make a padded room at the stupidest-named hospital in the country?
I sat there on the bed, staring at the cold cement floor. I had the completely to myself. My only company was a toilet in the corner, the cot, and a guard constantly at the door. The toilet was much more conversation worthy though.
Out the corner of my eye I spied the warden staring at me. Not that I really cared anymore. I've gotten used to the harsh looks I get from people.
"You have a visitor, Dead Girl," she said slowly, as if I was a retard. Mrs. Pollack was a stupid, critical woman whose head barely touched my left tit. Goes to show how much can come in small packages.
Prick ass bitch… I said nothing, just kept staring at the ground, twiddling my thumbs.
She came over and smacked the back of my head. "Did you fucking hear –"
I grabbed her hand and squeezed hard, making her scream. "You lay another fucking finger on me, I'll rip out your so-called uterus and hang you by it," I growled, my voice cracking from lack of use. "Understand?"
Pollack whimpered, gritting her teeth. She nodded quickly and I released her.
Not so rough next time, you could've taken her arm off…
Like you'd care, I grumbled at her, lying down on the cot.
Pollack glared at me, holding her wrist, and stomped out the cell. The door almost hit her in the head on the way out.
Aww that would've been funny, I groaned in my head.
I know right... the voice chuckled.
An hour later, about five guards came in and drug me out the call. They said I still had a visitor who wouldn't leave.
This dude doesn't take a hint, does she?
No, I guess not.
When they threw me in the visiting room, I saw a short, brown headed body sitting in the chair in front of me. When she turned around, I gasped, dropping to the ground.
Those eyes…
"Are you okay?" she rushed over, pulling me up by one arm.
I looked at her and nodded. I pushed her hand away and stood up.
Get ahold of yourself! You don't even know –
Of course I know! Those eyes…
Shut up! She's talking!
"You sure?" I heard her say. "You look pale."
I walked over to the chair across from hers and sat down shakily. Again, I nodded.
She sat down and extended her hand. "My name is –"
"Save it," I interrupted. "I don't need to know who you are. I already know."
She looked at me inquisitively, withdrawing her hand. "Then who am I?"
I looked at her. "From the formal attire, notepad, pen, and tape recorder, I'd say you work for the local paper and this is your first big story: An FBI Most Wanted Criminal who's been on the loose for over twenty-five years and has finally been caught and executed in your fair town of Seattle."
She sat there, staring at me, confidence all gone.
A few awkward moments passed and all she did was stare.
"Quit."
Her brow furrowed. "Quit what?"
"Quit looking at me like I'm a freak killer who's going to jump across the table and strangle you with your jacket."
She wrung her hands, meekness leaking from her body. I studied her. She was a very confident girl in the first place…
"You didn't want to take this case, did you?" I asked quietly.
She sighed, "No, but it'll get my name out there for taking it. It's a big story." She looked in my eyes.
"I know." I smiled weakly. "What would you like to know?"
I could see the wheels turning in her head. "I don't want to know about why you're here. I want to know why…" She blushed, looking at me. "What happened to you that made you do the things you did?"
I propped my legs up on the table, the chains around my legs scuffing the table top. "That's a very long story."
She clicked her pen and grinned. "I'm ready."