A/N: Enjoy chapter three. Woo! Intensity... Poor Sam. For anyone at all out there thinking this, no, Sam DID NOT kill Tucker because she was mad at him... or something stupid like that. That's all I'll reveal. ENJOY!

Chapter 3: The Hearing

"To take upon oneself not punishment, but guilt - that alone would be godlike" - Friedrich Nietzche

"I can't make you any promises." Jessie tells me, as we waited outside for the hearing to start. I ignored her as she talked, turning my attention to the trees instead. It was springtime. The flowers were growing, some falling to the ground, and landing gently. I wondered, was it possible for me to make a gentle landing, after all this is over?

I decided it wasn't. My eyes left the tree, and focused on the amethyst flowers, growing near the bench we sat on. Amethyst like my eyes. Perhaps a brighter shade, since the shine in my eyes have probably faded. I feel as though all of me is fading.

"...Sam? Are you listening?"

My eyes snapped on my aunt Jessica. As I looked at her, I noted that she did look a lot like me. Everyone who sees us together thinks we're sisters. Of course, she's much older with longer hair. How she still looked so young, I wasn't sure of.

"If we're going to make this work, I need you to cooperate." she says seriously.

I raise a brow, and cross my arms. "Don't hold your breath." I spat. What, did she think she could waltz into my life, and I'll immediately jump through hoops for her? No. It doesn't work like that. "I just want my punishment. I don't want you, I don't want a lawyer." I glared at the ground She was never even there for me, I don't understand why she is now. Maybe it's because my case is just another win for her.

She sighs. "So you're saying you did kill him." she states, as if it's that easy. I wince as she finishes her statement. Tucker... I killed Tucker. It's only been a few hours, yet I feel like I've been a convict all my life. It hurts me to breathe; I want Tucker back. I just want to die, to be with him again. Nothing matters here, down on Earth anymore.

I shut my eyes, standing up. I hate her here, she acts like she understands everything. I shove her, hard, causing her to fall off the bench. Opening my eyes, I find her on the ground, staring up at me in shock. "Sam, sweetie, it was just a simple ques--"

"No." I growled hatefully. "It wasn't. You act like you know everything. You don't. You weren't there, you didn't see what happened. You have no business being here, no matter how much you want me to think so!" I cry, shaking with rage.

Jessie carefully stands up, and calmly looks me in the eye. "It is my business, Sam. We're family."

I give her a hateful look, showing her the rage I felt inside. I wanted nothing more than to go to prison. Let the women kill me there. I deserve it... I want it, so badly. Don't think that way, Flower Bud. I don't want you to die, not yet...

I calm down instantly. That voice, where is it coming from? I think for a second, maybe it's Tucker's spirit haunting me, but he never called me Flower Bud. I stiffened. Only one person called me that, ever.

Grandpa Jerry?

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"The case of Miss Manson vs. the State will now begin." the baliff announced. Jessie and Mr. Griffin stood up.

Mr. Griffin is the kind of man you'd think you could get along with. He was pretty old, wrinkles evident on his face. His attire consisted of a black suit, for he seemed like a very formal. His gently face made you think he'd go easy on a girl my age. I saw in his dark eyes, though, he wasn't willing to give me an easy choice.

"Given Miss Manson's record, I see she has made several rebellion acts on our town's businesses." Mr. Griffin glances at me. I look down, blushing. "However, aside from this, she hasn't done anything serious. We are willing to make a bail offering of nine thousand dollars."

Jessie immediately spoke up, "Objection! Your honor, my client has obviously done more good than bad. Her rebellion acts our to help this town's enviornment, and is that not important as well?" she hesitates, before continuing, "And for a mere five thousand, I will take in Samantha." My head snaps up. Her? Take me in?

"Miss Jamison, that's a very generous offer." the judge tells her, "But only a family member is allowed to take in Samantha."

"I am her aunt." Jessie replies simply.

The judge looks at me. "Alright. For a bail of four thousand," he bangs his small hammer, "the trial will take place in a month." he eyes me, frowning, "Don't make me regret this."

I feel like crying again, but I hold it back. Be still, my darling. It'll be fine. Have faith. Have faith? Have faith in what? Tucker took my faith with him, when he died.

I thought to myself, was it worth it? If I knew this is what kind of heartache I would go through, would I have really have taken the easy way out?

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Tape Recording, Questioning One

"Samantha--"

"Call. Me. Sam."

"... Sam. Did you kill Tucker Foley?"

"I'm sorry; I can't answer that."

"Sam--"

"No. Don't even try."

"Ok, then. Do you know how he died?"

"Yes, I do."

"... Well, how did he die?"

"I can't tell you that."

"What can you tell me?"

"Nothing. Everything. Mostly nothing."

"Sam, this isn't a joke!"

"..."

"..."

"... Turn it off."

"I'm sorry?"

"TURN IT OFF!"

A slam.

"SAM! Please, try and cooperate!"

"Stop it, let me go! I need to see Danny!"

"Danny?"

A sob.

"Let me out!"

"Please, Sam. I'm sorry! You don't have to tell me, just yet."

"I'm not gonna tell you at all! You want to know what happened? Invent a fucking time machine, go back in time, see what happened for yourself!"

"Sam, this is serious! You killed someone!"

A pause.

"...So?"