CHAPTER ELEVEN
Prison Sentence, 18 to LIFE…
*BANG,BANG, BANG!* "Court is now in session." Bellowed the white, sweaty man.
"All rise…the honorable Judge Hudsonn presiding…" the bailiff spoke.
The Bailiff was a black male with an overhanging belly and stubby fingers. He was dressed in usual attire: A gray shirt, with dark blue pants, a badge pinned loosely on his shirt, a pair of handcuffs and a night-stick both dangling from his belt, and a pair of worn down loafers.
"Mr. Hedgehog; do you have an attorney?" Hudsonn stared down at the adamant hedgehog who did not respond in the slightest. The judge sighed with boredom. "If the defendant does not have an attorney, the court will provide one for him." He stated, eyes fixed on a sheaf of papers. The judge was a white male, with a standard gray mustache, and a face that looks like it never had a workout in his life. He was dressed in a black, gown-like clothing.
Ten minutes later a man dressed in a neat black suit and carrying a suitcase walks in. Rage remains standing, eyes down towards the floor. Hands hanging loosely in front of him. As though he could put them anywhere else. The judge went through the crime statement, "Mr., Hedgehog…you are accused of murder in the first degree. How do you plead?" Rage remained still, he had been stripped of his appearance and dignity. Slowly looking up, he spoke,
"Guilty." The crowd reacted unexpectedly.
"Mr. Hedgehog, you are aware of the accusations being made, correct?" said the judge.
"I am…" He stared directly forward.
"Right then, these accusations consist of: Severe stab wounds and lacerations. Also, it has been noted that the victim suffered from electrocutions, high degree burns that were so extreme the body could not be recognized. Breaking of almost entire skeletal structure, And senseless beatings. The victim was later identified by the S.S.W.A.T. team as Sonic The Hedgehog, a citizen and hero of the Mystic Ruins and Station Square. Are you aware of the severity of these crimes Mr. Hedgehog?" the judge said trying to hide his shuddering.
"Yes your honor…" he responded, the lawyer looked at Rage with bewilderment, as if to say, "How the hell do you expect to win with these convictions?" Rage continued to stare directly ahead.
"Then this should go by fast…" the judge whispered to himself.
The prosecution stepped forward, "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I am confident that you are all familiar with the crimes at hand correct?" he said trying to win fans.
"This…creature, has committed a most unbearably dark felon. He has murdered, nay, slaughtered our hero, Sonic The Hedgehog, a most beloved citizen to our world. He may never come back to our lives again. I ask you, to please, help this court do justice, and put this-this-this thing behind bars. Who knows what would have happened had my client not warned anyone about this criminal. He may have killed the rest of our heroes, heck, maybe even some of us who are here today! I beg you, do what is right, and rid our community of this demon!" He spoke with passion and fierceness, and it seemed to be working for him very well. The prosecution took his place at the table and sat with pride. Now it was the defending lawyer's turn. But it doesn't seem like he will be having much luck after the other's speech.
"I realize that you may think that my client has done some dark deed, but if you listen to his testimony, and at least give him a chance to explain himself, I can guarantee that you will understand the truth of what happened, and that you will understand that nobody is at fault here. That this is all simply a misunderstanding." He began sweating a little on his forehead. The jury continued to stare intently, some with accusing looks toward Rage. He ignored them. The lawyer stepped back to the table where Rage was standing.
2 HOURS LATER
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" the judge said anxious for those condemning words that would put Rage in jail.
"We have your honor, In the case of Rage The Hedgehog versus Knuckles The Echidna, we find the defendant…" Rage and the lawyer waited for the response, the lawyer who couldn't care less, Rage who was praying in his mind for them to say innocent.
"Guilty, on all charges in the highest degree of murder. The vote is unanimous."
"WHAT! That's not right! I'm innocent, I swear I'm innocent! You can't do this, you don't understand!" He shouted as he fought to be freed of the guards carrying him away. Everything moved in slow motion to him.
The judge however, was trying to talk over everyone. "The decision is made, 18 years to life sentence in the Station Square Level A5 security prison…" He banged the gavel, "Court is adjourned." He said rising from his seat and leaving the room. Rage struggled to hold himself, but the disbelief was too great, his knees felt weak as reality closed in. Rage was going to jail…
END CHAPTER ELEVEN