39
"Guilty."
The word echoed off the wall like a surreal call in a dream, or a nightmare. It didn't mean anything, it didn't happen. None of the boys or Dorothy or Relena quite comprehended.
"Very well then," Judge Pacline said, "Capital punishment by electric shock. The defendant will be given a lethal dose of electricity until he is dead. Case dismissed."
Heero's eyes widened and a lump clogged his throat. Dorothy covered her open mouth with her hand and closed her eyes, pushing out big, translucent tears. Quatre guided her face to his shoulder. She wept. Trowah showed a shocked and dumbfounded expression. Wufei's eyes were big, wet, astonished. Duo's eyes started tearing up in disbelief. All hope Relena had built up in her heart tumbled out of her chest and spattered on the floor, seeping into the floorboards. Heero smiled out of his own selfish content. Then looked over his shoulder. Relena was staring blankly at him. His heart stabbed through to his back. Relena, oh my God, I can't die, he thought. Now he feared dying—Relena would be without him, and alone in the world with Vincent. His breaths became short and he could feel tears coming on him. Several police officers took him by his arms and led him away. Suddenly the world became a soundless void. Everything blurred out. Everything except his Relena, who sat, staring blankly at her love. Without thinking, she jumped up and pushed past the growing crowd, trying desperately to touch him just once more. She reached and pushed and pulled, and cried out for him, though he could hear her and she could hear herself. It was empty, her strength draining. Everything was moving so slow, so slow, so slow it was exhausting, and she finally succumbed to the flow of the crowd.