Chapter 8 - Clarissa
An imposing figure blocked the doorway into ward 7. Like everyone else in the room beyond, it wore a scuffed off-white rubber suit with black gloves and boots, its face obscured by a helmet fitted with a gas mask.
"This scene is off-limits - I can't just let you walk in without a pass, buddy!" Clarissa was taken aback by the voice - she had expected it to sound more brutal and dominant to match the figure's stature.
"Um... Well, one of the patients involved is related to the case of my cli-"
"Do you have any proof? I told you, I just can't let you go through without confirmation!"
"Is this proof enough?" Clarissa said as she flashed her defence attorney's badge proudly. The titan answered by reaching towards a stun gun in a holster by its waist. Clarissa backed away with her hands raised.
"Hey, hey...! Fine, I'll go and get confirmation for you, just put the stun gun down..."
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After having two luckless subordinates dispose of the corpse lying beside the shattered glass at his office door, Darke continued to observe the glass of white wine in the elegant glass he held. The news brought by the recently deceased messenger was indeed a setback to his plans. His apprentice was dead because of that infernal Nicholas Black and now one of the best defence attorneys in the state was about to snatch away his chance of revenge.
"White..."
He crushed the ornate glass he held in his hand with remarkable ease. Shards cut into his hand, blood seeping onto the floor with the wine.
"I can't let you go now, Clarissa. You still have a great debt to pay on behalf of those two..."
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Nick lay in his bed, absent-mindedly downing yet another cup of medicine he had been given. Blood poisoning was not the greatest of his worries at that time.
His thoughts drifted back towards the trial that awaited him. He had been granted the services of Clarissa White, an exceptionally talented defence attorney. Nick knew he should be thankful, but he couldn't help one question staying in his mind: Why had she chosen him over anyone else that needed her help? Even someone with her skill couldn't prove him innocent with these circumstances.
His pessimism was interrupted by another dose of pills being handed to him.
End of chapter 8