Sydney

I spilled out everything.

EVERYTHING.

About the Project. The Erasers, Flyboys, Jeb. The wings. Itex.

You name it, I said it.

I glare into the mirror. Making eye contact with anyone beyond it.

"The. End."

As soon as I finish, taking in a deep breath and exhaling sharply.

There I said it. But I know it's nowhere near over.

They all stare at the machine, obviously waiting for a beep. Waiting for this machine to call foul and would immediately have me sent to the big house.

This was all clinical insanity right?

I could barely believe it.

The machine only gave silence in return.

The truth had been exposed.

Landon was the first to look up. His face was entirely frightened. He looked at me as though I could take him out with one glance.

He shakes, he can barely believe this. So can I.

"This-"

But he's interrupted by the door opening. "Miss Falcon is late for her trial. You may proceed interrogation tomorrow," A stern voice says, coming from behind and ripping the braces behind, causing the spindle to stay straight.

He grabs me and forces me to stand. "Dr. Kuma, listen we're not done here," Paul tells the doctor who only proceeds to force the police officer to re-handcuff me.

"What?" I ask, looking around a little unsure.

"His honor has required me to come down and get Miss Falcon so we can have this over and done with. Okay? Now if you will excuse us." And next thing I know, the deep gray on the walls soothes my burning eyes as we leave, Debbie, Landon, Paul and the four police officers with their mouths open and horrified looks.

This guy actually drags me down the hall. I see the door leading to the police parking… and is passed.

"Wait- you missed the door-?"

He says nothing, just tugs me ferociously along after him.

"Hey! Hey what are you doing?" I start to raise my voice. "Shut up!" He orders, whipping me around and holding me up, fist in my mouth.

I bite as hard as I can, but not even a grunt of pain emanates. I freak.

What's happening? What's happening!

He comes to an empty hall and then slams me up against it, I finally get to see his face.

He grasped my neck tightly and I cough and gasp.

"So you're that girl, arentcha?"

I only gasp in response, kicking forcibly.

"You really do know everything," He sneers, getting all up in my face.

"Let. Go. Of me." I choke.

He laughs cruelly.

"I will. But only for a second." He drops me and I sink to the floor. "It's such a shame you know," He sneers, staring down at me. "You've just cost twelve people their lives." Then he forces me back up and starts pushing back out the hall, only to be immediately discovered.

"Oh there you are Kuma!" Another man in a lab coat chuckles.

"There you are!"

"Good thing you're here, Heathrow. I've found myself lost. Directions to the police parking area?"

"Oh, here I'll just take you there! A car is already ready!"

"Fantastic," Dr. Kuma says through gritted teeth.

A new escorting cop shoves me through the courtroom door. I see Maya out of the corner of my eye, beginning to cry again as I'm seated at my table. Every single seat in this overlarge courtroom is filled. People I know and love are crammed next to reporters and neighbors. People familiar with others sit on laps to make enough room for all the people. I turn my head away. A lump in my throat.

An old by profound looking man is seated next to me.

"Hello, Sydney. I'm Gilbert Olden. Your attorney. Sorry we couldn't meet sooner. How're you feeling?" He says, looking genuinely interested.

"Could be better."

"I know," he winces. "Been there done that."

He winks at me. "It's good to have a guy who's done this, kid," He smiles and I smile too.

I glance over at the jury. I see ordinary people, who look around, some obviously bored and some eager to start on a case that isn't "Did this man run a red?"

The judge yawns.

"Sydney Ryan Falcon," He recognizes. "You have here by been called to this trial by acts of voluntary murder, battery and an act of terrorism. Is your attorney present?"

Mr. Olden stands. "Gilbert Olden, your honor. Ready when you are."

"Great, you may be seated, Mr. Olden."

"And the plaintiff?"

"Glenn Babcock, your honor. And this is my attorney, Louise Kerr." A women in a dark blue pantsuit stands. "Your honor," She greets.

Glenn Babcock smoothes down his suit. And glances my way, a stupid swift wink flying my way.

I turn my head away fast.

Eraser.

"Is their anyone you would like to call, Miss Kerr?"

"Yes we would like to call Allison Kitteridge to the stand." A soft mumbling buzzes around and I don't dare turn around or look up as I hear Ally's vans softly clomp to the stand.

"And do you promise to tell the truth and nothing but the truth or so help you God?" The thick voice of the bailiff utters.

"I do." Ally says confidently and I lean back and look up to see Ally's casual face watching Louise pace in front of the judge.

"Miss Kitteridge, is it? Yes, you were at the party in New York, correct?"

"Yes," Ally replies in her duh-voice. I hold back a snort.

I took a deep breath. It could only get worse from here.

"We'd like to call Sydney Falcon to the stand!" Louise calls all of a sudden and I stand, wobbling a little and Mr. Olden gives me a reassuring pat on the back.

I walk up the bailiff. The worn leather covered bible lays in his hands. I put one on it and the other up. I notice that they've been using this bible for a long time, it's so beat up there's a hand indent on the cover.

"You swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth or so help you God?"

"Yeppers."

I take a seat in the thick wood chair. The square barrier, I feel, is about to rocket upwards to wear I can't escape. I suck in what feels like a last gulp of air.

I feel a little restless to be honest, and even though I know exactly what their going to ask me, I don't know what's about to come out of my mouth.

"Miss Falcon, is it?"

"Der," I say, a little too rude and Louise gives me a sneer.

"Great," She spits and moves on, "Now, were you in the building at the time of eight thirty? Ten minutes before the explosion?"

I snort and send a restless smirk to the Eraser's way. "Just ask your client. He tried to shoot me about..." I pretend to do math in my head. "Five minutes before that."

A louder mumble rolls across the jury and audience. The Eraser's face flushes.

Yeah, I went there pal.

"Order. Order!" The judge claps the gavel against the wood plate.

"Manners, Miss Falcon, please," The Judge hisses down my way.

I salute and he sighs.

"Next question, Louise."

"That's Mrs. Kerr to you," She says menacingly.

"Please question the defendant, Mrs. Kerr," The judge says, impatient.

"Yes, sorry, your honor."

She walks over to her table and sits on the edge, smug bitch.

"Now, you were involved in a brawl, at that time, correct?"

"Brawl's not the appropriate word," I snort.

"Oh? So what is?"

"A battle for life."

She pauses for a moment and sucks in her cheeks and then quickly pops them back out.

"Who else was with you at the time of the attack?"

"When do you mean?"

"Who was with you when the first shot was fired?"

"Close friends."

"Are any of them in the room?"

"Yes."

"But not all?"

"Say no." I heard a thick voice say, and I whip my head around.

A tall teenage guy with green spiky hair stood at my side.

"Say no," He repeated looking down at me, now, a star shaped gash sat on his temple, a corner tracing out onto an eyelid.

"Sydney are you deaf? Say no."
Who was this? Why? How? How did he get in here without anyone noticing?

"Who're-"

"Yes miss Falcon?"

"Say you're talking to yourself!" He quickly instructed. "What?" I whispered now more confused, and I turn around to face him. Honestly! Did no one see this?

"Okay this is getting embarrassing!" He says and suddenly flips up his hand. I feel the air around me stiffen as I stand up and glare at him.

"Who are you and why are you up he- Wait what the he-" I get sidetracked as I glance around, no one's moving everyone is frozen in mid moment.

"What the hell did you-" I start to exclaim throwing my hands up, which hurts since he just froze the air as well. "Please just listen. Don't try to hit me," he says as I try to take a swing. "Stop, stop trying to hit- Stop- stop it."

"Why? Who are you and undo this so I can get back to the trial I'm trapped in since I was framed, but you probably already know this, hallucination!"

"Oh my God, please listen to me for one minute!"

I shut up and wait for him to spit it out.

"As for who am I my name is Ari Batcheleder, and I'm here to help you. You need my insider help or you're going to lose this case. Now none of them can see me okay, only you can, nobody in this room is telepathic, only you are. And I'm not a hallucination. I'm a ghost, to be morbid about the subject."

My tension lowers.

"But- But you're dead!"

"Dead? Thanks a bunch for the obvious, Captain," He smirks at me.

"If you're here to "help" me, why are you about to make me lie?"

"Yes in a technical sense they are your friends, but now that you know and you're up here sitting on your ass completely over your head in bail, their no longer you're friends. They're your family, Sydney. And I am too."

"But I thought, that was your family."

I glance over at the Eraser and then I catch Jeb sitting in the back, looking smug as Louise.

"Me too, then I died. And let's get something straight, my father is a jackass. And I've totally disowned. He's a giant large piece of manatee shit. I could give an f about him. But I give one about you, so let's win this thing. Just say what I say, act like I'm not here and we can win this."

He holds out his for what appears to be a shake, but I'm so out of breath I hug him instead.

"Ready to be unfrozen?"

"Wait- Can they feel-slash- see us?"

"No? Why?" He asks.

"One moment I say and exit the stand. I walk up to the eraser.

And in one swift motion my fist collides with his face. And a couple times after that.

And I snatch the pen from his hand. I move over to Louise. A couple scribbles here and there and we have successfully made a unibrow, mustache and a big fat mole smack on her cheek.

"Good one," He says, smiling as I sit in the stands chair.

"Thank you, Ari, I think this might be the start of a beautiful family-ship."

"Me too, kid. Me too." And with a snap of his fingers. Louise's nasally voice pinches my ears.

"Well, Miss Falcon? You're answer?"

I start to catch myself smiling.

"The rest were family."

I suddenly hear a groan.

"Mr Babcock? Are you okay?"

"It just feels like I've been smashed right into a brick wall, Sorry your honor I think I'm just sore…"

"Okay, Mr. Babcock. Mrs. Kerr-" He cut himself off with a loud snort.

"Family?" Louise continues anyway.

"Yes close family, they are very secretive people. I think they get it from their father."

"Good Improv." Ari compliments.

Jeb's head kicks back, and pales. My smug face is splattered over my head.

Then I hear Mr. Olden start to snicker. Rather loudly.

"By the way, Louise, where did you get your nose job done? It totally takes away from the mustache. That reminds me I think there are tweezers on sale at Walgreens down on I-4," I say.

"Excuse me, Miss Falcon, you in no place had any right to make that compliment and you need to-"

"Mrs. Kerr, Mrs. Kerr!" The Judge interrupts. "Mrs. Kerr you have a pen mark on your face!"

Her hand instinctively flies to her face. And she then digs into her briefcase and pulls out a compact and gasps as people in both the jury and crowd bust out laughing. And I can't help giggling too.

She glares coldly at me and announces to the judge, in a growly voice.

"Recess."