The trail date was set and all were ready. Reporters from all over the world had picked up on this story, and the name Benjamin Blake had been spread far and wide. Poor Lauralie had become somewhat of a prisoner in her own home, terrified of leaving the house should she be ambushed by reporters.
Benjamin was kept in a small cell, being fed only twice a day. The meals were horrible, and he was allowed only one sitor a week. The visitor was always the same person. Eleanor, bringing decent food and news of Belladonna's growth, always trying to perk him up, always failing.
Finaly, the big day arrived.
October 1, 1990.
The atmosphere was absolutely electric. The grand courthouse was swarming with reporters and cameramen galore. It was like a circus, and Benjamin Blake the main attraction. He felt like some sort of animal with everybody staring at him as he was dragged roughly into the Courthouse. His lawyer was Andrew Jones, a rather timid looking young man with a slight stutter, though he was supposedly one of the best in the country. Eleanor had insisted on paying for his hire, despite his protests.
"The jury calls the witness to the stand."
It was as if time itself was standing still, or at least going in slow motion. Benjamin was frozen in shock, eyes growing as wide as saucers. He could hardly believe his eyes, could hardly believe what he was seeing. Victor Jonathan Thyme was the witness he had so dreaded.
"Thank you, your honour!" Victor's voice was clear and confident.
"What is it exactly that you saw?" came a soft voice from the corner. Victor smirked, pointing to Benjamin.
"I knocked on his door, I needed to get some papers," he lied with such ease, it was almost scary. "The door was locked. I knocked again but no answer came. Then I heard a scream, so I looked throug the keyhole. And...and then I asw it..."
His voice started to tremble.
"Saw...what?"
"I saw Benjamin Blake with an axe in his hand, beating that poor girl to death! Oh, it was horrible, your honour! If only you could have seen it! It was dreadful! Poor Angelica! Poor, poor Angelica."
Everything was happening so slowly, it was agonizing. Victor gave most of the statements, and it all worked in his favour. Eleanor tried to protest that I was with her at the time of the murder,ut I wasn't. The truth is, I was at school and I did hae an appointment with Angel, but that was only to talk about her grades! She had failed to turn up, so I had left.
I tried to hope for the best, to stay positive. I tried to tell myself that everything would be all right. I tried to have faith in the Lord above, praying that he would not and could not send an innocent man to jail. But deep down I knew it was hopeless, deep in my heart I know I was doomed.