One late Tuesday morning, a voice echoed through the marbled chambers of Courtroom 74 in Candor Hall.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today for the trial of Ms. Alissa Mason of Candor, on the charge of divergence. Please rise for the Honorable Judge Wu."
A brief rustle was heard as several hundred people rose from their seats. Well crap, Alissa thought. So much for a fair trial. Judge Wu is Jack Kang's cousin. He's obviously going to uphold the new divergence criminalization act that Kang just agreed to.
Thus began the hours-long proceedings, the prosecution primarily sticking to the new law and baseless claims of the danger of divergents to a factioned society. Her defense attorney tried valiantly to defend Alissa by arguing based on the statute of limitations and post facto charges, but Alissa knew this trial was merely a facade for the people, while in reality the new divergence law would be upheld.
Alissa felt a brief pang in her chest when she saw Eric, donned in his regular soldier attire and stiffly postured, with no emotion on his face. He did not once look in Alissa's direction throughout the entire trial. Until the end.
As Alissa expected, she was charged guilty for the crime of divergence. What was unusual, however, is that normally Candor judges would prescribe a single option for sentencing - whether arrest, fines, etc. However, she was given a choice.
"Ms. Mason, on account of your guilty verdict today, you have two choices for sentencing. You may either choose to marry Mr. Eric Coulter and have your charges dropped, or you may await execution."
Finally, after four hours of legal proceedings, Eric glanced briefly in her direction to anticipate her decision. That fucking bastard, Alissa fumed. Even in my darkest hour he's still trying to control me.
"I accept my execution," she nodded grimly. She noticed out of the corner of her eye that Eric's eye started twitching and his hands clenched. Her mouth quirked up a bit.
So this was it. This was the end of Alissa. But the story doesn't stop here.