Trigger Warning: Vulgar language and swearing

„To Theodosia Davis.

I am Detective Marcellis, I have been assigned to reevaluate your case, and reinvestigate the circumstances under which your conviction back in 1997 was concluded on. It has been brought to the courts notice that evidence disproving yours being at the crime scene has been found. DNA data shows you couldn’t have possibly been at Reves National Park at the time of the crime.

So, my real question to you is, Miss Davis, why did you confess to having murdered Alexander Lee Davis, if you couldn’t possibly have been there in the 24 hours before his demise?

I hope to hear from you soon.

—-

Detective Marcellis.

I am wondering, do you have siblings? Some siblings can be annoying, but you love them regardless, others, you can feel like you barely know. I believe it's none of anyone else’s business what went down between siblings. I’m uninterested in proving my supposed „innocence“. The court can do whatever the hell it wants, please fuck off from my personal life. I have been in prison for the last 6 years, and I plan to stay here till the end of my 20 year life sentence.

With the utmost disrespect, Theo Davis.”

„The judicial system is broken.

Yes, that's the truth. Persecution happens to those who do not deserve it all the time. It is an unshakeable truth as knowing 2 + 2 = 4. Evidence gets lost everyday I think. Whether it be in the federal or criminal court, the system is broken. It is the system not me. So as I walk past a camera that I have disabled and towards a locker named Alana Wilson, I remember that the system is broken. The promise of law itself is broken, the oath itself is irrelevant. And one can break an already broken promise. A promise I had dedicated over 20 years to. A promise engraved on my heart, thumping and imprinting itself against my ribcage everytime my heart took a beat.

 I, Jeremiah De Cruz, do solemnly swear that I accept the honor, privilege, duty, and responsibility of practicing law in the state of New York as an Officer of the Court, in the interest of our people.

In so doing, I shall work towards promoting the rule of law in a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace.

I shall conscientiously and courageously work for justice, as well as safeguard the rights and meaningful freedoms of all persons, identities, and communities.

I shall ensure greater and equitable access to justice.

I shall do no falsehood nor shall I pervert the law to unjustly favor or prejudice anyone.

So help me God.

I mumble the oath under my breath.

I shall do no falsehood. I shall not pervert the law to unjustly favour anyone.

But the law is broken.

I am not bound to the shards of glass that make up the law.

Because what is the law other than words meant to restrain us from claiming the power we truly have. Must one be punished for realising and exercising that power?

I am in front of the locker now. Everything is packed to show the jury for tomorrow.

The system is broken. It is corrupt. Black.

And now, maybe, so am I.”

„I needed to find what was expected from me. Though, I could not. The more I looked into her case, the more I investigated every detail regarding the murder that was committed on that bloody evening, the more I could feel this unexplainable empathy growing in my heart towards her. The more I would stare at the pictures of the crime scene, while taking a peek at her wedding pictures, her travel pictures, her solo pictures lying there, on the corner of my desk, the more sorry I would feel for her, as well as for myself.

The worst part of this procedure was the thorough examination of her diary, that small, dusty notebook with a black flower on the cover, overshadowing the red background. When I first opened it, my hands were trembling, it felt so intrusive reading her most intimate thoughts. She was miserable and that was imprinted on every single page. The first entry was from January 1st, back in 2020. The last page filled with her madness was on Tuesday 21st of October 2023, the day of her husband’s murder. She would write every day, describe her daily activities and the feelings they would provoke to her. Including the fights with Patrick (her husband) that always evolved into something worse.”

"“I was in love with you, and I was planning to tell you that day.“ Steven laughs but tears fall out of his eyes at each quiet laugh. Finally, he turns his face to look Su-Jin in the eyes. „Are you happy with your husband?“ he asks. The question hanging between them. Su-Jin hesitates and nods. Steven smiles, a painful and strained smile, „That’s good, I’m glad to know you are happy.“ Tears start to flow out of Su-Jin‘s eyes, followed by audible sobs. „I wish… haa, I wish you could’ve been happy too…“ Steven smiles, a warm and real smile this time. 

„I am, right now. Here with you in this moment, I am happy.“ They sit in silence, which is only disturbed by an occasional sob still escaping Su-Jin‘s strained lips. A ding rings out through the train cart. Su-Jin holds onto Stevens' hand harder, holding onto his old friend. He traces again and again the dips in his knuckles and Steven softly chuckles, the sound coming as if from very far away."

"The first station. It stops and the

Crowd of people hurry: on and off.

Again and again. It chugs and heaves 

along smoothly through forest green leaves, while sun glistens through windows and hot sweltering heat 

Cooks us alive.

The second station. It stops and the

People scurry along: on and off.

Again and again. Past golden brown trees, fallen down leaves and glowing sun. Through hues of red, orange and yellow. It hums and moves determinedly.

Suffocating air compresses us.

The third station. It stops; no one exits. No one moves. Silence.

This has never happened. I am afraid. 

Whispers are what I hear. Echoes.

Cries. Death. Something is here.

Watching. Cold. A shadowy figure.

Watching. Echoes. Cries. Death.

It moves towards me. Paralysing fear.

Closer and closer. Again and again.

It's in front of me. The train starts to Move, it stands still. Further and 

Further away until i can no longe

See it. Safe. Warm. People seem to 

Come alive again."

"The train was full of people. They didn’t move. But I was almost sure that when I was sleeping, they all stared at me. Whispering. Laughing softly. I once pretended that I took a little nap. But I left my eyes ajar. 

And I was right. They all looked at me. Their black, hollow eyes were fixed on me. But as soon as I stood up, they all immediately returned to their old places. 

I couldn’t understand that. 

I asked them questions, but they didn’t respond. They wouldn’t look at me when I was awake. They didn’t react to my screams, tears or movements. 

Was I that unimportant? 

They could hear me though, of that I was somehow sure. And I knew they saw me. But they decided not to help me. 

I didn’t feel hungry. I wasn’t thirsty. The only thing I felt was overwhelming loneliness."

Then, one particularly shit Saturday, I woke up to my wife upset about something, as is usual, as well as a message from my manager that I forgot my personal computer at the workplace and needed to pick it up asap. So I left the house, got in the car, and then on the way, got hit by a truck.

So imagine my surprise, when, instead of lying dead on the street, a 34 year old dad with a beer belly, hair fighting to stay on my head from all the stress of existence, I‘m back in my bed, and it's exactly midnight. 

Of course, the first time around, I thought, oh wow, bad nightmare, did the same stuff, and ended up dead again. So the third time, I stood up, and did nothing for the whole day, got shouted at a lot, a few phone calls from my boss, but it hit midnight, and I'm back to that same Saturday, stuck. 

So that’s how I’m at where you met me! You are probably wondering why I’ve been home for the 40 or something days that I've been stuck, and oh well, because what else would I do? I mean, I tried okay? I tried to explain to my wife, which ended with how you can expect, tried maybe killing myself, but that just brought me straight back to midnight. I couldn’t even really go anywhere, because my parents live more than 24 hours away and my best friend from Highschool that I told you about, well, we don’t keep in contact anymore. Teen dad stuff you know? So instead, I spent the most of my repeated hell, catching up on series I hadn't gotten to watch because of work, locking myself in the bathroom with a good book while my wife screamed at me for a good few hours.

Adrenaline was running through her body, till her eyes caught the sight of the huge wardrobe, an idea came to her mind and she was already getting inside the wooden furniture. Moments after she closed the door, the front door was unlocked. Sofi left a tiny gap to get a sneaky peek at whoever just came in. 

Tall figure marched in. It was a man with a black coat draped over his shoulder. He was whistling a pleasant melody as he approached the foot of the bed. Now that he was closer, and perfectly in Sofia’s line of sight, she could have a better look at the stranger. He had a slim, yet masculine posture. He was wearing a black Bellamy shirt with long sleeves that was matching his trousers, and on top of it a dark tight vest with golden accents on the collar. His face however, completely mesmerised Sofi. Strong, sharp jawline combined with high cheekbones gave him an eternal aura. While his long and thin nose gave him more of an authentic look. The sides of his face were adorned by golden locks, which shone like the sunlight beams by the candle fire. 

Still, his eyes were the most gorgeous ones Sofia has ever seen in person. They were the shades of light sapphire and in the soft almond shape. The only word to describe would be an angel, thought brunette. There was one more particular feature to his appearance, his complexion. It was as pale as the winter snow or as the one of a dead man.

The hands on the clock were moving, though my life remained steady. 

My breath was already shorten because of the frost

taking over on a summer day.

Last time I was in the castle it was centuries ago, 

when the guard had not let me in because of my swollen eyes

“I wanna get in, my sister is expecting me” I remember screaming

I am still outside of the wooden entrance, waiting for a miracle

patiently. 

The hands on the clock are moving, though my life is no different. 

I have been trapped for years in the same cell where dreams rot,

die, never come back, dissolve for the rest of eternity. 

I observe in disguise, the bats are flying around in the same places

as always. 

My eyes start losing their sparkle, my hair becomes darker than before 

my soul is growing older, my body resists.

I cannot escape the constant unchange. 

The hands on the clock will be moving, though my life is not ending. 

I am yearning for change, for a sun brighter than the one yesterday 

and the one the day before. 

I am watching the birds as they are flying over my head, 

my dearest family members loved crows.

They all crossed the River Styx years ago.

I am standing above their graves, placing the black tulips one by one. 

“It has been a century, you need to stop grieving”

“But I am still here, can you not see?”

The hands on the clock never stopped moving. 

""We need to talk, Mac."

"Maggie, did you know you didn’t buy cat food again?!"

"Mac, not right now, can we talk first?"

"The cat needs food and you don’t listen-”

"I said we need to talk Maadesh!" I scream.

Deafening silence sucks the air out of the room. He stares at me.

"Please, I’m… Sor-... please just sit down and talk with me.”

"Do you actually want to talk or do you just want me to sit and nod and agree with you, hm Magdalena? Okay, sure, let’s talk. Vivi needs cat food, that’s my point. What’s yours?" He spits out while sitting down opposite of me, on the armchair, with his hands clasped in front of him, and his dark brown eyes staring into me.

"I don’t want to do social media anymore, I want it to be just you and me again."

"Mhm, okay, Mag, tell me, who do you think pays my Maan’s hospital bills?"

"I can help you with that, we‘ll find you another job. And until then, I can cover your mom’s bills, I just-"

"What job Mag? What fucking job? I don’t have a degree. The only other job I’ve had was as a waiter, and God knows that’s not a high enough salary to pay for the help my Maan needs. You want me to quit the one job that offers me enough money to keep both my mom alive and have an income to contribute to this home?"

"It‘s killing us!""

"When we held hands tightly, 

I heard roses laughing lightly. 

And by looking in your eyes, 

I saw the violets screaming: lies.

Now you say I broke your heart…

And the whole garden knows 

Well, I told from the start

I didn’t want to play in your shows"

“Is this it?” He asks. His eyes filled with a sort of pain one can't describe unless they've felt it themselves. She looks up at the pale moon, then back to him. She slowly nods. “I hate everything you stand for Daniel,” her voice trembling. “I hate your family, the people you fight for and that you fight with. I hate everything that surrounds you.” “But do you hate me, Aurora?” He asks. She looks away. 

They both know how this must end. 

To Daniel, she looks ethereal; her royal blue armor glistens with specks of the blood of the people she has fought, her hair is wild and no longer tied back. She looks confident in her skills and in her power. However her eyes, the ones which terrify others and usually show no mercy, stare at him with pain and hurt. He wants to go to her; to hug her, to make her feel safe, to stop the pain and everything that could hurt her but he cannot. And he hates that he can’t."

"For years there has been conflict between our two countries. Vandervald and Tusicisa. It started a long time ago (as all the wars do), rooted in a history long held onto. Grudges left unchecked from times no one is left alive to remember.

It had all started between two brothers. They were supposed to split their land evenly between the two after their father died, but it just so happened that both of the brothers wanted more, and so it cannon balled into the cycle of time. And in its journey, it shed blood as it flew through the decades, the centuries. It sprouted two different countries, and to most in the present, the origins became just a legend of the animosity between the two. 

Too many wars with blood and pain overshadowed the original familial dispute."

_____________

"Betrayal never comes from your enemies. That is the lesson little 12-year-old Aurora learned firsthand. She was taught it when her kingdom was attacked by their people. Her father, King of Pythia, told her multiple times of how their kingdom was attacked by the filthy mutts of Azura. 

“Our land was disgraced and betrayed by them, Aurora. Never forget that,” her father had often said to her. “Those thieves went behind our backs, they massacred our soldiers and townspeople. They started this war and you my dear will end it. You will make them regret it.” The betrayal had indeed stung deep, it poisoned her blood and sullied her innocence. It caused her heart to rot. It fuelled each one of her cells with hatred for him. Her own friend, her one confidant, and the future prince of Azura had betrayed her....'