Criminal's Law - Part 5 - Death to Innocent (Hunter)

Criminal's Law - Part 5 – Death to Innocent (Hunter)1

“Do you plead guilty or innocent to the death of Lee Hash?” 2

“Inn—”3

“You have no right to speak. I’m not going to listen to your answer anyway.”4

__________________________________________________________________5

I gaped at (Taylor was it..?) the guy who read the note out. I heard a drop. Whisking around, I saw Seela on the floor, breathing hard, tears streaming down her cheeks. Everyone glared at the Chief. 6

“Ah..” He started. “It was going to be a surprise!” He said nervously. “Surprise?!” No one dared to move – the Law clearly stated that you were not to harm anyone. Instead, all the guards got death-glares when ever seen eye-to-eye. Some of the members (who didn’t really care about Seela’s death because they were drunk) made a competition about it. I was enraged. How can they just stand here? Laugh and smile and play? I cast a hopeful look at Jay. She didn’t look sad at all. Or happy. She was emotionless. Reminds me of Helm, actually. Seela was getting sadder and sadder. I knew it, even though she didn’t say it, as she laughed at the jokes loudly at a meeting. I knew; because she had the same weapon twice. She changes her weapon everyday. And when I was sparring with her, she dropped her guard and I defeated her.7

Seela? The weapon master? Defeated?8

“You know, I think we should so something,” I said to Jay, while I pulled off my shoes after a hard day. She didn’t answer.9

“We don’t need to interfere unless we need to.” She replied calmly, taking off her torn jacket. 10

“But—” I protested. She held up her hand. She pointed to the moon, then directly outside, where a dim moonlight shone. Figures crept along. I jumped. Jay put her finger to her lips, then, figures emerged. Helm, Jegg, Tay began walking to us. I stood up, but Jay shook her head. Shyness took over as I sat down quietly again.11

“What?” Jay asked, calmly as she polished her sword once again.12

“Look—”13

“I’ll come if you don’t leave me out.” Jay said, cutting Helm off. He nodded, then turned to me.14

“Yeah, I’ll go too.”15

“Goody!” Jegg cried, rubbing his hands together. “Now while Tay and I find a way to find the device that would’ve killed Seela, Helm, you go and distract the guards while—”16

“Excuse me, I have not heard the words ‘Jay’ and ‘Hunter’ during that plan.” Jay said suddenly, a piercing icy voice.17

“Well, um, you—” He pointed to me. “—go with Helm as backup, and you—” He pointed to Jay, her face twisted in a way I could not explain, like she was expecting something good. “—come with me and Tay.” He finished, looking nervously at Jay. She went back to polishing, as I guessed was a ‘okay.’ 18

“What about Seela?” I asked quietly, breaking the uneasy silence.19

“Can’t get her out, she’s too—”Tay paused, thinking of a suitable word. I think he would’ve said ‘depressed’ but I think he wouldn’t want to offend her. “—out of her mind.” He finished, nodding in agreement, as in ‘that was right’. Helm put his finger to his lips, and everyone was silent. Only Jay’s hissing noise was heard. 20

Footsteps were outside. Oh crap, guards were patrolling! That’s why we never met on this day. Everyone looked at each other, with a frightened look on their faces. Helm grabbed Jay suddenly and jumped out the window. I could hear both of them running into the forest. Jegg nodded at Tay, and Jegg jumped out. I was on the bed, and my leg was injured as it had a bandage around it. I could even walk properly so Taylor suddenly grabbed me and lifted me up, and of course I struggled as he went out the barred window as well. 21

He let me down, as we were on the other side. I glared at him. “Why did you guys take me and Jay out?” He was looking around the corner when he hissed,22

“You’re awake when it’s 3 in the morning! What if they looked in—”23

“And saw we were gone?” I whispered.24

“Those guys don’t give a damn if you’re not there! Just that you’re awake and there are three guys in the room!”25

“Why don’t they care that we’re not there?”26

“Because they think that we can’t escape, so they don’t care if you wander around! And they know we can’t wreck anything. Just so long that you’re not seen going over to the girl’s side of the cabins, you’re fine!”27

“What’s wrong with guys going over to—”28

Taylor shot me a glare. My eyes widened then I nodded.29

“I thought—”30

“It doesn’t matter if you meet up, just that you don’t go to another gender’s cabins.” He put his arm around my shoulder and we half-walked, half-hobbled to the end of the cabins, near the toilets. He sighed as I leaned over the wall, sweat trickling down my forehead. Voices were getting louder. Taylor groaned. There was no where to hide!31

What do we do? I mouthed to him. He mouthed something back that I didn’t want to hear. I shook my head violently, crossing my arms and waving them around. The voices were getting louder and louder so he threw a quick glance around then pulled me to him, and he kissed me. The guards finally approached.32

“Aw, man, we don’t wanna hurt their privacy!” One man said, a squeaky voice.33

“Come on, lets go.” They disappeared again around the corner. When they were gone he let go of me. I staggered back to the wall, and cursed at him.34

“Idiot! One thing you don’t kiss me and you don’t let go so suddenly!”35

“Sorry,” He mumbled. The others emerged. 36

“You guys alright?” Helm asked. He was bruised slightly and Jay’s face had a red mark across it. I nodded. Taylor did too. 37

“What—” Taylor started.38

“The Chief isn’t so laid back in letting us out.” Helm said calmly. “What happened?” He asked. I shook my head vigorously. I don’t know how he felt but he didn’t push it.39

I thought what happened with Taylor was over and done with, but apparently someone saw us. I was in a meeting and there was no available spot so I sat down next to Taylor. Ooh’s came across the room. I reddened, and I didn’t look at Taylor, but I think he had reddened two. Even Jegg knew about it! Of all people it had to be him.40

“So,” He asked, drawing a love heart around Taylor and myself. My fist showed threateningly and he stopped. “did you really kiss Hunter?”41

“No.”42

“Are you sure?”43

“Yes.”44

“Absolutely sure?”45

“Yes.”46

This went on and on. And the fact even though we searched each night for the Death Weapon we couldn’t find it. Seela’s date came closer and closer. I couldn’t bare it. She stopped coming, and Helm said (ignoring the ooh’s around the room) that she was unwell. 47

At last the day came. Once more we were strapped to our chairs and we helplessly watched Seela being brought out. The King started once more.48

“Do you plead guilty or innocent to the death of Lee Hash?” 49

“Inn—”50

“You have no right to speak. I’m not going to listen to your answer anyway.” Laughter arose from the audience. The King continued. “Anonymous reported you killing him two weeks ago, as he caught you selling illegal products.” Lies! Absolute lies! They just make it up for people who mysteriously die! “Does anyone object?”51

“I object.” Jegg’s voice was clear and clam. He got a smack on the head. But the King merely smiled. 52

“How do you object?”53

“Seela has been here for more than two weeks and has not been let out of ‘Traveler’s Home’. Ask the Chief yourself.” The King turned to the Chief. The Chief, horrified, could not answer, but he nodded, even though he would pay the price. The King smiled, then clapped his hands.54

“I am dearly sorry,” He said to Seela.55

“I am more sorry, your Highness.” She replied.56

“Guards! Let her go! She is innocent.” The guards let her go. Seela was saved. And it was all thanks to Jegg. We celebrated that night in the meeting, and everyone forgot about the kiss. I was even more enjoyed. No one could hurt Jegg, because he was already accused of doing something, and if the King ordered a murder, then it would be suspicious. 57

The Chief died of poisoning three weeks later.58

It was then I realized that this was far from over.59