Act 1 Chapter 2 - Verdict
A soft, yet deep voice broke the silence “Poor Azalea..” he murmured before turning towards Mayce “The Emerald King was a masked entity, potentially we could use his hidden identity to our advantage…” it was clear where this conversation was headed, Zayne exhaled at the potential reprieve. The man continued “We sacrifice a random unknown citizen with the same build-” Zayne cut into the conversation “Alexei! You bastard…" he turned towards his father “Killing an innocent civilian is that what this country does now!? Is that why there’s walls up, why no information ever gets out about this country, not in the last 8 years. Why it was impossible for even someone like me to get in contact!?” he said with unbridled rage, he squirmed under the shackles, spitting out blood with every word.
“Be quiet, you know nothing of this world child!” Mayce snapped, his words carried a sense of wisdom that only tested Zayne. “I don’t want to hear that from some who let his child sneak off across the seas when he was just a boy” Zayne retorted angrily. A look of pain flashed over Mayce’s face. The shackles had grown warmer, the line that was engraved into the middle of each shackle turned white as blitzed out of them causing a shock reminiscent of the colossal beast Zayne fought before. He passed out.
A simple, lazy prodding by Audrey was enough to wake him “Had a nice nap?” she giggled carefree despite Zayne’s perilous situation. He felt sensation in his body, freedom in his wrists and lower body, save for something strapped to his ankle. “Morning Audrey,” he groaned. Before she could respond, heels clicked across the hallways. The one person who was silent during the entire trial “Rosa..” Zayne mumbled looking up at the finely dressed woman.
“I’m surprised you could tell, failed son” she said dryly as she entered the barren room, at his side Audrey had already gone to sleep on the single piece of furniture there, the bed Zayne had woken up from. He looked at her with relief despite her harsh words, he exhaled sharply “I’m guessing you’re going to tell me what my sentence is?”
“I was quite surprised at your outburst earlier, I would’ve thought the Emerald King wouldn’t care for some stranger’s life.”
“The Emerald King retired 5 years ago, things have changed…” he paused. His tone darkened “The innocent you decide to kill, they would surely be someone riddled with poverty and most likely orphaned too”
“Correct.” She stated. Sensing Zayne’s bubbling anger she continued “Look, the country has changed, far more than you could possibly imagine…with change comes retaliation, with your mum gone” Zayne’s face darkened.
“What…did you say?”