|
Post by Atlas on Jan 3, 2011 14:13:13 GMT -8
Atlas tried to straighten himself up. He felt like dropping to the floor and passing out from the overpowering aroma of smoke in the air. However, from Cyrus's speech, he could tell that his mother wasn't the only one in jeopardy. However, what could he say? He had no recollection of any of the evidence or witnesses Cyrus presented.
The Smoking Man's eyes were upon Atlas. His words before didn't make any sense. He was here to help him? How? The only way he could possibly help was to give a not guilty verdict to Atlas's mother and himself. "I must be crazy, thinking for one second I can trust that guy." he thought. It was up to him. Clearing his throat, he spoke.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the court." Atlas began to speak. He felt weird saying that, looking at the corpses in the gallery and the shadows in the jury. "Mr. Steele's entire case rests on one simple fact: because her husband, Kyle Lasseter was convicted of the first Crucifix killings, that my client, Sara Lasseter, would be following in his footsteps." Atlas wasn't sure about any of his words. However, he had no choice but to bluff.
"But, there are some key elements that I believe the jury should consider before quickly jumping to call my client guilty. For one..."
He took a deep breath. "What would be something that could be considered flawed in Cyrus's case?" he wondered. He had to make something up.
"For one, about Mr. Steele's key witness. During my cross examination with her, she changed her story multiple times, each time to suit the facts of the case. It was later proven that she took medication for alcohol withdrawal and anxiety. Although I don't believe that she is, in fact, a liar, I also don't believe that the word of someone who was clearly out of it at the time should be decisive evidence in this case."
He took a sip of water from the stained glass on the table. It had a disgusting, coppery taste. He almost spit it up, but gulped it down grudgingly. He wasn't about to make himself look foolish.
"Speaking of decisive evidence, about the so-called murder weapon. You recall how the police found my client at the scene of the crime don't you." Atlas started. Cyrus had no response. "She was found unconscious. For all we know, the killer could have easily planted her fingerprints on the weapon and then left before the police arrived. This would also be made easier by the fact that the key witness was also feeling several side-effects from her medication, as she clearly testified."
"Alright, I've covered the evidence and the witnesses, what next..." he thought. "Finally, I find your statement about how I should be locked away as well uncalled for, Mr. Steele. Even if my client was guilty, there is no proof whatsoever that I have or would do anything of this nature. You are trying to place guilt by association on me as you did with my client, and it isn't going to happen. I would like the jury to consider this as they make their decision. The defense rests." he said.
The judge didn't say a word. He just stared at Atlas. "Well, did I do a good job?" Atlas wondered.
"Objection!" Cyrus yelled out. "If anyone is out of it, it is the defense. Not one of things he said about the murder weapon and my key witness happened during the trial. Also, if you had been paying attention, the defendant was quite conscious when the police found her, and her hand was wrapped very tightly around the murder weapon. In fact, she almost stabbed one of the arresting officers." he said smugly.
"Objection sustained." The judge responded. "It is now time for the jury to make their decision. In doing so, I would ask that you disregard the defense's closing statement." he added.
Atlas slumped into his chair in defeat. His head slammed against the desk and he placed his hands up on it. There was nothing he could do now...
"What was I supposed to say?"
|
|
|
Post by The Smoking Man on Jan 4, 2011 2:28:54 GMT -8
While the trial proceeded, the writhing figures in the jury continued their constant wailing and twisting...only the Smoking Man remaining still and calm as both Cyrus and Atlas stated their cases. He said nothing more as they carried on about the 'case,' his only movements the occasional long drag from his cigarette. He was watching the way things unfolded so intently...but his focus seemed to be specifically trained on Atlas, even during the speech of the prosecutor. He seemed to be waiting for something...just...biding his time.
And when the jury was addressed, it was he who stood, pushing through the Shadows to stand at the forefront, swathed in the smoke and a strange sort of slink to his movements. Another Shadow drew too close for his liking. He kicked her hard in the ankles, breaking her leg and sweeping her down in the process; he then turned back towards Atlas again, a smirk in his voice.
"We, the jury, find the defendant...innocent," he began, tapping out his cigarette ashes against the banister. "No, she is not the one at fault here. On the other hand...we find the defense attorney, Atticus Lasseter...quite guilty indeed. Do you know why you are guilty, Atlas?"
Something bobbed to the surface in Atlas's water glass, making it all too clear why the water had tasted so poorly...the eyeball floating on top of it drifting as if to look at him.
One of his mother's eyes.
"Are you so sure of everything now?"
|
|
|
Post by Atlas on Jan 4, 2011 16:25:02 GMT -8
Atlas remained with his head slumped down. He failed as a defense attorney and he failed as a son. The only thing he could do was wait for the jury to finish convening.
"Has the jury reached a consensus?" the judge asked.
Atlas looked up. The Smoking Man stood ready, only interrupting by a shadow violating his personal space. He watched him kicked her down. "If anyone's guilty of something, it's that guy of assault." he thought. However, no one else reaction to his brutalization of the female shadow.
He listen to the verdict. On one hand, his mother was found innocent. On the other, hand, he was...
Found guilty?
"They can't do that. Nothing was proven. They have nothing on me. He's trying to rattle me." he thought.
His eyes glanced down towards his putrid glass of water. He saw something bobbing around. He picked up the dirty glass to take a look.
It was an eyeball. Staring straight at him.
He recoiled, dropping the glass. The Smoking Man's final words only made things worse. However, he didn't have an answer.
"Alright then, the court acquits Mrs. Sara Lasseter of all charges. However, the same can't be said for the defense. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that ties you to the crime either. However, the court finds that not only are you unable to function in a normal human society, you are also at a great risk for committing murder. Therefore, the court sentences you to solitary confinement in an institution, where you will be studied to find what makes a murder's mind tick. What happens afterwards, I cannot say. This court is adjourned."
The judge slammed his gavel down. Almost on command, two Shadows appeared on either of Atlas's side to restrain him. "Is this it? Am I to spend the rest of my days locked away in a padded cell being gawked at by masked staff?" he wondered.
However, something snapped into him. "No, it isn't going to happen like that!" he thought. Just as the shadows reached for him, he struck the one to his right and ran down the center aisle towards the door. He had no idea where he was planning to go, but any place was better than this...
"Bailiff! Restrain this man!" the judge yelled.
Atlas heard the roar of a bear as he crashed into the door leading out. He didn't care where the door took him. Anywhere but here...
|
|
|
Post by The Smoking Man on Jan 6, 2011 13:41:30 GMT -8
Behind the door was not a hallway, as he might have expected...but a very dark, rainy forest, red trees towering overhead. The autumn leaves underfoot were slick, red not only by their own coloration, but by a crimson substance that seemed to be bleeding from the trees themselves. On either side of him, among the trees, there were other structures...twisted, gnarled Shadows, crucified but still moving, howling with pain and begging for Atlas to release them. They were countless, it seemed, as he ran...they were everywhere, their wails of agony filling the air like thunder.
The courthouse was suddenly nowhere to be found, even should he look back - only more forest, more Shadows, more blood. The only trace of the trial itself was a lone figure, leaning on one of the crosses and twirling his cigarette about skillful fingers. "Didn't I say," he chuckled, he voice low and harsh, "That it was a hung jury? Not very dignified of you to run...."
Beside him, a very low, rumbling growl indicated something lumbering out of the forest...something very big. He calmly sidestepped as it plowed its way through the trees, bowling over one of the crosses and bending branches underfoot under enormous, wicked claws. Black fur, slick and damp with the rain and the blood it had been tramping through, shone in the light from a lightning bolt...a pair of glittering red eyes shone like the end of Smoking Man's cigarette, fixed upon Atlas, looking down at him. The creature beared a set of sharpened, cruel teeth, raising up upon its hind legs to tower with its head among the top branches of the trees.
The Smoking Man appeared unimpressed, putting one cigarette out against the forehead of the crucified Shadow who had just been knocked over and lighting a new one.
"...Should have stuck with the courtroom, if you ask me."
|
|
|
Post by Atlas on Jan 6, 2011 14:47:10 GMT -8
When Atlas burst through the doorway, he immediately felt his clothes becoming drenched. Surprised, he looked around. "This wasn't the hallway I came from..." he thought. However it was a lot worse.
It was a forest, filled entirely with blood red trees. He'd seen these trees before: there was a grove of them down by the graveyard. However, as he walked, the leaves felt slick. He picked one up and felt it. A thick crimson substance coated the red leaf. Upon smelling it, he realized it was blood. He gagged and nearly puked, wondering what kind of forest was it.
He also noticed the Shadows hung to crosses scattered among the trees. He could hear then calling out to him.
"LEEEET ME DIIIIEEEE..."
"HELP MEEEE...."
"ATTTTLLLAAAASSSS...."
"I'M....INNNOCCCEEENNNNT"
Though they were held in place, that didn't make them any less scary. He tried to turn back the way he came, but he only found more forest and more shadows. "Where the fuck am I?" he wondered, looking around the forest from all sides. He didn't know what to do or where to go. A part of him wished he had just surrendered to the Shadow Court.
The Smoking Man from before leaned against one of the crosses, bearing his usual, arrogant demeanor. All he had were words of scorn for Atlas. "Hung jury, huh? You're a sick man!" he thought.
Atlas clutched his head, trying to take in everything that was happening. However, the forest was slowly started to tear away at him. From the endless moan of the Shadow prisoners to the endless forest of blood red trees and rain beating against him, he felt his emotions start to go.
Anger was boiling inside of Atlas. "Someone here to help" echoed through his mind. What a blatant lie. He was responsible for the court turning against him. He was responsible for this forest, he was responsible for everything that was happening. He lifted his hands, revealing an angry, rage-filled face. He pointed an accusatory finger at the Smoking Man.
"Listen, you. You're crap about being here to help is a blatant lie. Everything that is going on is your doing. Why are you doing this to me? What have I ever done to you? WHO. ARE. YOU?"
His only answer was a loud growl. It wasn't coming was the Smoking Man, though he wished it would have. He could feel tremors and hear trees and crosses being knocked down. The Shadows were crying out in pain as it was getting closer. Atlas could only make out a pair of glowing red eyes that got bigger at first. However, he was able to see it's form as a lightning bolt crashed against the ground: a gigantic bear, roaring against the thunder and baring its fangs directly at the lawyer.
The bailiff was out for blood. His sentence had become one of confinement to one of death.
The rage in Atlas was replaced with sheer terror. There was no way he could face this giant bear. Despite the Smoking Man's mocking words, the only thing he could do was run. He sprinted into the forest, praying that the trees would slow it down enough.
|
|
|
Post by The Smoking Man on Jan 9, 2011 11:54:24 GMT -8
When Atlas took to a run, the Smoking Man actually began to laugh - the sound echoed through the trees and crosses, almost in time with the wet squelching of the bloody leaves crushed beneath the bear's feet. The creature pursued the lawyer, plowing down the trees in its wake, unwavering as it crashed its way down it's path. It wasn't going to stop. It was trained upon Atlas, eyes glowing, purple slobber dribbling from its mouth in great gleaming drops.
The forest seemed endless - as were the number of crucified, eyeless corpses, twisting and wailing as they shrieked over being trampled. The more Atlas ran, the louder they got, pleading in increasingly human voices to be set free -
Until, suddenly, the forest ended sharply, Atlas finding himself coming upon the edge of a steep cliff. Below, purple mist and smoke writhed below, twisting, obscuring the bottom (was there a bottom?)...the edge was crumbling, slick with leaves.
The Smoking Man leaned casually against the tree right on the edge, tapping ashes over the edge to watch them fall into the mist.
"Once of these days, you're going to learn the consequences of running away."
|
|
|
Post by Atlas on Jan 13, 2011 19:47:22 GMT -8
Atlas froze up. There was no way out of this. Either the bear would tear him to shreds or he fall down into the abyss behind him. The bear's footsteps came closer and the rumbling became heavier. He tried to think.
"Cmon, cmon, it's now or never."
As the bear got close, he dove out of it's path, hoping to send it careening over the edge. Unfortunately, the bear was able to not only stop short of the edge, but turn towards Atlas for a quick swipe. Although it missed, it sent a gust of wind at him that knocked him over the edge.
He kept falling and falling. "Is this it?" he wondered. The last thing he'd heard is the roar of the bear...
Just before he hit the ground, he snapped his eyes open. He was back in his office, just the way it was before the smoke started consuming it. He started breathing heavily, slowly trying to make sense of what just happened.
"It was only a dream. But too many reminders of my past were there." he thought. He looked at the screen: not only was the e-mail there, but there was also a cigarette burn across his keyboard. This made him wonder whether what he experienced was really a dream. He deleted the e-mail that started the whole mess. No sense starting that up again.
He checked his e-mail and voicemail. Tamika had wanted to meet up with him at the SWERY 65 later to meet about...something. He'd accept: he needed a drink anyways.
|
|