THE FIRST THREAD 1When Elara lifted the file in her hands, it didn't seem to carry much significance. It was small in her palm, seemingly ordinary. It looked like the kind of document that might get buried underneath other, seemingly more important, documents without even getting noticed.However, she had learned rather quickly that the most dangerous truths never announced themselves loudly. Instead, they lurked somewhere in the shadows.And this particular one… had been hiding itself for quite a while now–the entirety of Damien's life. Elara sat down at her desk, the city already asleep as she looked out the office windows. Her desk lamp remained on, illuminating the papers in front of her with a narrow ray of light that created long shadows on everything else in the room.With the quiet ambience that had settled over the room, this made things easier for her somehow.Elara carefully opened the file and flipped over the cover page. Her investigator had given it to her just an hour

PRISON WAR 1Today, everything seemed louder than it should have been, the noises having no meaning attached to it. The sound of slamming metal fences, distant yelling, boots walking on concrete, and orders which people rarely obeyed, were here as always, but now… they lacked the usual energy they used to possess. Damien's day started like it always did, with hands unlocked and guards leading him to a certain place. They didn't use any additional restraints on him despite the fact that they usually put them on those who were returning from visitation. It was obvious something had happened because the way guards treated him had changed. They didn't talk much while escorting him to this place and they just mostly watched without instructing.He noticed the change immediately but did not say anything about it. Maybe Jim had used his place as the commissioner to put them in place. Or maybe it was something else. Finally, they walked out a door leading into the prison yard where his oth

DEMONS EXPOSEDPeople had already packed into the courthouse, filling the place to the brim before Adrian showed up. This itself told him enough about the rest of the day ahead–it was going to be a hassle. Some of the journalists were let inside early, and this indicated clearly who had lobbied hard for this hearing to occur. Cameras were set up along the press barrier and were focused on the bench of the judge, the stand for the witness, and the table of prosecution.Adrian entered the courthouse using the back entrance and trailed two aides behind himself. His suit was perfectly pressed but his face carried an expression that contrasted the calm he usually held. There was tension visible in his stance that had not been there during earlier hearings.He walked directly to the front-row seating area designated for the prosecution team and took his place without greeting anyone.On the other side of the room, Elara was already seated there waiting. She had taken the only place availab

FINAL VERDICTIn a single night, the news of the trial took the city by storm and people rushed in the next day even sooner than usual. With the exposure of Brooks' network, illegal finances, and involvement in murders, it was a completely new situation.It was obvious that no matter what decision was to be made, the question of Damien's guilt didn't matter anymore as that chapter had been closed. What really mattered now was whether he had actually been the one to have a case against.At the defendant's table, Damien sat still and collected. He rubbed softly his bruised knuckles as he stared at nothing in particular. He no longer reacted, or showed any sign of resistance. He was just waiting.Elara sat right next to her hired team of lawyers. The entirety of the work she had been doing over the past few days was clearly shown now, evident by the well-prepared lawyers packed with strong arguments, the necessary documents neatly placed on the table before her and the strategy that had