"When Masks Fall"
In halls of marble, lies take form,
Whispers curl like smoke in storm.
Truth trembles beneath the throne's deceit,
Yet justice waits with steady feet.
When masks fall, and hearts are bared,
The guilty find the eyes that stared.
No gold, no crown, no woven lie,
Can shield a soul from truth's cold sky.
---
"Thank you, Miss Luciana."
The judge's calm words sliced through the tense air like a blade. The courtroom was thick with murmurs and uneasy glances until the creak of the door silenced everyone. Two officers marched in, dragging Leonard Shake, his hands cuffed tightly, face pale with defeat.
A hush rippled across the audience.
"Now this is getting interesting," Alicia murmured, eyes fixed on the flickering television in her room. The glow danced across her face, highlighting the subtle smirk tugging her lips. Ariel sat beside her, fists clenched, pulse racing.
