7:30 pm. January 17th, 2026.
The courtroom was drab and reeked of expensive perfume. Callum's parents and multiple Barns family members occupied the 'Gallery for victims', as they glared daggers at the shriveled up young man in prison uniform and chain handcuffs.
If looks could kill, Alexander would have been dead ten times over.
After being detained for a few months without trial. He was finally brought forward for one, only to discover it was all a sham.
His defence attorney might as well have handed the case on a platter to the prosecutor. Offering little to no arguments to the bogus evidence brought forward against him.
Witnesses appeared out of nowhere— all testifying they were there at the confrontation. Most couldn't even repeat their statement when asked to reconfirm.
It was a mockery of the judicial system, as even the high judge presiding over the ' trial' had the surname of Barns.
And the Jury?. They looked at Alexander, but all they saw was a criminal from a poor neighborhood. An orphan from the dangerous parts of town, who somehow cheated his way into a scholarship at one of the most prestigious colleges in the country.
And such a person dared to take the life of a promising young heir of one of the most powerful families in the country.
Callum Barns was dead. And according to eye witness testimonies, he was beaten to death by the criminal orphan 'Alexander Kiing', who, "quote-unquote" ended the life of the innocent and peace-loving Callum for showing harmless interest in his girlfriend, or something along those lines.
Even video recordings of Alexander carrying out the savage act of taking Callum's life were on full display in the exhibit area. No one bothered to confirm if the tapes were doctored, not the judge, jury, or Alexander's defence attorney.
Alexander was already condemned before he set foot into the courtroom. Everywhere he cast his gaze, he was met with judging glares and hateful sneers. He had emaciated from the burly youth he once was to the scrawny person who now stood bound in heavy chains that held his wrists and ankles.
Still. Alexander did not cry, nor did he falter as he stood in place— awaiting the court's verdict.
Though he still couldn't look back.
Because he knows if he looks back right now, he wouldn't be able to keep pretending.
He wouldn't be able to hold the tears in.
If he looked back, he would immediately break down crying.
He would cry his eyes out because someone was behind him.
She alone was seated behind Alexander in the large courtroom.
The only person who had never left his side since this whole ordeal began. She's been strong as a rock— but he could hear that rock crack ever so slightly, as the trial advanced.
A slight sniffle, a little sob, Alexander could hear it all. She was trying to stay strong— to stay strong for him. But it felt like the world was against them both.
'I mustn't look back. I won't grant them the satisfaction of seeing me broken.' Alexander promised himself. But he could already feel how shallow such promise was.
Bam! Bam!.
The judge slammed the gavel, catching the attention of everyone present. The jury had already finished deliberating and had passed on their collective verdict.
"Alexander Kiing.." The judge began in his signature smoky voice."You stand before the court having been found guilty of murder—cold, calculated, and merciless. Do you understand the gravity of your actions ?"
The judge gazed lazily at Alexander, leaning forward ever so slightly and adjusting his glasses. Without waiting for a response, he continued.
"Do you even feel any remorse for the life you have so brutally ended ?" He scoffed, relaxing back into his comfortable judges' chair.
Bam! Bam!.
He slammed the gavel once more. The thunderous hits echoed in the hollow courtroom and sent a cold shiver down the spine of young Alexander. The cold gaze in the judge's eyes directed at him was enough to freeze an ocean.
"By the authority vested in me by the laws of the state, I hereby sentence you, Alexander Kiing, to life imprisonment without parole."
"Nooooooo!!!!!" A primal scream tore through the courtroom as Grace's carefully maintained composure came shattering down in a chaotic, agonizing cry.
The Barns were all smiles as they hugged and congratulated one another, ignoring Grace in her sorrowful lament.
Alexander stood in place like a piece of sculpture, as the reality of his current situation washed over him like a cold shower on a hot day. His brain was struggling to comprehend the circus that had now become his life.
Just a few years back, he was hailed as a genius and offered a special scholarship to study nuclear engineering. And with only three years in the field, he had already made more breakthroughs than those who had spent their entire lives in it.
He published tons of papers, and he was constantly being awarded research grants. His career was already on track. He had dreams, goals, and plans for his future. But all of that came crashing down in the span of mere months.
Alexander stood like a broken doll. His ocean blue eyes—now completely devoid of life.
But he still wasn't crying. Not a single tear escaped his eyes as the judge's voice thundered once more.
"You will spend the rest of your natural life behind bars."
"Let this sentence serve as a warning. The law protects the innocent, and those who violate it will face its full weight. Court adjourned."
Bam! Bam!.
He slammed the gavel in finality, as prison security walked over to Alexander to lead him out, to be transported to prison.
As Alexander was moved out of the defendant's area, he spun his head slightly as his ocean blue eyes locked onto Grace's hazel ones.
And that was it.
The floodgates was burst open as the tears streamed out of Alexander's eyes like a broken dam.
"Gracie. I don't want to be locked up for life!. " Alexander sobbed like a child, a child calling out to the only person who represents safety and warmth in their lives, as he struggled against the two security personnel who were pushing him out aggressively.
"I know Alex. I know." Grace broke down for the second time in wails and lament as she watched Alex, the man she loved madly, who had always been so strong, appear so broken.
"Gracie. am so scared gracie." Alexander cried loudly as he was shoved towards the exit.
"I know my Alex. I know." Grace wailed as her heart shattered, she ran in Alexander's direction to attempt to grab him, hold him, and console him— but she was held back by court security.
She collapsed on her knees in raw, piercing despair. She watched in powerlessness as Alexander was pushed out.
The spectacle of their separation drew mild pity from the members of the jury and witnesses present, but none made any move in her direction, they all just walked out of the courtroom.
Soon, the lights of the courtroom were snuffed out— and so too was the future of a twenty-four-year-old young man.
The courtroom was soon bathed in darkness. Leaving only the echoes of Grace's lament.