The courtroom was filled with a tension so thick, you could almost touch it. Aldric Seraphis walked in, his elegant black suit cutting through the frozen crowd, as if they had just witnessed something terrifying. The sound of his footsteps echoed on the marble floor, bouncing off the mahogany-paneled walls. The room felt like a gladiator arena, and Aldric knew that the fight ahead was not just about winning or losing—it was about life and death.
Aldric greeted his colleagues before making his way toward Lukas Hartley, who sat at the defendant's chair with a pale face. Cold sweat trickled down his temples, and his vacant eyes seemed swallowed by an abyss of endless fear. He glanced at Aldric with a pleading look, but no words escaped his trembling lips.
"I... I didn't do it," he whispered, his voice raspy, as if gravel were grinding in his throat.
Aldric patted his shoulder gently, offering a quiet reassurance wrapped in a calm strength. "Stay calm, Lukas. I'll make sure the truth comes out," he said softly, yet his words carried a weight, like a promise etched in blood.
On the other side of the room, Laura Simmons stood with a cold smile. Her sharp brown eyes stared at Aldric with undisguised hatred. To Laura, Aldric wasn't just an opponent; he was the enemy, an obstacle that had to be crushed without mercy. She had won many cases before, but this one was different. This was her greatest gamble, and she wasn't backing down.
The judge, an old man with a gray beard, struck his gavel. The sharp sound shattered the silence, shaking every heart in the room. "Court is in session," he declared in a heavy tone that weighed on everyone.
Laura began her opening argument with ferocity. "Your Honor, members of the jury, today we are here to confront a horrific truth. The victim, a young woman, was found in a gruesome state—her body covered in wounds, ligature marks on her wrists and ankles, and her face... God, her face was barely recognizable!" Laura slammed the table, causing everyone's hearts to race. "This isn't just murder. This is an act of pure hatred!"
The courtroom fell silent. Some people turned away, unable to bear the horrifying image Laura painted. From the back rows, journalists whispered among themselves, their pens dancing across paper, capturing every chilling detail they would later present to the world.
Laura turned to Aldric, her eyes blazing. "This defendant—Lukas Hartley—was the only person found near the crime scene with clear DNA evidence pointing to him. An eyewitness saw him running on the night of the incident, covered in blood. Who else can we trust if not the evidence we see ourselves?!"
Aldric stood calmly as faint boos and angry murmurs rose from the spectators. He was unhurried. He stared at Laura with a gaze that was calm yet piercing, like a predator eyeing its prey. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, what you just heard was a narrative wrapped in emotion, not facts. We are here to seek the truth, not to hunt a scapegoat."
Laura smirked, seemingly ready to interrupt Aldric mid-sentence, but he continued. "Yes, there is DNA from Lukas at the scene. But that DNA was found in a common area he frequently visited, not at the actual crime scene. The evidence presented here today is merely fragments of an incomplete story."
The courtroom lights felt sharper, highlighting Aldric's composed face. In the witness row, an elderly man with thick glasses squirmed uncomfortably in his seat. Aldric glanced at him before pressing on, "And our so-called eyewitness? A 75-year-old man whose vision is severely impaired. It was dark, it was raining, and all he saw was a shadow running. How can we gamble someone's life on a memory that is at best a blur?"
The judge watched Aldric with a neutral face, but his eyes betrayed a deep curiosity. The atmosphere grew even more tense, like a taut rope on the verge of snapping. The jurors began whispering among themselves, haunted by the questions swirling in their minds.
"Your Honor," Aldric continued, his voice lower but laced with a chilling intensity, "What they haven't told you is that there were other fingerprints at the scene that don't match Lukas. And let's not forget the victim's violent history with other individuals, including threats from someone who had a strong motive to do this."
Laura exploded, cutting Aldric off with barely restrained fury. "That's speculation! We are here to talk about evidence, not fiction!"
Aldric stared at Laura with a thin smile—a smile that looked more like the blade of a knife ready to strike. "Isn't every accusation you've made here today just speculation wrapped in partial evidence? I have an expert witness who will prove those fingerprints belong to someone we haven't even called to this trial yet."
The judge regarded Aldric seriously, then nodded slowly. "Can you present your witness within one week, Mr. Seraphis?"
Aldric smiled, a calmness more dangerous than anger. "Yes, Your Honor. I will show you all who is truly drenched in blood in this tragedy."
The judge nodded and struck his gavel again. "Court is adjourned and will resume on Wednesday, February 8, 1950, at 9:00 a.m."
As Aldric returned to his seat, Lukas looked at him, eyes brimming with tears. Aldric said nothing, merely returning the gaze with a firm, unwavering confidence. He knew this battle had just begun, and in this courtroom, every word, every move could be the difference between life and death.