(Henry's POV)
"Stealing the weapon of a guard. Firing a weapon inside a government building and in front of a detective and a guard. Threatening to physically harm a detective and guard. Encouraging a prisoner to kill. Do you have anything to say, Hannibal Henry Devin?" The judge asked me.
I stood up and grinned.
"I would love to kill everyone inside here. Too bad, I am unable to."
The old judge was stunned before sighing deeply.
"What is going on with kids these days?" He mumbled.
"Now we have the additional threat to physically harm a judge, as well as a threat to everyone's life inside this room… Showing the intention to kill...."
"You haven't done yourself a favor with what you just said, young man. I wanted to be lenient because of everything you have gone through. Besides, I think Detective Norman had misjudged the situation at that time.... to let you to the murderer of your sister..."
The attorney besides me sweated buckets.
"Your honor, my client could have a psychological…"
"Hmm. No." The judge shook a few papers he had grabbed.
"He was examined, and everything is alright with him. Besides excessive aggression and… the intention to kill...." He read through the report again.
"Yes. He is sane. Knows what he does, knows that it is wrong, but still wants to do it. I see."
"Kid… No, you are already of age. I can't put you in juvenile prison anymore, and your statements speak for themselves. I have an inkling that I know what you want to do here. And I tell you what. You have not injured anyone, so fine. I will convict you for ten years to stay in prison; the possibility of parole is granted after 4 years."
His hammer sounded.
"I will note in your file that I want you to be between first-degree murderers so that you experience how it is in there; how it would be for the rest of your life if you'd really kill someone. However. Not I decide in which prison you come. Now you just have to hope that the administration gets you where you desire to be." He again sighed deeply.
"Session closed. Next case." I was still cuffed, brought out by guards, and brought back into the cell I had been in since visiting Kenny and bringing him hope. Sadly, it was not the prison where Kenny was in. It was just the pretrial detention center.
It took a month until I got my trial.
I wonder how he was doing; he looked like shit the last time, and he was clearly drunk as well. His fingers and wrists looked horrible.
It hurts. It hurts so damn much to see him like this. Knowing that I am responsible and that my sister is responsible...
I am good; I am alright.
I will be his dog forever, just as he wished. Just as I had wished. I gladly pay the price of my actions. Kenny, you still are my purpose.
Inside the parallel world, I knew the moment he was innocent, not when I woke up in that cave; no, it was when Kenny approached me to bring me out, besides him being heavily injured. I knew at that moment, I knew.
No matter how much he hated me, he was no killer. Or he would have never been able to come to me across the corpse hill. Why could I tell? I saw him crawling to me. Not only his eyes had changed, mine had as well. I could see in this dark cave as if it were day.
He could have crawled to me to finish me off. But every time I heard him gagging, I knew. He came to save me.
Even when he punched me, as I feigned unconsciousness, even when he told me that he would kill me. He was no murderer. He was here to save me.
I carried him, being a good dog and beginning the life I would pursue. When he asked for Henrietta, the man who looked just like the brother I had met when eating but who seemed different and spoke differently as well, I understood.
Parallel world, who would have thought?
My heart drummed heavily inside my chest. Ah, Kenny, I know what you suspect. I get it. Could she really be alive? I was amused, then I was sad, then I was furious.
His mother seemed to be dead, Kenny reacting strongly to it when he heard she was alive. Was this the reason his family didn't even look at him in our world?
When I saw him not clinging to his mother but immediately turning and going, crying silently, I admired him. So strong. He knows what was his to claim and what wasn't.
And there was the next surprise. Kenny's reaction helped me, and I imitated him and did the same, telling myself that these were not my parents.
But this was my sister.
The one leaving me, letting me believe she was dead.
I detested her.
Nobody told you to care about me. But we have fled from the pain together all these years, so how could you? How dare you to leave me behind?
Kenny again helped me with his anger. He let me feel the guilt vividly, reminding me of my new purpose.
Henrietta and I found her friend dead inside the forest, strangled. I didn't even stay to calm Henrietta, who was hysterical for a few moments. I walked back, and she followed eventually. And what we found were two Kennys.
I went to my Kenny and brought him out. Although he was in a bad state, he could even warn me.
If not, I would have still—although my sister had already left me behind, and I could muster up nothing but hatred for her—showed my back to her.
I am good; I am alright.
Kenny needed a hospital.
So I left her behind in that world she wanted to so desperately live in.
My one and only sister.
The last of my family.
I left her behind for my new purpose.
We are good; we are alright.
As long as he survives here with me.