Destiny Stained

GRACE LOOKED OUTSIDE THE WINDOW, SMALL DROPS OF RAIN WAS SPLASHING ON HER WINDOW PANEL. IT WAS RAINING ALL DAY AND IT WAS NEARLY EVENING. SHE SIGHED AS SHE GAZED OUTSIDE THE LIGHT FOG. WINTER WAS AROUND THE CORNER AND THE SMELL OF RAIN CREATED AN AESTHETIC ATMOSPHERE. SHE WAS A LAW GRADUATE AND WAS 24 THIS YEAR. HARDWORKING AND DILIGENT, SHE WON MANY HEARTS IN HER EX-FIRM. SHE WAS KNOWN FOR HER COLD AND STRICT BEHAVIOUR IN HER WORKING TIME. PROBABLY THIS WAS THE REASON SHE NEVER MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS AT WORK. SHARP AND HARD-WORKING, SHE SOLVED ALL HER CASES WITH DELIQUENCE! SHE WAS ALSO AWARDED THE BEST EMPLOYEE AWARD TWICE IN A ROW. OVIOUSLY, SHE BECAME THE TALK OF THE FIRM AND HAD MORE HATERS THAN FOLLOWERS. THE CHAIRMAN WAS A SMALL RATTY PERSONALITY TO WHOM ONLY SUCCESS MATTERED. PROBABLY, THAT WAS WHY SHE WAS ALWAYS ON HIS GOOD SIDE. THE RICH CHAIRMAN, MR.NOH HAD AN ONLY CHILD, ZAIN. HE ADORED HIM MORE THAN ANYTHING AND SPOILT HIM TO GREAT EXTENTS. BEING, THE ONLY RICH INHERITOR, HE WAS RUDE TO EVERYONE. HE WAS AN FAMOUS IDOL, HAVING A SHARP APPEARANCE. HANDSOME AND COOL, HE HAD LAKHS OF FANS. BUT HIS BEHAVIOUR WAS ALWAYS VERY ANNOYING FOR GRACE. GRACE SIGHED AS SHE REMEBERED THOSE DAYS. ZAIN USED TO WALK IN THE FIRM CASUALLY AND INSULT ANY STAFF MEMBER PASSING BY. GRACE REMEBERED AN INCIDENT WHEN ZAIN THREW A GLASS OF WATER ON AN OLD STAFF, JUST BECAUSE THE WATER WASN’T COLD ENOUGH. GRACE WAS SO FURIOUS; THEY HAD A HOT ARGUMENT THAT DAY. THEY WERE SCREAMING AT THEIR TOP PEEKS, MORE LIKE GRACE WAS SPEAKING AT HER PEAKEST. WHILE ZAIN STOOD THERE COOL, UNRESPONSIVE WITH A FACE OF NO REGRET, WHICH AGIATED HER MORE. SHE HATED WHEN PEOPLE LOOKED DOWN AT STAFFS OR OTHER WORKERS. ZAIN AND HER FIGHTS WERE POPULAR IN THE WHOLE OFFICE. BUT SOMETHING ABOUT GRACE, THAT ATTITUDE, THAT COLDNESS OR THAT CREATIVITY, SOMETHING ALWAYS ATTRACTED ZAIN. SHE SIPPED THE REMAINING COFFEE; IT WAS CALM AND HOT. SHE DECIEDED TO GO FOR ANOTHER CUP WITH SOME INSTANT NOODLES. SHE WALKED TO THE FRIDGE AND FOUND THAT THEY WERE NONE OF THE ITEMS SHE WANTED. SHE GRUNTED, IT WAS COLD AND SHE DIDN’T WANT TO GO OUTSIDE. SHE HEAVED HEVILY AND WALKED TOWARDS HER GATE. SHE SAW FEW ENVELOPES OUTSIDE IN HER LETTER BOX. SHE PICKED UP THEM AND READ THEM WITH EYES FILLED WITH WORRY. HER ELECTRICITY AND RENT BOTH WERE DUE, SHE THREW AWAY THE ENVELOPES IN ANNOYANCE AND WALKED BY TO THE NEAR MARKET. HER LIFE WAS FRESH WITH MUCH TO LEARN AND MORE TO DISCOVER WHEN ALL CHANGED IN A BLINK. HER RACING LIFE CAME TUMBLING DOWN. YOU MIGHT BE THINKING, WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS TALENT. YOUTH IS MYSTERIOUS AND AT THE SAME TIME VERY DANGEROUS. ZAIN WAS HIT BY THE FIRE OF YOUTH AND HE BURNT HARD DUE TO ALL HIS POWER. A YOUNG AND FRESH IDOL, BUT A LOT OF TEMPER. ONCE, AT A BAR, HE ORDERED A WINE BUT THE YOUNG LITTLE STAFF BROUGHT THE WRONG ITEM. COVERED WITH RAGE AND DRUNK, HE SMASHED THE BOTTLE HARD ON THE FLOOR AND OPENLY ABUSED THE YOUNG BOY. HIS BOILING BLOOD WASN’T PACIFIED, HE ARGUED BACK. ARGUMENTS TO FIST-BLOWS. THE YOUNG LAD WAS SURROUNDED BY ZAIN AND HIS 3 FRIENDS AND THEY ASSAULTED HIM MERCILESSLY. DRUNK LIKE DEVILS, THEY HIT HIM WITHOUT HAVING ANY CONCIOUSNESS OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING. THE BOY ENDED UP AT A HOSPITAL LYING IN COMA. HIS GUARDIAN CALLED GRACE TO FILE A CASE AGAINST THE ASSAULTEE, HIS VOICE WAS NUMB AND SHIVERING. GRACE DECIEDED TO SOLVE THE CASE ON ANY COST! SHE WORKED VERY HARD ON THE CASE AND DECIEDED TO LET ZAIN HAVE HIS PUNISHMENT FINALLY. MR.NOH WAS FURIOUS! HE COULDN’T LET HIS ONLY HEIR FACE SO MUCH HATE, SO HE CLOSED THE CASE WITH HIS POWER AND LEFT GRACE WITH A WARNING. GRACE TRIED HER BEST TO FIGHT BACK AND EXPLAIN THE CHAIRMAN HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO TEACH HIM A LESSON. FINALLY, FURIOUS WITH HER ACTIVITIES, THE CHAIRMAN FIRED HER. SHE BECAME JOBLESS AND HER TALENT FELL GUSHING DOWN JUST LIKE THE POURING RAIN. SHE WALKED DOWN HER APARTMENT. THERE WAS SILENCE AND ONLY THE SOUND OF SLOW BREEZES WERE HEARD. MOST OF THE PEOPLE WERE OFF TO VACATION. SHE MOVED DOWN WITH HER HOME SLIPPERS WHISTING TO HERSELF. SHE REACHED DOWN AND WAS WALKING TO THE NEARBY STORE. THE ROADS WERE TOTALLY EMPTY EXCEPT FOR A FEW CARS SPREAD OUT HERE AND THERE. THE RAIN HAS ALMOST STOPPED BUT THE LITTLE DROPS WERE STILL FALLING CREATING A PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE. THE LIGHT BREEZE TOUCHED HER FAINT CHEEKS. SHE DIDN’T REGRET COMING OUT FOR A WALK, IT WAS NOT ONLY REFRESHING BUT ALSO PEACEFUL. AS SHE REACHED THE SUPERMARKET, SHE LAID HER EYES ON THE COFFEE MAKER. IT WAS HUGE, COOL AND THE SAME TIME VERY ATTRACTNG. GRACE TOUCHED THE FAINT BROWN PANELS ON THE COFFEE MACHINE. SHE WANTED TO BUY IT, BUT SHE CLEARLY KNEW HER FINANCIAL CONDITIONS. SHE TURNED AROUND AND PICKED UP A BOTTLE OF INSTANT COFFEE AND SOME INSTANT NOODLES. SHE FURTHER WENT FOR BUYING SOME VEGETABLES. SHE REMEMBERED HER WORN OUT KNIFE, SHE PURCHASED A KNIFE. SHE EXCLAIMED TO THE SHOPKEEPER, “PLEASE GIVE ME THE SHARPEST KNIFE!”. THE SHOPKEEPER RUSHED FORWARD AND HANDED HER A KNIFE IN A PLASTIC COVER. SHE RUFFLED THROUGH FEW MORE ITEMS AS SHE HEARD A FAMILIAR VOICE. SHE TURNED BACK TO SEE A TALL MAN WITH BROAD SHOULDERS. HIS BROWN HAIR FLIPPED OVER HIS FOREHEAD, HIS EYES GLISTENED IN THE FADED LIGHT AND HIS DIMPLES ENGRAVED AS HE LOOKED AT GRACE. “OH MY! LOOK WHO IS HERE, GRACE WALFER! LONG TIME!”. GRACE ROLLED HER EYES AS SHE NOTICED IT WAS ZAIN, AVOIDING HIM SHE CONTINUED, “SIR, CAN YOU PLEASE CHECKOUT THESE!”. THE SHOPKEEPER NODDED AS HE CONTINUED FIDGETING IN HIS COMPUTER. ZAIN, INSTANTLY SPOKE, “LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE STILL IGNORING ME! IT HAS BEEN NEARLY HALF AN YEAR! I WILL GET MY DAD TO BRING YOU BACK, KILL YOUR EGO FOR A WHILE!”. GRACE PICKED UP THE KNIFE IN HER HAND AS SHE SAID ANGRILY, “ANOTHER WORD AND I WILL NOT SPARE YOU!”. THE SHOPKEEPER ALERTED SAID, “MAM, CAREFUL. IT IS PRETTY SHARP!”. GRACE TOSSED IT BACK IN THE SHOPPING BAG AS SHE MUMBLED, “SHARPER THE BETTER!”. GRACE PICKED UP HER BAG AND WALKED OUTSIDE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. ZAIN CHUCKLED AND FOLLOWED HER, HE SHOUTED, “COME ON. STOP IGNORING ME! I CAME TO MEET SOMEONE AND FOUND YOU! LUCK IS WITH ME!”. GRACE DIDN’T STOP. THE SUN HAD ALREADY SET AND THE RAIN WAS GETTING HEAVIER! ZAIN BURSTED WITH ANGER BUT CONTINUED FOLLOWING HER AS SHE WALKED BY. GRACE TOOK LONGER AND MORE HURRIED STEPS AS SHE SAW HIM FOLLOWING. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A DARKOUT. IT WAS TOTAL DARKNESS AND GRACE FROZE. EVERYTHING WAS DARK, SHE STARTED TREMBLING. SHE TURNED ON HER PHONE AND SWITCHED ON HER FLASHLIGHT. SHE TURNED HER CAMERA, TOWARDS THE FRONT. THERE WAS NO-ONE. AT THE VERY NEXT MOMENT, SHE FELT SOMEONE BEHIND HER A FEW METRES AWAY. SHE TURNED BACK POINTING HER FLASHLIGHT TOWARDS THE BACK. SHE LOOKED AT ZAIN, HE STOOD THERE FROZEN WITH A MAN BESIDE HIM. THE MAN WAS TALL AND MUSCULAR, HE WAS WEARING A MASK. GRACE MOVED A FEW CLOSER, THE MAN WAS LOOKING AT GRACE FEROCIOUSLY. HE LOOKED FLABBERGASTED, FLUSHED AND AFRAID. SHE TURNED HER EYES ON ZAIN. WHY WAS HE LOOKING SO AFRAID, SO STUNNED? AS SHE MOVED CLOSER, SHE SAW THE OTHER MAN WAS HAVING A KNIFE IN HIS HANDS. GRACE TREMBLED AS SHE FOCUSED ON THE KNIFE, IT WAS DEEP RED WITH DROPS OF RED BLOOD DRIPPING DOWN FROM HIS KNIFE. SHE COULD NOW SEE CLEARLY, ZAIN’S WHITE SHIRT WAS DISHED OUT IN RED.GRACE LOOKED AT THE MAN AGAIN, SHE OPENED HER MOUTH TO SCREAM WHEN THE MAN INSTANTLY PUSHED ZAIN TOWARDS GRACE. GRACE HELD HIM IMPULSIVELY AND PULLED OUT THE KNIFE FROM HIS STOMACH. THE MAN RAN AWAY TOWARDS THE OPPOSITE SIDE. THE SHOPKEEPER STEPPED OUT OF HIS SHOP TO CHECK WHAT LED TO THE SUDDEN BLACKOUT, HE SAW ZAIN IN GRACE’S ARMS WITH DROPS OF BLOOD DRIPPING ON THE GROUND AND A KNIFE IN HER HAND WITH BLOOD STAINS! GRACE STOOD WITHOUT MOVING. HE COVERED HIS MOUTH AND INSTANTLY CALLED THE POLICE TREMBLING. GRACE LOOKED AT ZAIN, WHO WAS IN HER ARMS LIFELESS. SHE DROPPED HIM IN FEAR AND SHOCK. SHE LOOKED AT ZAIN COLLASPE TO THE GROUND. SHE FELL ON HER KNEES, SHE STARTED SHIVERING. SHE LOOKED AT HER HANDS, THEY WERE COVERED IN BLOOD. SHE TURNED HER GAZE TOWARDS THE LIFELESS ZAIN. SHE BIT HER LOWER LIP; SHE HEARD THE SOUND OF THE POLICE SIREN. SHE WANTED TO STAND UP AND EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED. BUT HER LEGS WERE NUMB FROM SHOCK AND HER LIPS WERE PATCHED DRY, HER THROAT WAS FILLED WITH AGONY, FEAR AND PAIN. SHE WAS TOO STUNNED TO MOVE. THE POLICE ARRIVED SOONER THAN EXPECTED. A MUSCULAR MAN STEPPED OUT OF HIS CAR AND LOOKED AT ZAIN ON THE GROUND LIFELESS AND GRACE TREMBLING BESIDE HIM. HE TOOK THE KNIFE WITH THE HELP OF GLOVES AND PLOPPED IT in A PLASTIC BAG. HE WHISPERED SOMETHING AND A FEMALE OFFICER PICKED UP GRACE AND PUSHED HER INSIDE THE VAN. GRACE SLOWLY SAT DOWN IN THE VAN, HER EYES WAS STILL ON THE STAIN OF BLOOD ON HER PALM. SHE REACHED THE STATION AND SAT DOWN IN THE CHAIR SHIVERING IN SHOCK WITH HER HANDS AND BODY SOAKED IN BLOOD. SHE WAS TERRIEFIED BY WHAT HAS HAPPENED. THE FEMALE POLICE TRIED QUESTIONING HER BUT SHE SAT THERE WITHOUT MOVING. HER LIPS DIDN’T MOVE A BIT. THE WORD OF ZAIN BEING MURDERED SPREAD LIKE FIRE IN A FOREST! THE WHOLE CITY NEARLY BECAME AWARE OF THE MURDER IN A FEW MINUTES. THE FEMALE OFFICER AGAIN BENT OVER GRACE AND WHISPERED, “YOU SURE YOU DON’T NEED WATER?”. GRACE SHOOK HER HEAD ABSENT MINDED. HER EYES WERE FILLED WITH PAIN, TEARS STROLLED PAST HER CHEEKS. HER BREATHING FELL ERRATIC AND EVERYTHING FELL DIZZY. HER THOUGHTS WERE INTERRUPTED BY A SUDDEN COMMOTION. SHE TURNED AROUND TO FIND FURIOUS MR.NOH WITH HIS EYES FILLED WITH TEARS. HE WALKED STRAIGHT TO GRACE AND HELD HER NECK STRAIGHT AS HE SHOUTED, “YOU FREAKING MURDERER! YOU WERE JOBLESS BECAUSE OF ME AND SO, YOU KILLED MY SON? YOU STABBED MY SON TO DEATH! IM GOING TO KILL YOU WITH MY OWN HANDS AND AVENGE MY SON’S DEATH!” LUCKILY THE POLICE PULLED HIM AWAY AT THE CORRECT TIME. GRACE STOOD THERE MURMURING, “ I D..D….DINDT KILL Z….Z….Z…ZAIN! PLEASE BELIEVE ME SIR! P…P…P…PLEASE!” THIS INCREASED THE FURY OF CHAIRMAN WHO POUNCED ON HER AGAIN BUT WAS CAUGHT TIGHT BY THE MUSCULAR OFFICER. HE SHRIEKED, “SIR! THIS IS A POLICE STATION, YOU CANNOT ATTACK ANYONE!”. THE CHAIRMAN SHRUGGED FROM HIS HOLD AND SCREAMED, “I WANT TO SEE HER BEHIND THE BARS RIGHT NOW!”. THE OFFICER WANTED TO ARGUE WHEN HIS SENIOR STEPPED FORWARD, “SIR! DON’T WORRY!”. HE ORDERED THE COPS TO THROW HER BEHIND THE BARS. GRACE SAT THERE ON THE GROUND LOOKING AT HER HANDS WHISPERING, “I REALLY DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!! HOW CAN I PROVE MYSELF NOT G….G…...G…...GUILTY!”  GRACE   WAS   DUMB-STRUCK.   SHE   WAS   SUSPECTED   OF   MURDER!   SHE   DIDN’T   KNOW   WHAT   TO   DO?   SHOULD   SHE   CALL   HER   MOTHER?   A   SINGLE   MOTHER   WHO   HAS   SPENT   ALL   HER   LIFE   RAISING   HER   TO   A   SUCCESFUL   PERSON.   HER   MOTHER   WORKED   AT   SEVERAL   RESTAURANTS   JUST   TO   MAKE   SURE   GRACE   COULD   LIVE   A   HAPPY   LIFE.   SHE   WAS   SO   PROUD   OF   HER   DAUGHTER   TO   BECOME   SUCH   A   BRILLIANT   LAWYER.   AS   GRACE   WAS   LOCKED   IN   THOUGHTS,   SHE   NOTICED   THE   GATES   OPEN,   SHE   SAW   2   GUARDS   STANDING   THERE   WHO   INFORMED   THAT   SHE   WAS   BEING   TAKEN   TO INVESTIGATOR  FOR   DETAILING.   SHE   STOOD   UP   AND   WALKED   HANDCUFFED   WITH   THE   GUARDS.   TO   HER   UTTER   SHOCK   SHE   FOUND   NEARLY   HUNDREDS   OF   REPORTERS   OUTSIDE   THE   STATION.   SHE   WAS   FREEZED   WITH   SHOCK.   SHE   MOVED   FORWARD   PUTTING   A   BRAVE   FRONT.   NO   SOONER   DID   SHE   STEP   OUT   THAN   ALL   THE   REPORTERS   SHOVED   HER   WITH   NUMEROUS   MICS   WITH   ENDLESS   QUESTIONS,   “WHY   DID   YOU   KILL   AN   INNOCENT   PERSON?   DID   YOU   DO   IT   WITH   ANY   PARTNER?   WAS   IT   REVENGE   ON   SOMEONE?   DID   YOU   MURDER   HIM   BECAUSE   HE   REJECTED   YOU?   YOU   ARE   A   LAWYER   YET   YOU   MUREDERED   SOMEONE,   HOW   SHAMEFUL!”   THE   DISGRACE   WENT   ON.   THE   CROWD   WAS   PUSHING   WITH   EXTREME   FORCE   TO   GET   AN   ANSWER   FROM   HER   BUT   SHE   MAINTAINED   ABSOLUTE   SILENCE   AS   SHE   WALKED   BY.   THEN   SUDDENLY   CAME   A   SPLASHING   TOMATO!   THEN   ANOTHER!   THEN   ANOTHER!   GRACE   WAS   SOAKED   IN   RED   LIQUID   AND   TOTALLY   TAKEN   ABACK   BY   WHAT   JUST   HAPPENED! SHE SAW FADING ANGRY FACES IN FRONT OF HER DEMANDING AN EXPLAINATION.  REPORTERS   CLICKING PICTURES WITH UNREASONABLE   QUESTION   AND   UNENDING   ABUSES!   ALL   THE   CHAOS   MADE   HER   NEARLY   FAINT   BUT   LUCKILY   THE   GUARDS   MADE   IT   TO   THE   VEHICLE.   GRACE   SAT   THERE   AS   USUAL   FROZEN!   SHE   COULDN’T   BELIEVE   WITH   WHAT   JUST   HAPPENED!   SHE   WAS   TOTALLY   ZONED   OUT!   SHE   REACHED   THE   PROSECUTION   OFFICE, WHERE   SHE   WAS   KEPT   IN   A   ROOM   WITH   FULL   OF   CAMERAS.   SHE   SAT   THERE   WITH   CLOSED   EYES   JUST   THINKING, “WHY   ME?   WHY   ME?”. HER THOUGHTS WERE INTERRUPTED BY A SUDDEN CLANK OPENING THE DOORS. SHE OPENED HER EYES AND SAT DOWN SCARED. THE HANDSOME OFFICER WALKED INSIDE, HE WAS WEARING HIS UNIFORM AND A TURTLENECK UNDERNEATH,HE SMILED AND INTRODUCED   HIMSELF, “MISS   GRACE, I   AM   MR.ZOE THE OFFICER IN   CHARGE”.   HIS   VOICE   TRAILED   OFF   AS   HE   SAW   GRACE.   SHE   WAS   IN   COMPLETE   STATE   OF   TRAUMA   AND   WAS   SOAKED   IN   LIQUID   TOMATO.   HER   HANDS   STILL   HAD   STAINS   OF   BLOOD.   ZOE WENT OUTSIDE AND REQUESTED   THE FEMALE OFFICERS   AND   ALLOWED   HER   TO   TAKE   A   SHOWER.   WHEN   GRACE   CAME   BACK,   SHE   WAS   FINALLY   INTO   A   LITTLE   SENSES.   SHE   SAT   ON   THE   CHAIR   OPPOSITE   TO ZOE NERVOUSLY.   ZOE   GAVE   HER   An   ASSURING   SMILE   AND   STARTED   HIS   ROUND   OF   QUESTIONING.    ZOE:   YOU   ARE   ACCUSED   OF   MURDERING   ZAIN,   SUCCESOR   OF   MR.   NOH   FIRMS,   ARE   YOU   AWARE   OF   THAT? GRACE:   *NODS   NERVOUSLY* ZOE: I WILL START MY INVESTIGATION NOW. FIRST OF ALL, GIVE YOUR BRIEF INTRODUCTION ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR RESIDENCE ADDRESS AND OCCUPATION AND THEN EXPLAIN THE SCENE TO ME? GRACE: OFFICER, TODY EVENING I STEPPED OUT OF MY HOUSE NEARLY IN THE LATE EVENING AND THEN WALKED TO THE STORE. I FOUND MY OLD AQUAINTANCE, ZAIN. I AVOIDED HIM AND WENT FORWARD. THERE WAS A SUDDEN BLACKOUT AND WHEN I TURNED BACK WITH MY FLASHLIGHT ON, I FOUND A TALL MAN WITH A KNIFE STAINED IN BLOOD ZOE: *BENT FORWARD* DO YOU REMEMBER HOW HE LOOKS LIKE? GRACE: NO SIR. IT WAS VERY DARK. PLUS, HE WAS WEARING A MASK. HE WAS TALL AND MUSCULAR. HIS EYES WERE DEEP. IT WAS STRANGE. ZOE: WHAT WAS? GRACE: THAT LOOKS IN HIS EYES. IT HAD FEAR, GUILT AND TERROR ALL OVER. ZOE: GIVEN ON YOUR STATEMENT I WILL START MY PHYISCAL INVESTIGATION. UNDERSTOOD? GRACE NODDED LIGHTLY ZOE:   GOOD!   NOW   YOU   HAVE   TWO   OPTIONS, TO   ACCEPT   THE INVESTIGATION BY MY TEAM OR   HIRE   A   LAWYER   AND   PLEAD   NOT   GUILTY! GRACE:   BUT   SIR?   WHO   WILL   TAKE   UP   THIS   CASE   AND   RISE   AGAINST   THE   CHAIRMAN   DIRECTLY! ZOE:   WELL!   THEN   YOU   HAVE   NO   OPTION   BUT   TO   LET   THE   PROSECUTION   DECIEDE! GRACE:   BUT   S…SIR? ZOE:   I   AM   SORRY!   BUT   AS   YOU   DON’T   HAVE   A   LAWYER…. GRACE   WAS   SPEECHLESS!    AT   THAT   MOMENT   THE   FACE   OF   HER   MOTHER   CAME   IN   FRONT   OF   HER   EYES.   TOILING   IN   THE   HEAT   ONLY   TO   MAKE   THE   ENDS   MEET.   THE   WARM   SMILE   ON   HER   FACE   DECKED   WITH   WRINKLES   AND   TIREDNESS.    GRACE TREMBLED. SHE WAS INNOCENT BUT WHO SHOULD SHE APPOINT? ALL HER FELLOW CO-MATES, DISLIKED HER. ON TOP OF THAT, RISING AGAINST THE NO.1 COMPANY IS INDIRECTLY DESTROYING THEIR CAREER. GRACE CLEARLY KNEW SHE WASN’T IN A MENTAL STATE TO FIGHT FOR HERSELF. SHE LOOKED UP AND WHISPERED, “OFFICER! I NEED SOME TIME, TO FIND A LAWYER. PLEASE OFFICER!”. ZOE   KNEW   THE   SITUATION   SHE   WAS   IN.   HE   THOUGHT   FOR   A   WHILE   AND   THEN   SAID, “OK!   I   WILL   GIVE   YOU AN HOUR IN THE LAST. HERE’S   YOUR   PHONE, TRY   CONTACTING   A   LAWYER.   REMEMBER   THAT   YOU   ARE   ALWAYS   ON   SURVELLIANCE   SO   DON’T   TRY   UNNECCESARY   STUNTS.” GRACE   WAS   NOW   LEFT   ALL   ALONE   IN   THE   ROOM.   HER   THOUGHTS   WERE   RUNNING   WILDLY!   WHAT   SHOULD   SHE   DO?   CONTACT   HER   MOTHER?   SHE   TRIED   REMEMBERING   VERY   HARD   IF   SOMEBODY   COULD   BE   OF   HELP   WHEN   A   NAME   POPPED   IN   HER   HEAD.  SUDDENLY SOMETHING LIT HER FACE!   NEARLY   A   YEAR   BACK, SHE   MET A DIRECTOR   AT   THE   FIRM, MR.KIM.   HE   WAS   FALSELY   ACCUSED   OF   CORRUPTION. AT THAT TIME, NO ONE WANTED TO INVOLVE IN SUCH A CASE. BUT AFTER SOME INITIAL BASIC RESEARCH, GRACE FOUND OUT THE DIRECTOR SEEMED TO BE INNOCENT. SO, SHE GAVE IN HER COMPLETE DEDICATION AND PREPARED A VERY CAPABLE REPORT AND PROVED THE DIRECTOR NOT GUILTY. THE DIRECTOR WAS VERY HAPPY, HE    THANKED   HER   PROFUSELY! HE   FURTHER   SAID   THAT   IF   HE   COULD   EVER   BE   OF   ANY   HELP, GRACE   SHOULD   CONTACT   HIM   WITHOUT   ANY   FEAR.   GRACE’S   FACE   LIT.   SHE   LOOKED   AT   THE   PHONE   AND   TRIED   SEARCHING   HIS   NUMBER, LUCKILY, SHE   HAD   IT   SAVED.   SHE   CALLED   HIM, UNCERTAIN   IF   SOMEBODY   WOULD   PICK   UP.   THE   TRILLING   PHONE   CALL   RANG   FOR   A   LONG   TIME   BEFORE   IT   WAS   PICKED   BY   A MAN, HE   SAID, “HELLO?   WHO’S   THIS?” WITH   VOICE   FULL   OF   DISMISS   AND   NERVOUSNESS   SHE   SAID,   “MR.   KIM!   IT’S   ME!   GRACE, I   USED   TO   WORK   IN   YOUR   FIRM   BEFORE.”   THERE   WAS   AN   UNCOFORTABLE   SIENCE   FOLLOWED   BY   A   CALM   VOICE, “GRACE, I   WAS   HOPING   YOU   CALL.   DON’T   WORRY, I   CLEARLY   KNOW   THE   SITUATION   YOU   ARE   IN.   I   FINALLY   COULD   RETURN   THE   FAVOUR.   I   AM   TOO   OLD   TO   HANDLE   SUCH   CASES,   BUT   DON’T   WORRY.   I   KNOW   THE   PERFECT   PERSON   WHO   COULD   HELP   YOU!   I   WILL   SEND   HIM   TO   YOUR   RESCUE   AS   SOON   AS   POSSIBLE.” GRACE   WAS   SILENCED   WITH   HAPPINESS.   SHE   COULDN’T   BELIEVE   WHAT   SHE   JUST   HEARD!   FINALLY, A   RAY   OF   HOPE IN THE DARKNESS.   SHE   CUT   THE   PHONE   AND   LOOKED   AT   THE   BLANK   WALLS   WITH   TEARS   ROLLING   BACK. SHE WAITED PATIENTLY, TIME WENT FLYING BY BUT NO-ONE TURNED UP! SHE   WAS   LOST   IN   HER   THOUGHTS   WHICH   WAS   DISTURED   BY   THE   SUDDEN   SHRILL   OPENING   OF   THE   GATE. GRACE LOOKED AT THE ENTRANCE WITH EYES FILLED WITH HOPE. BUT HER EYES TURNED DIM WHEN ZOE   APPEARED   AND   SAT   IN   HIS   CHAIR   AND   LOOKED   STRAIGHT   INTO   HER   EYES,   “GRACE,   I   HAVE   GIVEN   YOU   ENOUGH   TIME!   I   AM   SORRY!” GRACE   INSTANTLY   TRIED   TO   CONVINCE   HIM   SAYING,   “SIR!   PLEASE   A   FEW   MORE   MINUTES,   MY   LAWYER   WILL   BE   HERE   ANY   MOMENT”.    ZOE   SAID   WITH   A   LITTLE   DISAPPOINTMEMT,   “AS   YOU   HAVE   FAILED   TO   APPOINT   ANY   LAWYER,   THE   CASE   WILL   BE   HANDED   OVER   TO   THE   PROSECU……”    HIS   VOICE   TRAILED   AS   THERE   WAS   A   SUDDEN   BANG   ON   THE   DOOR.   GRACE’S   EYES   WIDENED!   A   YOUNG   MAN   WITH   A  PLAIN TEE AND DEEP BLUE JEANS WITH CRISP   BROWN   HAIR   AND   DEEP   BLUE   EYES   ENTERED   THE   ROOM   AND   SAID,   “wHO   SAID   THERE   IS   NO   LAWYER!   I   AM   THE   LAWYER   APPOINTED   FOR   MISS   GRACE.”. ZOE STOOD UP AND INTRODUCED, “I AM ZOE, THE INVESTIGATOR IN CHARGE! I WILL LEAVE YOU ALONE FOR YOUR INVESTIGATION.”.  THE   PROSECUTOR   LEFT   GRACE   ALONE   WITH   THE   LAWYER. THE MAN SIPPED   HIS   COFFEE, THERE   WAS   AN   UNCOMFORTABLE   SILENCE   BETWEEN   THEM. GRACE LOOKED AT THE MAN CLOSELY, HE LOOKED YOUNG AND HANDSOME. SHE WASN’T EXPECTING SOMEONE LIKE HIM. SHE WAS EXPECTING AN OLD EXPERIENCED MAN IN A SUIT AND TIE WITH GLOW AND CONFIDENCE GLEAMING ON HIS FACE. BUT THE MAN OPPOSITE TO HIM WAS THE TOTAL OPPOSITE! THE MAN  TOOK   OUT   A   DEEP   BREATH   AND   LOOKED   DIRECTLY   INTO   GRACE’S   EYES. HE SAID, “MY NAME IS AIDEN, THE LAWYER SENT BY MR.KIM.”. GRACE NODDED HER HEAD. HE STOPPED SIPPING HIS COFFEE AND SUDDENLY ASKED, “DID   YOU   KILL   HIM?”. GRACE WAS TAKEN ABACK BY THE QUESTION! GRACE   REPLIED, “NO!”. HE SAW HER EYES, THERE WAS NO GUILT IN THOSE NUMB BROWN EYES.   HE   NODDED   HIS   HEAD   AND   SAID, “I   GOT   MY   ANSWERS.”. GRACE LOOKED AT HIM WITH HER EYEBROWS FURROWED. HE   GAVE   OUT AN UNCOMFORTABLE LAUGH LOOKING AT THE EXPRESSION OF GRACE AND   SIPPED   HIS   COFFEE   AGAIN.   GRACE   LOOKED   AT   HIM   AND   THEN   SAID,   “IF   THIS   IS   A   JOKE   TO   YOU,   PLEASE   LEAVE   THE   CASE   SIR.   THIS   MEANS   MY   WHOLE   LIFE   TO   ME.   IT   MAYBE   JUST   A   CASE   TO   YOU   BUT   FOR   ME   ITS   MY   COMPLETE   FUTURE   ON   LINE.   MY   COMPLETE   CAREER   DEPENDS   ON   YOUR   INVESTIGATION.   MY   MOTHER’S   COMPLETE   LIFE   IS   BET   ON   THIS   CASE.I   LOST   MY   FRIEND,   A   FATHER   LOST   HIS   SON,   A   SISTER   LOST   HIS   BROTHER,   A   MOTHER   LOST   HER   LIFELINE,   HER   FUTURE   WIFE   LOST   HER   SOULMATE.   BUT   IF   YOU   STILL      THINK   IT   AS   A   JUST   COME   AND   GO   CASE,   YOU   NEED   NOT   CONTINUE.   IT   WILL   HURT   MORE   TO   HAVE   A   RAY   OF   SUNSHINE   THAN   COMPLETE   DARKNESS.”   AIDEN   WAS   TAKEN   ABACK   BY   HER   WORDS, HE   SMILED   AGAIN   AND   SAID,   “DO   NOT   WORRY,   I   WILL   GIVE   MY   100%   IN   THIS   CASE.”    HE   FURTHER   CONTINUED,   “FIRST,   TELL   ME   IN   DETAIL   ABOUT   THE   CASE.   DON’T   MISS   OUT   ANY   DETAILS!” GRACE   STARTED,   “THAT   DAY,   I   WENT   OUT   TO   TAKE   SOME   ACCESSORIES.   WITH   A   KNIFE,   SCISSORS   I   ALSO   BOUGHT   SOME   COFFEE….” SHE   TOLD   HER   COMPLETE   STORY   TO   AIDEN   WHO   SAT   THERE   DUMBSTRUCK! HE REMAINED SILENT AFTER LISTENING HER SIDE OF THE STORY.  GRACE EXCLAIMED, “WHAT HAPPENED?”. AIDEN SHOOK HIS HEAD, “SOMETHING IS MISSING, LIKE A PIECE OF PUZZLE! IT LOOKS PRE-PLANNED. THE BLACKOUT AND EVERYTHING! THIS CASE IS VERY MESSED UP! YOU WERE CAUGHT RED HANDED WITH MURDERED ZAIN AND THE  KNIFE AND YOUR FINGERPRINTS ON IT!”. GRACE LAID BACK, “EVEN I THINK, IT IS STRANGE. BUT…”. AIDEN NODDED, “I UNDERSTAND! CAN YOU PLEASE DESCRIBE THE MAN!”. GRACE REPLIED, “NO, IT WAS VERY DARK. BUT THE EYES OF THE MAN, IT WAS FILLED WITH AGONY, FEAR AND ANXIETY. HE WAS TALL AND MUSCULAR, HE LOOKED YOUNG LIKE IN HIS LATE 20’s AND HIS FACE WAS COVERED BY A MASK!  AIDEN : ANY OTHER THING GRACE : AS I SAID IT WAS COMPLETE DARK AND…. YES, YES THERE WAS A SCAR ON HIS NECK!”. AIDEN STEPPED FORWARD, “A SCAR? THAT WILL HELP US FILTER! BUT NOTHING ELSE?”. GRACE SHOOK HER HEAD!   AIDEN   GOT   UP   IN   FRUSTRATION   AND   SAT   DOWN   AGAIN.   “YOU   MEAN   THE   ROADS   WERE   TOTALLY   EMPTY?” GRACE   SAID,   “UMM!   AS   FAR   AS   I   REMEMBER   THERE   WAS   NO   ONE   ON   THE   SPOT.   THE   ROADS   WERE   EMPTY   BUT   YEAH!   THERE   WERE   SOME   CARS   SCATTERED   HERE   AND   THERE!   HUH!   I   WISH   THEY   COULD   SPEAK!” “I   WISH!”   HE   SNAPPED. GRACE   LOOKED   AT   HIM   ALL   CONFUSED.   AIDEN   FURTHER   CONTINUED,   “MY   FIRST   STEP   WILL   BE   TAKING   YOU   OUT   OF   THIS   JAIL!   I   ALREADY   HAVE   A   PLAN.   WE   HAVE      4   DAYS   FOR   THE   JUDGEMENT!   LET’S   TRY   OUR   BEST   TO   COLLECT   SOME   PHYSICAL   EVIDENCE   THEN!” AIDEN   TOOK   HER   OUTSIDE   FOLLOWED   BY   THE   GUARDS.   GRACE   STOPPED   FROZEN   LOOKING   AT   THE   JOURNALISTS.   AIDEN   UNDERSTOOD   THE   SITUATION.   HE   CAUGHT   HER   HAND   AND   SAID,   “ON   THE   COUNT   OF   THREE!   1!   2!   3!”   THEY   BOTH   RAN   AT   THE   UTMOST   SPEED   AND   GOT   INTO   THE   VEHICLE.   GRACE   SAID   PANTING   FOR   BREATH,   “THANK   YOU!”   AIDEN   WAS   BREATHING   HEAVILY,   HE   LOOKED   AT   HER   AND   BURST   INTO   TONS   OF   LAUGHTER,   “WHO   WILL   BELIEVE   THAT   I   AM   A   LAWYER!   RUNNING   WITH   A   SUSPECT   THROUGH   THE   JOURNALISTS!   URGHHHHHH!!   HOW   EMBARASSING!” GRACE   BURST   INTO   PEALS   OF   LAUGHTER   AS   WELL.   THE   VAN   STARTED   WITH   A   KICKSTART   AND   THE   PROSECUTORS   OFFICE   WAS   JUST   DISAPPEARING   LIKE   MIST   AS   THEY   MOVED   FORWARD   WITH   SPEED.   AT   THAT   MOMENT,   DROP   BY   DROP,   WATER   CAME   GUSHING   DOWN   FROM   THE   SKY.   THE   ROADS   WERE   SOON   PILED   WITH   UTMOST   TRAFFIC.   AIDEN   LOOKED   TOWARDS   GRACE,   SHE   WAS   LOOKING   AT   THE   RAIN   WITH   DESPERATION   IN   HER   EYES,   IT   LOOKED   LIKE   HER   PAIN   WAS   UNDERSTOOD   BY   THE   FALLING   DROPS.   SHE   SAID   IN   PARTICULAR   TO   NO   BODY,   “I   ALWAYS   LOVED   RAIN,   IT   IS   LIKE   A   SYMBOL   OF   FREEDOM.   THEY   FALL   LIKE   STARS   IN   THE   DAY.   I   ALWAYS   PLAYED   IN   THE   RAIN   WHEN   I   WAS   YOUNG.   BUT   AS   I   GREW   IT   WAS   LIKE   WHENEVER   I   WAS   SAD,   I   HAD   A   PARTNER.   I   NEED   NOT   CRY   ALONE   AND   HAD   SOMEONE   TO   SHARE   MY   TEARS   WITH.”   AIDEN   LOOKED   OUT   AND   SAID,   “TRUE   THOUGH!   THE   CLOUDS   TAUGHT   ME   THAT   WHEN   IT   BECOMES   HARDER   TO   HOLD   OUR   PAIN   INSIDE,   WE   SHOULD   JUST   LET   IT   OUT   ONLY   THEN   WE   CAN   COME   BACK   TO   OUR   ORIGINAL   FORM   OR   ELSE   THE   PRESSURE   KEEPS   DEVELOPING   INSIDE   TURNING   INTO   BLACK   DEPRESSION!” GRACE   LOOKED   AT   AIDEN   WITH   MOIST   EYES,   “WHY   ARE   YOU   HELPING   ME?   ARE   YOU   REALLY   TRUSTING   ME?”   AIDEN   GAVE   OUT   A   SMALL   LAUGH,   HE   SAID,   “AT   FIRST   I   CAME   HERE,   BECAUSE OF MR.KIM! HE TOLD ME THAT WHEN I WAS AWAY YOU HELPED HIM OUT A VERY CRUCIAL CASE. OFCOURSE, AS OF NOW YOU LOOKS TO BE GUILTY OF THIS MURDER AND YOU ARE THE ONLY SUSPECT,   BUT   AFTER LISTINING TO YOU AND READING YOUR EYES, I AM SURE THAT I   WILL   PROVE   YOU   INNOCENT!   AFTER ALL  I   AM   MASTERPIECE WITH  BEAUTY  AND FINEST   BRAINS!”.   GRACE   LOOKED HIM VERY FURIOUSLY   WITH   EYES   STILL   MOIST.   SEEING THE RED EYES OF GRACE,AIDEN   CONTINUED,   SORRY, SORRY    I   TRUST   YOU!”.   AT   THAT   MOMENT,   THE   BIGGEST   CONSOLATION   FOR   GRACE   WERE   THOSE   WORDS,   SHE   NEEDED   THOSE   WORDS,   ‘I   TRUST   YOU!   I   BELIEVE   YOU!’.    THE   DUO   REACHED   THE   STATION.   AIDEN   WENT   STRAIGHT   TO   THE   HEAD   OFFICER,    AIDEN:   SIR!   FOR   ARRESTING   MY   CLIENT,   YOU   DID   NEED   A   WARRANT   OR   AT   THE   VERY   MAXIMUM   A   PHYSICAL   EVIDENCE!   ACCORDING   TO   MY   RESEARCH,   THE   FORENSIC   LAB   IS   DOWN   AND   THE   REPORTS   WILL   BE   DIRECTLY   SUBMITTED   IN   THE   COURT.   DUE   TO   LACK   OF   EVIDENCE,   MY   CLIENT   CAN   BE   A   SUSPECT   OR   A   WITNESS.   THERE   IS   UNCERTAINITY!   BY   WHAT   MEANS   DID   YOU   LOCK   HER   UP?   MAY   I   LOOK   AT   THE   EVIDENCE? THE   OFFICER   WAS   FLABBERGASTED!   HE   NEVER   EXPECTED   A   LAWYER   TO   ACTUALLY   TURN   UP   FOR   GRACE.   HE   LOCKED   HER   UP   DUE   TO   THE   RISK   OF   HIS   JOB   AS   SAID   BY   THE   CHAIRMAN   OF   THE   LAWFIRM.   HE   WAS   IN   SWEATS!   HE   APOLOGISED   FOR   THE   MISUNDERSTANDING   AND   WITH   NO   FURTHER   ARGUMENTS,   LET   GRACE   GO.    GRACE   WAS   DUMBSTRUCK!   SHE   WAS   ALSO   A   LAW   GRADUATE,   BUT   UNDER   THE   PRESSURE   HER   HEAD   WENT   BLANK! SHE LOOKED AT AIDEN ARGUE, SHE KNEW NOW THAT HE WAS NO ORDINARY LAWYER!  AIDEN   AND   GRACE   WALKED   OUTSIDE   THE   STATION.   GRACE   GAVE   OUT   A   HUGE   GASP!   SHE   WAS   IN   THE   9TH   CLOUD.   AIDEN   LOOKED   AT   HER   STERNLY,   “GRACE!   WE   JUST   GOT   YOU   OUT   OF   THE   JAIL!   EVERYTHING   IS   UNCERTAIN   TILL   NOW!   OK?   OUR   MAIN   GOAL   IS   TO   CATCH   THE   MURDERER!   GO   BACK   TO   YOUR   HOME, LET ME DROP YOU.   TAKE   REST   FOR   TODAY,   WE   WILL   START   THE   RE-SEARCH   TOMORROW   EARLY   MORNING” AIDEN DROPPED GRACE AND GRACE SLOWLY WALKED  WALKED UP HER APARTMENT.   SHE   UNLOCKED   HER   HOME.   SHE   HEAVED   A   BREATH   OF   HAPPINESS.   SHE   WAS   TEAR   STAINED.   IT   WAS   PITCH   DARK   IN   HER   ROOM!   SHE   SIGHED!   SHE   FORGOT   ABOUT   THE   ELICTRICAL   BILL.   SHE   SWITCHED   OUT   HER   FLASHLIGHT   AND   THEN   PROCEEDED   TO   HER   COFFEE   TABLE   WHERE   SHE   SAW   A   NOTE.   SHE   FROZE!   WHAT   WAS   A   NOTE   DOING   ON   HER   TABLE!   SHE   PICKED   UP   THE   NOTE   WITH   NERVOUSNESS,   IT   READ:   ‘DON’T   SEARCH   FOR   ME!   OR   ELSE   I   WILL   GET   YOU,   JUST   LIKE   HOW   I   GOT   ZAIN!   DARE   REPORT   THIS!   YOUR   MOTHER   LIVING   IN   THE   THOMPSON   STREET,   YOU   WOULDN’T   LIKE   HER   STAINED   IN   BLOOD,   RIGHT!’ HER   FACE   TURNED   PALE!   WHAT   SHOULD   SHE   DO?   SHE   SHIVERING   DIALLED   FOR   AIDEN,   AS   SOON   AS   AIDEN   PICKED   UP   THE   PHONE,   SHE   SAID   CRYING,   “THE   MURDERER   WAS   HERE!   HE   WAS   HERE!   HE   TOLD   ME   THAT   HE   WILL   KILL   MY   MOTHER   AND   ME!   SAVE   ME   PLEASE!”   SHE   CRIED   UNCONTROLLABLY!   AIDEN   TURNED   BLANK!   HE   INSTANTLY   JUMPED   INTO   HIS   CAR   SAYING,   “GRACE   DON’T   WORRY!   IM   ON   MY   WAY,   OK?   EVERYTHING   IS   FINE!   YOUR   MOM   WILL   BE   SAFE!   I   WILL   BE   THERE   IN   10   MIN   AND….” GRACE   INTERUPPTED   HIM,   “NO   I   THINK   I   WAS   WRONG!   HE   WASN’T   HERE,   HE   IS   STILL   HERE.   THERE   IS   SOMEONE   IN   MY   ROOM,   I   CAN   FEEL   IT!” AIDEN   INCREASED   HIS   SPEED   OF   CAR   TO   A   120KM/HR.   HE   SAID   SHIVERING,   “GRACE,   STAY   ON   LINE!   DON’T   MOVE!   GRACE!   ARE   YOU   LISTENING?”.