THE FIFTH WITNESS

The scent of jasmine and the distant hum of city traffic filled the air as Sophie and I walked through Riverside Park in the evening. Sophie's chestnut hair glinted in the golden light of the setting sun, and her green eyes glistened with that old mischievousness that had gotten us into trouble since we were little. Sophie gave me a playful shoulder bump while she giggled. Her words, "You're being dramatic, Rory. It's not like I'm doing drugs or something." I stopped walking and turned to face my friend. "Then what is it, Soph? The expensive clothing, the flashy rides, the way you disappear for days at a time without informing anyone? I'm concerned for you,” I said to her, Sophie's face darkened slightly before flashing me a smile. "Look, I understand that things may seem strange right now, but I need you to trust me. Just for a little while longer,” Sophie said to me. “I do trust you, but whatever is going on is changing you and not in a good way,” I said to her as we got to the fountain in the center of the park, its gentle spray reflecting the last of the sunlight. Sophie sat on the edge of the stone and patted the space beside her. I reluctantly went with her. "Remember when we were kids and we used to talk about running away together?" Sophie said softly. "Traveling and experiencing new things?" "We were eight years old, Sophie. We desired to be part of the circus,” in commented dryly, causing Sophie to laugh but her laugh didn't reach her eyes. "Perhaps I still do. Perhaps I'm sick of this dull life, this little existence. Perhaps I'm looking for something more,” Sophie said as she stared at the sunset. I looked at my friend's profile and saw Sophie's fingers pounding restlessly on the stone and her determined jaw. "What more? Cash? Thrills? Sophie, what aren't you telling me?” I asked my friend, but her answer never came. The sound of a piercing c***k of gunshots and my best friend’s body hitting the ground was the response I got instead. "Sophie!" I managed to scream when I found my voice. I fell to my knees and pressed my hands over the gaping wound in her chest as her body shook scarily. "Help! Please, someone, anybody!!Help us!” I screamed for help as I desperately tried to keep my soul sister alive. That was when I locked eyes with the last man I expected to ever have a run in with, Marcus Blackwood! Just as his ride turned the curb I noticed the gun he was tucking away and then the ambulance showed up. On a Tuesday night that had begun like any other, Sophie was declared dead at 7:47 PM. Three months later, I stood in front of the jury in Courtroom 6 in the witness stand, my palms sweaty. Nothing could have prepared me for the weight of Marcus Blackwood's glare, but the prosecutor, a witty woman called Janet Reeves, had warned me. He appeared more like a businessman than a murderer as he sat at the defense table wearing a pricey suit with his hair done to perfection. I felt self conscious under his gaze. Prosecutor Reeves asked softly, "Miss Bennett, could you tell the court what you saw on the night of September 15th?" I spoke in a shaky tone. "Sophie and I were strolling through Riverside Park. We were having a conversation at the fountain when I heard the gunshots and Sophie went down. A dark automobile was driving away when I saw him tucking a gun in his jacket.,” I said to the prosecutor with my eyes trained on Marcus Blackwood. His lawyer, Gerald Hoffman, tried to make me doubt what I had witnessed with his leading questions but I had been prepared by my council for them. "I know what I saw," came my firm response to him severally. I was bone weary after the questioning but I held my ground and refused to change any part of my testimony. More witnesses came forward and everything pointed towards Marcus Blackwood being the culprit. We were given a few hours to return for the ruling that would ruin everything. Marcus Blackwood was found not guilty! "We, the jury, find the defendant, Marcus Blackwood, not guilty on all charges." My entire world seemed to be falling off its axis. Not guilty. Marcus Blackwood got up from his chair, fixed his tie, and gave me another glance as the words replayed in my mind. With a chilly, raptor-like smile that chilled my blood, he mouthed two words: "Thank you." "Give my regards to the other witnesses, Miss Bennett, we will be seeing each other again soon, I'm sure." Marcus said in a voice so low that only I could hear it as he passed me on his way out of the courtroom. My knees gave way as I watched the man who killed my closest friend walk out of the courtroom without so much as a reprimand! Outside the courthouse, I could hear cameras clicking and people yelling questions, but I couldn't bring myself to care. Justice was meant to prevail. Evil was meant to be defeated by good. I was brought up to believe in truth, consequences, and right and wrong. However, Marcus Blackwood walked free, Sophie Lang was still dead, and with a heavy heart I came to the realization that evil does prevail over good. A notification on my phone caught my attention as I stared at Marcus Blackwood with his lawyers talking to the press. “Life is all about choices and the jury made a smart one today. I hope you make smart choices,” the text message read and my hands began to shake violently. Once again I looked up and locked eyes with Marcus Blackwood. There was a look in his eyes that made me drop my phone in sheer panic. I had a sinking feeling that this was far from over.