Chapter 2: The Witness
879 Words
The courtroom felt suffocating.
Regal’s fingers trembled slightly as she stepped inside, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. The sound echoed louder than it should have, or maybe it was just her nerves amplifying everything.
Whispers followed her.
“They said she killed him…”
“She doesn’t even look like it…”
“Looks can be deceiving.”
Each word sliced through her like a blade.
Regal kept her head straight, refusing to let them see her break again.
Not today.
She took her seat, her eyes scanning the room briefly before settling forward. The judge hadn’t arrived yet, but the tension was already thick enough to choke on.
Her lawyer leaned slightly toward her.
“Remember what I said. Stay calm.”
Regal didn’t respond.
Calm.
He said it like it was easy. Like her entire life wasn’t hanging by a thread.
A few moments later, the courtroom doors opened again.
Everyone stood.
The judge walked in.
“Court is now in session.”
Regal’s heart began to pound.
This was it.
The prosecution started first, going over the same points they had repeated in the last session—how she was present at the scene, how the victim died under mysterious circumstances, how she was the only one close enough.
Regal clenched her fists.
I didn’t do it…
Her lawyer finally stood.
“Your Honor, the defense would like to call a new witness to the stand.”
Regal’s breath caught.
This was it.
Her chance.
“Miss Kelly, please step forward.”
Regal turned immediately.
A young woman walked toward the stand, her steps hesitant.
That must be her.
Miss Kelly.
The waitress.
Regal felt a small spark of hope rise in her chest.
She was there… she must have seen something… she’ll tell them…
Miss Kelly took the oath and sat down.
For a brief second, their eyes met.
And something felt… wrong.
Miss Kelly quickly looked away.
Regal frowned slightly.
Why did she look so nervous?
“State your name,” the lawyer said.
“Kelly… Kelly Dawson,” she replied softly.
“Miss Dawson, were you working at the restaurant on the night of the incident?”
“Yes.”
“And did you see the defendant, Regal, that night?”
A pause.
Too long.
Regal’s heartbeat quickened.
“Yes… I did.”
Relief flooded through Regal.
Finally.
Truth.
“Can you tell the court what you saw?”
Silence filled the room.
Miss Kelly’s fingers tightened around the edge of the stand.
Then—
“I saw her… arguing with the victim.”
Everything inside Regal went still.
What?
Her head snapped up.
Miss Kelly continued, her voice slightly shaky.
“She looked… angry. They were talking loudly.”
Murmurs spread across the courtroom.
Regal’s chest tightened.
No… no, that’s not what happened…
“And what happened next?” the lawyer asked.
Miss Kelly swallowed.
“Moments later… he collapsed.”
A loud wave of whispers filled the room.
Regal shot to her feet.
“That’s not true!” she shouted.
All eyes turned to her.
“She’s lying! I wasn’t arguing with him!”
“Order!” the judge banged the gavel. “Order in the court!”
Regal’s breathing became uneven as she slowly sat back down, her hands shaking.
Her hope, shattered.
She stared at Miss Kelly, her mind racing.
Why is she lying?
And then she noticed it.
Miss Kelly wasn’t just nervous.
She was terrified.
Her eyes flickered. Not at Regal, but somewhere else in the courtroom.
Regal followed her gaze instinctively.
But she couldn’t see who she was looking at.
Her heart dropped.
Someone is making her do this…
“I… I think she pushed him,” Miss Kelly added weakly.
The courtroom erupted.
Regal felt like the ground beneath her had disappeared.
Pushed him?
“No…” she whispered.
This was worse.
Much worse.
Her lawyer didn’t even object.
Didn’t defend her.
Nothing.
Regal clenched her fists, anger rising inside her chest.
He’s useless…
“Miss Regal, you will remain silent,” the judge warned.
Tears burned behind her eyes, but she forced them back.
She refused to cry again.
Not in front of these people.
Not when she was innocent.
Just as the judge was about to continue
A voice cut through the chaos.
“Objection.”
The word was calm.
Firm.
Powerful.
The entire courtroom fell silent.
Regal’s breath caught.
Slowly, she turned.
A man stood from the back row.
Tall.
Composed.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit.
There was something about him, something commanding. The kind of presence that made people pay attention without him even trying.
His eyes were cold.
Sharp.
And locked directly on the witness stand.
“That testimony,” he continued smoothly, “is unreliable.”
A ripple of shock moved through the courtroom.
Even the judge looked surprised.
“And you are?” the judge asked.
The man stepped forward slightly.
“Sebastian Cole.”
He paused.
“Defense attorney.”
Regal’s eyes widened.
Defense?
Her defense?
Her heart skipped.
Something shifted.
Even if he would not win this case, he was better than the useless lawyer she has been plotting to kill in her head.
He gave her another glimpse of hope.
- Writer
