This can’t be happening, my thoughts scream. “Don’t lock me up in there!” I sob to the jury, “I didn’t murder Lily!”

They seem unimpressed, as if I was being unclear. As if I was a light covered by thousands of dense clouds, unseeable.

At first I thought they could see right through me, see that I was, in fact, telling the truth.

I mean, what proof do they have? That I was Lily’s sister? That I happened to be in the house at the time of the murder?

“What does that prove? What does that…that inhumane creature prove?” I raise my voice, pointing at the judge with a rising passion.

I can see that some of the jury have began to shuffle in their seats, uncomfortable from my yelling. But I wasn’t going to hold back. Not when this was my last chance to prove I don’t deserve to be put in a cage.

I take a deep breath to calm myself and begin to state the facts, “Your honor, if I may, these people before me look VERY uncomfortable.”

A lot of the jury opened their mouths to speak against me, but no words came out.

“What if one of them were accused. Would they immediately be said guilty even though they were not related to Lily?”

“Rose…please.”

That voice. THAT EVIL VOICE!

“What are you doing here?” I whip around to face my best friend, or ex-best friend, Tanner who is standing in the jury box a little to the right.

Her hair is tied in a tangled bun, her face tired and distressed. But that didn’t make up for what she did.

“That girl right there killed Lily Starks.”

The judge banged his gavel hard on the wood, “That’s enough, Miss Starks. You are the accused at the moment, do not bring anyone else into this.”

I turn to face him, my eyes once again filled with rage. But I don’t say anything. I just nod my head solemnly.

“Now, if we can continue,” He begins, “All who believe Miss Starks is guilty, please stand.”

Almost everyone stands up. I feel my heart sink.

Only two people stay sitting. Tanner is not one of them.

Of course she isn’t. She wouldn’t want to reveal her true identity. She wouldn’t want people to know that she killed my sister.

I can’t muster the strength to be mad. The judge bangs his gavel once more and I barely hear his say, “Rose Jane Starks, you are guilty as charged. Case closed.”