The Trial of Wanda Maximoff
PART 3

This is Part 3 of the trial of Wanda Maximoff, the first two parts were a few chapters earlier.
(Chapter 20 and 21)

Wanda stood at the foot of the courthouse steps, her heart hammering. The weight of the cuffs on her wrists and ankles seemed to pull her down with every breath. Behind her, the roar of the crowd swelled, angry voices crashing over her. She felt smothered by their rage.

The crowd had turned monstrous, twisted faces, screaming for her punishment. It didn't seem real. How could all of this be for her?

Her legs trembled. The sight of the endless mob made her want to collapse, to disappear. She bit her lip, breaths shallow and quick, her pulse racing.

The stairs stretched before her, impossibly long. One step. Then another. The clank of her cuffs echoed in her ears, biting into her skin with every shaky step.

Thousands of eyes burned into her from behind the barricades. She couldn't believe that all these people  had come for her. Dread surged in her throat.

She felt raw, ashamed, and filled with a guilt that she couldn't shake. She wasn't ready, would never be ready. At the top, the heavy courthouse doors loomed before her, a final barrier. Her fingers twitched, fighting the urge to run. To turn away and never look back. She looked at Victor behind her and said something barely audible, a whisper filled with fear.

Wanda: I can't... I can't...

Victor: You will.

Victor's presence behind her was the only thing that kept her moving. Slowly, almost as if her body wasn't her own, she took the final step, her shackled wrists trembling as they reached for the door.

The doors creaked open, revealing the cavernous interior of the courtroom.

The world seemed to hold its breath.

The air inside was different, heavy with a kind of tension that made her skin crawl. Rows of seats stretched out before her, filled with reporters, officials, and spectators. The walls seemed to hum with the weight of the moment, as if they too understood the gravity of what was about to unfold. History was in the making, and she was the star of the show. It was, as the media had put it, the trial of the century, perhaps the biggest trial in history. The world was ready with torches and pitchforks, to see the Scarlet Witch face justice.

All eyes turned to her, and in that moment, she felt the world stop. Every single person in that room were all staring at her. There was no escape. No hiding from their gaze, their silent judgment.

The clank of her cuffs rang out through the chamber as she walked. At this point it was all she could hear. Everything else felt like a blur. Everything seemed to stand still around her. She kept her head down, but she could feel their stares, burning into her. She could hear the murmur of voices, whispers that swirled like smoke in the air around her.

The weight of their expectations, their hatred, their fear... It pressed down on her with every step. Her sight blurred with unshed tears, but she forced herself to keep walking, her heart hammering against her ribs.

Wanda stood at the defendant's table, motionless, as the voices around her hushed. Matt already stood ready, touching her shoulder to ground her in the moment. A tremor ran through her body, her pulse a frantic rhythm in her ears. She could barely breathe, the enormity of the moment crushing down on her like a tidal wave. Her eyes darted to two familiar faces in the crowd, Professor Charles Xavier and Jean Grey. Charles saw her gaze and nodded his head, a soothing signal that he would look after her. That he would not let her angst cause her powers to lose control.

The silence in the courtroom was almost unbearable, thick and oppressive. Wanda stood frozen at the defendant's stand, her head bowed, wrists shackled, her entire body trembling under the weight of the moment. She could see a few isolated drops of tears dripping down her nose onto the table in front of her.

Then, the sound of a gavel rang out, sharp and commanding. It broke the silence like a thunderclap, sending a jolt through Wanda's body. Her breath caught in her throat, and she could barely suppress the shiver that ran down her spine.

"All rise."

The bailiff's voice echoed, firm and authoritative.

Wanda could feel the movement around her as everyone stood, the rustle of fabric and the shuffling of feet filling the air. She forced herself to stand straighter, though her legs wobbled beneath her. The chains around her ankles clinked together as she shifted, her head remaining down, refusing to meet the piercing gaze of the crowd.

Judge: The people against Wanda Maximoff commences now. Please be seated.

The judge took his seat, and the room followed, a wave of anticipation passing through the crowd. He glanced down at the docket before him, flipping through the pages with a methodical, measured calmness. Wanda couldn't help but feel that every second was an eternity. She wished she could disappear, wished the earth would swallow her whole and spare her from the unbearable weight of their scrutiny.

The Judge gestured toward the prosecution's table, where a sharp-eyed attorney rose to his feet, a man whose presence exuded confidence and precision.

Judge: Mr. Ryker, you may begin your opening statement.

The prosecutor adjusted his tie before stepping forward.

Prosecutor: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we are here today to hold accountable an individual who has left a trail of... HORRIFIC... devastation. At S.W.O.R.D., an entire facility was left in ruins, over 120 lives brutally lost. Those men and women had families... children... Maybe a mother and a father... Some of them are here in this courtroom, seeking justice.

Wanda couldn't bear to look at the prosecutor, but she could feel his hateful glare in her direction. Hearing about the families of those who had died being in this courtroom, was like a black hole slowly ripping her heart into a void of pain.

Prosecutor: And don't make the mistake of thinking we're just here for S.W.O.R.D., no... As you all are aware, a tragic thing happened at Transia a year ago, a horrific mystery that saw horrible deaths, civillians, S.A.B.R.E. agents, DNA remains of Phil Coulson and Nick Fury, bodies of known vigilantes such as Frank Castle, and the disappearance of Wolverine and a very well known Avenger, Doctor Stephen Strange... This mystery was under investigation for months until it was deemed impossible to solve, but one thing the world knows, Wanda was there, and she was the only survivor.

Wanda still couldn't understand how the world knew she was there but she was never aware of what happened. Did they never interrogate her about it?

What she didn't know was that she WAS interrogated about it multiple times, but Chthon made her forget about it.

Prosecutor: We are confident in saying we finally have proof that this monster... (looks at Wanda) was also responsible for what happened at Transia. Now, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, if you're still not seeing a pattern, we will be going through two other instances where she committed horrible crimes, which she was mistakenly pardoned for... These crimes only highlights the danger this instable monster poses to the world if she is left unchecked.

They paused, letting the weight of their words sink into the crowd. Wanda winced, her hands trembling slightly in her lap, fingers curling into tight fists.

Matt gave her a soft, steadying nod, but her throat felt tight. She knew what came next.

Prosecution: The defense will try to argue that she had no control. But what happened at Westview? A town held hostage for weeks, its people forced to live their lives under her command. She, too, was at the center of it all. Pardoned, yes, but the ramifications linger. And again, at Kamar-Taj, an attack by The Scarlet Witch that resulted in the deaths of 83 innocent sorcerers.

The crowd spoke amongst each other, some shaking their heads in disgust. Wanda's chest tightened; she felt every stare, every eye weighing her sins. The idea that people were gathering just to see her face justice... It was like being torn apart bit by bit.

Wanda couldn't breathe. Her sight blurred as tears threatened to spill. She had prepared herself for this moment, but nothing could have prepared her for the reality of it, for the magnitude of the accusations being thrown at her. A lingering pain in her body still present from the violating, unethical experiments done to her two weeks ago, caused her fear to shoot through the roof. She would go back there... to the raft, if found guilty. What if Chthon knew she would be found guilty and sent right back to him?

The trial had only just begun, and already it felt like she was sinking into an abyss from which there was no escape.

Prosecution: Now, as this new international superhuman law division has become an entirely separate thing from the US law system, it is stated that a superpowered individual deemed too dangerous, could face the death penalty, for the protection of the people. This is what we will aim to achieve during this trial.

Wanda audibly gasped, her breaths were short and her anxiety kicked in. Wanda's heart plummeted into her stomach. She may have committed grievous errors, but to be sentenced to death...?

She gripped the edge of the table, her breathing starting to become shallow. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for an exit, for someone to intervene. Hoping for some kind of miracle, someone to save her. She looked over at the shocked face of Professor X and Jean.

Matt himself became emotionally involved and couldn't help but try and defend her at this moment.

Matt: Objection!!

Judge: Mr. Murdock, you have something to add?

Matt: This is beyond unreasonable! I was the one who fought to make this go to trial, she was going to be held in the raft for a lifetime! This trial is about the DEFENSE proving she is innocent!

Matt now knew that it was impossible for this trial to be wrapped up today. If the prosecution wanted to prove she needs the death penalty, it could take days. Maybe weeks.

The entire courtroom could see Wanda's reaction towards the prosecution's words. The gasps for air and tears couldn't be stopped.

Judge: I understand your point, Mr. Murdock, but if enough evidence can be presented by the prosecution, they have full right to try and get the death penalty.

Matt slammed the table and stood up in anger.

Matt: THIS WAS NOT WHAT WE--

Judge: SIT! DOWN! MR. MURDOCK!

Every muscle in Wanda's body tensed. The room spun, and the murmurs from the crowd faded away. Death. Not confinement, not rehabilitation, death. A wave of fear and panic washed over her, making her skin crawl.

'This can't be happening.' she thought, the mantra spinning through her mind. 'This can't be happening.' She was getting a full blown panic attack inside the courtroom. If it weren't for the Professor and Jean, her powers would've bursted out by now.

Wanda was fighting an internal battle with her whole body wanting to instinctively run away and never look back. At this point, although her powers were returning, she was still not powerful enough to defend herself if they wanted to kill her. She breathed harder as Matt and the Judge argued, until she managed to whisper in a broken sound, the same word over and over again, getting louder each time she said it. Her tone getting more emotional each time. A word that had more than one meaning as she repeated it.

Wanda: St... stop... stop... Stop. Stop! Stop!! STOP!!!!

The table in front of her got pushed away by her powers, the chains on her arms broke, and everyone in the courtroom felt a collective fear. Matt didn't know what to do. Everything was silent. She stood in the middle and looked at her trembling hands, she then looked around at the complete fear everyone seemed to have for her at this moment. She looked over at the camera, reminding her that the whole world saw this. Not even Charles and Jean was enough to block her from using her powers willingly, only if it burst out accidentally, but this was intentional. In the heat of the moment.

Wanda: I-I... Please... I don't deserve this. Please! Y-your honor! I promise I'm not dangerous!!! I...

She kept looking around at fearful eyes staring at her. She truly felt completely alone.

Wanda: I'm not a monster! Please!! BELIEVE ME!!!

A suffocating realization came over her... Yes she knew people feared her, misunderstood her, but for the first time... she truly felt it. She was living it. This was real. For the first time... It felt real. She felt sick to her stomach. A nausea from feeling betrayed by the universe itself. With that realization, her spirit gave up and she simply stood there, not knowing what to do now.

The guards ran towards her and grabbed her arms, while another sedated her to control her powers. But they were unaware that the serum doesn't work as well as it used to.

Matt: Hey!!!

The guards dragged her away.

Wanda: N-no... no! Please! Let me go!!! LET ME GO!!! LET ME GOO!!!!

Her voice sounded like a soul in utter despair. She was PLEADING in tears. Her reaction caught the Judge's attention, which became her saving grace as the guards were about to drag her out of the courtroom.

Judge: Stop!

The guards stopped. Everyone looked at the judge in confusion.

Judge: Wanda... This is a courtroom. We cannot have outbursts like this.

He sighed.

Judge: I will admit, for the horrible crimes you have been accused of, these kind of emotional reactions, not just from your outbursts... but everything I've seen from you in person, it does not fit... the crimes. I can't picture you, as you are in this moment, being the same person that did those unspeakable deeds. I understand there's evidence, but I'm interested to see where this trial will go. Thus far, your attorney seems fairly confident. So if you're truly innocent, you wouldn't have to worry about the death penalty.

The prosecution chimed in.

Prosecutor: Your honor, I don't find your bias to be in accordance with what your job entails.

Judge: Excuse me! This is not bias, I am simply observing, and from my observations, I can see something there. If there is any chance that we do not know the full truth, as claimed by the defense...

He looked back at Wanda, seeing a broken soul.

Judge: We can't hold this against her... I'm not going to hold this against you, Ms. Maximoff. I understand your emotional reaction to the prosecution's words and to everyone watching you... It really is a lot to accept and process.

Wanda stood with her head looking down sniffling. The judge looked at her for a few seconds longer and made a decision.

Judge: I'm calling a recess. Once everyone has calmed down, we will resume where we ended off.

He struck the gavel and the guards took Wanda to the defense room. Matt went with her and sat next to her, not saying a word.

Wanda: (Sniffles)

...

Wanda: I'm sorry...

Matt: No.

Wanda: What?

Matt: You're not gonna beat yourself up over what happened in there. You did nothing wrong.

Wanda: Tell that to everyone else... You... probably wonder h-how I got my powers back...

Matt touched her shoulder.

Matt: I knew, Wanda.

Wanda: You did?

Matt: Victor... gave me video footage of you using your powers in the DODC. I plan to use that to prove you stayed willingly.

Wanda: That would be a lie... I stayed because... He's gonna kill my family if I...

She still struggled to come to terms with the reality of the situation.

Wanda: If I don't... do as he says.

Matt: (sigh) Chthon...

...

Matt: Sorry, I won't say his name again.

Her body tensed up and Matt sensed her heartbeat quickening.

Wanda: Please don't.

Matt: Promise.

There was another silence.

Matt: Wanda... I know I barely knew you back during the Incursion War, and even then you seemed very broken. Much different from the wanda you were before Kamar Taj and Westview. But this... This is different. Last year you still had some fight left. You are different now. Even more emotionally sensitive than before. You're more reserved, you stutter every 2nd word... You're damaged.

Wanda: H-he changed me...

She referred to Chthon and everything she had to endure Post-Incursion War.

Matt: Trauma does that... My point is...

...

Matt: Are you sure you want me to simply fight for your freedom? Or do you want help too?

Wanda: H-help?

Matt: I know brilliant people. Empathetic, trained... If we can pivot our plan to paint you in a completely innocent light, to a more emotional psychological approach, while STILL proving your innocence, we could persuade the jury to completely scrap everything you're accused of, and get you the help you need.

Wanda: I'm not crazy!

She shouted with tears.

Matt: I wouldn't say you're crazy, wanda. But you are scarred. You're broken, and I think you need help. Not to suppress your emotions but to work through it. To help you find yourself again. It will do so much good for you. It's not something to feel ashamed of.

He truly meant what he said, in an empathetic tone. A part of her knew what he said was true, but then she had to think of her family being in Chthon's hands.

Wanda: B-but my children... My father... Everyone...

Matt: We will find them. I promise we will.

Wanda: How!?

He wrapped his right arm around her.

Matt: I don't know yet, but you have the world's smartest, and the world's most powerful individuals searching for them every single day. Nothing you can do would make any difference.

Wanda: I can't do this anymore... Why is--

Suddenly, the cuffs on her hand slowly withered out of existence, in the form of string cheese (Watch Loki Season 2 Episode 5)

Wanda: What just... happened?

Matt: Was that not you?

Wanda: No... I... I don't think...

Victor entered after hearing Matt's words. He came in with extra cuffs.

Victor: What happened?

Wanda: It just disappeared.

Victor: What did?

Wanda: My cuffs.

Victor looked over to Matt.

Victor: I told you.

Matt now realized this was exactly what happened to his batons the night before.

Wanda: T-told him what?

Victor: Nothing. Hold out your arms. Unfortunately we must cuff you again, but they wouldn't even know the others disappeared.

Wanda: But... how?

Victor: Stay strong, Wanda.

He walked out again, standing outside the door on guard. He activated a communication device on his wrist.

Victor: (on comms) It has begun.

"Is protocol clean slate a go?"

Victor: Not yet. The doomsday clock is still ticking, but I need more time. Just be prepared.

"Why not take her now?"

Victor: Trust the process. She needs to see for herself... And she needs motivation. What better motivation is there than a world that loves her, being on the brink of collapse?

"You better be right about this. If your plan fails, there will be no domain, no realm, no forsaken timeline, no barren moon or shadowed rift where I can't find you."

Victor: Watch your tone, Erik. This will work. It has to.

Back inside the room, Wanda frowned in confusion. Victor's avoidance in explaining the disappearing cuffs didn't go unnoticed to Wanda. Matt saw her concern.

Matt: Forget about that now. Will you be strong enough to go back out there? Especially now that the prosecution will probably take much longer.

Wanda: No I'm not... But I... I will never be...

Matt: Listen, just prepare yourself. The prosecution will try to tear you apart. Think about what other people see you as... Now multiply that by 11. That's how badly they will portray you. If the world sees you as bad, they will depict you as evil. If the world sees you as a murderer, they will depict you as a psychopathic monster...

Wanda took in a deep breath, accepting that truth of what will happen.

Matt: Do me a favor, try not to take any of it to heart. At least not to such an extent to where you have an outburst again. Trust me, the jury knows the prosecution always dials everything up to eleven. It's their job to make you look as evil as possible. The jury knows that.

Wanda: But THE PEOPLE don't...

Matt: That's what I'm here for, isn't it? As fast as the prosecution will potentially sway public opinion to their side, I would do that twice as fast. You'd just have to endure a few days where the world hates and fears you even more than they already did... Until it is time for the defense to take our stand. Can you trust me?

Wanda: I-I want to... But... It's not that easy...

Matt: I'm not saying you shouldn't get emotionally involved, emotions are a good thing in court... for us specifically... but too much emotion would not benefit us. You were lucky to have won the judge's empathy just now, but one more of those outbursts and we could be in trouble. You have nothing to worry about. All the worry is on me. I'm the one fighting for you. You don't have to say or do anything for now. Alright?

She nodded without saying a word, then wiped her face clean.

Matt: Now let's get back in there.

After everyone took their seats, it was time for the prosecution to present all their evidence.

The courtroom was packed, a sea of faces watching Wanda Maximoff as if she were a caged animal. The tension in the air felt palpable, thick with judgment, disbelief, and fear. She sat at the defense table, hands clenched in her lap, trembling. Her heart was pounding, racing to escape her chest as if it, too, wanted to flee this place.

Prosecutor: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, what you are about to witness today is not just an act of violence, it is a massacre, committed by a being with unimaginable power. The devastation in Transia, the slaughter of S.W.O.R.D. operatives... these are the actions not of human origin... This is the actions of a murderous monster with no regard for anything or anyone.

Wanda's breath was caught in her throat. The words echoed in her mind, reverberating through her body. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. The walls of the courtroom seemed to close in, the air stifling, suffocating.

The prosecutor turned toward the screen in the front of the courtroom.

Prosecutor: Let's start with the footage from S.W.O.R.D., the most damning evidence.

The lights dimmed as the screen flickered to life. Video surveillance footage played, showing the sterile, metallic corridors of the S.W.O.R.D. facility. Wanda saw herself, floating ominously, her red chaos swirling like a storm around her. She watched in horror as the people in the footage screamed, as they tried to flee. Her body tensed as if bracing for a blow. On the screen, Wanda unleashed chaos, bolts of energy slicing through walls, people, machines. Blood. Screams. The sounds of agony filled the courtroom as the footage displayed bodies, torn and broken, thrown like rag dolls in the wake of her power.

Wanda's stomach turned violently. She wanted to scream. To get up. To run. She tried to rise from her chair, panic shooting through her limbs, but Matt's hand reached out, firm and grounding. His fingers closed around her wrist, steadying her.

Matt: Stay. Breathe.

Wanda: I can't... watch... I don't... want to see...

Matt: Don't hide your tears. Show them.

He whispered softly, his voice a tether in the storm that raged within her. The screen cut to still images next. Photos of the aftermath, mutilated bodies, limbs scattered like debris, faces contorted in terror. Blood smeared the cold floors of the facility. The charred remains of some of the bodies were nothing more than husks, burned alive by her energy. Each image felt like a hammer, driving a nail deeper into her chest. The prosecutor's voice droned on, cold and indifferent.

Prosecutor: These images, ladies and gentlemen, are the results of a monster nothing short of evil, with the power of a god. What we have is a serial mass murderer killing in horrific ways... for sport.

Wanda couldn't believe how horrible of a person they believed she was. This was so much worse than what she originally thought they felt about her. Much... MUCH worse. This tore her apart more than she thought possible. The pain she was feeling right now, rivaled that of losing every loved one you ever knew. If hell was psychological and emotional torment, Wanda would now be convinced she's actually in hell. And HAS been in hell for most her life. At this point she started to believe this more and more.

A detective took the stand next, his voice devoid of emotion as he described the scene in painstaking detail.

Detective: The victims were found in various stages of dismemberment. Some were incinerated by energy blasts, others were crushed under debris. The most disturbing aspect was the randomness of the destruction. It wasn't targeted. It was absolute carnage.

After a while, another detective took stage and presented images of samples that shows just how brutal these murders were. He showed multiple images and made it sound as horrific as possible, making Wanda feel every hateful eye on her, piercing her soul. Her trembling and tears couldn't be stopped. It all went on for over an hour. One of the worst images were then shown as the last image.

Prosecutor: I now present exhibit F, a death so horrific, that it will give you nightmares... Before continuing, for anyone wanting to leave, and any family members of victim Emily Sinclair, you're welcome to exit the building.

A few people stood up and walked out, not before giving Wanda a glare filled with hate and disgust. The rest majority stayed, and the detective took the stage.

Detective: What we found at S.W.O.R.D. was unlike anything I've seen in my 25 years on the force...

The detctive began, his voice hoarse. He cleared his throat, glancing briefly at Wanda, whose face had drained of color. Her body trembled, her hands gripping the table so tightly her knuckles whitened.

Detective: Exhibit F is the body of Agent Emily Sinclair, one of the first responders during the S.W.O.R.D. massacre. She... suffered a particularly violent end.

The crowd shifted uneasily. Some averted their eyes, already bracing themselves.

Detective: Agent Sinclair was found in the west corner of the facility. Her body was...

He hesitated, drawing in a sharp breath.

Detective: ...contorted. At first glance, it looked like every bone in her body had been crushed simultaneously. But that wasn't the full extent of the damage.

The prosecutor nodded toward the screen, and the image of Sinclair's body flashed before the courtroom. The crowd conveyed their shock with one collective gasp. Some others decided to walk out too. Wanda's breath caught in her throat. She felt Matt's hand tighten around her arm, a silent plea to hold on, but the image on the screen tore through her like a jagged blade.

!TRIGGER WARNING!

Agent Sinclair's body was mangled beyond recognition. Her limbs were twisted at impossible angles, her spine bent backward as if snapped in two. But the worst part was her face, or what was left of it. Her skull appeared partially melted, the skin around her eyes and mouth fused together as though her very flesh had been liquefied by some unimaginable force.

The detective continued, his voice now quieter.

Detective: The chaos... it didn't just kill her on the spot. It... warped her. The energy surrounding her body had burned deep into her bones, leaving her organs cooked inside her torso. Her eyes... Her eyes were scorched in their sockets, but she was still alive even after all this was done to her. We presume that she must've died minutes later from blood loss. But not before suffering excruciating pain that many would not even fathom to feel for a few seconds.

Gasps filled the room, horrified murmurs spreading through the crowd like wildfire. Several people looked away, while others whispered under their breath, their voices tinged with fear and revulsion.

Wanda's stomach churned violently. The bile rose in her throat, and her tears blocked her sight as the photo lingered on the screen, branding itself into her mind. Her shaking hand flew to her mouth, the taste of bile bitter on her tongue. She squeezed her eyes shut, but the image stayed, burned into her memory. Wanda gagged, her body convulsing as she clutched her stomach. Her chest heaved, the sound of her stifled sobs faint under the weight of the horror in the room. Matt's grip on her arm tightened, steadying her as she gasped for breath, her body trembling violently.

Judge: Ms. Maximoff? Suddenly you feel remorse for what you've done here?

The judge felt conflicted as he tried to connect this very broken person in front of him, to the monster he just witnessed in the video and images presented. The guards brought a bucket, as she was seen gagging multiple times on the brink of vomiting.

One of the family members jumped up and cried out in tears.

"MONSTER!!!!"

The word cut through the tension like a blade. Wanda flinched as if struck, her body recoiling from the venom in the voice. Her heart pounded in her chest, the sound deafening in her ears.

"YOU DESERVE TO DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH!!! YOU'RE A DEMON!!! AN EVIL WITCH!!! YOU SHOULD BURN ALIVE!!!

The family member was a woman, her face twisted with rage and pain. She was being restrained by a court officer, her voice hoarse with the force of her screams. The woman's eyes burned with hatred, locking onto Wanda like daggers.

"You killed her! You killed my sister! She didn't deserve that! She was a mother! A friend! She didn't deserve to go out like THAT!!!"

Wanda's body twitched involuntarily, as if each hateful word was a physical blow. Her hands shook, gripping the edge of the table so tightly it felt as though her fingers might break. Every muscle in her body tensed, fighting against the storm of guilt and shame surging within her. Her chest heaved as the words rattled around in her mind, each one sinking deep like shards of glass. "It's not me, it's not me," she tried to tell herself. "I didn't mean to do this. I didn't want this." She kept repeating in her head... But the image of the body, twisted and broken, was burned into her mind. The cries of the woman echoed in her ears, louder than her own thoughts.

Wanda opened her quivering mouth, but no words came out. Her throat was tight, her tongue heavy. She wanted to scream, to plead, to BEG them to understand. "I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. I didn't want any of this." She kept saying to herself. The words were lodged deep in her throat, choked by the weight of her guilt. No one would believe her.

Tears streamed down her face, silent, uncontrollable. Her chest tightened, her breath shallow and rapid as she glanced desperately at the crowd, at the sea of faces filled with horror, rage, and disgust. Some looked away, unable to meet her eyes. Others glared with a hatred that seemed to burn through her skin.

Matt's grip on her arm was firm, his silent strength the only thing anchoring her to the moment. Her body was betraying her-her shoulders shook, her hands twitched, and her stomach twisted in knots, the pain of those words sinking deeper and deeper into her. The jury took note of Wanda's highly emotional reactions to everything, and so did the Judge, which confused them, and on some twisted level, intrigued them even more, since such a horrible monster portrayed on the screen would be thought to have no feelings whatsoever. Indifferent or maybe even find pleasure in watching the horror on screen, but not Wanda. Her reactions showed true terror, remorse, shame... She looked sick. Mentally and physically.

The guards dragged the woman out of the courtroom as she continued screaming. The Judge struck the gavel after the courtroom became unsettled with whispers and murmurs.

Judge: Order!

The sound of the woman's voice, broken and filled with unbearable grief, crushed Wanda's already fragile defenses. All she wanted to do was APOLOGIZE. To say she was SORRY, to BEG for forgiveness. She wanted to fall to her knees, to tell them that she hadn't been in control, that she was not a demon, that she wasn't that monster. Her lips quivered, trembling as though trying to form the words that she could never say.

Her mouth opened again, but only a small, broken sound escaped. She clutched her chest, the weight of it all pressing in on her like a vice. The room felt smaller, the air suffocating. She bowed her head, her sobs silent, her hands clenched in fists that couldn't shield her from the hatred in the room.

The image lingered on the screen for a moment longer before the prosecutor signaled for it to be taken down.

Prosecutor: Ladies and gentlemen, if you are already disgusted by what you've seen and heard up till this point, prepare yourselves for the worst. For we have not even scratched the surface.