"But for now,
I laugh with my mom".

...TWO WEEKS LATER..

"Your honor, every evidence points that the accused is Mr Asher Hudson's killer. This is a first degree murder and justice needs to be served. Please do this amiable court and the world a favor by serving justice... your honor"

Easy for the prosecuting attorney to say. If only there was a camera in the hotel rooms, then I wouldn't be here.

I think to myself as I stand in the witness box, my head bowed to the ground.

"Does the defense attorney have anything to say?", the judge asks.

"Yes your honor. Please permit me to welcome Miss Ashley to the witness box"

"Permission granted"

"Miss Ashley Patterson please come over to the witness box", my lawyer says. I look over at Miss Ashley, Asher's personal assistant, as she walks gracefully to the stand.

She is given the bible to solemnly swear that whatever she speaks will be the truth and nothing but the truth.

"Miss Patterson, where were you on the date that the victim was murdered?"

"I was with Jack Fernando in room 251"

"And what were you doing?", the defense asks.

"I was ordering him to clean the room. A couple had booked the room and they were to lodge in that very evening", Ashley says with a forlorn look.

"Did you tell the accused to go up to Asher's room and clean it?"

"Yes"

"Has anyone ever been there besides you?"

"Yes but they were all under my supervision"

"So why did you send the accused there unsupervised?"

"I was busy and needed to get the room fixed. Samantha is a sweet kid and can be trusted. I don't think she'll ever do such a thing"

I smile after hearing her say that, just as we rehearsed.

"No further questions"

"Would the prosecuting attorney like to cross examine the witness?", the judge asks.

"No your honor"

"The defense may go on and plead their case"

He looks at me, sending me a reassuring smile, I try sending him one but my lips quiver as the tears threaten to spill. All my life I've been the good kid only to end up in court for something I didn't do? When watching those cases and trials on TV, I never suspected my case to be next.

I glance at my parents. My mom looks like she'll blow up any second now, my dad is holding up pretty good for my mom. On the far corner of the court is my soccer team. I see a look of despair on my coach and my teammates. A lone tear falls from my eyes.

"Your honor... Samantha Montero is a good kid incapable of hurting a fly, talk more of a human. She is just a victim of circumstance. She has no motive of killing the now Late Asher. Do you think a kid who bakes cake and babysits for her neighbors is capable of committing such heinous crime? When they scanned her finger prints it wasn't on the record, why? I'll tell you because she has never committed any crime. She is known as the peace maker in school, she's everyone's favorite. She is loved by all. Imagine the pains her parents are going through. Imagine the trauma she's facing for something she didn't do..."

The defense attorney continues. He may strike anyone as someone who wants to eat deep into my Father's pocket but that's far fetched. He is on my case because he truly believes I'm innocent plus he's my uncle... My mother's brother. Uncle Austin.

Although, I am no lawyer, I don't know why I get this crazy feeling that he's not pleading my case professionally.

Just brush it off alright?

I sure hope he's not stigmatized in society because of me.

"Court adjourned for one hour recess", a voice calls bringing me out of my reverie.

"Nadine! What is wrong with you. I thought I told you no shedding tears on the witness box", mother calls, furiously wiping her tears away so I wouldn't see it.

"Oh mother! Now that's hypocrisy. If not then why are you crying?", I say sniffing, using my elbows to clean my face since my hands were in cuffs.

"I gave birth to you, I can do what I want"

"Princess"

"Oh daddy. Why won't anyone believe me? They have put me under hypnosis, they have shocked my brain and my statement is always the same...I didn't kill Asher. What else do they want? Convict me and send me to prison away from my family and team?", I cry, unable to stop the tears.

"Captain it's okay", Coach says patting my back.

"No matter what happens, you'll always be the team's captain", he reassures. I give him a trying smile and hug him.

"I never really liked you because you were a girl trying to fit in with the boys. I always wanted to be captain but I swear I didn't want anything bad to happen to you", Kwame, Our Ghanian star player states. I hug him too. I know he never really liked me but he didn't wish for this to happen either.

"Oh Sam, no one to help me practice my shots now", Jack says, hugging me and sniffing my hair. Everyone tenses up as he says that. Why will he say that? Does he not want me to be set free.

I look up at him, his eyes are closed, he is still inhaling my scent. Maybe he didn't mean it like that.

"What do you mean?", My dad asks but before he could say anything, the one hour recess was already up. So quick? It felt like 15 minutes.

"After much deliberations...", the judge begins and for some reason my heart skips a beat, fear begins to rise up in me.

"The court has decided not to..."

Oh my cheese balls! Are they going to acquit me? Finally.

"Sentence the accused to death by hanging but life imprisonment with no parole"

Bombshell!

That's what I call a bombshell. I felt my world crumble to crumbs of nothingness.

Is this how it ends? My dreams of becoming an international soccer player? Will I ever see the sun and smile? How did my life become this?

Horrendous gasps fills the courtroom and swims arounds my ear, making me hear buzzing sounds.

Suddenly everywhere and everything becomes still. My soccer team walks out dejected, my coach gives me a last glance and mouths 'captain' as a sign of respect before bowing his head at me and walking out.

My teachers shake their heads nonstop and leave. Jack cries and wails like a baby whose candy just got snatched from his fingertips, Ashley blows her nose and cries, rocking back and forth on her seat. Time seems to suddenly stop as my gaze lands on my mother.

"This is hideous. My baby did no such thing", my mum screams throwing a fit. I walk down from the witness box slowly.

My father walks up to me and takes my hands in his. His eyes, saying so many unspoken words.

Not even his money could save me!

"Detective Larry, I'd like some minutes with my daughter...alone",he pleads.

I look at my feet and the tears begins rushing.

"Papa!", I whisper looking up at him.

"Shh it's okay Nadine", he whispers looking around frantically.

"Nadine! Ich weib, dass du es nicht getan hast. Deshalb mochte ich, dass du etuas für mich tust", my dad whispers in German.

"Was ist das für ein papa?"

"Ausbruch aus dem Gefangnis"
I slap my hand against my mouth.

"Was papa!"

"Ich vertraue dir Nadine. Ich weib, dass du es kannst".

"Ö"
I nod my head in agreement and look at my wailing mother. I go to her and hug her. I whisper in her ear telling her I'll be back. She smiles and kisses me everywhere on my face.

As the cops carry me away from my parents, I cry. I cry uncontrollably and I think back to what my father said.

"Nadine! I know you didn't do it that's why I want you to do something for me", he whispers, frantically looking around to make sure no one is eavesdropping. Even if they were eavesdropping, I don't think they'll understand German.

"What's that father?"

"Prison break!"

I gasp, slapping my hand against my mouth.

"What father!"

"I trust you Nadine, I know you can do it".

"Ok", I nod my head in agreement.

I  clearly understand what my dad meant but how could I do that? I was brought up by one of the most traditional English mother which includes manners and all. I don't even know how to pick a lock. I was a straight A student. The best of my generation.

I guess I'll have to do what father says somehow. I just have to find a way. I can't stay in jail. I'm not cut out for that life! I'm not a murderer but I guess that doesn't matter now.

Oh Lord! How did my life spiral into such chaotic mess? This was not how I planned my life. Life has other plans I see.

I guess I'll have to conduct a little escapade from Jail.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author; where do we start?

Jack: let's start with the fact that there are lots of errors.

Author: are there? I thought I edited them.

Jack; you edited wrong.

Isabella: my daughter was just sent to Jail for something she didn't do and all you guys can do is argue about the stupid errors.

Author&Jack: sorry ma'am

Finn: princess are you okay.

Samantha: I'm in jail! Am I supposed to be okay?

Author: I'm really...

Samantha: save it. Guys please vote if you want to see me out of prison and if you think the author is frustrating.

Author; hey! If I didn't do that, there wouldn't be any story.

Samantha: well why couldn't you write a story where I'm the girl who falls in love with the highschool's popular quarterback.

Author: well that would be boring.

Jack:I'm team author on that.

Isabella: do you guys have to always bicker? Though I'm team Samantha all the way.

Jack: obviously coz she's your daughter.

Author: thank you jack...hey mr Montero, quit shaking your head and help me give the vote of thanks, I need to finish this argument... Besides Sam, you are way to boyish to be a girl.

Samantha: oh no you didn't. Mom! That's offensive. And whose fault is it anyway?

Isabella: you guys...

Finn: kids? What do I do with them. Anyways lovely readers, thanks for all the votes and comments. Keep them coming. We love you. Stay safe, stay indoors, practice your hygiene. Now go on the next chapter but not before commenting and voting.