Little could be said to ease Will of those dreaded words: Innocent till proven guilty, Mr Dark. The scales of justice never lie. Let's hope you're as innocent as you believe. 

The rest of the evening remained unaccountable for when his brief exchange with Calvin Villerium was the only thing he could think about.

Will couldn't sleep that night. It was mentally taxing spending those restless hours in constant distress. The last waking hours were spent trying to get as much shuteye as he could. Morning came and the tossing and turning ended with an involuntary slumber that had him out cold till midday. He woke up feeling groggy. All it took was a step into the refresher to remedy the drowsiness. 

A guard came to escort him to the Inquisition Chamber shortly after. Outside in the hallway, Will looked across at Ezra's door, half hoping to see him standing there ready and waiting to join them out of support. Not that he deserved it. With consideration to their minor disagreement the previous night, Will doubted Ezra wanted anything more to do with him. 

To Will's surprise, he wasn't led deeper into ParaDark Enterprises. Instead the journey took them directly back through the modular concourse that meandered around the building, and exited into the entrance hall of ParaDark Enterprises. A place Will hadn't been to since entering this massive building on that first night when he had been captured. The glass wall panels closed in on them before opening up again, revealing the colossal gateway that they were heading straight towards. A woosh of air accompanied the gateway as it opened on command and Will followed the guard through. It was one thing going outside unauthorised, the thrill of rebelling letting him see citylife in a different light. It was another thing being supervised, where his access and freedom were limited. 

It was expected that the Inquisition Chamber would be hidden, but Will had half a thought that it would be the same chamber Bill had interrogated him in. With an establishment as big as ParaDark Enterprises, Will had not even explored half of it. Who knew what other secrets lay undiscovered in the halls of Infinite City's operations.

A sight of a transporter vehicle greeted them at the landing pad which further intrigued Will of its location. Under other circumstances, the opportunity to explore more of the city should have excited him. Then again, not much could be explored when stuck behind the confines of a moving vehicle with only one destination scheduled in its course. 

The transporter moved soundlessly. Sitting in the back on leather seats made the trip a bit more pleasant than the dread of what waited ahead. The ride through the city displayed a silent film of moving pictures and lasted long enough for Will to forget the troubles of his undecided fate. Just not long enough to permanently rid him of his distress.

The transporter pulled up at a set of portico stairs leading up to the courtroom's grand entrance, double bronze doors centered between two massive columns. The sight of it alone was intimidating. 

Will climbed out of the transporter to find the same guard waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs and was escorted inside. Footsteps echoed on marble slabs as they traversed the foyer, a high ceiling covering them. A final set of doors waited for them inside. Just knowing what stood on the other end brought the lump back up in his throat.

The Inquisition Chamber had been built on the foundations of peace and justice, the room itself derived from a lost era. 

Once inside, it was difficult to overlook its classic wall decor and symbolic tapestries in addition to its domed-fresco painted ceiling. The interior was designed in the style of a coliseum, held together with rising tiers of brass gilded spectator seats and supported by granite stone beams. Dark panelled walls rose up around them. A circular, raised platform stood at the heart of the chamber. Will's eyes were drawn towards it as he walked out of the low-sloping corridor. 

The Seat of Enquiry awaited directly ahead of him, the Board of Directors and Tribunal already seated along the first tier of the Jury Bench. An empty Observation Terminal hung above them, its sole occupant, Ezra. Their eyes locked briefly before Will's attention was returned to the Tribunal. He had hoped that Ezra had shown up out of support. But one look in those eyes revealed that he was only there to witness the outcome of his verdict. 

As Board of Directors and appointed Chair of the Tribunal, Calvin Villerium would be leading the Hearing. Next in power was Chief and Commander Grayson who sat either side of him. Will noticed two other people amongst the Tribunal whom he would soon come to learn as the Overseer and Citizen Representative. Other members of the Board occupied the first tier, waiting in earnest for Will to take his place on the Seat of Enquiry so his Hearing could proceed. 

Silence lingered amid the anticipation of Will's procession. Leather soles struck wooden planks as he ascended the steps to the elevated diaz where his fate awaited him. He sat down. Calvin Vellirium gazed down at him inquisitively, his dark chromatic suit exuding an air of calculated excellence that matched his cold expression. Revealing eyes that only meant him harm.  

"William Dark, you stand before the Tribunal not only to defend the numerous accusations held against you, but to prove you are not of this world. Therefore, we hereby open this Hearing against the accused William Dark, in the case of Chancellor Victor Dark's death-"

"He's not dead-" 

"Be advised that all verbal statements are admissible before the Tribunal of Infinite City's law. That anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law out of proper conduct." 

Will was quick to fall silent. A moment of caution followed before Calvin proceeded. 

"If all in agreement, the Hearing will proceed, the accused will now be presented with a series of questions to which they are required to answer with the truth and only the truth." Unprejudiced eyes met Will. "Let's begin." The lump returned to his throat. "William Dark, are you aware of the charges brought against you?" 

Will's nod came from a place of fear that was not accepted as an appropriate answer. "Words, Mr Dark." 

"Yes," Will said. 

"You claim that you are not from here, that you are not the William Dark that we know. Do you have proof to justify your statement?" 

"Ezra Grayson can testify to that." Will didn't know what overcame him to respond with those words, but it was all that came to mind in the moment seeing as Ezra was the only one who believed him. 

"Do you then deny involvement with the death of Chancellor Victor Dark?" 

"Yes." 

"Have you ever questioned the leadership of Infinite City or ParaDark Enterprises?"

"I've had my doubts," Will admitted which was the truth. Above in the Observation Terminal, he spotted Ezra shifting uncomfortably in his seat, but refused to let his friend's cold front stagger his resolve. This was Will's trial!

"It has recently been brought to our attention that you made deranged statements that Chancellor Victor Dark is still alive. On what grounds do you make such declarations?" 

Will knew exactly what to say in response to this question.

"Because I saw him," he said.