The Trial of Dr. Gabriel Loren Cross

“Does the jury have a verdict?”

The judge sat elevated above the courtroom, his expression flat as he spoke to the jury foreman.

The foreman, a tall, vampiric, pale-faced man rose. He opened an envelope, removed a folded sheet and cleared his throat.

“We the jury,” he began, “find the defendant guilty of count one, attempted augmentation of a living organism.”

“And count two?” The judge prompted.

The foreman hesitated. He stared straight ahead, avoiding the judge’s gaze. The courtroom quieted as the pale man looked down.

“We the jury, find the defendant not guilty of second-degree murder of a child.”

The courtroom gasp. The judge sat back. Lips pressed tight.

Chatter began to spread from small to a larger murmur. The audience within the small courtroom began to then talk amongst themselves.

The judge stood abruptly. The room fell silent.

“Please, refrain from expression of emotion. This is a courtroom, not a coffee shop.”

“Foreman of the jury, please read the remaining…”

A wooden chair flung backwards, crashing into the wood-lined half wall behind him.

“I object to this ridiculous clown show!” The voice came from the defendant, his face red, his tone venomous. “I am a respected member of the community. This is unjust… all of this is untrue.”

“I do not accept this verdict.”

The judged glared at the defendant.

“Dr. Cross, you have been held in contempt once and warned multiple times. This is the last time you interrupt the court proceedings. Bailiff restrain the Defendant.”

The judge banged the gavel. “Please escort the jury from the courtroom. Take him into custody now.”

The jury was carefully guided through an exit.

Cross, a diminutive figure in a large courtroom, glared at the bailiff. The approaching bailiff hesitated. Dr. Cross, despite his small stature, commanded every space without trying. Entering his space felt like a magic barrier.

The only one with a stronger aura was the judge who pushed the bailiff forward.

The officer attempted to restrain him but— was struck from behind. The bailiff stumbled sideways and released Cross.

A tall, middle-aged man with a scarred face shoved the bailiff out of the way and attacked Cross.

Court officers rushed into the room, grabbed and restrained the man. They pulled the two men from each other.

“You deserve to die for what you did to my family!” Says the man. He spits. The officers throws the man to the ground.

Cross wipes blood from his mouth. An officer restrains him. The attacker is restrained under several other officers.

“This trial is postponed temporarily,” said the judge as he stood.

“ Counsel— chambers now!”

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