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"I saw Natalie Buchanan pick up ory Thompson’s chest," he says

"No!" I yell "I did it, I did it!"

There are startled noises froallery

I look at Natalie She seems almosthappy

I bury my face in ot his revenge, all right He knew hurting Natalie was the only way to get back at me

"Silence!" the usher calls out, and the courtroom falls silent once more

"Call in the final witness," Benedict Knox says

I sink down init’s over All the color see to be executed

Natalie, I’aze across the courtrooesture

I love you, she’s saying to s open, and Juno Jones walks in Her expression is blank, although there are dark circles under her eyes like she hasn’t slept in days She doesn’t look at either me or Natalie as she takes her seat in the witness stand She’s dressed in a tight, corseted blouse and leather trousers, her fiery red hair tied back into a slick ponytail She’s carrying a s

"Miss Jones, you were at the town square at the tian Henrikk asks

"Yes, I was there fil a report for Black City News," she replies

"Did you see the attack on Gregory Thompson?" Benedict says

Juno shakes her head "No, I was too far away But we caught the incident on caital disk fro and hands it to the usher, who sets up a screen and digital disk player The lights are turned out as the screen flickers to life All aroundenraptured

Footage of the riot bursts onto the screen There are screa the blood, the fear Caught in the round, throwing punches at each other Gregory holds a blade up to Natalie’s throat

My heart freezes as I watch the events unfold:

I release Sebastian, and he runs out of sight, leaving his sword

Gregory throws Natalie to the ground

He raises his weapon

Natalie and I reach for Sebastian’s sword at the saory yells off screen, "This is for Chris!"

For ain front of the lens

There’s a clap of thunder

The ca the bloodied sword

I drop the weapon to the ground

The room erupts into life as people talk excitedly to each other The filuilty

Guilty

The word rattles around my head

Guilty

Dad sinks his head into his hands

Guilty

Logan Henrikk can’t look at me

"I’m so sorry, Ash," Juno says to me as she’s led out of the rooory, please believedown her cheeks

I can’t believe she’s still trying to protect me when she knows it’s over

I catch her eye

"It’s okay," I aze for as long as I dare, trying to let her know that everything is going to be okay I feel the echo of her heart beating in unison with mine

I hear snippets of conversation froallery

"Sebastian wasn’t even there when it happened"

"He ran away"

"He was lying about Natalie"

The Quorum of Three is quick to cast their votes

"All rise," the usher says

I get to s

Benedict Knox turns to me

"Ash Fisher, it is the belief of this court that you are guilty of the ory Thompson You are hereby sentenced to death by crucifixion"

40

NATALIE

"YOU HAVE TO COME OUT at some point," Day says fro on a small camp bed that’s been crammed into Day’s bedroom After the trial, Michael and Sumrina kindly let me and Polly stay with theement, now that Mother has been sent to the rehabilitation center in Centrum and we’ve been kicked out of the Sentry HQ Her contacts in Centrum said they’d take care of us, but there’s no way I can leave Black City when it’swith Roach and Beetle, as there’s no roole" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>