• PART 11

    Josh could hear voices muttering as the courtroom door was swung open, too many voices. He didn’t want to admit to himself, but he was scared and the shackles that were restricting his hands behind his back weren’t helping. He had a guard either side of him, holding onto his arms and pushing him forward into the court. Josh hesitated before the thresh-hold, but the guards only grunted and pushed him through and onto the podium.
    “You!” he heard someone screech. He turned to see from whom the voice had come from, and met eyes with the man’s wife across the room. “You…You little…” she was seething.
    “Please,” Josh begged, his hands trembling “you don’t understand!”
    “Of course I damn well do,” the woman roared, tears streaming down her face “you killed my husband! You could-hearted son of a-“
    “Mrs. Herman!” the judge called out “If you do not quiet down we shall have to remove you from the court” the woman was silent from then on, but the looks she gave as she stared at Josh said everything. Josh closed his eyes for a moment, to get himself under control and to hold back the tears. Just answer their questions, he told himself, and you’ll be out of here in no time. “Josh Aldon," the judge began, "you have been charged with the murder of Mr. Stephan Herman. How do you plead?” there was a moment hesitation, but then Josh spoke.
    “Not guilty.” The quiet gasps and mutterings around the jury made is evident that it was going to be a long day...
    Josh was staring up at the ceiling in the lab, the bonds strapping him to the table were beginning to chafe. He hated reviewing what had happened, but with nothing going on to distract him, all he had were his thoughts. He heard the lab door hiss open and someone in a white coat stepped in and strode over to him holding a clipboard.
    “Josh Aldon, is it?” the person asked. Josh nodded slightly. The man scribbled something down on the clipboard then put it to one side. “I am Dale Bessant, I shall be covering for Tom for the moment. Now then, are you ready?” Josh frowned, that didn’t sound good.
    “Ready for what?” he muttered, but Dale did not reply, he only smiled slightly, then undid the brakes form Joshes table bed and started to wheel it out of the lab.
    “R-…Ready for what?” Josh demanded, his heart rate quickening. But again, there was no reply.