Chapter 3 Hades
Hades
Twenty-four years old…
“Ihereby sentence you to death by lethal injection.”
Chaos erupts in the courtroom, but it’s like I’m under water. Everything and everyone sounds muffled and so far away. I’m dimly aware of my attorney gripping my shoulder, and the word ‘appeal’ penetrates the fog.
A loud banging noise pulls me back to reality, and I focus on the judge.
He sets his gavel down and says, “Mr. Hunter, you will be remanded to SCI Somerset, where you’ll await your execution date.”
I make the mistake of glancing over my shoulder, and my stomach bottoms out when I see Evie curled into Zodiac’s side.
Tears stream down her cheeks, and it takes everything in me not to rage at my VP for bringing her to my sentencing.
At only eight, she’s way too young to deal with all of this shit.
“Get her outta here,” I snarl at Zodiac.
With my little sister kicking and screaming, he lifts her into his arms and carries her out of the courtroom. I don’t tear my eyes away until they’re both out of sight. My attention shifts to the rest of my brothers who came. Their expressions range from shock to sadness to rage.
Before I can say anything, I’m hauled to my feet and restrained by a waist chain connected to handcuffs and leg irons. I don’t fight the bailiff as he escorts me to the courthouse’s holding cell.
I’ve spent the last two years in prison for a crime I didn’t commit, and now I’ll die for the same crime. Images flash in my mind. Some are memories, while others are what I can only assume my brain thinks my future would’ve been.
As I wait to be transported back to the correctional facility, I give in to the emotions I’ve held at bay since the night I was arrested. Tears fill my eyes and spill over onto my cheeks. Because of my restraints, I can’t wipe them away, but I don’t give a fuck.
My life as I know it is over.