Justice Is Dead

The judge raised his hammer, ready to resound the final judgement of the guilty man when a sharp cry pierced the heavy silence.

a young woman staggered forward, breathing heavily and obviously in pain. Her eyes moved through the crowd of somber faces to rest on the judge himself. Although in pain, her countenance was fierce, her eyes fiery and filled with anger.

She made her way to the front of the room, and lifted her head until she was looking directly into the judge's eyes. As he looked down on her, he felt this curious sense...something he had not felt in years, wash over him.

Guilt, in waves and crashing oceans, filled his entire being. He wanted to look away but felt strangely drawn to this pale figure.

She opened her dry lips, and in a barely audible whisper, spoke.

"There is yet one more witness to be called to the stand."

Just as he was about to protest, saying that the sentance had already been passed, the woman quivered, and in anger rose her voice, shouting:

"There is yet one more witness!"

Stunned, the judge merely nodded. As the Justice of the Peace swore her in, she closed her eyes, nodding her agreement as her hand lay on the dusty Bible.

All was silent in the courtroom. Every person strained to watch this odd figure, who was slumped over in the stand, quiet. A single tear slid down her cheek and the judge cleared his throat nervously.

"Ma'am... Miss. Uh... please share with this courtroom what you have witnessed."

The woman was silent for a moment, collecting her thoughts. Then, she sat up and pointed her finger at the defense attorney. "You are an infidel. Robbing your client! You have made him a fool, laughed behind his back. You knew from the beginning that it was a lost case, and still you kept him and his money... all the while reassuring him of his freedom!"

The attorney's eyes grew large. He stood up in protest, ready to defend his honor but she continued on.

"You!" she pointed at the prosecuting attorney. "You have twisted the rules of this court, paying those who would speak against you! You curse the grounds upon which you stand, and it begs to be taken rather than support such a vile creature!"

In her rage, she rose. Her voice was an icy calm, but the undertone had swiftly changed to one of silent panic. She looked around the room and continued. Her gaze shifted to the young man convicted of murdering his mother. Her eyes turned cold and she whispered,

"Who do you think you are? Who do you think you ARE?? You have killed the woman that has awakened you from the very depths of her soul! You have deceived her love by destroying all that you have become! Look at your hands, do you see the blood? Can you smell it? It is all around you! You have defiled the very laws of love by coveting the blood that sustains you!"

Shaking, she turned to the family.

"I know. I know what you have done, when you thought no one was watching. Your words and your abuse, flying around thick in the air. I curse you, who have made something so bitter that it would turn into this monster."

She cringed and fell back into the seat, heaving with quiet sobs. The whole room as one, swallowed the silence until there was nothing but the stale air in the deep summer afternoon to engulf them.

Just as the judge was about to speak, she opened her eyes, once more fixing her stare on him. A chill went through his body, and yet he felt an eery calm. She almost smiled.... and then it was gone.

"Judge. That is your title. How much more useful it would be to have you called Master or King. You sit on your throne, handing mercy to the highest bidder, the crowd your adoring people, all silently shivering in fear as you hand down your sentances on gilded platters. The innocent are shaken and torn, left to rot in prison while the crooks walk out with money in their pockets, and a smirk on their faces. And you have put it there! Blinded by your pride and promises of material wealth, you become lost in your ego. You don't even glance at the faces of the damned and defeated. If you are our only hope.... then this world is all but lost."

The judge by now was shaking. His breath came in gasps and his heart was racing. He gulped and closed his eyes because..... he knew. But he wanted to make sure.

He opened his lips, and whispered,

"Who are you?"

The woman fell back, weak and near death. Her face was pale, and her breath ragged. She sighed and sat still for a moment, and then uttered with her last breath,

"I am..... Justice."




This is something I've had in my head for months now, but I haven't really gotten the chance to write it down. I had this image of this haunting woman calling out the court system and more than that, humanity itself. It's very morbid, but I like it.