Chapter 4

The courtroom went quiet immediately. Beside me, Kyle shook his head without saying anything.

The judge began to read the verdict. "The court sentences the defendant, Simon Rivera, to death. The sentence will be carried out tomorrow."

"Good!"

The reaction hit all at once, loud and overwhelming, like a crowd celebrating a win.

I sat there and listened. When the noise finally died down, I looked up at the bench. "I don't accept the verdict. I'm appealing."

That set them off again.

"He still thinks he can appeal?"

"Just execute him already. Why waste more time?"

"Go to hell, you monster!"

Natalie covered her face, her shoulders shaking harder as her crying broke through again.

The judge's expression tightened. He was clearly furious, but he forced himself to stay within procedure. "Order! The defendant has the right to appeal. The case will be sent to the appellate court."

They led me out. The crowd behind me was still shouting, their anger following me all the way to the door.

Back at the jail, Kyle showed up again.

His eyes were bloodshot. He looked worn down and restless.

"You're really going through with this?" he said. "What's the point? You're just buying a few more days."

"Film it again," I said.

He stared at me, then pushed back his chair. "I'm done with this. I'm not running around for you anymore!"

"This time is different. Film the students. When you recorded last time, didn't anything feel off to you?"

He stopped. I could see the moment it clicked.

I leaned forward, lowering my voice. "At the second hearing, I'll say everything. Whatever you recorded, anything unusual, it might matter."

He held my gaze for a long time before finally speaking. "Fine."

Kyle posted another video.

In it, Natalie moved down the line, placing food on each student's plate. They ate the same way, chewing 20 times before swallowing, all in sync.

The comments online were still full of praise.

Kyle pointed at the screen. "Even if it's a little strange, what does it prove? Just tell me the truth. I can't defend you without it."

I closed the video and leaned back. "That's enough. You can go."

The chair slammed to the floor.

"You've got to be kidding me," Kyle growled, his voice tight. "I'm an idiot for believing you. I'm withdrawing from this case. I'm done being your lawyer."

At the second hearing, Kyle wasn't at the defense table. He sat in the gallery instead.

I didn't present any new evidence.

The prosecutor spoke with certainty. "The evidence speaks for itself. We ask that the original verdict be upheld."

The judge looked at me. "Mr. Rivera, anything further?"

I lifted my head. My voice came out rough. "I want to ask the medical examiner. Were autopsies performed? Are the reports complete? What was the exact cause of death? I want to see them."

The courtroom stirred.

"Objection," the prosecutor said. "The defendant is trying to stall with irrelevant requests."

The judge hesitated, then nodded toward the examiner.

The medical examiner read from the report. "All forty victims died of mechanical asphyxiation, consistent with strangulation. No toxins or other abnormalities were found."

The judge looked back at me. "You heard that. Do you have anything else to add?"

I was quiet for a moment. "So what's the ruling?"

"The original verdict stands. The defendant is sentenced to death, effective immediately." The gavel came down. "Execution will be carried out tomorrow."

"Good!"

"Finally, justice!"

"We've been waiting for this!"

The courtroom erupted again. Parents held each other, crying.

Natalie bent over the table, shoulders shaking, whether from grief or relief, it was hard to tell.

The judge struck the gavel. "Remove the defendant."

Just as the bailiffs moved in to take me away, I snapped my head up and shouted, "Wait!"

Each word came out sharp.

"I'm retracting my confession. I didn't kill them!"