# Chapter Three

Author: IanTheFolf
Tags: Action, Character Development, Plot Development, Rage Wolf, Story Progression, War, conflict

New Year's came and went as I spent the day packing up for
the court trial. I have to report to court at eight in the morning, and then be
personally escorted to the Marriot hotel down the street where we'll be
monitored twenty-four hours a day for twenty days until this damn case is over.
A bit too much if you ask me, but nobody was. I mean the government wants to
make sure that the terrorist dies, but we have laws in place and everyone is
granted a fair and just trial, which is why we're spending all this time and
money to make sure that the jurors find Rashkolnikov guilty, instead of doing
the same for other trials. My Country, 'Tis of Thee. 
I honestly don't care what happens to him; it doesn't
involve me nor has he done anything to me. I know that he's a cold blooded
killer, but aren't we all deep down inside? We all contain a deep evil within
us, waiting to be unleashed, and it seems that war brings it out of us.  It's only a matter of time before someone
does something stupid in Russia, and it breeds another world war. I wouldn't be
surprised if the ultranationalists were to retaliate against the Americans for
killing their best terrorist leader. 
There was a black SUV outside my house, and two scailes
wearing black suits and ties with earpieces came and rang my doorbell. I've
been waiting for them for nearly an hour, sitting on my couch in my white tux
with my suitcase next to me. I got up, put on my laptop bag, and walked to the
door. I turned the knob and opened the door, and I was greeted by them. 
"Ah, Glare! It's so nice to meet you!" One of them said a
bit too enthusiastically.
"So how are we going to kill him?" I asked, bored. 
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, well we all know that he's guilty, and he's probably
going to be put to death for committing the most heinous of crimes. I personally want him to be executed via firing
squad, but my friend wants to see him hanged. I suppose getting an executioner
to behead him wouldn't be so bad either, but it to medieval not that ISIS shit;
I want to see him scream in agony as his neck is hacked again and again," I
said as a smile crept onto my lips. I saw the horror on his face, surprised at
what I said, and it immediately ended the conversation between us. I saw the
other one whisper something into his earpiece before both of them helped me
into the SUV and drove off.
The ride to the courthouse was silent, none of us talked,
and they didn't have the radio turned on. I looked around and saw how decked
out the SUV looked. It looked like an upgraded version of the 2021 Ford Escape.
The seats were jet black leather and the floor was a lighter shade of black, up
front was a touchpad that had the FBI logo on it just bouncing around. The car
even had that new car smell. I pulled out some earphones along with my phone
and turned on some electro swing, tapping my foot and snapping my finger to the
beat and rapid pace of the music. I mean it was a two hour drive to the
courthouse, so I might as well make the best of it.
We finally got to the metro area, and the city was well
alive with cars and buses bustling everywhere, and people were milling around,
going to their destination. The scalie that was driving turned on the police
lights and sirens so that we could get there faster. Traffic started to part
for is like the red sea did for Moses. People looked at us, wondering where we
were going in such a hurry, and I looked out at them, noticing the diversity
amongst the sea of people. So many species in one place; it's a lot to take in.
Down where I live, it's just mostly canines and felines, with a few equines.
I've seen all the other species on TV but never in person. I really haven't met
a scalie until early this morning, and they aren't as bad as people say they
are.
We pulled up at the Marriot at around seven, and we walked
into the noticeably neat lobby area. One of my escorts pulled out at card and
showed it to the receptionist, and then the receptionist gave him two key
cards. The other agent took my suitcase and led me to my room. I was given my
keycard, and I opened the door. The view was truly sensational. I was on the
fifth floor, and I was given a bay area view with the balcony facing the sea. I
laid the suitcase of the bed then turned around and walked out, my two
bodyguards following close behind me. I went down to the first floor and went
to the café. I grabbed a plate of pancakes, bacon, and eggs with a side of
orange juice and coffee and sat down. I placed a bib over my suit before I
quickly choked down the food. I let out a quiet belch and finished off my
coffee before disposing my plate. It was 7:40 right now, and we proceeded to
leave the hotel.
The courthouse wasn't far from the hotel, just about a block
away, but even then I had to be driven there. When we arrived at the courthouse
the scalie in the passenger seat got out and opened my door. I got out with him
and we walked up to the building while the driver went to go find a place to
park. Immediately we were swarmed with journalists and major news networks;
their voices were just one jumbled mess like a middle school lunch room. We
inched forward and ignored their questions. I rolled my eyes and pushed a
journalist that was in my way. We finally made our way in the door and
proceeded down the hall to where the trial would take place. 
I sat where the other jurors were, in the seat than was
marked number seven because I was juror number seven. I sat in the back the
furthest away from the judge, and I was kind of glad because I didn't want to
be noticed as easily. I looked around the room and saw that half of the room
was split between journalists with pens and notepapers in their hand, seeing as
how phones and other devices that connected to the internet were not allowed in
the courtroom. The other half seated civilians and some of the federal agents
that are bodyguards for the other jurors. The jury was a mixed bunch that came
from all over the country; in fact, I was the only one closest to the court. I
mean, some of them must have found it to be an honor to be a part of the trial
of the century, but some of them must have felt like me and found this a waste
of time. 
The judge came in, wearing one of those powdered wigs like
they wear in Britain. He looked rather young for a judge, maybe late thirties
or early forties. We all had to stand up and sit down when the bailiff told us
to. The judge sat down and so did the rest of us. Now we were only waiting for
Rashkolnikov to get here.
Rashkolnikov and his attorneys walked into the room,
striding casually as if they owned the place. The black grizzly sat next to
what I believed was his senior attorney, the leader of his little legal group.
People started booing him, even some of the members of the jury. The judge
called for order, banging his gravel until the people calmed down.
"I thought this was supposed to be a fair trial,"
Rashkolnikov scoffed, his voice carrying a thick Russian accent. "The members of
your jury are even showing their bias towards me."
"Well you are a quite unpopular figure in America; just
about everyone eligible to be a juror, an American citizen, hates you. Our
jurors have come from across the country to be here today, to determine whether
you are innocent or guilty of the crimes in which you are convicted of," the
judge replied hotly, the blue husky showing Rashkolnikov who's in charge.
"Plus, that is only for American citizens, that in which you are not."
"I'm guilty!" he exclaimed with joy, "I'm the one who
slaughtered you American pigs, and I would love to do it again! You Americans
will never take me alive, and once I'm done with this trial and given my
verdict, my allies back in Russia will rain fire on your shitty country!"
The whole court was taken aback, then they were seething in
rage, and there was a mad dash towards him until the bailiff shot a warning
shot and the judge demanded order. "We will see about your sentencing after the
trial is finished, until then, you just have to wait as we do everything by the
book," the judge replied.
The trial started, and evidence was presented, witnesses
came up to the stand to testify against Rashkolnikov, and so on and so forth. I
was incredibly bored, playing with my watch, scratching my nails, just anything
to keep myself from going mad. The next ten days were just as bad as I fell
into a cycle of doing the same thing over and over again. After the trial and I
was permitted to go back to the hotel, I would. The wifi was tapped to monitor
all communication going in and out of the hotel, so getting on my laptop
wouldn't do. I would just sit there and watch the news on the sixty inch flat
screen TV. Most of it was just dribble about the trial and the war in Russia. I
went out to a local book store and bought a few books to pass the time, really
to make the trial go by faster by sneaking it into the court, but the judge
noticed me reading it nine days into the trial and confiscated it. 
The tenth day of trial was the same as the other nine, and I
could feel my life slipping away. Why can't we just kill him already? It would
make everyone's life so much easier. I got sick of looking at Rashkolnikov, our
eyes would meet, and a crooked smile would cross his lips. I guess he thought
that since it appeared that I didn't hate him, I would be the one who wouldn't
budge and eventually my stubbornness and the other jurors impatience would find
him innocent. When we passed each other leaving the trial for the day, he
muttered to me, "Maybe your life will be the only one in which I spare," before
walking off. So he somehow plans to kill everyone in there, and with his
connections, I wouldn't be surprised if he did. I honestly don't care, as long
as my life is not in danger. 
Later that night I was watching the news. It was showing the
same old stuff like an American hero at home that rescued a child from a
building on fire before a breaking news alert came on. "This just in!" the news
anchor began, "The ultranationalists and nationalists worked together to
Putin's fascist army. The Vietnamese and Syrian armies have returned to their
respective countries, and diplomats from both rival groups have joined together
and signed an armistice, with the democratic Russians east of the Ural
Mountains and the Soviets on the west. They two groups shall stay there until a
date for a treaty should be decided. Chinese and US forces have not left the
country as the Chinese army remains with the Soviets and the American army with
the new democratic republic of Russia. The Chinese army; however, has forces
close to the border of the new Russia, making the US and allies suspicious
about their intentions. Is the world on the brink of another world war? Only
time will tell."
I shut off the television and immediately thought about what
the news anchor said. That armistice won't last, and I wouldn't be surprised if
the Soviets and Chinese launched a preemptive strike on New Russia. More war
and more American soldiers dying. America has to learn that they are not the
global police force, and trying to be will make them only be hated by the
global community even more. We haven't been had a war on American soil since
the War of 1812, and I would like to keep it that way. The worse thing is that
a new radical group that just took over the Moscow government has access to
half of the nukes the Russian Federation had (it was agreed in the armistice
that the nukes would be divided between the two sides), so it's putting itself
in the bulls-eye for a nuclear attack. And Trump is so hot headed that he would
launch all the nukes and before you know it, it's a nuclear holocaust and I'm
dead, and I don't have time to be so um yea, America needs to tone it down a
bit.
The 20th finally came, and so it was the last day
of the trial. I wore my favorite white suit because as they say, save the best
for last. All those days being forced to go to trial and now it would come to
an end. We all agreed yesterday that Rashkolnikov is guilty, so the only thing
we had to do today was announce the verdict, he would get the death penalty,
and I would never have to do this again. I'm kind of eager to see how he'll
die, I'm really hoping for execution by firing squad, in public too, but I'll
have to wait. 
So the defendant and lead juror got up, and the lead juror
read the verdict. Rashkolnikov and his legal didn't seem surprised or
disappointed, but Rashkolnikov glared at me and I just gave him the same
crooked smile he gave me the first time our eyes met. Now this was the part I
was waiting for. I strained my ears to listen to and savor every word that came
out of the judge's mouth. 
"Well Rashkolnikov, I hereby find you guilty on countless
charges of mass murder, terrorism, and manslaughter. You are sentenced to death
via guillotine for the whole world to see. I hope you enjoy the rest of your
days on this earth," the judge said triumphantly. 
"Oh I will," Rashkolnikov smiled before shouting something
in Russian. Suddenly a few of the federal agents opened fire on the others and
a firefight ensured. I saw Rashkolnikov pull out a small nokia phone and dialed
a number. I strained to hear what he was saying, and all I heard was him
saying, "Do it."
One of my scalie bodyguards was helping people leave while
the other returned fire. Rashkolnikov picked up a pistol that one his men
tossed to him and started shooting the civilians. I was sitting in my seat,
apathetic by his little show. I decided that I was bored of it and went to
leave when I caught sight of Rashkolnikov, and he pointed the gun at me. 
"Such a pity. I had high hopes for you American. Now you
must die like the rest of these roaches," Rashkolnikov growled, putting his
finger on the trigger.
"If you're gonna shoot me, go ahead and do it, I haven't got
all day," I replied coldly, walking away. I heard him yell and fire, the bullet
going in and out of my arm. I felt a throbbing sensation in my arm as I lifted
it up and saw two holes in my suit, where the bullet came and went. This wasn't
any ordinary suit, it was my favorite one, and this Russian bastard shot a hole
in it. Oh was he going to get what was coming to him. I let my anger and rage
consume me, and I transformed into my rage form. My suit didn't rip because I
asked porky to make it stretchable in case something like this happened, I mean
it's a good looking suit, and I paid a lot of money for it. I saw the horror on
Rashkolnikov's face as he pulled the trigger furiously. I felt the bullets
ripping into me, but they didn't hurt, my pure hatred and goal for ending
Rashkolnikov's life was keeping the pain away. He ran out of bullets and backed
up into a wall.
"Wha-what are you?" he asked, his voice trembling with fear.

"Your worst nightmare," I replied, beaming ecstatically
before grabbing his throat and holding him up against the wall.
"Well now I'm ecstatic!" I exclaimed merrily. "I was a
little worried; I wasn't a big fan of the whole guillotine idea, but now I can
end your life any way I can please. Now, what should I do first?" I extended a
claw on my index finger and slowly cut his stomach open, and relished in his
agonizing cries of pain. Blood started spewing out from where I cut him, and I
dabbed a little onto my finger and tasted it. I could see tears forming in his
eyes, a grown man, a Russian at that, crying like a little bitch. Pathetic. I
brought him close to me and we looked at each other, his eyes full of fear. 
"It's good that you fear me," I said before biting his neck,
my canines digging into his skin. He cried out in agony again, and just started
laughing like a maniac. I bit him to where if I laid him down to bleed out he'd
be dead within five minutes rather than rip his neck out and let him die in
thirty seconds. I carefully cut his vocal cords and dropped him to the floor,
where started gagging on his own blood. 
"That's for all the Americans you killed you commie fuck.
It's rather unfortunate that I couldn't torture you more before killing you,
but I simply have a reputation to protect. Adieu my good sir!" I exclaimed
before turning back into my normal form and walking out. Already there were
people in there who saw me transform, but hopefully no one would believe them.
Unfortunately for me when I walked out I was immediately
arrested by one of my scalie bodyguards because he saw what happened,
everything, and wanted to question me on what I was and what I had in
connection with Rashkolnikov even though I killed him. I was taken to the
police station and I had my picture taken. I smiled for the picture and was
later thrown in a cell until I was to be questioned.
While I was there I was watching the news, and I had learned
that a terrorist attack had taken place right after Rashkolnikov made that call
on his nokia. The ultranationalists had invaded the New Russian Republic and
hijacked multiple planes and crashed them into the congress building where
Trump was giving his State of the Union address. When they finally realized
what was going on, it was too late and all of the attendees were killed. They
tried evacuating; they even scrambled jets to shoot the planes down with, but
the ultranationalists had a head start. The world was shocked as this tragedy;
the United States government was crippled in a matter of minutes. 
Fortunately, the Secretary of Homeland Defense was spared,
and it showed him taking oath to become president from a few minutes after the
attack and it was confirmed that there were no survivors. It showed a live feed
of him now, giving a speech to his distraught country.
"Today, our country has witnessed a great tragedy, one of
which in some ways is worse than the September 11th attacks. The
Soviets are chosen to strike us at a critical moment and have left us with a
half operational government, but I assure you, there will be mass elections to
replace those who we have lost today, and that this tragedy will not go
unanswered. The Soviets will pay for their negligence. This is an act of war,
and I hereby enact article five of NATO. Let us not remember this as a day for
when the enemy crippled our great nation, for America has always risen from the
ashes; let us remember this day as the day that America began to fight for her
freedom! So I want all the Soviet insurgents out there to here this, the United
States government is officially at war with the Soviet Union!"                                 

Source: https://sofurry.com/view/968266