\n I went on with life as normal, as normal as possible anyway, and tried to ignore everything else. There was an odd lull. Haley's dad did nothing to combat the actions of Jake and myself. We never heard anything from the camp, which scared us more than ever. The silence was worse than whatever terrible things he'd bring upon us.

I was picking up Sophie from school one afternoon in late October and I felt really good about the day. Haley had finally started to act more like herself, Jake seemed to be in better spirits, and all was seemingly right in the world.

"Hey Soph, how was school?"

She said nothing.

"You okay?"

She looked away, out the car window and into the passing trees outside. I knew what she was going through. I could tell. Call it intuition or whatever, but I knew my sister well enough.

"You broke up with Andy didn't you?"

She nodded.

"What happened?"

She sniffled. "I caught him talking to another girl."

I laughed until she glared at me."Sorry Soph', just... that's doesn't mean..."

"He kissed her."

"Oh..."

"Why did he have to? Why did he have to hurt me?" She leaned over and wept into my lap.

I pulled the car over and stopped to look at her. I hugged her tightly. "Sh... It's okay. Look, I bet he wasn't thinking. I know you're going to hate this, but a lot of guys are like this. We don't always think about these things. We don't always mean what we say... But Sophie? Don't you ever think that it's your fault. It's his for not realizing how fantastic of a person you are. Don't ever forget that Sophie."

\n She looked at me and smiled a little. "Thanks Brent."

\n "No problem Soph'. It's what I'm here for."

I let her play whatever she wanted on the radio for the rest of the short drive home. It actually helped her cheer up. She was able to sing along with the pop song she picked out on the radio. She had a good voice on her, I must admit. It was honest and powerful. I parked the car at the house and Sophie ran inside. She was excited because I promised to make her nachos. I had a talent for making pretty awesome nachos. I went to the mailbox and picked up what mail there was; I flipped through it while walking in. It was the usual: magazines, bills, ads, and... a letter addressed to me... from the city council.

"What the hell?" I opened it up and set the rest on the kitchen counter. It read.

Mr. Brent Phillips:
\n  

\n Your presence is required in the case of Franklin Roberts v. Chase Thorton. We have reason to believe that you will prove to be pivotal to the case. We have heard accounts that place you at the scene of the crime. Please contact us by the Twenty-First of October.

\n
What the hell?
\n  

\n *****

\n
I walked into court on the day of Chase's trial. I had been pressured into testifying for the court. The case had been expedited by the media attention. Normally, it could have been years before anything would happen, but there was a lot of pressure to get the case over with. Maybe then things would simmer down. I was accompanied by my parents, Haley, and Jake. Sophie had been told to stay home with a baby sitter. Truth be told, I was happy. I didn't want her to hear the story.

I didn't want her to lose respect for me.

I was wearing a finely pressed suit and tie. Mom's insistence paid off I guess. I walked into the court room and was surprised to see how packed it was. It was full of people who were involved, or merely wanted to look. And it was very much segregated. Furs and fur-supporters on one side, anti-furs on the other. I saw Arnold. He sat smugly in the middle of a row, surrounded by family, and his own security detail. Haley stiffened when she saw him. She was still afraid of him. I clutched her hand tightly and rubbed her hand with my thumb. We sat down towards the front, and waited for the judge.

When he finally walked in I wasn't sure how to feel. He was in his forties, and a human, but that doesn't mean anything. I mean, he could be pro or anti-fur and you'd never know. We all stood at the bailiff's command. The trial began with a re-telling of Chase's priors. They weren't that many, I mean, there was one DWI and a count of being caught in possession of alcohol, but that wasn't much. I was a little surprised because I always pictured him as having a bigger record. The prosecutor was really laying it on thick, claiming Roberts' innocence and his service to the community was commendable. Like that somehow proved he hadn't provoked Chase.

\n Chase looked different since I had seen him. His eyes were sullen and dark. He seemed terrified and on edge. I felt a little bad for him. I mean, he wasn't that bad a guy. He was dick, sure, but I don't think he deserved to be put in jail. He went on the stand and told what happened. In detail. He cited Roberts' behavior towards furs and the hate speech he would spout off in class. The prosecutor objected saying that Chase was never in any of Roberts' classes. But the judge allowed it. So Chase went on. He told his story and then he talked about his family life.

"The thing is... I never really had parents. Sure I technically have  parents, but when they leave you alone for so long, and then return to beat you. T-Things are tough. They never really paid attention to me. My dad's a drunk, and mom... She's a bitch. And a whore."

Chase's parents were practically shaking with rage. I could tell that it was true though.. Even from where I sat I could smell the booze on his dad. Chase went on and I realized how much of a victim he was. At home, he's abused, at school, he's abused -- to an extent. It's only a matter of time until he would crack. Anyone could see that. I just hoped that the jury would be smart enough to realize it. After a while, I was called up to the stand. I felt a little sick as I walked to the stand. I place my hand on the Bible and pledged to tell the truth. I was nervous as hell. It was hard to do.

"I was walking to go to the bathroom. I heard a commotion downstairs so I jumped the railing and kind of fell down the rest of the way. Chase was attacking my friend Jake for coming out of the closet. I intervened when Mr. Roberts came by. He said something and Chase snapped. He went after Roberts and started mauling. At first I took off to run, but I heard the cries of Roberts... and I turned around to stop Chase. I told him to get off Roberts. That it would only make things worse for the furs. Chase... He told me that-"

Chase looked right at me and pleaded to me. His eyes held so much remorse, so much sadness and pain. I spaced for a moment and stopped talking because all I could see then was the insecure wolf he was. Not the tormentor he'd proved to be. Not the fur who'd made my life hell. Only the scared little pup I saw in those eyes.

"As I was saying, Chase told me that I should get out of there. So I did. I didn't realize something about Chase until just recently though..." I paused. Was I really about to do this? I was either going to help a wolf who'd made my life hell for years, or the family of a psychopath. Which was the lesser evil? Which deserved defense? "And that is... Chase... He's not a bad guy. He is a lonely, abused wolf who simply was done with speciesist crap. And before you refute me," I told the prosecutor pointedly, "Mr. Roberts, before the attack said, and I quote, 'I know that you're nothing but brute savages, but this is a school, settle this elsewhere.' But that's not all. I've been in his class for months. And he's constantly saying anti-fur things in his lessons. Things that are irrelevant to Economics."

I finished my diatribe and left the stand. I saw Arnold's face stare at mine, and I ignored it. The case went on for a while. More evidence and testimony. It got boring, but all the while I was simply thinking that Chase deserved a better chance. He'd been constantly screwed. I really started to feel for him. It made sense why he would be so messed up.

The jury left and there was a recess. We waited and waited. I talked with Haley, who was staying well away from her father, and I just tried not to think about the rest of it. Mom and Dad were on my case to leave, but I wanted to stay. I wanted to see what Chase would get.

The court convened once more and the jury walked in the room. I was nearly shaking. And I saw Chase bow his head, and pray. I swear I saw a tear land on his cheek fur.

"Has the jury reached a verdict?" The judge asked.

"We have, Your Honor."

"And what is your decision?"

The prosecutor approached the judge and whispered something into his ear. I was just able to make out what was said, thanks to my developed ears. From what I heard, it was,

\n "Your honor, I've just received word that Mr. Roberts has passed away."

"Nothing we can do about that now. It would be double jeopardy." The judge said after a moment's hesitation. He motioned for the jury to continue.

"We, the jury, find Chase Thorton to be not guilty."

"What?" Arnold screamed from his seat. He stood and glared at Chase. "You little murderer! You killed him and you're getting away? This is an outrage." An overwhelming amount of agreement sounded behind him. How the hell did Arnold find out? The human side was glaring at the fur side and had a plot in their eyes. "This will not stand!"

"Order in the court!" The judge cried to no avail. A mob was forming. Crying against the verdict. Saying that it was unfair and rigged. That the furs ran the justice system. They were making it up as they went. I was scared though. A riot was starting, and there wasn't much that could be done to stop it. Windows were being smashed and chairs thrown. Humans jumped on furs and attacked them.

I couldn't help but think that all this was my fault.

\n  

\n Cliffhanger! DUN DUN DUUUUN! I have a few more chapters to go before the end, and I'm really happy with the next one. It'll be action-y and all... You know what, I'm not gonna spoil it. Please Read, Rate, and Review! Thanks to Eryth for the edits. -Kergiby