《Mercury》


 Prologue

    "This...is the man that gave the senator 48 stab wounds, hacked and slashed his body to pieces....and packed it in a travelling bag only to throw into the fields of unknown?" I asked the investigator.


    "Yes, Attorney."


    I reread the files given to me. Name, Kiefer Strelitz. Age, twenty years old. Gender, male. Background, the youngest son to Strelitz Publishing Corporation. Red tagged for propaganda against the government. I put down the folder and looked upon the face of the criminal. He has been in prison for four years. Downtrodden, beaten up, and malnourished¡ªthis is the face of the government rebel and murderer?


    "What did the witnesses say?" I tapped my fingers on the table, trying to throw my sympathy away towards this kid.


    The investigator answered. "They all had the same statement: A tall, lanky man about six feet in height went with the senator in the same room. Later, they heard a gunshot, and one of the senator''s secretaries came in. He said the boy was trembling in fear, holding a knife."


    His answer made me raise my eyebrows. "Huh? I thought the senator died from stab wounds and being cut to pieces?"


    "He did. Because the senator was still alive from the gunshot. Then, this young man attacked the senator and stabbed him to death..."


    "What did the secretary do? Why didn''t he help?"


    Clearing his throat, the investigator placed his hand on my shoulder, leaned close and whispered to my ear. "Well, he was afraid of a rebel. Of course, why would he try to stop a rebel?"


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    I felt him squeeze on my shoulder. He looked at the young man in question who couldn''t afford to look at his intense condemning eyes. "Okay, then. Thanks for answering. I hope you''ll leave your lines open for further questions?"


    With a devilish smirk, the investigator replied. "Of course, attorney. Oooh, would you look at the time." He whistled as he took a glance at his cheap metal watch. "I''ll have to leave you two first." He gave Kiefer one last look of warning before leaving me and


    Kiefer alone in the interrogation room.


    A moment of silence. I was staring at a terrified man who hadn''t fully realized his adulthood yet. "Kiefer?"


    Kiefer, seemingly afraid to even look at me, was trembling. His adam''s apple moved as he gulped hard.


    "Kiefer...." With a warm smile, I reached out my hand for him as a gentle approach to his elusive nature. "My name is Helen Neumann. I am your attorney. I''m here to defend you."


    Look at this guy. He can''t even speak or respond to my greetings. He''s thinking if he should look at me, hold my hand, or answer me.


    "Kiefer¡ª"


    BAM!!!


    "I DID NOT KILL HIM¡ªI SWEAR TO GOD! I DID NOT KILL HIM!" Kiefer grabbed me by my shoulders and shouted the same words as if he''s chanting.


    As if lightning, the investigator bust open the door and ran swiftly to intervene. He tased Kiefer who was defenseless from the device.


    "Hey! You don''t have to do that!" He just tased my client!


    "Shut it woman!" The investigator roared. "You, shameless brat!" He dragged Kiefer away by his collar as Kiefer held onto his hand.


    "Where are you taking him?"


    "To the correction hub." He stopped by the door and glanced at me. "If you want to survive this country, don''t get in too deep, young lady," the investigator warned.


    Anxious and fearful, I shut my mouth and watched Kiefer be dragged away helplessly.


    "I did not kill him¡ªI did not kill him...." He cries while being taken away.


    The room fell silent as soon as Kiefer left the room....

 Chapter 1: Tainted Innocence

    With a huge punch to the gut, I folded and fell onto the floor.


    "That''s what you get¡ªyou stupid¡ªimbecile¡ªshameless!" the investigator said as he kicked me till he ran out of energy to do so. He grunted and sat on his ankles. "You know, you could reduce your sentence if you just....just silently accept your fate, huh?"


    My hands shook as I look at his eyes full of disgust and contempt. I stuttered, "I-I did not...k-kill him.........................GAAAAAAH!!" I choked on my spit when I felt his kick on my stomach one last time.


    "You know, I pity you. If not for your blood from a rich bourgeoisie, I''m sure the president must have killed you instantly."


    He spit on me and left me wringing from pain on the floor. Gritting my teeth, I cried. My tears wouldn''t stop trickling down my face that I could taste the bitterness and saltiness of my soul.


    I......am innocent.


    I was falsely accused for the murder of a known senator of this country. For convenience, they even labelled me a rebel for creating a well-known animation film centering on youth empowerment. In a wrong turn of events, my most prized creation became my wick of downfall. The president said my film has anti-government propaganda, and I used it to brainwash the youth to go against the government. He even said that I killed the senator, a loyal party member of the president, in my frustrated attempt to fulfill my propaganda. Thus, I was captured alive and treated like a worthless creature in this isolated prison. For four years, I have been enduring abuse and harassment from the investigators, prison guards, and cellmates. My family used to visit me, but as years passed by, they have cared less for my being. This is the first in a very long time that they have given me a chance to escape, yet why an apprentice prosecutor?


    In my own cell on a bed, I placed my hand over my head, thinking, "Do they want me dead instead? But why now? They could have just killed me right at that time."


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    Clack, clack, clack, clack.


    "Hello, Kiefer," a sweet, honey-like voice called my name.


    My eyes shifted to glance in the direction of the sound. Oh, it was that woman from yesterday.


    I gulped. When I looked at her, I couldn''t help but admire her elegance. Her eyes are fearless, yet you can sense fairness and stillness in her. I couldn''t look away.


    "Mr. Kiefer? I am here to talk about your case that''s been pending in court for....four years to be exact. Today marks the fourth year you were captured as a government rebel." She brings out a white box.


    I sat up. On instinct, I backed away and hugged my knees. She noticed my reaction, but she didn''t leave. Instead, she sat on the floor and placed the white box beyond the bars.


    "Orange chicken? I heard from your friends that you loved ordering them."


    Sniff, sniff. It is orange chicken!


    I rushed to get the box, however, when I saw her face up close, I retracted as I got the box. I returned to my bed and turned away.


    "How are you, Kiefer?.............I know, you''re disappointed to see that an apprentice prosecutor was sent instead of an attorney of caliber to defend you. You may not believe me, but I can defend you. That is...if we work together...."


    Together? I scoffed. "You...were but a number among the lawyers my family hired. I don''t know how much they paid you for you to accept a death row case. But you can''t change the minds of the judges."


    "Who says we can''t?"


    What?


    I looked at her in surprise. She didn''t even flinch.


    "Judges are humans, too. They may also have errors despite having years of experience in the field. So, who says we can''t change their minds before your big day?"


    "...............But they are the judges. They can only be a judge after ten years of practice in law...."


    She doesn''t say a word. She opens the box and eats her own meal.


    "Even if you don''t believe me, what if I was your only chance to be free?" she asked as she looked at me intently.


    I tried to build up the courage to say something to her, but my trauma from years of abuse prevented me. I waited for her to leave, and she did. However, I became bothered when she visited me every day and even told me about her day in her law school.


    Scowling, I asked her, "Why? Why do you keep coming back?"


    Ignoring my annoyance, she replied, "You are my client, Kiefer. Even if you told me I could just run away with the large sum your family has paid me, my integrity doesn''t allow me to do so. Do you hate people with integrity, Kiefer?"


    Her question made me gulp and rethink my words. "Integrity....I already forgot that word. It has been out of my dictionary ever since my life turned upside down."

 Chapter 2: Forty-Eight Frames

    My eyes scanned around the prison. It was dark, humid, and so little light could pass through. I have no other time available to meet him but only after my classes.


    "How did your eyes adjust to this? I can''t see your handsome face well..."


    Of course, he won''t answer me. As usual, I try to engage him in a conversation. I held my phone cause someone texted me, but I accidentally opened my flashlight. "Oops¡ªsorry¡ª"


    He quickly grabbed my arm and pulled me close. I almost hit the bars. In a menacing tone, he slowly warned me. "Don''t. Turn. That. On."


    For a second, I felt his murderous intent. "Okay, Mr. Kiefer. I''ll turn it off, and would you please...let go of me?"


    His grip became firmer and tighter before finally releasing his hold of my hand. Ah....it hurts like hell. I turned off the flashlight on my phone. Stupid Helen! You know this guy is a murderer and rebel.


    "I''m sorry, Kiefer. That won''t happen again."


    I stood for a moment waiting for him to respond, but he didn''t say anything. After staying for an hour, I said my goodbye. "Alright, see you tomorrow, I guess. Again, I''m sorry, Kiefer...."


    Clack. Clack, clack.


    The next day, she came back.


    The next day, I came back.


    I was working on a series of animation stills on my walls, but I always did it in dimly lit areas of my cell. In the morning, before any guards see them, I erase them. I made sure I only made easy to erase media whenever I drew on the walls. My only mistake was waking up later than I used to.


    I came earlier than I used to. I hope he has forgiven me last night. I even bought him his favorite orange chicken meal. Those are the thoughts that ran through my mind as I walked towards his prison cell. In my surprise, my eyes widened as I saw the series of drawings on his walls. Despite it being lowly lit by the sun, I could understand the shapes and forms of each drawing. Looking from afar, the whole picture of the animation stills is....


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    "Freedom..." I muttered to myself. There he lied--tired and sleeping soundly as his hand held a brush with an unknown painting medium on the concrete floor.


    Slowly, my eyes blink open.


    "How long have you been doing this?" she asked.


    I look at her in horror while she seems impressed at my works that could endanger my life any moment. I rushed to her and held her by the ankle. Thankfully, when she fell, she landed on her butt.


    "Please, I''m begging you.......don''t tell anyone about this," I begged with my voice as if whispering.


    I nodded. I sat close to him. "You....tell me what really happened. I''ve seen your animation film. It was impressive."


    I saw him frown at my compliment.


    "I won''t know how to tell them you''re innocent if you could never tell me the truth. And I want your truth."


    Silence. He turned away from me. With a worn out fabric, the drawings on the walls were erased in huge swoops of his hand. "Come back later at night."


    "Then what?"


    "The truth. I''ll show you the truth."


    At around eight o''clock in the evening, I went back to his prison cell. I told the investigator that I was still in the process of talking to Kiefer, and he just nonchalantly allowed me. Looking around, I made sure that no one is following me and silently went towards his prison cell.


    It''s too dark. Wonder why of all times¡ª


    Rumble!


    I looked in the direction of the loud sound--flashes of lightning accompanied by thunder. Anxious, I continued to walk until I felt I was near the bars of Kiefer''s prison.


    "You came back."


    "Of course," I responded, trying to hide my anxiety.


    Boom!


    Another thunder. My eyes went large when flashes of lightning showed images I shouldn''t have seen. I gasped and covered my mouth.


    After that encounter, I ran to my office and reviewed Kiefer''s folder. I looked through the images and reread the statements of witnesses.


    "It''s so clean. How did they do it?" There was no evidence that was left as an opening to pinpoint the real murderer.


    My hands were shaking as I recalled the animation stills of how the senator was killed. I can feel fear creeping into my spine. The chills¡ªand the skin bumps. I feel dizzy.


    Riiiiing, riiiing!


    I flinched when my cellphone rang. "Hello?"


    A muffled voice answered. "Hello? Are you Attorney Neumann?"


    "Yes, I am. Who is this?"


    "This is from the Strelitz residence. I am Larry Strelitz, the uncle of Kiefer. Can I meet you tomorrow?"


    I held onto my phone, still bothered by the drawings of Kiefer. "Sure, Mr. Strelitz. What time will we meet?"

 Chapter 3: Before the World Was Tainted Black

    She hasn''t visited me for a week now. She must have given up.


    "I knew it," I mumbled. I continued to mop the floor of the prison cafeteria.


    One of the gangster mobs bullied me by throwing more trash on the floor. They laughed as I silently picked the trash one by one, then, they kicked the bin I threw the trash in.


    "What''s a rebel like you gonna do? Stab me?" one of the gangsters joked. He laughed maniacally.


    Punch!


    In a flash before my eyes, I became the center of a riot. Fast-forward, I was wringing on the floor again from pain because the prison guards beat me up as punishment. Although this time, I had a few inmates who were going through the same thing as me.


    "Damn, that asshole guard kicked me right in the nuts¡ªptooo!" one of the seemingly rough macho men said.


    The other young guy, who might be the same age as I am, sat up and chuckled. "Yeah, right. I don''t know why and how did you manage to endure that kind of bullshit?" He looked at me curious about my circumstances.


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    They all stood up and helped me.


    A guy about five foot seven and dons pink and blonde streaks with unruly black hair, the guy introduced their company. "The name''s Nerine, this macho guy here is Weiss. Then that cranky man is Crane," Nerine said.


    I was shocked that they helped me. "Why? Why are you helping me?"


    "Are you kidding? A rebel? Anyone with a right mind of logic or reason would know instantly you weren''t one," Weiss commented.


    "Right, right. What does a guy with cartoon skills can do? I only know this guy right here only ever held a pen and brush." Nerine held my shoulders and flopped my hands.


    They laughed as they joked about my story. I''m supposed to be offended, but I smiled instead.


    Nerine saw my smile. "Ohhh¡ªlook at this guy. Never knew you were a handsome fella!"


    "I am?" I asked confusingly.


    "Yeah. Just shave your beard and cut your hair," Nerine gestured, his hands seemingly framing his fingers on my face. "You know, let Weiss''s magick you up!"


    After a few persuasions, Weiss cut my unruly hair. He combed it. Then, he shaved my beard and mustache. Crane handed me a mirror. To my surprise, I saw an unfamiliar face.


    "................"


    "Hey, say something fella!" Crane nudged me with his elbow.


    My tears formed in my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. They smiled and made fun of me for crying at my twenty years of age.


    Nerine chuckled. "Oh my, never in my life had I seen a tall lanky man like you cry like a baby. Told you were a handsome guy. Maybe, add some muscle by eating more protein."


    "Been a long time, isn''t it?" Weiss asked.


    I nodded. "Yeah, this was...my face before everything was tainted black."

 Chapter 4: The Devils Advocate

    Day after day, I can still remember each stroke of the drawing. Forty-eight frames showed Kiefer''s side of the story.


    I got out of the cab and closed the door.


    Clack, clack, clack. Creak. Ring ring!


    "Welcome, Madam!" a waiter in a suit greets me. Cozy and cool interiors with spacious lounge chairs and armchairs fill the restaurant. Luxurious, if I should comment on its ambiance. Despite its extravagant interior design, the restaurant is but a lonely space filled with nothing but pompous d¨¦cor and people.


    Tall and dignified. Always wearing a suit and arrives on the dot. His eyelashes flared up, and his lips flashed a smile. "Attorney Neumann?" He reached out his hand for a handshake.


    "Yes, that is me." I took his hand and shook it. We both sat down and talked about Kiefer''s case.


    "What did the boy say?" Mr. Larry asked. His lips were barely sipping on the coffee that might have been cold already since five minutes ago.


    "Nothing much. He still has traces of trauma and abuse. I''m afraid we should be more patient with him."


    He put down his cup. Tap, tap, tap. His fingers tapped on the table.


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    I observed his actions and facial expressions, however, they were....unreadable.


    "Can I meet him?"


    "Yes?"


    "I want to meet my lovely nephew," he said with a loving tone as if he missed Kiefer deeply. "You see, that boy, is the most loved child of my brother. He might not have talent for the Strelitz business, but his talent for writing and creating masterpieces is world-class and irreplaceable."


    "I-I''ll try to convince the investigators and prison guards."


    "Thank you, sweetheart." His lips curled upward, yet his eyes lit red.


    Am I seeing it wrong?


    "Anyway, here''s your compensation, Attorney."


    "No, I don''t¡ª"


    Mr. Larry shushed me and snapped his fingers. Behind him, one of his assistants came forward and placed a briefcase on the table. Mr. Larry, then, opened the case, and I breathed heavily when I saw stacks upon stacks of bills.


    "I can''t accept this...."


    Mr. Larry stood up from his chair.


    Tack-tack! Tack-Tack....


    Walking with a cane, Mr. Larry dragged his limp feet and went towards me. He leaned to my left ear and whispered, "Who says you can''t?" His hand firmly pressed on my left shoulder. He stood up properly and smiled almost devilishly at me. "Take it, Attorney. Because of your dedication and integrity, this reward could not compensate enough for your talent. So, if you''ll excuse me, have a lovely time, Attorney. Your coffee is also paid, darling."


    Tack-tack! Tack-tack....


    I gulped. It was the same thing that happened when I first met Kiefer.


    "What am I getting into?" I thought to myself. Mr. Larry had already left, but the pressure his hand had placed on my shoulder was heavy. I dragged my being outside the restaurant and headed to the prison.


    "Yes, please give it to the investigator and the prison guards handling Kiefer Strelitz'' cell." I gave a brown envelope to the prison warden, and he silently accepted the offer.


    Clack, clack, clack. My heels stopped by the hallway with its dark end at the other side.


    Kiefer Strelitz....who exactly are you?

 Chapter 5: Mercury, the First Poison

    Creaaaaaak!


    The metal bars opened, and a tall shadow loomed over me. Although my eyes scanned for something to rest on, I ended up being eaten away by fear, anxiety, and trauma. My whole body trembled as I was dragged towards a room who knows where.


    "No¡ªno...where are you taking me? Where are you taking me???" I shouted, and they shut me down by tying a fabric tight to my mouth. Struggling, I tried to scream and squirm to escape the men who dragged me away from my cell.


    "Hmmph!!" I was thrown like a sack onto the floor. My pupils dilated as I saw the room where it all started. I screamed, yet my voice was muffled by the tight fabric on my mouth.


    Tack-tack! Tack-tack! Tack-tack....


    "Hello, Kiefer..."


    So hard¡ªso hard to breathe! My chest was tightening, and my whole body shook from fear.


    The man went down and removed the fabric that prevented me from screaming. No matter how much I wanted to scream, my mouth wouldn''t let me. My voice hid itself in the deepest pits of my soul.


    "Kiefer...you know just how much your family loves you, right? You just have to admit..."


    Pain¡ªpainful! The memories of that day came back as if it was fresh.


    It was the commemoration of Independence Day. All the public officials had gathered and appeared for speeches. Senator Michael, one of our business partners and a friend of my father, was one of the delegates on the occasion. I, on the other hand, was the youngest son of the current CEO of Strelitz Publishing Corporation. I wasn''t supposed to be among the guests at the event for officials, yet my animation film won international awards, thus, earning me a spot for an invitation to the said event.


    "Kiefer, so nice to meet you!" As always, Sen. Michael would greet me as if we had never met at the company during my regular office inspections with Dad.


    "Good day, Senator. It was a pleasure to be joining this joyous celebration," I answered and shook his hand with a broad smile on my face.


    I can still hear the cheers the public have for me as among the youngest artists in the country to receive a national award. What I cannot accept is the moment that happened afterwards.


    It was late at night. Ten forty-five, to be exact. Sen. Michael told me he wanted to show me his private art gallery. I refused his offer, yet he insisted on bringing me along to his office.


    "You see, Kiefer, if only there were more youths like you. You can inspire a new generation," his words, like a father who encourages me to pursue my passion for animated films.


    I chuckled. "But Sir, you flatter me too much. Even my father told me I should have gone for public administration or even business."


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    "True¡ªwhy didn''t you? You have a talent for leading people, Kiefer. Look at how your film impacted a lot of young people!" He said so proudly as he finally opened his secret door to his private gallery.


    My jaw dropped. All unknown works created by different classical masters can be found here.


    "Don''t be fooled. Some of them are duplicates." He said as he drank his glass of beer.


    "Impressive, Sir, for a duplicate." I observed and noticed some details that were different from the original masterpieces I have studied from art school.


    Sen. Michael''s phone suddenly rang. "Hello?"


    A muffled voice answered. "Senator, someone wants to see you."


    "Okay. Give me time to meet him. Kiefer, you could look around if you want. I''ll shut this secret lever. Then, if you want to get out, just click this¡ªright here!" He demonstrated the way to get out of the private gallery, but I wasn''t able to remember correctly because I was absorbed by my admiration for the masterpieces.


    On the other side, I can hear two voices talking: One is the Senator, the other, a somewhat familiar yet odd voice.


    "I told you, Sir. The funds you gave me are for the scholarships of skilled young people...." the senator said.


    Slowly, I placed my ear near the wall where I could hear their conversation.


    "Traitor."


    "UGGGH!!"


    My eyes widened. "Senator¡ªSenator!!!" I fumbled on the lever trying to get out of the gallery.


    Clack¡ªclack, clack! The secret door opened. I saw Senator wringing in pain on the floor as he was stabbed in the gut.


    "Kiefer, run..." He coughed blood.


    Two men try to shoot me down, yet I swiftly scooped Sen. Michael and ran towards the desk for cover. At the side of my eye, something was glistening. It was the knife used to stab Sen. Michael.


    "GAAAAAAH!" the man shouted. I stabbed one of the men with the knife on his left leg.


    As the man turned, my eyes slowly turned grim. Dropping the knife, I sat down in horror and shock. I backed away.


    The man laughed maniacally. "Kiefer, Kiefer....how dare a lowly cartoonist kid pick up the blade?"


    "U-uncle....."


    Bang, bang, bang!


    Lying on the floor, I crawled towards Sen. Michael. There were exchanges of bullets between the senator and Uncle Larry. I covered Sen. Michael, so I got shot.


    Cough, cough. The senator tried to shake me into consciousness, but Uncle Larry held onto the knife and stabbed Sen. Michael a few more times.


    "Senator¡ªSenatooor¡ªgaaah!" I got hit by Uncle''s men and shot me twice on my back.


    "Kiefer, Kiefer, boy!" My uncle tried to hold onto me as if he was trying to save me. Then, with a red glint in his eye, he told his men to call for security. "Security¡ªsecurity! Someone has breached into the Senator''s office!" He looked at me menacingly. "A tall six-foot man...."


    Coughing and crying, I glanced at the lifeless body of Sen. Michael who I treated like my second father, and back at Uncle Larry who treated me like a rival. With a handkerchief, he wiped away the blood and anything that would imprint him as the murderer of Sen. Michael. Gently, he placed the knife in my hands and positioned me as if I had stabbed the senator. He hugged me and cried before the senator''s guards arrived.


    "Kiefer...oh, he''s an innocent boy!--help him," Uncle Larry played and cried to the guards.


    I gasped back into reality as he repeated the same words to me. He laughed at my misery.


    Uncle Larry gripped my hair and pulled my head, which forced me to look him directly in the eye. "You know, you wouldn''t be in this situation. If only you weren''t given the highest shares by your father...."


    I glared back at him. All these four years¡ªthe frustration, abuse, and trauma that have built up inside me, like the poison you slowly inject into me to paint the narrative of me being a leader of the youth rebels.


    "Oh...ohohoho¡ªwhat lovely eyes! Yes, perfect. Be the rebel you''ve always hated to be called out to. What was that¡ªfree your world and be reborn?" he smiled like the devil.


    "YOU¡ªYOU ARE THE ONE WHO KILLED THE SENATOR! YOU KILLED THE SENATOR!!!" I shouted at him and grabbed him by the collar. His henchmen quickly pulled me away from him.


    GAAAAAH!


    He slammed my head onto the wooden floor. Blood trickled from my forehead and nose.


    "You will continue to play your part as a sacrifice for the honor of your family. Play the villain, die like a villain, Kiefer....." he whispered menacingly to my ears, then laughed once more. After that, he stood up and got a syringe with a drug. He injected it into my neck.


    Like in a hallucination, the memories of Sen. Michael''s death kept replaying in my mind. I went crazy as I tried to battle for the insanity left in my brain. Thrown back into my cell, I rolled around and laughed and cried.

 Chapter 6: The World of Prisons

    Clack, clack, clack.


    Ting!


    "YOU KILLED THE SENATOR!" Kiefer shouted at me, but also retreated when he saw my face.


    He....was like me....


    We were both imprisoned. If you looked at me from the other side, wouldn''t I look the same as him?


    My Mom used to say, how unlucky that I was born as a girl. My Dad used to say how unlucky he got a girl and wished I was a boy instead. No matter how hard I studied, or how much money I can provide to my six younger siblings, I could never measure up to their expectations.......


    Because I am a woman....


    As a girl who longed to be free, I wanted recognition, so I sought the truth. I gave up the fantasies of love and life altogether because my family comes first--even if I was their last. If someone said I should go and crawl through the road with needles, even if I end up wounded and losing my limbs, so long as I survive....


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    I will fight for my freedom.


    I took up law so no one could underestimate me because the law is above all, and justice is blind......


    And yet here I am, yielding to power, ambition, and fame. With just a press on my shoulders, I easily kneeled to those who had authority and money.


    When will I be recognized as a woman?


    "Mr. Kiefer...." I said softly, trying to talk him into sense. I took out a box of orange chicken and placed it just between the bars on the floor.


    Kiefer looked at me without any thoughts. His lips trembled, and he cried, "I did not kill him. I did not kill him...."


    A step. Just one step forward. I reached out my hand to his face and caressed his cheek. "I know", I whispered as my tears formed in my eyes.


    Slowly, his hands slid down the bar as he sat on the floor and still crying. "I did not kill him, I did not kill him..."


    "Kiefer....I believe you. You said in your film, no one believes a kid because they are young. But they always hold on to the truth. So to let the world know the truth, you must free your world....


    "And be reborn. Your words, Kiefer. They were your words...."


    Kiefer''s eyes slowly gained light and life in them.


    Yes, those were the eyes that gave life to people who never had a life like me. When no one else had patted my back for doing a good job, when no one else wiped my tears whether it was in joy or sorrow, and when no one else told me that my world is valuable and could be shared with the world....


    "You...saved me before. When no one believed in me, you spoke to me through your film. So now..." I cupped his face. "Free your world, Kiefer, and be reborn. Help me save you...."


    Within the confines of the hallway and his cell, only these cold metal bars are in between us.