SAFE HOUSE - CPxR - Chp 8 - Repayment

At school a couple days later, the hallways and classes were abuzz with chatter and people looking over newspaper. Confused, you walked over to one group where a friend was. 

"Hey, (Friend's name), what's the deal? What's everyone worked up about?" You asked. 

"You haven't heard?! An infamous murderer was caught last night! Jeff the Killer, and they're going to hold a trial really soon for him, here, in our city! Its going to broadcasted all across the globe!" They responded. 

You felt your stomach drop at the news.  

"Are you serious?" 

"Yeah! Its being called the trial of the decade, and the cops who caught him are saying they're gonna try and catch more of those serial killers!" 

You blinked rapidly. If they were going to try that, well, it wasn't going to end well. No doubt the rest  of the pack has already heard this and planned to get him out. 

"Oh, this reminded me, I have to ah, go get some books from the Library. I'll see you later!" You called, running towards the stairs. 

Once there, you ditched your bag in the front, taking only a stack of paper and your pencil case, and walked to the Librarian's desk. 

"Hey, um, where are the books on law? Particularly the ones about murder?" You asked. 

The Librarian pointed you to the back, and you nodded your thanks, quickly making your way there. 

You sat down in front of the shelves, quickly running through the titles until you found one you thought would be relevant to what you wanted. You would set that aside from the rest and continue searching. After more than half an hour of searching, you had a substantial pile of thick law books to search through, which you dragged to one of the circular tables and set to work. 

At lunch, your friend who told you about Jeff's capture, walked in, sitting down next to you. As you flipped through the pages of books and scribbled down notes, they peaked at the other notes you had made. 

"Alright, (f/n), what are you doing? You weren't in class this morning." 

"Research." You responded, closing one book and opening another. 

"Why?" 

"Long story." 

"Care to share? We've got time." 

"No. And you have time, I don't." 

"Why's that?" 

"Need to get this done." 

"Why?" 

"Already said, not telling." 

Your friend sighed, instead watching what you write before leaving. 

By the time third period ended, you had finished all your notes with a very sore hand. The pages were sorted into previous cases of serial killers, duration of jail sentences, what can get death row, and more. 

In fourth period, you ignored the teacher and read through your notes, highlighting very relevant information. As far as you could tell, he was going to get death row. 

Jeff had saved your life. 

You planned to return the favour. 

~~~ 

Four days later 

"Has anyone seen (f/n)? S/he hasn't been here for a few days." 

Heads turned, searching the classroom for the (h/c) hair, with no success. A small murmur broke out of people asking each other. 

The teacher shrugged and marked an "A" next to your name on the attendance sheet, before sending a student down to the office with it. 

Ten minutes later, that same student walked back into the class and turned the TV on. Flipping through the channels despite the teacher's protest, they stopped on the local news station.  

"Just watch." They said, sitting back down in their seat. The news station, channel 9, was broadcasting live from the city's courtroom, alongside news crews from other major stations. 

In the courtroom was the 'Trial of the Century'. The trial of Jeff the Killer.  

And on screen, to everyone's shock, fighting for him, was (y/n). 

~~~ 

"There is no statue of limitations on MURDER!" The judge stressed the final word in her sentence, directing it at both Jeff and you. 

"Well, why the fuck not?!" Jeff slammed his cuffed hands down on the table. 

You motioned your hands to shush him. When that didn't work, your elbow connected with his ribs. 

"While he may have killed quite a few people-" You started. 

"Few being a gross understatement." Someone yelled, interrupting you. 

"As I was saying, has anyone bothered to look into the pasts of those people? They all had criminal records but were never brought to justice. All he, and the rest of those serial killers, do is bring overdue justice to the people who've wronged others." 

"It doesn't matter what they did to deserve it, it is still murder!" 

As anyone could predict, many arguments were thrown back and forth over the course of a few hours. 

Finally, as the jury was about to pass a death sentence on Jeff, you managed to shock them into stopping. 

"Wait, this is human law, correct?" You asked. 

"Of course it is!" The judge snapped. 

"So logically, it wouldn't apply to someone who wasn't human?" 

Silence, the whispering, occurred across the courtroom. 

"What are you implying, that he's not human? Look at him, he clearly is!" The Judge snapped. 

"And if he isn't? What can you do, the law won't apply to him." 

"Then we'd probably send him off to a medical research lab to find out what he is!" 

"Well, he's not human. That's all I know." 

"Do you have any possible way to back up your claim?" 

"Yeah, Ill have to go, ah, get something though." 

The judge declared a forty-five minute recess, which gave you more than enough time for you to sprint back to your home and talk to any of the others that were there. 

Inside the tv room was not only Slender's pack, but who you assumed to be Razorback's master and a white-haired proxy, who just watched everyone in the room and didn't talk. All were watching the Tv, tuned into the channel with the trial. Slender was talking to a tall, reptilian-like demon, whose head crest was slightly raised, as if curious or annoyed.  

"Slender, can I, um, talk to you please? Just for a minute..." You asked, uncomfortable with the look the reptilian demon was giving you. 

"Just a moment please, Skinwalker. I believe I know what is needed." 

He walked over to you, ducking his head as to not hit the ceiling. "Yes child? Is this about Jeffery?" 

"Yeah, I know he's not human, but they want me to prove it and I don't know how. Any idea what to do?" 

The white-haired proxy walked over, and you could clearly see her mask now, which was black with violet eyes, and a stylized eye on the forehead, purple with a white slit pupil. She withdrew something from under her hoodie, black with purple cuffs and hood, and handed it to you. It took you a moment to accept it and another to realize what it was. 

"What do you want me to do, shoot him?! The judge?!" 

Razorback scoffed at you reaction. "Third Eye's on the right track, just pop a cap in his brain. It'll hurt him, but won't kill him. Its happened to other branded proxies before." 

"I do suppose that would work. Jeffery might not like it, but if it keeps him out of jail, he'll be appreciative." 

"Just do it quick, don't even think about it. It'll be easier. Also shoot point blank at the forehead." Hoodie commented. 

"I don't even know how to use a gun!" You exclaimed. 

He sighed and got up, giving you a crash course in using a gun. You reluctantly took the firearm back to the court house, hiding it under your shirt. 

Once the recess was declared officially over, the judge directed her hawk-like stare at you, causing you to swallow. You had already whispered what was going to happen to Jeff, who grumbled about it but agreed.  

"Do you have you have your so-called evidence to prove he's not human?" She asked, clearly annoyed with how long this was taking. Some people in the court room chuckled because of such a ridiculous claim. You stood up and walked in front of the table Jeff sat at, making sure you stood so the judge and jury could clearly see what was about to happen. 

Quickly, you pulled Third Eye's pistol out and pointed it straight at Jeff's head. People gasped at this and you could see police moving to get the gun away from you. You paused for a split second  and he nodded, which you returned. 

Squeezing the trigger, a shot rang out through the courtroom and went through Jeff's head, leaving clean entry and exit holes on the sides. A minute or so of silence passed, and you started to freak out at the fact he wasn't moving.  

Oh crap I killed Jeff!! You thought, pulling at your hair, gun still in hand.  

A groan sounded from the table, and Jeff rolled his head. You could see the wound visibly healing, but very slowly.  

"Fuck, I wish someone told me how much that was going to hurt. At least that headache is gone, that was pissing me off." 

You sighed, as the rest of the courthouse freaked out at him not dying from a point blank shot. 

"Now go. I'll be fine, just go." Jeff ordered you, and you complied, running back home. Back in the courthouse, the police had called in a special unit to escort Jeff out of the building and to a special medical facility out in the middle of no where. 

Once there, you slammed the door shut and latched it, sliding down to sit on the floor, the gun next to you. You placed your head in your hands, breathing heavily. Third Eye stepped over, walking on her toes. Crouching down, she picked up her gun and tapped you on the shoulder. You looked up and she gave you a thumbs up, which you nodded at. 

Looking into the TV room, you noticed everyone getting their things together. Break Away laced up her combats boots, before shrugging on her hoodie and pulling her gas mask on, tightening the straps so it sat snug on her head. Eyeless Jack and Masky made sure their masks were well secured, they all were checking their weapons of choice. Razorback sharpened her straight razors on a barber's strap, which had been modified so she could wear it as a belt. Third Eye  loaded her gun, making sure it was okay and strapping a knife under her hoodie. BEN just waited around as Jack got his scalpels in order and the Slender brothers talked. Smile.Dog paced back and forth, before sitting down next to BEN. 

"Is there anything I can do? I... I feel like I haven't done enough." You asked. 

Slender walked over to you, two of his brothers following, Splendor and Offender.  

"(f/n), you've done all you can. Now leave the rest to us. Skinwalker, will you be joining us?" 

"Yes, I will be. It is good timing too, as this morning Third Eye finally came back." 

"Your branded proxy?" 

Skinwalker nodded. "It is about time too. We are leaving at sundown, yes?" 

"Indeed. A few more minutes and then we depart." 

"Why did your master say Third Eye finally came back?" You whispered to Razorback. 

"Because she hasn't been seen for... Two? Three years? Something like that. She goes off on really long jobs that take her across the continent, sometimes world." She replied, slipping her razors into their holsters and pulling her hood up. "Now lets get this show on the road."