Mina found herself in court the next day.
But not just in court, she was immediately on the defense stand. Every seat was filled and all eyes were on her as she was about to make a motion. Standing across from her, D. Vito was flanked by the sinister Dark Prosecutor, complete with skull helmet, shadowy cape and his dominating stature.
The good judge Divine whacked her gavel. "Miss Hawkins. Why are you spacing? You were about to deliver the definitive evidence."
"What the huh?!" Mina exclaimed. "I was?"
Blind's grandmother pursed her lips and shook her head. "It was the best argument you had made in your entire career. In fact, I was about to throw out the whole prosecution based entirely on your argument alone."
Mina perked up and smiled. She was about to do it? Well, that was fantastiwastic! All she had to do was remember her argument and she could send the Aurafather to prison for good and end their sinister organization once and for all. Chad and Blind, her deceased boyfriends would be avenged and her work as a lawyer would finally be complete.
She smiled and took a breath. "Your honor. My testimony is..."
Suddenly, she was interrupted by a polite but French voice. "Would you like a piece of escargot, mademoiselle?"
Mina turned to see a snooty French waiter in a service uniform. His hooked nose in the air, his eyes closed, he smiled beneath his curled French mustache. There was a singular piece of savory insect on his tray.
"Don't mind if I do!" she said, and she lifted the snail shell and sucked the mollusk dry.
"Now..." Mina said. "As I was saying...ack!!!"
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"Ack?!" The judge, jury and audience all exclaimed.
Mina trembled, her face turning pale. There was a sickness turning in her gut. Her heart rate sped up and she felt clammy and sick. She clutched her chest as she began to feel dizzy. "What was...in that snail?!" she gasped.
Everyone panicked and screamed. Some called for an ambulance and the paramedics but it was too late.
The room was growing dark, but as it did, she saw D. Vito's face. It was pale white, painted like a mime of death. His raspy voice nearly choked with laughter. "Bon Appe-Death, Mademoiselle! I hope you enjoy la mort!"
His laughter rung in her ears as she lost consciousness and her life.
At six AM, she woke in her apartment bed, gasping and sputtering. She was drenched in sweat. Mina touched her face. "Only a dream," she said, but she began to sob and moan. "But who knows what will happen...today."
She crawled out of bed, feeling more reptilian than human. Life was about to get much worse for the young attorney. Possibly even worse than a horrendous French dream where she choked and died on bad escargot. She poured herself a cup of decaffeinated coffee. She didn't need more jitters than she already was having today. Sitting at the breakfast table in the kitchen, she savored her last few moments of sanity.
In the bathroom, Mina showered and suited up in her professional pink pant suit. She had to look absolutely legitimate and vibrant, even if her confidence and happiness was entirely phony. This court case for murder, where she had to defend herself and her friends was by far the worst court case she ever had to deal with. As she looked in the mirror, even if her face was smooth and youthful, there was a tiredness in her eyes that betrayed experiences of someone much older.
At last, she nodded. It was time to go to work.
Mina stood on the sidewalk outside her apartment. The icy temperatures and thick clouds kept the warmth of the sun at bay. She had called for a cab and she hoped desperately they would show up soon. But when they finally did, she would have rather froze in the chill morning air.
A bright yellow taxi pulled up and as she stepped inside, she realized she wasn't alone in the backseat. The Dark Persecutor, dressed as the sinister skullfaced sci-fi overlord he was, sat across from her.
She screamed, but not as much as when she saw who was in the front seat. D. Vito turned around, his round face, scraggly hair and unshaven appearance made him look like an evil clown from the Bronx. "Welcome pally, to your worst nightmare."
Mina pinched herself. But sadly, she wasn't dreaming. This nightmare was reality.