Chpt. 2

“The court will now hear Ms. Wither’s defense.” The judge eyed the tall, blonde haired woman.

Candace Wither rose to the stand, arms behind her back with a bind. The blue jumpsuit identified her as a psycho, but she knew otherwise.

“You call me a monster…” She lashed out, words like nails on ice. “You’re just afraid, because I defied God and created life.”

“You experimented on missing children.” Harley Cane, the lead investigator rose from her seat. “And how many ‘experiments’ did you make?”

“I admit, I was trying new things on children, but I meant no harm. These children were already dead; I only used their DNA for a start of a human body to create.” Candace defended herself, pounding her fist on the stand.

“Answer the question, Wither.” Harley snapped, and the room fell silent.

Candace lowered her voice. “Twenty-three. I can name them all.”

Witnesses gasped and Candace threw her blue gaze over them like flints Harley tapped her foot, receiving the attention of the quiet room.

Harley Cane had a strong face, and was built like a tank. She never took no for an answer, and her hazel eyes were always filled with the truth. Her brown hair was up in a bun, revealing the backside of her police uniform.

“Twenty-three?” Harley chuckled. “You sick b*****d.”

“Cannon, Catheryn, Aspen, Wallow, Terran, Cammy, Echo, Sodge, Iris, Kate, Jane, Rakesaw, Meko --” She counted them down�"“Hanson, Kirby, Twitt, Reese, Port, Branch, Trench, Pike, Crone…” Her voice trailed off. “Twenty-two.”

“Are you correcting yourself?” Harley eyed her. “Before, you said twenty-three or are you hiding it?”

Candace’s lip curled back in a snarl. “No. I was wrong, I have twenty-two.”

Harley glanced at the officer next to her. “Search Nakatoni, Panka, and Carnon.”

“Nakatoni won’t have any.” Candace bluffed, hoping the officer wouldn’t catch it. “The people wouldn’t keep an outsider.”

A crooked smile grew on Harley’s face as the officers took ahold of Candace’s arms. “You’re guilty, Wither. And Nakatoni will be our first target. You can’t hide the last Rankoku for long.”

The judge broke up the room. “Wither is found guilty for experimentation on children, and will spend five years behind bars.”

“Follow me.” Harley took her and smiled.

“You b*****d! You cold hearted b*****d!” Candace snapped, squirming in the police men’s strong hands. “And you said I was the mass psycho. I don’t know why I was being trialed, when the actual killer is standing before me.”

Candace trudged behind the tank, not wanting to get shot. But her eyes burned a hole in the back of her enemy. She only prayed they wouldn’t find Milo. Her only connection to life was that child. She put everything she had in her, and gave her a special name One that meant more than her experiment.

They halted before a cell, and Harley opened the door. When Candace didn’t comply, she was kicked inside. Only to see Harley smile when she closed the cell door on her pathetic expression.

“Enjoy life through the bars your precious Rankoku looked through every day.” She smiled as she walked away.

“They were my children, Harley.” Candace spoke up while the woman was still in range. “But you wouldn’t understand.”

Harley threw her a cold look over her shoulder before continuing onward with her men. She had no interest to argue with the woman. Her goal was accomplished wither was arrested.

“Just ignore her.” A deep voice spoke from the top bunk of the cell.

Candace threw him a scowl. “What do you want?”

The man sat up, black hair sticking to one side. “I’m not interested in arguing with such a tiny lady.”

Candace chuckled. “You’re soft. I’m sharing a cell with a framer.”

“Jason Flynt.” He jumped to the floor to be level with her. “You’re Candace Wither if I’m correct.”

The tall woman brushed the hair form her face to see him better. He was stocky, a rather large brute. His eyes were amber cones. On him was a white jumpsuit.

“You don’t look familiar.” She sat down on her bed and lay on her backside. “Leave me alone. Your kind shouldn’t mess with mine.”

 “You’re not a murderer. And neither am I.” Jason leaned against the bed frame. “I stopped a man from killing himself and the police found me carrying his gun.”

“You’re still talking to me.” Candace moved to have her back to Jason. “Leave me alone, Jason. I’m trying to see where I went wrong.”

“You haven’t used your one phone call.” He shrugged. “I bet someone you know is worried about you.”

“I don’t have any siblings. But there is someone I’d like to hear from.” Candace rose and stared at Jason. “Do I yell to get a call?” Her aquatic eyes fell upon a cop who walked by. “Hey! I want my call! Get yer a*s over here! I want my call!”

“Shut up, Wither, you’ll get your call.” He stopped in front of her. “You need to get some rest, a storms heading in.”

“Call first. Before the storm cuts out the line.” Candace gave a sly grin.

The cop sighed, slouching his shoulders. His fingers jingled the keys hanging at his thigh, and watched her carefully. Her patience was wearing out, and she wanted nothing more than to choke out the answer from him.

“The storms passing over to Nakatani so you can wait. Be patient. You have five years to make that call.” He shrugged off her gaze.

“You don’t understand.” She hung her shoulders an idea coming to her thoughts. “I need to call my sister to see if my niece is well.”

“Her name, Wither?” The cop narrowed his eyes.

“Elaine Bitter, she’s my stop sister. She’s adopted a young child named Milo, and last I was visiting, the poor child had a terrible flu.” Candace lied, eyes full of tears. “I’d do anything to see her and hear her again.”

“Alright, alright, Wither. I don’t need a sob story.” He unlocked the cell door, and cuffed her hands behind her back. “C’mon, I’ll lead.”

“Thanks, sir, you’re a nice man.” She gave a cheesy grin.

He rolled his eyes and guided her down a long hallway. It was dark and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. Though by the time the pupils were ready, they entered a bright room and an old phone on a table with a chair.

“Alright, Wither, you get fifteen minutes.” He unlocked the cuffs. “I’ll be back afterward.”

Candace rubbed at her wrists as her eyes wandered the almost empty room. Excitement coursed heavily through her veins to see and hear her successful Rankoku. Milo was literally a piece of her. Her hand cupped the cold plastic of the wireless phone and her fingers nervously tapped the numbers. She bit her lip as it rang and gasped when Elaine answered.