"A sentence from a mysterious person is always worth more than a thousand from a close friend."

My heart pounded against my chest like the wind would against fire. During the past, Aunt Olivia stood by my side. Even after her death, Ellena and Ethan never left me. But now I was all alone in this rotten place.

They forced me into court. Geometrically, I knew the marbled hall wasn't long. However, against the adrenaline and the breeze flowing through my veins, it felt like an endless labyrinthine of mazes. I wasn't weak mentally only, but physically. Within each step, I took, until the brown door opened, my strength to walk decreased like leaves in Autumn.

When I entered, not the judges, the lawyers or the tension of the atmosphere caught me in bewilderment. It was only one thing. A single person. He was sitting on one of the wooden chairs. Louis Craven. My kidnapper. At that moment, the devil told me to admit the truth through the boiling blood flowing in me.

I looked at him, recalling everything he did. Everything he made me hear and know. Even after he noticed, I didn't look away. He didn't feel the slightest fear or guilt. It was if he knew that I wouldn't dare to say anything due to my terror. I stood firmly at the center of the room, with every pair of eyes staring at me. The lawyer stood at the right side of the court while Ellena and Ethan sat among the endless seats at the back.

"Edward Adrian, you may speak," the judge declared.

"My client is charged for both attempted murder and fabricating data. However, during the time at which the video was recorded, my client was it her neighbor's house, Ellena. Even if my client fabricated the data, the data she's accused of altering does not prove any irresponsibility."

"Aryn Anderson, you may speak."

"Sir, I don't deny altering data. I burned the researchers that identify details about his blood. However, I fully reject and deny any charges that accuse me of attempted murder. Liam Benjamin's heart was failing, and we weren't able to find a donor. He died on a Saturday night, with his relatives around him."

"The witness, Ellena Davis, you may speak."

"Aryn is my neighbor whom I have known for years. That day, and at that hour, I remember how she was expressing her dismay for her lost patient. She explained how he had to endure months of pain, just to live for a few seconds at the end. The patient died due to the complications he had, and my friend had nothing to do with it. If there exists a Nobel prize for the best Doctor in the world, than Aryn would win it without a doubt."

"The witness, Maria Stewart, you may speak."

"Doctor Aryn worked so much to be able to treat, Liam Benjamin, her patient. Time wasn't on our side, and he died peacefully. The video is fabricated as Aryn wasn't in the hospital during that hour. Her shift ended, and I remember that day she was quite exhausted."

"What were the exact details of the researches," the judge interrogated.

"Nothing. Just some pictures and photographs of the patient's blood. It also has some studies about red blood cells in general."

"Couldn't the defendant, Aryn, mean something by destroying blood researches and fabricating also the blood related data? They are both concerning blood for the same patient."

"Sir, as I said, the researches destroyed had very general details. The details it carried were general for all people."

"You may leave. Doctor Fredrick, you may speak."

"The patient died after failed attempts to find a donor. However, when a suitable heart was found, it was given to another patient in need of one, although his case could've waited for a few more days. Considering the importance of Doctor Aryn's decision, I asked her about what she thought. She said he was a young boy, who urgently needed a heart, and I could witness her smirking at some point, and glad for the fact that Liam's death became inevitable. Few days later, Liam was found dead due to suffocation."

"Doctor Clara, you may speak," the judge stated as Doctor Fredrick left.

"As a specialist in dealing with records, I was proceeding that night to print the newest records. However, I saw doctor Aryn acting suspiciously in front of the computer. I recorded her, and I even checked if the hard copies were changed in some way. When I did, Louis Craven's records were no more found. At the night Liam Benjamin died, Aryn wasn't there. She couldn't have had the chance to suffocate him."

"The decision."

I could hear the thumping of their feet as they stood up. I wasn't facing them, but I could guess that they were standing dauntlessly. Some were tensed or panicked, but the most probably respected the court and stood boldly.

I breathed heavily, looking at Doctor Fredrick with an evil eye. Doctor Fredrick was my trainer, and the surgeon I looked up most to. He taught me in my residency years, and I had nothing but respect and love towards his dedication. But now, there was no way to look at him that way again. Nothing except hate and revenge grew up inside me as I stared at him.

"Based on the evidence provided and each statement said, Aryn Anderson, shall be put in jail for one year for data fabrication and alteration. She will also be freed of attempted murder due to the strong statements provided by each of her neighbor, Ellena Davis, and assistant, Maria Stewart," he continued, "The court ended."

Mercilessly, they pulled me by the handcuffs, causing pain in my wrists. I felt as fragile as a dead branch. Doctor Fredrick was secretly smiling- and even Nurse Clara. In the eyes of everyone, I fell from the position of being a person who saves lives. For a single sin, everything I ever accomplished was roughly erased. Doctor Maria looked at me for one last time, still feeling guilty for her false statement.

A huge van stood in front of the station. It was the typical criminals' van. There were two doors, separated, and a net built its upper half. At that moment only, I saw some emotion in Louis. But it wasn't the typical emotion any human had. It was something deeper-much deeper- one which I couldn't figure out.

"The world will wait for you. We will wait for you, Aryn," he said with a deep voice.

Those were the final words I heard under the sun. They were from Louis, who stood there sturdily. I didn't expect his or anyone's appreciation, because Ethan and Ellena's safety was my motive along the way.

I rested my head on the hard plastic of the van. Was it real? Was I in the middle of a deserted road, and captured by the police? Although I could see and feel the police officers beside me, I failed to believe in this reality. I didn't want to believe that my shift won't start after a few hours. It was some nightmare. Although no nightmare would last for a year, believing this truth, eased the pain I felt.

During the entire ride, the suspicious behavior of the police officer intimidated me. He was staring at the ground- with welling tears in his eyes. It wasn't the first time I saw him. I couldn't recognize where I encountered his bald scalp, but he was familiar.

"What's your crime?" the crying officer asked with a crackling voice.

"Data fabrication," I replied instantly.

"Why did you do it, Doctor Aryn?"

"How do you know me?" I said as I stared at the roof.

"You saved my sister when all doctors gave up," he answered with breaking pride.

"You are probably ashamed that I saved her. I didn't want to do the crime, though."

"Everyone says that. What's the difference between you and the other law offenders?" he replied with an angry tone.

"Can you do me a favor? Bring red roses to 'Olivia Farwell's' grave every Friday. I won't be able to do so anymore," I asked after long silence.

"David, why isn't this woman shutting up! Silence her before we do it the hard way," one of the officers exclaimed.

A while later, the van jogged on the uneven road. This was the signal that we arrived at my destination. Everyone put on the mad expression and showed no sign of smiling. The guardian took me away from the last beam of sunlight, reflected into my eye, into the scary dark place.

The guardian wasn't surprised at the horrible brown spots on the roof or the scarred faces of women inside. I couldn't blame her; after all, she probably enters and leaves this place a couple of dozen times a day. Tiny rocks crunched upon my steps when I entered. Everyone looked at me. Some started whispering, and the others showed an evil smirk.

"Welcome to prison, young women," a voice called.

Then, another lady led me to my new bed. She had her whole back wrapped by her thick-red hair. I couldn't help but think about how do all these women pass time. Not even a book was in this place. Everyone was alone, trying to draw or pass time with whatever little tools were available.

"If you ever need anything, ask me."

I realized that that this wasn't a nightmare. The prisoners wearing white weren't angels. The white mattress wasn't a cloud. The narrow sunbeam on the ground wasn't a rainbow.

A few hours later, the guardian called for food. I didn't bother standing up to eat, while everyone ran like a stray dog in a desert. The people weren't hungry for food only, but for education, money and care. They devoured the food, thinking it will make them survive. It was the only thing they could do in this filthy place, not aware of the luxury outside.

"You didn't eat anything. I preserved this piece of bread for you. Take it as a rule. Run for every right you have here or it will escape," the red-haired lady claimed.

"Thanks, but why are you helping me out this much?" I managed to speak.

"Helping is a kind gesture that doesn't require effort. Helping saves lives, provides education and ignites warmth in solid hearts. I've learned to help people without return. By the way, my name is Charlotte. But I'm better known as Cherry."

"Cherry, thanks for your care, but I don't feel hungry. You can have it. It's yours anyway," I said in a murmuring voice.

"I don't know if this will help, but letters will arrive tomorrow. It makes everyone happy, so maybe it will make you as well," she said before she left.

I didn't believe it when night came. I won't say time passed quickly- because it didn't. Even when the moon approached, I stayed hours rolling on my bed like an anxious bug. When I managed to sleep for a few hours, the sudden striking of steel bars clung through my ear.

"Aryn Anderson, you have two letters."

"Two letters already? Wow, the woman sure has connections," a prisoner laughed.

I walked towards the guardian and snatched the letters, giving the prisoners an evil stare. The first one was sent from Ethan. But the second one, was from him. Furious, I opened Ethan's letter first. What words didn't Louis say, and what useless fantasies will he keep telling me?

Dear Aryn,

I don't know what is it like to be stuck there. I wish I could say that it won't be hard. But, I can proudly say that you've passed through the toughest moments. You defeated a lot, and gave a lot for the people you love. I swear that many people started gathering around your house, each one saying how you changed their lives. Trust me, I will never cut sending letters, and I'll wait for you till the day I die. This isn't the end. Inside the envelope, I left you a purple flower. This flower lives for only one year. I sent it so that it will be your companion during your stay there. Take care of it, and stay strong. Also, I went to your Aunt's grave yesterday to put the flowers, but someone had already put them. I never knew she had relatives other than you.

With love, Ethan.

I smiled, remembering the police officer. He didn't fail me, and I knew Aunt Olivia was in safe hands. The smell of the beautiful flower Ethan left, lingered onto my nose, looking like a purple angel. For a moment, the prison transferred to a beautiful garden, and it wasn't so dark anymore.

With anger, I stared at the second letter. The person I concealed the truth of, and carried his darkest secrets, yet didn't give up. I stared at the letter, with so much tears and envy that it felt as if fire escaped my veins and burned the letter.

Dear Aryn,

You didn't allow me to explain that day, but you don't realize the dangers of our kingdom and world. I never wanted to involve you, but I had to. Because the longer I hid the truth, the more it changed into twisted lies. I had to tell you where you belonged. And for that, I had to cut through your arm for blood. Only five persons have this component you found- and you are one of them. Although I shouldn't have done it, I sent you a book. Not a normal book. Each word of this book is dangerous for any soul to know. "Rules of Death" is a book that shall capture each piece of your soul. Preserve it well. You should know that there are only seven copies of this book.

Sincerely, Louis.