Chapter 212 - Court adjourned

Jason’s mind swirled with a maelstrom of emotions as the judge’s gavel fell and the bailiff’s voice rang out, “Court is adjourned.” The guards moved in to escort him back to the holding cell, their firm grips on his arms jolting him from his stunned stupor. He felt as if he were moving through a thick fog, each step heavy with disbelief and dread.

This was happening again? Wrongfully imprisoned again? Set up again? Jason kept repeating it in his head.

His heart pounded in his chest, threatening to leap out of it. The courtroom around him blurred, the faces of Serena, the judge, and the guards all merging into a sea of faded eyes. He was vaguely aware of Serena gathering her papers with a look of determined frustration, but her movements seemed distant and detached from his immediate reality.

As they led him down the hallway, Jason felt himself slip into a dissociative state once again, his mind retreating to a place of numbness. He couldn’t believe this was happening. The memories of