Chapter 2

2 I stayed silent. I let them lead me towards the memory extraction platform.

Memory Extraction was the latest piece of tech in the justice system �C a brutal, but 'foolproof' method to catch out criminals who'd lie or change their stories. The process involved injecting a needle directly into the brain, extracting memories like blood. It was said to be so painful that many inmates passed out before the process was completed.

As they prepped the extraction device, I turned to Andrew. "Andrew, I just have one question for you."

He looked at me, cold and full of hatred. "Ask it."

"If they find out the truth, if my memories prove I'm innocent, will you regret what you've done to me?"

Andrew just laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "Never."

I looked away, my heart numb.

"Commencing Memory Extraction! The defendant's death penalty procedure is now underway."

The needle plunged into my brain, and a white-hot agony exploded in my head. I screamed, but there was a weird sense of relief mixed in.

A year of this… it was almost over.

The memories that were being sucked out of my mind started to appear on the big screen for everyone to see.

The first memory showed the hospital room.

Andrew's mother, Mrs. Hamilton, was recovering from a heart procedure. I had a lunchbox, ready to share my food. As I approached her room, I heard voices, a heated argument.

It was Mrs. Hamilton arguing with Dani! Her voice weak, barely above a whisper, "I will not let… you marry into… this family…"

"You're a snake… you don't deserve this…"

"Old hag, once you're dead, I'll waltz right into this family!"

My heart jumped. I pushed the door open.

And there, I saw Dani holding Mrs. Hamilton's oxygen mask. Her hands were turning blue.

I stared, horrified. "Dani, what are you doing!"

Dani, her eyes wide, tried to recover, her words cool. "I was just helping Mrs. Hamilton with her oxygen."

I grabbed the mask, my fingers shaking. I tried to put it back in place, but the heart monitor was already sounding an alarm.

"Dani, you had no business touching Mrs. Hamilton's oxygen! She didn't need it adjusting!"

Dani just smirked at me, "You think marrying into this family will make you a rich wife? Dream on. I'm Andrew's first love, all I have to do is bat my eyelashes and he will come running back."