“My mommy said you were brave once,” she said. “Before you were scared of hope.”
The words hit deeper than anyone expected.
Mercer’s hands trembled again.
He forced them still.
“You are a child,” he said. “You cannot possibly understand what you’re claiming.”
Ellie reached into her pocket again.
This time, she pulled out something else.
A small silver injector.
The courtroom erupted instantly.
“Security!”
“Is that a weapon?”
“Remove her from the stand!”
The bailiff stepped forward.
But Mercer lifted a hand.
“Stop.”
Everyone froze.
Ellie held the injector carefully.
“I’m not here to hurt anyone,” she said.
Mercer’s voice lowered dangerously.
“Then what is that?”
Ellie looked down at it.
“My mommy said if you read the note and still didn’t believe me…”
She hesitated.
Then looked up.
“…I should remind you what you agreed to forget.”
A silence so deep fell over the courtroom that even breathing felt loud.
Mercer’s voice came out quieter.
“What did I forget?”
Ellie lifted the injector slightly.
“This.”
Then she pressed it gently against the judge’s wrist.
Before anyone could react, a faint click echoed through the courtroom.
A fraction of a second later—
Mercer gasped.
His entire body stiffened.