Blamed, Framed, and Frozen

The Grim Reaper looked at me and asked, "Do you accept the trial?"

My mouth moved, but no sound came out.

I wanted to tell Mom that I was feeling a little cold and if I could skip the punishment.

I wanted to ask Dad if Southville was fun.

Seeing that I was not answering, whispers began to ripple through the crowd below.

"Look at her. She looks like trouble! If her own parents are saying this, there's no way it could be fake."

"She's only 7 years old and already so heartless and vicious! Having her soul destroyed might be too merciful. Kids like this should be thrown into the deepest level of Hell!"

Another said, "Just hurry up and pass the sentence already!"

Those words were hurtful.

I saw the corner of Mom's mouth lift slightly, and Dad even straightened his back. They were certain this judgment was in the bag.

However, all I could think about was if my soul was destroyed, would I finally stop feeling cold?

So, I nodded.

The Grim Reaper announced, "The trial begins!"

Mom was the first to step forward. "Grim Reaper! Let me go first! Joy's first crime is spreading rumors about Grace, trying to turn people against her. She was jealous that Grace was pretty and popular, so she went to one of Grace's male classmates and said Grace was messing around and had multiple boyfriends! At such a young age, how could her mind be so filthy!"

A screen of light appeared in the air.

In the footage, seven-year-old me cornered an older boy on his way home from school.

The boy asked impatiently, "What exactly do you want to say about Grace?"

I kept my head down, my fingers twisting the faded hem of my worn shirt. "Grace has been with a lot of guys."

"What? Speak clearly!" The boy frowned.

I flinched hard, my eyes reddening. Even so, I still stammered out those filthy words bit by bit.

Then, the scene shifted to Grace in her classroom. The girls who used to chat and laugh with her now whispered behind her back, while the boys looked at her with mocking stares.

Grace sat at her desk, confused and isolated by everyone.

The footage cut off abruptly.

Grace clapped her hand over her mouth, staring at me in disbelief. "Joy, why did you-"

I kept my head down, staring at my shabby shoes, saying nothing.

The cold light from the screen shone down on me.

A moment later, the platform hummed, and two large words appeared: [Accusation Failed.]

The scene instantly became deathly silent. The next second, the audience erupted.

"Failed? How could it possibly fail?"

"It's rigged! Absolutely rigged! That screen showed it clear as day! The little brat said it with her own mouth!"

"Exactly! She's vicious, spreading rumors about her own sister, and there are both witnesses and evidence. Why doesn't it count?"

"Did she bribe the Grim Reaper?!"

"Silence!" The Grim Reaper slammed the gavel heavily, his voice booming like thunder. "If the charge doesn't stand, there's evidence for it! Continue the footage!"

The screen lit up again.

It was the same house. This time, Mom dragged me away from my homework into the kitchen, keeping me away from Grace, her face anxious and fierce.

"Grace has been talking to those boys a lot lately! If this keeps up, she'll go down the wrong path. You need to find a chance to talk to someone in her class, or someone who's friends with those boys, and tell them Grace is a wild child, that she's dated tons of guys! Make them stay away from Grace!"

I shook my head in terror. "No! Mom, I can't say that about Grace!"

A slap landed across my face.

"If I tell you to do it, you do it! This is all for Grace's own good! Do you want to see her get led astray?!"

Seeing me still crying, Mom pinched the soft flesh on the inside of my arm and twisted it hard.