Chapter 82: He is Back

 "You are not going to slay the Slayer" she reiterated to everyone in the room. There was a temporary moment of silence, the same kind of silence that occurs just before the aftermath of a nuclear explosion occurs. Her eyes were fixed on the senior most judge. She knew it was a matter of time before there would be pandemonium in the place and all over Panem. Worst still, she knew that her people of Serbia would be the ones to get stirred up more than any other group of people.

In the wake of the Serbian Slayer's killing spree, Serbians were the ones who were most affected. Her decision to veto this decision would seem like shooting yourself on the food kind of scenario. She was the least expected member of the panel to stand on Magraff's side.

Alpha was flabbergasted to the point where he couldn't even think straight. He had already lost hope in the case and knew that Magraff was a dead man in waiting. But just when things seemed to have gone completely out of control, he felt a glimmer of hope starting to build up. What was happening? He asked himself. Why would the president of Serbia suddenly come to the defense of Magraff?

"Mrs Bush, are you sure about your decision to veto the death sentence passed on to Mr Magraff?" Maurice asked

He still looked shocked like everyone else. After putting up such a fight against the Krovaçic brothers, he felt a different kind of sting when Mrs Bush made her decision.

"The same way I'm sure that the sky is blue is the same way I'm sure about my decision" she responded

" This means... " One of the judges on the bench started talking before he was cut off by Mikhail

"That Magraff can't be sentenced to death according to constitution" 

" What does that mean? " A journalist asked from behind the large group of reporters who were still processing what was happening on live television

"It means that Mrs Bush must give a reasonable explanation as to why she made that decision and if it solid, the case will be heard again in not not more than a month's time" Djokovic answered as it dawned on him that the case might not yet be lost

"But if the reason is not valid, the heads of state next to her can pass their judgement after a vote is passed to oust her off the panel" Maurice added on

But despite this revelation by Maurice, he already knew that the story had gotten out the moment she had made it clear about her stance on the matter. On every news outlet it was already broadcasted how the president of Serbia was against the decision to execute Magraff after being found guilty.

Alpha, who was behind the brothers , called out to them.

"What's going on?" He asked

"We don't know sir. And from the look of things, they also don't know what's happening too" Mikhail answered as he pointed to the mayor and the commander of Sin City. They both looked stunned and confused. Alpha looked at them and wondered who had this bunny inside their hat and how comes no was prepared for it. Then just as he was thinking about this, he decided to look around and see what was happening. He saw Athena in the crowd , she was as shocked just like the other members of the audience. Their eyes locked and he could see her mouth the words 'what is going on? '

He simply shrugged his shoulders to show that he wasn't aware of what was happening.

"Would you look at that" Djokovic said as he looked towards the back of the room. Alpha and Mikhail heard him and checked the direction that he looked at only for them to see it was where Jason was. Almost as if Alpha knew what was awaiting them, he wasn't surprised when he saw Jason looking at them with a smile on his face. The only person in the whole room who could afford a smile and for reasons only known to himself.

"I knew it,he has to be involved in whatever is happening right now" Alpha said

What was concerning to them was not that Magraff's life was spared for a moment, but the fact that Jason had somehow managed to influence something and saved Magraff even if it would be for a short time.

In the few short minutes since the Mrs Bush's controversial decision, the whole nation of Panem was in a temporary standstill of disbelief. The security officers all over the nation were an overwhelming feeling of impending chaos and riots that would soon overrun the streets. They knew that as the tension was growing, it was becoming clear that within no time the streets would be packed and in such situations excessive force would be the only way that the officers were to guarantee their own safety. The calls started to stream in into the headquarters about the officers asking for the court to make a quick final decision before hell starts breaking loose.

The calls came in and were passed on to the secret service inside the court room. One of the senior guards walked up to the senior judge and passed the information.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it has come to my attention that we could be looking at a major nationwide protest the longer this case drags on and it is in the best interest of the residents of Panem and to others all over the globe that we get to bottom of this as soon as possible. I thereby ask if we could maintain silence as the court is still in session.

And now to the Serbian president, you are expected by the constitution to state your reasons as to why you want to veto the decision passed by this court to have Mr Magraff serve his death sentence that has been passed on to him by this same court. "

" Your honours, members of the jury, citizens of Panem, my citizens watching from Serbia and to the rest of the world, believe me when I say that I was convinced that Magraff was indeed the Serbian Slayer and I had come all this way to see justice being done. As I sat with you in this courtroom listening to the whole proceeding, I was hoping to get a verdict that I could take home, address my people and say that the Boogeyman was finally put in his place. But just as I was about to walk into this hearing, someone told me that the person we were about to act as judge, jury and executioner on was indeed an innocent man who had found himself on the wrong side of the divide. I wanted so hard to believe that the nightmare was finally over but I couldn't overlook the fact that my informant is not the kind of person that you can just ignore. "

" If you don't mind sharing with the rest of us who your informant is" the judge said

" I think it's better if you hear it from him yourselves. " She said as she pulled out her phone and played a voice recording

"It is funny that you can all be pushed to believe whatever the system tells you to believe" an automated voice came through as the recording started, "I can't blame you though. It is engraved in you. But what I cannot do is stay quiet and watch as an innocent man is put through hell just because some people want to put an end to one of their problems. It's quite sad actually. But when I knew I had had enough of the lies being sold to you in the most sugarcoated way possible that you believe it. Some of you actually saw through the lies and stood in favour of Mr Magraff, to which I commend you and would like to know that you're not alone. 

There are many monsters in this world. Monsters who will not show themselves and cause trouble. Monsters who abduct children. Monsters who devour dreams. Monsters who suck blood. And monsters who always tell lies. Lying monsters are a real nuisance. They are much more cunning than other monsters. They pose as humans, even though they have no understanding of the human heart. They eat, even they've never experienced hunger. They study, even though they have no interest in academics. They seek friendship, even though they don't know how to love. If you were to encounter such a monster, you will most likely get devoured by it. They walk among us, and I will make sure that I put an end to their charade starting with the lie that Magraff is the Serbian Slayer. 

By now I know you're all wondering who I am and why have I decided to come out at this critical moment , it's because I'm tired of watching these kind of things happen from the shadows.

The Ghost is back. "

The last statement resonated throughout the whole courtroom.