Everyone starts talking all at once, shouting, pointing, bombarding me with questions. "Is that true? Did you know that?" I keep facing forward, trying my best to ignore the noise. As much as I want to be angry with Matthew, I know this is not his fault. Not the murder, not the trial, not the secret he's just revealed.

He was trying to fight it; I could tell.... But resisting a serum as powerful as Candor's is pointless. Unless you're divergent, something Matthew apparently is not.

"Silence!" Jack's deep voice resonates throughout the courtroom, and everyone shuts up immediately. "I will not tolerate any interruptions. Anyone else caught disturbing the peace will be removed at once."

His eyes roam the crowd, daring us to make another sound. "Now. How do you know this... Four is your son?" I freeze, hoping he won't reveal my real name, but I know he won't be able to withhold anything while he's under the serum's influence.

"He introduced himself as Matthew after the Choosing Ceremony. I thought that was strange, but then, when I saw the birthmark on his arm.... I knew. His mother... she had one just like it."

I glance down and look at my arm. He's right. "So, would you say that the crime you committed was in self-defense?" Matthew nods. "Yes." Jack finds me in the crowd and looks my way for a moment. "Very well. In this case, I have no choice but to find the defendant-" Jack's verdict is cut off suddenly as the door is opened... and Marcus bursts in. "Wait!"

Jack frowns. "Marcus. What are you doing here?" Marcus seems to be out of breath, and his face looks so red I wonder if he didn't run all the way over here. "I'm in the city council. I should have a say in this!" Jack crosses his arms. "You've never interfered in a trial before. What's changed? Marcus glances at Matthew and his face hardens.

"I plan to increase the government's role in the justice system, and-" Jack raises an eyebrow. "Has this... idea of yours become a law yet?" Marcus seems to be at a loss for words. "Well, no, but-" Jack smirks. "I thought so. I have always been in charge of every single court case brought before Candor juries, and I will continue to be in charge until further notice."

This seems to shut Marcus up. Even he cannot override the rules that our founders dictated so many years ago. "Now, as I was saying, after administering the truth serum and hearing the defendant's testimony, I have no choice but to declare Matthew Eaton innocent. Thank you for your Candor."