Javier tracked down the orphanage where the boy had once lived, hoping to meet the woman and gain a clearer understanding of the case. Upon arriving, he rushed to the reception and inquired about the boy, his caretakers, and anyone who had looked after him during his time there.
To no surprise, Javier learned that the old woman, Rhea Thompson, was no longer working at the orphanage. He asked the receptionist for her address to speak with her in person, but she hesitated, reluctant to disclose such details given the tragic history.
Even though the receptionist was new to the orphanage, she had heard the horrendous story of how the boy had been wronged—an echo that lingered in that haven for years.
Javier pleaded, "Ma'am, I know that after what happened to that boy, this orphanage must have a grim opinion of lawyers. But I swear on my dead mentor's grave—I will bring justice to that boy who was wronged by this unfair world. I will pull him out of the darkness. Please, I need her address to fix everything."
Though not fully convinced, the receptionist thought, "Things only change when someone chooses to act." His words seem genuine, but what about his actions? With that thought, she decided to give him the address, allowing the ball of action to start rolling.
Javier took the address and rushed to the woman's house. The night was deep, the air unnervingly still, as if the world itself was warning him about the darkness he was about to uncover.
When he arrived, he stepped up to the door and knocked. A long pause followed. Then, slow footsteps approached, and finally, the door creaked open. An old woman stood before him.
"How may I help you, young sir? Showing up at my door this late in the night?"
Javier hadn't realized how late it had gotten. But time no longer mattered. He knew what he was about to say wouldn't be easy for her to hear. With measured words, he explained why he had come.
Though her face was lined with unease, the old woman listened in silence. When he finished, she exhaled sharply. "I can see you loved your mentor dearly. But what makes you think you have any idea of what your mentor put that poor boy—Finnian Hale—through?"
Javier, despite knowing the unjust actions of his mentor, still selfishly wanted to make things right. He met her gaze and said, "Ma'am, I know I'm a selfish man trying to correct my mentor's mistakes. But that is not the only reason. My mentor helped countless people who had never seen justice. He showed them that this world could still be a haven. That is what drives me now. So, please—I beg you—give me the chance to save that boy and redeem my mentor."
The old woman studied him for a long moment, then took a deep breath.
"I don't trust your words," she said quietly. "I'll tell you the story… but don't expect my trust. Earn it."
As the woman started to tell Javier about the boy's story the mirror's glow shifted, and the image began to change. Ethan leaned forward slightly, watching closely. He knew the mirror was about to show the backstory of the orphan involved in Javier mentor's regretful case.
The image in the mirror cleared showing the story of the orphan. As the woman recited the story to Javier, Ethan was able to witness the whole story through the mirror. The mirror revealed a small, simple house, inside the house was a young boy, about ten years old. He was sitting on the floor, playing with a toy. His smile showed he was happy at that moment.
Behind the boy, his parents stood together, watching him with warm smiles. Every now and then, they gently called his name—Finnian—their voices filled with love. They watched their son with warm smiles, their love for him clear. The boy seemed to be their world, and the house was filled with laughter and light.
But the image shifted quickly, and the mood changed. The boy's parents were driving late at night. It was raining heavily, and the road was slippery. Suddenly, their car skidded and crashed into a tree. The mirror showed the boy sitting alone in a quiet room.
He was told his parents had passed away in the accident. His small, innocent face was filled with confusion and sadness. He didn't fully understand what had happened.
The boy, Finnian, was sent to live in an orphanage. The place was crowded, with many children running around, but it felt cold and lonely. He missed the warmth of his parents and the love they had given him. The mirror showed Finnian growing up in the orphanage. He kept to himself most of the time. The other children didn't understand him, and some even teased him. He found it hard to make friends. Over time, Finnian developed a mental disorder. Losing his parents and growing up without love had taken a toll on him. He often stared into the distance, lost in his own thoughts, while the other children played.
When Finnian turned eighteen, he left the orphanage. He found work at a small restaurant in Camden, London, washing dishes and cleaning tables. He earned just enough money to survive, but his life felt empty. At the restaurant, Finnian met a group of five young men who worked there as well.
At first, they seemed friendly, but it didn't take long before they began to bully him. They mocked him for his quiet nature and played cruel, humiliating jokes at his expense. Despite their behavior, Finnian didn't say anything. He didn't know how to stand up for himself, and his mental state made it even harder for him to express his feelings. He simply endured their teasing in silence.
One day, the bullies invited Finnian to a party. The Finnian agreed to go, hoping he might finally make some friends. He didn't know that the invitation would lead to a terrible event.
At the party, things took a dark turn. The group got into a fight with another small group of teenagers. Words were exchanged, and the tension quickly escalated. Fists began to fly, and chaos erupted.
In the middle of the fight, one of the bullies, Chase, picked up a bottle and struck a teenager from the other group named Tyler. The blow was fatal, and the teenager fell to the ground, lifeless. The party ended in panic. The police arrived moments later, responding to the noise and commotion. The bullies, desperate to escape blame, pointed at the boy. "He did it!" they shouted. "He's the one who killed him!"
The Finnian was shocked and confused. He didn't understand why his so-called friends were accusing him. He tried to defend himself, but his words were jumbled and didn't make sense. The police believed the bullies' story.
The Finnian was arrested and taken to court. He didn't have anyone to support him or speak on his behalf. His mental condition made it hard for him to explain what really happened. The evidence was against him.
The mirror showed the courtroom. Javier's mentor, the senior lawyer Antonio Serrano, had stood representing the family of Tyler, the murdered teenager. Without properly investigating, the mentor argued that Finnian was guilty.
The court sentenced Finnian to thirty years in prison. He was taken away in handcuffs, his face filled with fear and sadness. The bullies who had framed him walked away free; their lie hidden.
The mirror faded, returning to the present. Javier sat back; his heart heavy. He now understood the full story of the orphan. The injustice was clear, and Javier knew he had to do something to make it right. Javier sat quietly in the woman's house. His hands rested on the old woman Rhea Thompson's frail hands, and his mind was racing with thoughts. The story of the young orphan Finnian had shaken him deeply. He could feel the weight of the injustice pressing on his heart like a heavy stone.
The old woman's words replayed in his mind as he left her house. He knew Finnian was innocent. The old woman had revealed the truth—how the boy had been framed by his bullies and wrongly sent to prison. Javier couldn't ignore what he had learned. He had to act. Javier thought about Finnian sitting in prison, alone and forgotten. The image broke his heart. He could only imagine the Finnian's confusion, wondering why no one believed him. Javier knew he couldn't let the boy's life end this way.
His mentor's decision to remain silent was understandable but painful. Javier knew his mentor had feared losing his reputation. But he also knew that justice mattered more than reputation. Now, it was up to him to fix what had gone wrong.