doomsday. ( yellowjackets )

soixante-quatorze.

xxx.

chapter soixante-quatorze.
chapter seventy four.

1997.

xxx.

" Would you say that, before the fire, everyone was on board with the Wilderness and letting It decide what we should do for It? " Misy questioned Lottie, who sat almost perfectly still, her brows creased in concentration as she listened to Misty.

            " No, I don't think everyone believed. "

           " And you got an A in history, right? "

           Amused, Lottie confirmed, " Yeah. "

          " Famously, are there not examples of people in history who were not in favor of certain belief systems burning those people's houses to the ground? " Misty furthered, causing a few of the girls to grin or, in Natalie's case, rub her forehead anxiously.

          " Yes, there are famously examples of that. " Lottie agreed again.

          " So, in your opinion, couldn't anyone who didn't agree or partake in the belief system have burned the cabin to the ground? " Misty turned her back on Lottie to look among the group, her face confident like she already knew Lottie's answer.

         " I guess, yes. "

         " Okay, so, it could've been Coach Scott. I mean, he didn't believe, after all. Or it could've been, I don't know..Shauna, as I previously said. Or Gen, I mean she didn't come to all the prayer circles. Alex pretty much disowned the Wilderness, and..sorry, Nat, I know you're the judge, but I mean, you didn't believe, either. " Misty gave several examples, turning on her heel to hold her hand out to Natalie with a halfhearted smile. She turned back to the others, " Or Melissa, hey. I mean, you could go either way, probably. "

          " What? I didn't burn down the cabin. " Melissa defensively responded, throwing her hand out to the side as she took a small step forward.

          " Not the fucking point she's making. " Theo muttered under her breath, pinching the bridge of her nose.

          " Silence from the jury, please. " Natalie called over top of Melissa, tapping the gavel a few times to quiet her. " Misty, continue. "

         " And Taissa, I mean, she really only went to the prayer circles because her girlfriend believed. " Misty pointed out, and clearly what she was saying was true, as it was causing quite the reaction from the rest of them.

         " Objectjon. Natalie, this is ridiculous. " Taissa insisted, looking past Misty with an annoyed glint in her eyes.

         " Overruled, she's doing her job. "

         Misty smiled appreciatively, but it dropped quickly so she could resume her narrative. She turned back to her witness, Lottie, and approached her again, softening her voice, " And Lottie, couldn't someone think that..maybe you burned the cabin down, be had you were upset that It didn't want you to be the leader anymore? "