doomsday. ( yellowjackets )

soixante-quinze.

xxx.

chapter soixante-quinze.
chapter seventy five.

1997.

xxx.

             The gavel banged again, three times, drawing attention back to Natalie, who appeared to be worn out by the back and forth of the trial. She leaned into the side of the plane seat and looked at Taissa, " Alright, Tai, do you have any more witnesses? "

            " Just one, Your Honor. " The title sounded more ridiculous now than before, but that time it was the way Taissa said it; with spite. Taissa slowly stood, raising her focused eyes from the ground to Natalie as she declared, " The people would like to call Natalie Scatorccio to the stand. "

           " Objection— no, no, no, the judge can't be a witness. " Misty interrupted before Taissa could even get the full thing out. " That's unprecedented. "

           " All of this is unprecedented. "

           " Your Honor. " Misty pressed, looking to Natalie, but the girl in question simply threw her hands up and moved to stand.

            " I'll do it. " Taissa's lips came to a flat line of content as she watched Theo slowly rise from the tree stump. The shorter girl looked over at Natalie wearily, the two of them sharing a look that didn't go unnoticed by Taissa.

            She quickly stepped over towards them and held out her hand, " No, you can stay, too. "

            " I thought you said you didn't have any further questions for Theo? " Misty again jumped in, but that time, Taissa didn't bother turning to look back at her, she simply continued looking between Natalie and Theo.

           " I don't. It's not a question. " Taissa insisted, leaving the rest of them to try and conjure what she meant by that, while Theo stared back at Taissa, teeth clenched. Theo sat back down on the stump, with Natalie then standing beside her, but Taissa wasn't done quite yet. She gestured to the garb Natalie wore that put her on a pedestal, " Oh, do you mind? "

          Natalie obliged, glancing down at the white robe before she untied it and threw it on to her chair. She turned back towards Taissa, crossing her arms as she waited impatiently. Theo didn't need to be any closer to Natalie to feel the nervousness radiating off of her, causing her own knee to bounce lightly.

         " Your Honor— "

         " Nat is fine. " Natalie swiftly cut her off, making Taissa shoot her a tight lipped smile.

         " Thanks. Nat, when was the last time you saw Coach Scott and Sam before today? "

         " Mm, the day we— I drew the Queen. " Natalie admitted, glancing up at Taissa with a wave of confusion over her face.

        " You last saw them before the fire? " Taissa asked, and Natalie nodded. Another question, and it didn't take long for Theo to confirm that her fear was real, " Before we drew cards? "

        Natalie's brows lowered and she shifted unnervingly, moving her weight from one leg to the other as she inched closer to Theo, " No—no. "