Ace Attorney: Web of Mistrust

Turnabout Mansion, Part 3 (Chrysalis)

Estella led Lily, Yuri and I to the crime scene. It was a truly gruesome scene. I thought I'd lose my lunch. One the ground was a woman. Her hair was blue and purple, but stained with blood. A knife was inside her chest, a few inches off center. Next to her right finger was a pair of letters.

"'T.W...'" Yuri whispered as she read the letters. "No wonder they thought Niamh did it."

"I know that she didn't, though! She's not a killer!" Lily exclaimed.

"I'm with you! I'm just observing!" Yuri shouted in reply. Upon noticing she had snapped, Yuri turned away. I swear her bow dropped in height by about an inch. "Sorry. I'm just worried..."

"It's okay," Estella told her, placing a hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "We all have our bad moments."

Yuri sighed and nodded. "Thanks."

I turned back to the crime scene. I crouched down next to the body and stared at the blood writing. Last time something was written in the victim's blood, a certain bipolar prosecutor was arrested (*cough* Sora *cough*). Those days were living nightmares. Honestly, if things here go like just about every other case that's ever showed up at the agency, I'm expecting torture. Everything is always connected. If this is the start to a nightmare like that, then here's hoping it doesn't involve me getting kidnapped or locked in my own house again.

...Don't ask.

"Earth to Chrys!"

I snapped out of my daydream to see Estella waving her hand in front of my face rapidly. "S-sorry," I apologized sheepishly, feeling an embarrassed blush rise on my cheeks. "What's up?"

"My boyfriend," Lily said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes. I had made the mistake of making that joke once, about a year ago, and it wouldn't stop poking me saying something similar to, 'Oi! Chrys! Listen to me!'

I sighed and shook my head. "What did you find?"

"Look at the blood writing," Estella said, pointing to the writing. The color was so bright, you could paint a stop sign with it. I gulped. Not a pretty sight.

"What about it?" Yuri asked. Thankfully, her voice rescued me from another unpleasant memory festival. I got enough of those as it was.

...Again, don't ask. Most of it is about the UCA. Geez! They've been in prison for two years now, but they still lingered in my mind! When will the thought of those jerks just leave me alone for good?!

And there I go again.

"There's a dot after each letter. Like they're initials of something," Lily pointed out.

"T and W could easily be initials for Tenniswood. It's not at all helping our case," I frowned.

"I'm thinking that the real killer had ties to these letters, and it was a last minute effort by the victim to identify her killer," Lily continued. "Like the killer's name was T.W. or something like that. Their first and last initials, maybe?"

"Either way, we should probably get back to the agency. My brother will be wondering about where we went all of a sudden. In the 'excitement'-" I began.

"Nothing exciting about this!" Yuri interrupted. "It's pure torture!"

"I put finger quotes there for a reason," I told her. "Anyways, I forgot to call him and tell him all that's happened. He's probably worried out of his mind. Cotoli always freaks out over the smallest things!"

"I wish my big brother was as protective as yours. Iden practically hates me!" Estella exclaimed. "Man! I take the TV from him a few times-"

"My big brother is pretty cool. I dressed him up as a fairy once!" Lily laughed.

"I always get the feeling he's going to arrest me or something..." I gulped. "I don't know why, but I just feel like something like that's bound to happen..."

"You're being crazy!" Lily exclaimed, dismissing it to be nothing. "I doubt that something like that's going to happen, in this universe or another!"

I looked to Yuri. She was looking down, a frown on her face. I walked up to the smaller girl (I'm three years older and I only have a few inches on her! Geez! I'm so short!) and hugged her. "It's okay. If you ever need a channeling, I'll do it for you," I consoled her.

Yuri nodded and wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. "Thanks," she smiled. Her grin was clearly only half genuine. The falsity of the other half was so obvious, you didn't even need to have a brain to see it clearly.

"I think I'm going to head home now. I'll see you guys in court tomorrow!" Estella exclaimed, walking out of the room with a wave.

"See you later, Stel!" I called after the brunette, waving, though I knew she couldn't see my farewell.

"Time to head back to the agency, then," Lily prompted. Yuri and I nodded before we all began our journey to my apartment.

//November 1, 2029. Morix Law Office, 3:45 PM//

Upon entering the agency, one thing caught my eye. Or rather, one person did.

I sighed and walked up to my brother. "Hey, big bro," I said. He was pacing the room. Uh oh. This isn't good. He only does that when seriously freaked out.

"Chrysalis!" Cotoli exclaimed, turning to face me. He walked closer before beginning his typical 'why didn't you tell me you were leaving' rant. "Where were you?!"

"Niamh, Yuri, and I were at the agency when these two people showed up and told us to come with them. We did it, but they arrested Niamh when we did go with them! She was accused of murder!" I held back an 'again.' Lily wasn't supposed to know that I knew about that...

Cotoli sighed. "Let me guess: you three investigated the case after taking it for Niamh's sake?"

I nodded in reply. "Yep. You sure do know us well."

"Just don't scare me like that anymore, got it?" Cotoli told me.

I nodded in reply. "Promise!"

//November 1, 2029. Interrogation Room, 3:40 PM//

"Tell us, Ms. Tenniswood. What do you know about secrets regarding where you work?"

"...Why do you ask?"

"...Reasons."

"Such as what?"

"Don't ask and just answer the question."

"Don't push her so hard, Anthony."

"...!! You're...!!"

-----------------------------------

Hwa.

I came up with the best ever idea while writing this you don't even know like Gasply Besigh.

We get into court in the next chapter. Whoop!

I feel like I should say more in this author's note, but I can't think of anything for the life of me.

Dang it.

-Digital