Ace Attorney: Web of Mistrust

The Theatrical Turnabout, Part 7 (Polly)

Anton and I made a mad dash for where the scream had come from. It was in the hallway just outside the room we had been in.

Rinko was pointing to a black bag (it was a HUGE bag) while shaking. Tenniswood was staring inside in shock. I ran up to the bag and peered inside.

There was a person.

Specifically, Shane Carmen.

He was unconscious and a small amount of blood was on his right temple. My eyes widened, and Anton burst into terrified tears.

But our worries didn't end there.

"Mr. Morix!"

"T-that sounded like Satoki!" Rinko exclaimed, distracted from the witness unconscious before her.

"It came from the hallway with the restrooms!" Tenniswood shouted, pointing to the door nearby.

We all ran there at this instruction. Anton opened the door for all of us. I was too distracted to bid him my thanks.

After all, it was my turn to scream.

A small statue was near the wall, blood covering it. I recognized it as the one used to attack me during that one case a while back.

But most surprising of all wasn't the statue, but rather the people near it, blood on the right side of their heads.

Mr. Amaya and...

Cotoli.

Anton ran to Cotoli, panic etched on his face. "Daddy!" he exclaimed, holding my boyfriend's hand in his. "Daddy!"

My heart was thumping so loudly it almost blocked out Tenniswood's voice. "I'm calling the police!"

Rinko nodded slowly as she crouched down next to Mr. Amaya. "What could have happened to them...?!"

I picked up the weapon and began observing it. It calmed my nerves. "Judging by the blood splatter on the statue, it appears that Cotoli, Mr. Amaya, and Mr. Carmen were all attacked by the same person," I concluded. "Perhaps the real killer."

"This means that Chrysalis couldn't possibly be the killer, then!" Rinko exclaimed.

Tenniswood tucked her phone away in her pocket. "The police should be here soon. What should we do in the meantime?"

"Photograph the crime scenes," I answered, pulling my phone out of my pocket. I snapped a few pictures of the gruesome scene.

"I'll take the other one," Rinko said, taking out her phone and running from the room, her hair whipping behind her.

I looked back to Anton once I was done with my picture taking spree. I walked over to him, trying to be as sensitive as possible. "Anton?"

Anton was looking at Cotoli. His mouth was covered by his hoodie (he had a habit of sinking into it, after all), though the rest of his head was exposed. I didn't even want to look at the patch of blood staining his hair. "I-I don't understand w-why anybody would d-do this..." Anton whispered, tears beginning to fall down his flushed face. "What if he never wakes up?!"

"He will," I told Anton. The next part of my speech came out a choked whisper. "Be has to."

"Let's assume for a moment that the culprit here was the same one as in your case, Prosecutor Bloom," Tenniswood said. "What would that mean?"

"I thought that they had black hair... But now I'm starting to think brown..." I replied. My memory of when I was assaulted was a blurry buzz. I could barely remember who attacked me, though I do remember seeing Cotoli, Anton, and Chrysalis leaning over me when I woke up. The memory brought tears to my eyes.

Officers burst into the room next. Things buzzed in my mind during the next few hours. I was just that terrified.

//November 29, 2029. Detention Center, 3:39 PM//

Stunned silence hung over the room after Tenniswood, Rinko, Anton, and I had told Chrysalis what happened. She looked near tears.

"My brother... Satoki and Shane too... What did they do to deserve this?" Chrysalis whispered, obviously biting back her tears.

"I-if it makes any difference," Anton began. "I heard D-Daddy talking about the p-project earlier."

"That could be connected to why he was attacked, but what about the other two?" Rinko wondered aloud.

"They were witnesses. They could have been roadblocks to the real killer and their plans," I suggested.

"Yeah... But... Going this far..." Chrysalis looked away, a tear making its way down her face. She suddenly looked up at Tenniswood, fire in her eyes. "Niamh! Please try and get me a not guilty verdict tomorrow! I have to go and see my brother!"

"What about we go and see him and tell you tomorrow? Visiting time is running out," Rinko suggested.

"I'll come in tonight and say it's for an interrogation," I said. "You can count on it."

"Thank you so much, Polly! I would hug you sooooo tight if this pesky glass weren't here!" Chrysalis babbled, rubbing the tears from her eyes.

"Let's get going then," Tenniswood told us. "See you at the trial tomorrow."

Chrysalis nodded her reply, prompting us to depart.

//November 29, 2029. Hickfield Clinic, 4:34 PM//

I walked into the room with Cotoli in it after taking a deep breath and telling myself I could do this. "Cotoli?" I questioned.

There he was, sitting on the bed, head wrapped in bandages. A pang of ache tugged at my heart, yelling at me to find some way to help, even if such forces were out of my control.

Cotoli smiled. "Thanks for coming... What about Chrysalis?"

I knew the question was inevitable.

"She's fine," Rinko said simply. "What about you though?!"

"I was talking with Satoki about the project. I asked him to watch after Chrysalis, after all. Anyways, we were chatting when a man came in. He had a bloody statue in his hands. The man hit me in the head and I blacked out. I heard him yell my bene before going completely unconscious," Cotoli replied. "I think something similar happened to Satoki."

"Yeah..." I frowned, voice growing distant. "Will you be at the trial tomorrow?"

Cotoli shook his head. "Strict orders not to go, though I really want to. Bring Chrysalis home for me."

Tenniswood, Rinko, Anton, and I all nodded in sync.

It seemed that we were finally on the same page.

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

Like I said, Cotoli fans get hit right in the feels.

I feel like the killer is so obvious, though. One of these days, when pigs fly, I will find a subtle killer.

It'll probably be that way in case 5 ufufufu

Anyways, I totally did not type this while at a baseball game no what are you talking about.

-Digital