Ace Attorney: Mask of Deceit

Chapter 6: The Scholarly Turnabout - Investigation 2 ~ Part 2

January 25 1:30pm

Ashbrooke Boarding School ~ Niamh Wood's POV

I woke up with a bit of a funny feeling. Knives do that to me. All sharp things in general. I see one, and I collapse. No warning of any kind, I just drop out cold. And the worst part is that it's not even me who wakes up.

When I faint, she comes out. I've been saying that a lot recently as kind of like a vague hint. Some of you may know who I'm talking about, if you've read the stories that came before this one. Some of you, though, might have a bit of trouble keeping up. So let me explain:

You've heard the name Genocide Jack, haven't you? Of course you have. The serial killer who caused a really big incident a while ago. Namely, QS-5. It was everywhere in the news.

And that's me. Genocide Jack.

Well, not exactly. I have this really messed up split personality that I only recently found out about. Such personality is Genocide Jack, or GJ for short.

So I am, and yet am not GJ. Weird, right?

GJ is always triggered when I collapse upon seeing a knife. As long as I stay away from stabbing cases and Mr. Bespoke doesn't take his knife out when I just so happen to be there, we should be nice and safe. But in the odd occasion that you do meet GJ, stay away at all costs.

Anyway! Beginning monolouge over! Back to the main story!

One of the officers investigating the crime had come looking for me, saying he had found 'a vital clue'. I was curious, so I decided to follow him up the many stairs and into... the office. What could possibly be in here?

"I found it over here, Ms. Wood!" the officer yelled, pointing to a filing cabinet by the window. One of the very bottom drawers was open, and a chunk was missing from the files, the odd gap looking very out of place. And laying next to the cabinet, face up on the ground and shining in the light...

A golden mask.

The very same golden mask that Mukuro presented in court earlier today.

"Wh-What the-?!" I gasped, taking a step back. "Th-This mask...!" I paused before another thought hit me. "What's in this filing cabinet?!"

"The details of all attending students!" the officer replied. "We have already confirmed which file was stolen!"

"Well... whose was it?!" I demanded.

The officer fiddled with the hem of his blue uniform before responding. "Y-Yours, Ms. Wood!"

"M... Mine...?!" I whispered. "Why...?!"

All sorts of confusion was whirling around my head: why did the school still have my file? Why was the file stolen? And most importantly... what kind of thief would want to steal MY information?

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January 25 1:45pm

Ashbrooke Boarding School - Hall ~ Niamh Tenniswood's POV

"Hey, guys!" Mukuro called out to us, running and waving. "Guess what I found?!"

"What did you find?" I prompted, intruiged about what she had to say.

"A new witness just turned up!" Mukuro announced, a wide grin on her face.

"A new witness?!" Yuri repeated. "What did they see?!"

"I'll take you to go see them." Mukuro said. "I know I probably shouldn't, but I've never been a stickler for the rules!"

Mukuro led us out of the hall and into a classroom, where a teenage boy was waiting. His black hair had been tied back into a low ponytail, with glasses of the same colour framing his eyes. At a glance, I could tell he was the calm and collected type.

"Ah, Detective Erikson, you've returned." the boy sighed. "So this is the defense team you told me about?"

"Indeed it is!" Mukuro returned with a smile before turning to us. "This is Robert Carey. He said he had some information about the murder, so I decided to take him in for questioning!"

"And I suppose you'll be wanting to know about this information?" Mr. Carey asked. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but there was something off about him...

"So what do you know?" Yuri asked.

"Have you heard the rumours going around? That Jeff is working with some kind of thief?" Mr. Carey asked.

I frowned. "Yes, that is the alleged motive for him committing the murder."

"As it turns out, I have identified the name of said thief." Mr. Carey continued. "Their name is-"

*HOLD IT!*

"Not so fast, Mr. Carey!" a female voice interrupted. Prosecutor Wood had appeared in the doorway, hands on hips victoriously. "I'm afraid you need to be questioned privately now!"

"A shame, but there is always tomorrow, right?" Mr. Carey shot a sly grin at me before leaving with the prosecutor.

"Are you okay, Niamh?" Yuri asked me. "Your frown is kinda scaring me..."

"... I'm fine." I replied.

Mukuro sighed. "Why did she have to take him away...? Just at that crucial moment!"

It didn't make any sense to me, either. Did she want to know about this thief, as well...?

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"This thief you were talking about earlier... Do they wear a golden mask like this one?"

"Why, he does indeed, Niamh. Or, should I say, Prosecutor Wood."

"So the thief is male?"

"That's right. He calls himself... the Masked Gentleman."

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CASUALLY SPEAKING TO THE READERS DIRECTLY IN THE BEGINNING THAT IS FINE

OH YEAH AND MYSTERIOUS GOLDEN MASK AGAIN THAT IS ALSO FINE

TOTALLY NOT CREEPY AT ALL

ALSO NEW WITNESS

YAY

SO YEAH UH IM GONNA GO

BRILLIANT

AceAttorneyFan over and out!