THE FIRST EXECUTION

[disregartist]

THE FIRST EXECUTION


[Given what has happened, there's hardly any deliberation, or suspense, once the clock chimes again.

One by one, the profiles on the suspect list disappear, until only one is left.]


A unanimous vote, no less.

[The Conductor stands, slipping the pardon from her vest. Without a second's hesitation, she rips it up as she crosses the garden to the center of the podiums. The paper falls to the floor in tatters.]

I shall give you a few moments to say your goodbyes to the Rose; I would suggest not interfering with the execution. In fact, I very strongly suggest against it. Getting caught in the magnetosphere we will be creating will...not end well for anyone who tries, I promise.

Oh, and-you might want to consider putting your sunglasses on. Soon. Very soon.

Comments

LAST WORDS

[disregartist]

[If you have anything to say to Beatrice, well...now's the time to do it.]

Well...I must say I am sad to see you go.

[zackthekiller]

[He's not talking to the Rose. He's talking to the conductor lady.]

Wait, we're making a magne-what-o-sphere?!

[unwittingking]

[King isn't even going to say anything. He'll just put on his sunglasses and look on at Beatrice.

Let's get this over with.]

[higanbana]

[It takes a bit of doing, with how her hands are shaking and how she's trying to keep a tight grasp on that ring, but eventually, Ris takes off the half-goggle she's been using as a makeshift eyepatch.

There's nothing much to see here, for anyone looking. Her right eye is closed. Besides, it's not visible for long, anyway, as she's putting on those sunglasses and holding the ring to her chest.]

EXECUTION: Like Clockwork

[disregartist]

...well, let's not waste any more time. Everyone put your glasses on.

Except you, of course, Beatrice.

[The rats that unchained the Rose's sunglasses from her podium and tossed them away scurry off, running through the gate of the garden. At this, the Conductor presses a button on her phone. Almost instantly, things start to happen.

First, everyone's cuffs save Beatrice's suddenly send a jolt through their bodies, and they will find, as a result, that while they can move their arms and head to put their glasses on, they otherwise can't leave their podiums. The next is that Beatrice is suddenly dragged into the center of the podium circle, though not of her own will.

There is a loud roar of engines; suddenly, the Eventide is above the garden, a large laser-like apparatus sliding out from beneath its chassis.]

ACTIVATING TELESCOPIC LENS ARRAY

TELESCOPIC POWER 50000%

TARGET: ACQUIRED

[For a moment, nothing happens. Beatrice looks to everyone, and manages to straighten herself up. She raises her burnt arms and gestures to the rest of the crowd as best as she can.]

It's been fun! Thanks for listening to my story.

>[She even manages to take a bow.]

See you again.

[Then the array's glass reflects to its proper angles, instantly plunges Beatrice into a bright spotlight. It's magnified from a place far enough for the strangers to not see, but close enough that the lens array works. Nor is it nothing like sunshine anyone would be familiar with, though-its bright and green and wrong. Even with sunglasses-and really, hopefully, everyone else save Lilac has them on-they can see Beatrice start to writhe and cry under its rays.

Then, she looks up at it and gasps.]

...the Sun...

[There is a look of fear, as if she is struggling with something inside her. But the light is too strong, and even the hardiest butterfly will wither under such intensity.

She breaks, and lets out a screech of joy, her mouth unnaturally wide as she sings praises, even as her body begins to petrify into glass.]

THE SUN!!! LOOK!!! THE SUN!!!! AHAHAHA! I LOVE YOU!! TAKE ME!! TAKE ME!!!

AAAAAAHAHAHAH-

[She laughs hysterically until, at last, her mouth is glass, along with the rest of her. She is a statue, frozen like a piece of expensive furniture.

Until, suddenly, she isn't.]

ACTIVATING WRATH OF HEAVEN

[A massive ball of lilac suddenly shoots out from the center of the armaments car. It is ammunition that none of the strangers have seen until now. It seems to fall in slow motion until it impacts with the ex-Beatrice that is the glass statue.

The result is a scream, a howl, purple sigils swirling around the radius of the hit, and glass flying all over the area, along with a little bit of blood. Thankfully, there is a wide enough berth around the podiums that the glass doesn't hit anyone, save the Conductor, who gets a cut on her face. She merely dabs the cut with her handkerchief, her face completely stony.

Once the smoke and purple glow of the projectile clears, there is little more than a jutting geode of multi-colored glass and rock in the hole where Beatrice once stood. Above, the train turns and chugs back to the dock. The curtain on the second floor quietly closes.

Then the cuffs beep, and everyone is free to go. The Conductor will not leave the garden until everyone else has first; even then, she will stay awhile longer after. No one will be allowed back in.]

[notthebreakman]

[As the surviving Strangers walk away, a faint, almost ghostly whistle echoes through the garden. It could be just the wind, but it almost sounds like a snatch of melancholy music instead...

No matter; the sound is gone soon enough.]