T̢H̶͏É͠ ̵̢͜T̸͘H̸̶͞I͢ŔD ̵E͘͢X͘E͠͝C͞U͟͠Ţ̡I̕Ò͢͞N

[strangerpeople]

T̢H̶͏É͠ ̵̢͜T̸͘H̸̶͞I͢ŔD ̵E͘͢X͘E͠͝C͞U͟͠Ţ̡I̕Ò͢͞N

[Just as before, as time runs out, an alarm blares, and the dot matrix screens on the podiums of the suspects flash. The suspect with the most votes flashes red three times.]


[Once more, the true culprit is marked with a blacker-than-black X.]

Congratulations, Strangers. Those of you who've voted are unanimous and correct. King Milton is guilty of murdering Vita Clotilde-Morris and Jonathan Morris.

[Hiyori's voice is like chipper ice. The details aren't coming out this time, apparently. There's a pause. Hiyori gets up to put a hand on Link's shoulder with a gentle concerned expression on his face. Then they speak in unison.]

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the execution! However you see fit!

Comments

[strangerpeople]

[It takes...a very long time. It feels like it. An eternity of minutes.

But finally, finally, Ambro can feel it. The force field was weakened enough.

She can make a portal if she hurries.]

[necroyalty]

[Alright, she'll do it as fast as she can.

Let's rock. ]

[strangerpeople]

[The portal opens wide, right near King. The other end is where Ambro and Eric are.

It's big enough that anyone can come in-and out-for a good minute or so.]

[poorlovefool]

[... IT'S WHERE THEY ARE??? IS HE FALLING???]

[strangerpeople]

[Nah, Eric, it's not that goofy. Sadly.]

[poorlovefool]

[All right then he'll just stand here spinning this Drill Ambro at the entrance then. With glow eyes to intimidate anything that tries to come in after King.]

Not today, motherfuckers!

[pew pew]

[unwittingking]

[And King's jumping through it, as fast as he can, before it ends up closing, because it's a chance.

He owes you Ambrosine.]

[katzenpfote]

[Caleb reaches through the portal to catch King and drag him out to safety, dropping Estelle so he can use both hands.]

Here!

[carryabigstick]

[Well, she's probably not needed anymore-- at least not like that.

So she's going to change back so she doesn't hit the floor. But in return, she can grab her own weapon.]

Take him! I'll do what I can to protect you two!

[unwittingking]

[He's running, and throwing another red vial at any Noise that tries to follow. He has it now, it's in reach, and he's not letting go.]

I'M NOT DYING TODAY!

[strangerpeople]

[Most of the Noise screams and coils back at the flames. One, however, doesn't.

That one Noise grabs King's ankle and attempts to pull him back in. It speaks, like her. Behind her, who King knows well, the sound of whimpering children.]

D̀͡o̷N͢͞͠'҉̀͡t҉ ̵̧͢Y͏o̡U ͢ĺ̷̸O̢̧͜v̡͝È̴͢ ́u͞S͢,̸́͜ ͝d̴͏A͟͏r͜L͞í͝N҉͡g??

[carryabigstick]

[Estelle is going to run over to help Caleb, grabbing King to help pull.]

NOT A CHANCE IN GEHENNA!! HE'S OURS, YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM!!

[strangerpeople]

[The Noise snarls, as the area within the force field suddenly started to pulse red.

The voice, too, changes, and it goes directly into Estelle's brain. It is deep, yet its gender indiscernible. It does not sound human. It sounds like all the things Estelle might fear.]

H̷͝e̕ Is ̵M͡ì̕N͏̸e.̛

[carryabigstick]

Like hell he is! None of us are letting this game take him. If you want him you're going to have to fight me first!!

[She absolutely hates it, but she's not backing down.]

[comesaround]

I'd offer to help but clearly you guys got this handled pretty good so far.

[ Sorry he had to offer a bit of commentary from where he's standing. ]

[unwittingking]

[King freezes, because it's her, sounds just like her, and the pups, and he's thinking if they were right, if they really did...]

Bailey...?

[strangerpeople]

[The children start to cry.]

Do̸͟N̴'̷͡t̶̷̢ ̸L͘͘e͘Àv҉̨̧Ȩ ̀͝͝u҉S̸!͏

[unwittingking]

[He's crying because it sounds so much like her, and they sound so right...but Caleb's in his ear, and he knows.]

No.

[With the free foot, he's going to kick the fake's face.]

[katzenpfote]

It's not her. She's at home, she's waiting for you, she's going to be okay. This thing isn't her.

[He pulls harder, trying to brace himself against the floor.]

[unwittingking]

[No, it's not.]

[incendiarize]

[PEW PEW]

[strangerpeople]

[The Noise screams at this, the static dripping from its mouth.]

[incendiarize]

[PEW PEW HARDER]

[necroyalty]

[Ambro still focuses her energy on maintaining the wormhole, but she responds, in a voice she reserves for someone she's personally sentencing to death:]

You cannot.

[poorlovefool]

[Eric is holding onto Ambro as she maintains the wormhole and he is shook by her commanding presence!!]

Yeah! What she said!