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

[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.]

[strangerpeople]

[And just like that, between the kick and the pew pew, the Noise breaks off, disintegrating.

King is free.]

[unwittingking]

[King's free, and he's crying heavily. He's relieved, so much, but he's just...he feels like he's done the worst thing possible, and he doesn't know what to do next.

But he's alive.]

[katzenpfote]

[He hugs King tightly, hand going to the back of his friend's hair. Tears and snot are far from the worst thing this jacket has had on it.]

I've got you. I've got you. You're okay. You're alive.

[unwittingking]

Please...please don't let it be them…please…

[Sorry Caleb, that's the most of a response you're getting at the moment.

But he's holding on tightly, because this is real, Caleb's real, and he needs to be near him right now.]

[carryabigstick]

[She's just going to stand guard over them for the time being. No one else is getting at King without getting past her staff.]

We need to think about getting out of here. We may have managed this much, but we could be in danger at any moment if they want to try again. I'll cover you-- can yet take him somewhere safe? Barricade the door or take him to your house and lock yourselves in... whatever you need to do. I trust you.

[katzenpfote]

... I'll take him home. We'll figure out the bedding situation, but Arthur and I can look after him.

[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.]