Zero blinked their eyes open—no longer in that dingy house. Now they were trapped in a red room. Every participant was present. Roxanne’s preserved corpse was suspended in an iron cage, slumped sideways on a pedestal above them like a grotesque exhibit.

  Each contestant stood behind golden waist-high desks shaped like hourglasses. To Zero’s left was Dara; to their right, Gloxer. The wide circle was filled out by Richard, Psylaiso, Saraline, Lichness, Dara, Zero, Gloxer, Ilya, Famine, Jeremiah, Gabriel, Mog, Felix, and Nil.

  At the back sat Paris, perched on a throne with a judge’s table before him. His grin was razor-sharp as he lifted the gavel.

  BANG. BANG. BANG.

  Everyone jolted awake, locked in by glass around their desks.

  “What’s going on?” Gabriel shrieked, clawing at the barrier.

  “It’s time for the trial… of Roxanne Martinez’s murder.” Paris licked his lips and set the gavel down. “The aim is simple: find the murderer.”

  “We know the point—tell the rules.” Jeremiah twirled his lollipop.

  Paris grinned. “You have three hours. If you don’t find the killer, you all die. It must be unanimous—except for the killer, who naturally won’t vote themselves. If the majority votes wrong, you all die. If the majority votes right, the killer and anyone who voted wrong die—painfully. Custom deaths. Tailored.”

  He leaned back, gleeful. “You won’t know if you’re right until after the victim of the vote is executed. This is a one-time event for the Reprisal, so participation is mandatory. Refuse, and your glass will electrocute you until you learn your lesson. Every hour, a representative will summarise the current suspect—who will then get a devil icon plastered onto their glass. Fuel for antagonism.

  And one more thing—if the killer wins? They ascend. They become a God.”

  The room froze.

  “And the rest of us?” Jeremiah spat.

  “You win life. And since this is the last challenge of the Grand Reprisal, your performance could earn you sainthood, becoming a Slavi for Medea, or ownership under Eliza.” His smile widened, monstrous. He pointed upward. “This is being broadcast. Play your roles well. The world is watching.”

  Zero snarled. “Then let’s start this shit.”

  “Let’s come to a common consensus—” Famine puffed on his cigarette looking around the room, his other hand placed on his noir homburg hat as he began to continue, “The victim is Roxanne Martinez— 16 year old Florian girl, her heritage in the old world would be Mexican— those are the facts, she was murdered in cold blood with a knife wound.”

  “A knife wound?” Gloxer spat, “Then the murder weapon would be the knife— how does that explain all rashes among her body.”

  “Perhaps it was an allergic reaction?” Gabriel claimed, “Maybe she died from someone killing her like that— the knife wound was just to draw suspicion.”

  “My girl never had allergies— she could adapt to them like that.” Richard snapped his fingers.

  “The rashes must be a symptom of something she couldn’t adapt towards.” Saraline nodded her head, “Was there anything else discovered?”

  “We didn’t have allot of time did we Princess?” Felix mocked, “She definitely was murdered— I don’t see how she could stab herself therefore it means someone broke out their house at night.”

  “It must be someone with powers to negate the doors.” Nil chimed, “What do you say to that Famine?”

  The ghoul chuckled— smoking wheezing out his lungs, “I’m a suspect already? That’s quick.”

  “Suspect if you decide to be ambiguous.” Dara bit her finger.

  “Funny how you’ve been quiet the whole time— like you don’t have a power that can rip off the door handles anyway.”

  “Pardon?” The girl backed into her glass.

  “You go all Kaiju right— what makes you guys ignore that she could’ve went beast.” Famine smacked his arms against the glass— it didn’t make a dent, just a muffled sound, “Come on?”

  “She has barely any control over her powers, this isn’t a good deflection.” Jeremiah twirled his lollipop in his mouth.

  “Technically, we can’t prove that.” Richard tilted his head at her, “Unlike most here, she came alone— therefore she’s the only one who knows of the maximum extent of her power.”

  “That is a fair point.” Saraline shrugged, “Well Dara, do you have an alibi to place you in the events of Roxanne’s murder.”

  “Yes I do!” Dara Sepers slammed her head down, “I was flung to my home just like everyone else— I tinkered with the door, tried pulling it open and it wouldn’t budge— so I went to sleep, but I heard a loud shriek.”

  “You little liar!” Nil’s voice rang out her glass, “I was up all night— I ain’t hear a single shout and I’m the one closer to Roxanne’s home!”

  “Relax yourself.” Zero spat, “Do you have any proof that you were even up at that time— you can just be trying to get her villainised.”

  “And what do I gain from that? Matter of fact, one of you came to my door— complaining about the noise I was making when I was cleaning up.”

  “What time would you say this happened?” Famine puffed on his cigarette.

  “I’d say late 10pm, the bastard was wearing dark clothes— but now looking at it, allot of you guys are.”

  “Let’s think about something logically.” Ilya fiddled her fingers, “Wouldn’t there be a theme to all of this Paris?”

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  The boy turned to Ilya, “What do you mean?”

  “This is based on the Salem Witch Trials of the old world correct, therefore— there must be some thematically imagery towards this. Maybe the culprit is someone with magical abilities.” Her gaze focused on Lichness.

  “Right after I comforted you as well.” He chuckled, “How cruel— if you want an alibi, I was practising my magic— that’s all.”“It’s funny though.” Felix piped up, his suit flashing— “You are the necromancer but you never tried to resurrect Roxanne, let alone you are the necromancer but you never tried to resurrect Roxanne, let alone say anything useful although being the one closest to her home.”

  “Since the houses were in a terranced circuit.” Mog spoke, “It’d mean that both the Imp and Lichness were the closest to the victim— one could have a motive based on just bloodlust whilst the other could be acting out in grief.”

  “I thought that it’d be Lichness aswell.” Jeremiah tilted his head at the Lich, “However it’d be extremely out of character for him, he’s a thrill chaser correct. Wouldn’t it be more thrilling to kill someone up close than secretly?”

  “Same reason I doubt it was the Imp.” Nil raised her voice, “It’s not their MO to kill secretly, seen with all their murders throughout the decade— specifically ones this year including James and Elliot Timpleson, they were killed in brutal bravado— not allergies or simple knife wounds.”

  “Thanks for the support babe.” Zero mocked, “I believe we should focus more on the start of the murder— if we get that done, we get a path to follow.”

  “Simply everyone got sent to their homes from Paris correct, then the killer used their powers to escape.” Gabriel flaunted.

  “That is a possibility— why I was so adamant of it being someone with power to break the door down.” Jeremiah spoke, “Mog tell them what you told me.”

  “It took me a couple to tinker with the door, make it unlockable with my lack of powers— but doesn’t that mean that people with powers can easily open their door?”

  “Indeed.” Saraline nodded, “If the killer was flung into their doors like the rest of us— they would have to use their abilities to open the door.”

  “If you can’t brute strength it people like Saraline are out the question, it’d have to be more negating it’s properties.” Felix chuckled, “I never tried but maybe a pulse beam could make a dent.”

  “But we aren’t looking for a dent, we are looking for something volatile or quiet— must be quiet since nobody heard anything last night right. It’s why Famine is my number one suspect.” Jeremiah spat the carcass of the lollipop onto the ground— before reigniting another from his pocket.

  “Yes. I did open my door.” Famine bluntly spoke— lighting a cigarette.

  The trial went quiet as Paris began to giggle.

  “Why would you say something so incriminating willy nilly?”Why would you say something so incriminating willy nilly?” Ilya pointed her pistol to the glass- the barrel directed at Famine.

  “Because it helps the discussion of course, when I opened the door— I saw a figure walking to Roxanne’s house.”

  “What time would you say this is?” Richard chimed.

  “I bet 9:30, the clock was beside me so I have a clear sense— but the figure moved fast, can’t see because of the night and the dark clothes but they moved like light.”

  “Can we talk about the elephant in the room” Gloxer raised his hand, “There were no signs of resistance on her body— couldn’t that mean someone manipulated her trust?”

  “Paris— is it possible for a Saint to have commited the murder?” Felix stared above, the boy nodded. “This also coincides with evidence I found alongside Jeremiah and Mog, a dent in the couch— someone must’ve sat there and spoke to her.”

  “Did anyone catch her time of death?” Zero spoke.

  The room went silent.

  “That means she could’ve died from the range of 9:00 to the morning, we have no plausible evidence depicting when she died!”

  Richard pointed at the corpse in the glass, “Look— I mean it would’ve looked better the day of but— her skin was extremely pale from bloodloss, who knows how long it takes for that to kick in?”

  “Less than five minutes.” Jeremiah spoke, “It hit the liver however the way the knife was positioned— I don’t think she was stabbed but instead stabbed herself.”

  Gabriel gasped, “You think she committed suicide?”

  “No.” Mog shook his head, “She ain’t like that— probably that shit that gave her the rashes made her tweak and she tried to get the pain gone.”“Can we find out what even caused her to get the rashes— we keep jumping from point to point.” Richard spoke, “It can’t be allergies— was it a poison?”

  “Nobody here brought poison with them— so they would have to go back into their homes— to get it.” Lichness stated, “Therefore it deadass has to be someone who can negate the doors.”

  “But did you ever think that the doors are only locked from the inside.” Jeremiah tilted his head. “The culprit could’ve left the door open and went back inside to get poison.”

  “Maybe we should’ve checked everyone’s home— we probably wouldn’t have much time actually.” Saraline muttered.

  “Wait— you speak as if they were outside the whole time.” Richard pointed at Jeremiah, “Isn’t that we all got sent flying into our homes— that’s what happened to me and everyone here.”

  “Actually.” Zero raised their hand, “The culprit wasn’t flung into their home. As Paris stated on the day, he’ll appoint a killer— I believe the killer wasn’t flung alongside us and instead was left outside— to receive the thing that gave Roxanne the rashes.”

  “What is the rashes for though?” Dara whimpered.“Perhaps it was to make her weaker for the knife!” Felix’s eyes lit up, “If she was busy adapting to try combat those rashes— she could be taken out by a stab wound— to busy to fight both at the same time.”

  “That is quite sound logic.” Saraline nodded.

  “Can we focus again on Dara— we never got an explanation for that!” Famine protested.

  “What’s your deal?” Jeremiah chuckled.

  “This is not only life and death— but she called me what Jonah called me— and she’s the reason why he’s dead anyway!”

  “Grow up old man.” Jeremiah chuckled, “Back to relevant topics— Felix tell em what you told me bud.”

  “Sorry to interrupt you Jeremiah!” Paris laughed, “But I’d say that’s the end of the first hour. Who do you all believe is the culprit? Oh and-” The boy pressed a button at the side of his throne— causing Psylaiso to be electrocuted, volts sent into her slime body— partially melting as she screamed in agonising pain. “Speak more next time.” Paris pretended to orchestrate to her screams as everyone watched in horror. “Anyway, who you do you guys believe? Let’s ask in my order— one speaker at a time.”

  Richard spoke, “Honestly— I don’t know. I’m gonna go for Famine— I don’t like the guy anyway and his power seems to allow him to leave his home.”

  Psylaiso got up— barely conscious, “Although it is not like him, I believe it’s Lichness- shit like this does stuff to people.”

  Saraline valiantly spoke, “Famine seems too aggravated— perfect emotion for murder and alongside his past problems and controversies— he is adept to it.”

  Lichness chuckled, “Dara— if she can go berserk, maybe she went out of control at Roxanne.”

  Dara hesistantly spoke, “Famine… he’s just mean.”

  Zero chuckled, “I’m voting for Richard— you know the trope, boyfriend killer.”

  Gloxer wheezed, “Nil, she’s insane— I’ll ignore Dara’s false testimony for now but if she truly was awake the whole time, could she not of heard the culprit’s footprints?”

  Ilya twirled her gun, “Famine— you seen him? He’s evil.”Famine smoked his cigarette, he stared at everyone who voted him before chuckling, “Dara. Dara Sepers.”

  Jeremiah chewed on his lollipop, “Basing my views on what Felix was about to say— I think its one of the saints.”

  Gabriel’s mask began to crack, “One of the saints indeed.”Mog and Felix both voted the saint option.

  Nil floated, “There’s no way it isn’t Dara— false alibi, power to kill almost anyone here? She’s the killer.”

  “Thank you for your votes!” Paris cheered, “Obviously the most voted was Famine Hawkle— wait actually, it’s the Saint option..”

  The boy began to cackle— his piercing laugh stabbed the room as it blew up as if it were a barrage of fireworks.

  “You know what— I’ll be the representative.” Paris laughed as he brought a mirror and a red marker, drawing devil horns and a moustache on his face before continuing to laugh.

  “Your guess was legendary! Legendary indeed— thinking outside the box is great! Of course I can’t say if you are right or not until it ends but still!” The boy grabbed his face— contorting it into a frown— coldly speaking, “Second Hour… begins now.”

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