Death Row: Redux
Genus Corvus
Contempt was quite the tricky emotion to contort a facial expression to show. Too much would be disgust; Too little just a festering anger. No, contempt was something quite in the middle and very powerful if portrayed correctly.
The emotion playing on Natsuki's features was just that; Contempt. In her lap she kept a tray securely stable, and on the tray… Would it even be considered food?
Tasteless gravy on white mush that could hardly be described as mashed potatoes… Along with a hunk of meat that looked far too overcooked to even compete with a hockey puck…
"Oh, this is just not going to do." She remarked softly to herself, lifting the frail and far too bendy rubber spoon to her eye. "How would I eat charred meat with this?"
She heard a soft snicker; Verdi immediately going to the spoke-chipped part of the wall; Admiring where glossy became scratched and rough instead of forever smooth and untouched.
Setting the tray away, on the floor as even the grey drab food-holder didn't deserve to rest on her bed, or the small table beside it, Natsuki lowered herself to her belly and spoke. She had to be quiet, as that officer was still patrolling…
"How do you deal with this… food?" Tomoe, to herself, was deemed to at least have taste. Perhaps not on the same level of herself… But taste nonetheless.
"Even in here, I still have… connections." Now, what did she mean by that…?
"How did you round these connections?" Natsuki gave a bit of a grin, tilting her head. "From that daft officer, you must have picked up a few… details of my arrest?"
"A few, so I suppose I can give just as little as I heard." Tomoe hummed softly to herself, easing away from the ruined section of wall to show Natsuki the scars on her face once more.
Ruined skin shone pink; a sign that the wound, however inflicted, did not heal correctly. One ragged one led from under her left eye down towards her chin, slicing over her lips as well. A few others decorated, almost arranged like a bouquet of flowers; The additional scars playing to showcase the largest one.
Alike to a bouquet, they were beautiful in their own way.
"I see… How did you procure these, then?" Natsuki memorized them as best she could; Able to tell, at least, they were not accidental.
"I used to run in a highly-efficient organization. That is all the information I will trust you with at this time." Tomoe responded, an air of disinterest masking her nervousness.
"Understood… Now then, what have your connections wrought in dealing with this… awful food?"
A shift was heard and her neighbor left all sight again, just the faintest hint of glass clinking before all noise ended.
"Move your tray over here."
Curious, Natsuki did as told; Angling the mashed potatoes towards the hole first. "Hm…" She heard Tomoe hum before a sprinkle of black was tossed onto them.
"Pepper?" She was surprised, and even a bit excited now.
"Salt too, if you would like." Tomoe tossed a dash over, and as Natsuki rotated the tray, repeated.
"I do not have much, but I should get more in next week. Makes it bearable, at least."
"I should say it does… Thank you very much." Withdrawing from the floor, she sat at her table once more and began to eat. It had gone a bit cold, but tasted much more her style with the minimal of seasoning.
She wondered if the flaw in an otherwise perfect wall could be widened… And the procured items be passed over if there we more to be shared between them?
Not unless she wanted to risk her nails…
Looking at them, the fine cut of them and just the faint shine made her sigh. The perfect buffed look of them would fade away soon in this place, she supposed.
The meal, just a level above bland now with the minimal salt and pepper, distracted her from all thoughts except for one.
Her impending death date. She had so been looking forward to her birthday as well; And now this just took all the fun out of it.
She finished the white mush on her plate but did not touch the chunk of meat, setting the tray away on the floor once more. That officer would no doubt be back later, with more questions that she had few answers for.
Of course, she had the answers, but jumbled in her mind. She needed time, to herself, to put them to their corresponding questions. Laying in her bed, Natsuki stared upwards toward the ceiling where a light dimmed after sensing no movement.
Perhaps she drifted off to sleep, or just lay in contentment, in wait.
"Why in the world did I let Ishigami talk me into this…?" It wasn't as if she could stride into the facility and demand to see their latest media spectacle parading around as a psychologist.
In fact, this had to be the man's stupidest idea! Shizuru huffed to herself as she adjusted silver frames; glasses a ruse to just keep out of everyone's attention.
First, she had to forge dozens of legal documents. This was the easy part; All of it already done for her by Ishigami. As she wasn't exactly a frontrunner in the studio, no one knew her name, and thus it stayed the same.
Though, she had enough to stay anonymous, it wasn't exactly her choice. Men ran the gambit at the studio, her stories all got washed to play up one of Ishigami's own more than she could stand.
When he was promoted to take over, she almost lost her temper and bashed his head in with that damned tea-kettle he had bought her to make up for it. Not a teapot, mind you… a kettle.
If he had thought they were the same, he was sorely mistaken. A kettle, all metal and whistling, only boiled the water. A teapot was ceramic and pretty; In which the tea was made in and poured from.
Oh, how livid she was when she had seen that damned cursed kettle…
Ceramic would at least have broken over his head, but the metal would have only been dented and ready to be used again. She should have hit him with it…
As it was presently, she was getting countless photos taken to simulate a span of years; Aging from hair up to down and glasses added to add maturity and years when nothing had changed in seconds, of course.
"Done!" An overenthusiastic man grinned around the lens of his camera, and Shizuru pinned him with a disinterested gaze; Ruby eyes rolling faintly when he winked at her.
"Only took ten minutes. You must be just as fast in other areas." If he had any intentions of asking her to dinner, they were gone. As was his enthusiasm.
"Ah…" The film was taken away by Ishigami to be developed, and the cameraman was ushered away.
Taking a brush, Shizuru ran the bristles through her hair and curled the fringe of bangs just above her brows. Men… How annoying.
"Well, you sure can crush them, can't you?" A voice at her right made her smile faintly, and she gave a very sure nod.
"I can." Shizuru straightened up in the seat haughtily, a feat that made the other woman chuckle lowly.
"I think it's good you're doing this-" "Oh yes, I just love risking my career for Anh to get her kicks." Shizuru interrupted, chuckling as she rose.
"Well, well, someone's got a bite this early." The older woman dryly remarked, and Shizuru rolled her eyes.
"I'm curious about the Kruger case, everyone is. You're the only one with a chance of getting into that facility and getting anywhere near her… Doesn't that excite you?"
"...No." Voice flat, Shizuru crossed her arms and sighed.
"I find killers to be… boring. There is not one exciting element in taking a life, no matter whose life was taken or how it was executed. Everyone should feel the same; Then we would have no more serial killers or cults."
"Well, thank you Professor Viola for you interesting and very bland outlook." Anh blankly stared at her, the younger woman giving a soft smile.
"Doctor Viola, actually… Majoring in cognitive and clinical psychology." Shizuru parroted the line to the elder, and Anh gave another smirk.
"Very good… Looks like your paperwork should be done, soon. It would be best to give a bit of time before you ring up that warden, however. I heard she's one tough cookie…"
"I refuse." A book from her hand dropped sharply onto her desk, along with her fist atop it as she clutched the receiver of the phone in her free hand.
"A-ah, Miss Graceburt-?"
"I did not stammer nor did I leave room for discussion. I refuse any tabloid studio and I will refuse any seasoned or fresh journalist or reporter. No one is getting into this facility, and no one is going to speak one word to that murderer." Slamming the receiver down, she seethed quietly.
Smoothing down the rust jacket adorning her shoulders, the woman let out a slow breath and inhaled sharply enough to startle a guard posted outside.
"Miss Maria, is everything fine?" He knocked briefly on the frame of the door, the stern woman huffing softly to herself.
Opening the steel barrier, she glared down the long corridor and crossed her arms tightly. "If one more phone call regarding Kruger makes it to my office, and it does not regard a change in her execution date, I will see to it personally that whoever is transferring these calls is paraded about the facility in their underclothes."
The guard's eyes widened, and he sheepishly cleared his throat. "Ah… Yes ma'am. I'll… go tell them." He bowed his head to her and started off down the corridor. "Shit, she is serious."
Glaring after him, the gray-haired woman sighed and unfolded her arms. "What is everyone's interest in that damned murderer?"
"Do you realise the extreme advantage we will have once we snag that interview?!" Ishigami practically crawled along at her feet, and it disgusted her more than when he was standing.
"Get up." Shizuru backed away a few steps, brushing off at her stockings beneath her long skirt. Top lip curled, she at least sighed in relief once the skeevy man returned to his desk.
"Ah, Viola, you look like a doll! If they made dolls that look like lawyers crossed-over with a doctor… Do they?" The man cocked his head, humming lowly to himself.
"I'm sure some brand has spawned that special brand of evil onto this world." Shizuru dryly replied, crossing her arms after she set her briefcase down.
"Ah, anyway… We need you to call the facility on a burner phone; Can't be traced and the number won't be connected to the station!" Snapping his fingers, Ishigami summoned a lackey with the phone, and handed it over to Shizuru.
"That is actually rather smart. Now, shut up, and let me work." Picking her suitcase up once more, tawny hair was tossed over her shoulder as she retreated to her office.
"Finally… Ugh." Locking the door for good measure, Shizuru splayed the case atop the desk and sat. With a low sigh, she played with the phone for a moment or so before gathering her documents in front of her.
"Alright… Showtime." Taking a breath, she dialed the number and waited.
"Ah, yes, hello. How are you this evening?" Waiting for an answer that she cared nothing for, she cleared her throat.
"This is Doctor Shizuru Viola of the Chaldea Institute. Hm? No, I have no questions about this… Abhorrent case. I wanted to speak to the Warden, would you please transfer me?"
She hated to lie, but she really didn't want to speak about that damned Kruger… It was just her job to.
"Another call?" Maria glared at the man trying to pass her the phone, the guard shaking faintly.
"A-ah, it's not from a number that matches any studio in the area! She says she's a doctor… And that she didn't have questions about Kruger!"
"...Fine. If this comes to a distasteful conclusion, I will conclude your employment here… Distastefully." The steely woman snatched the receiver away, and the sheepish guard ran off.
Leaning her head towards the side, Maria sighed softly. "Warden Graceburt, Artai Intensive Security. I want your name, occupation, and the reason you are calling." Her voice was steel with a sharp edge, and she heard the woman on the other end shift in discomfort.
That, she reveled.
"Doctor Shizuru Viola, Psychologist at the Chaldea Institute. The reason I am calling, however unfortunately, is in some way related to-"
"I knew it. One way or another, all calls since that damned murderer was caught are linked to her." Maria interrupted, sighing and pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Note to self, fire Smith."
"A-ah-" She had to save this!
"Since you do not seem connected to any journalist studio, at least the number is not, I will give you ten seconds to convince me not to hang up."
"I find zero interest in this case; Natsuki Kruger and the idiotic name thrust upon her have sparked nothing but a distasteful and boring section of newspapers and radio stations."
Surprised with that, Maria narrowed her eyes. "...Keep talking."
Sighing, Shizuru thanked in silence, nodding to herself. 'Telling the truth worked, for once.'
"However, my employers think that there might be something… More to this case. Perhaps a mental illness which led to this break or even repressed memories. Who is to say she even did it?" Shizuru smirked, thinking she had it in a clinch.
"You are… trying to prove the innocence of a madwoman?" Perhaps not.
"Not at all. They want to send me in to study her, find out why she has broken like this. So, that when all your rushed trials get caught up in protesting lines, you will have a reason why."
Maria stared at the wall, cupping her chin with her free hand and humming lowly. That did raise concern; the rushed trial had made Kruger guilty by a landslide…
Even if she did confess, it looked bad on the authorities!
"...Viola, you have got yourself a patient. I will need you to be in before dawn tomorrow, all your paperwork and in my office. We will discuss further there. Goodbye."
Shizuru closed the mobile phone, body trembling and wracked with anxious nerves from both the call and the upcoming visit. Letting out a sharp breath, she calmed herself down and stood.
Striding from her office, where everyone had parked around to listen, she reveled in their silent questioning and the looks on their faces.
"I have our interview." She smirked softly, the whole building erupting in a series of cheers that would put an official game to shame.
Ishigami beamed, proud and close to tears. "Viola, you're going to make a name for yourself yet."
There was complete silence in her cell, and she cherished it. It was pitch black; Lights having been shut off just a few moments prior.
That woman patrolling had finally left her alone, though Natsuki knew that she was still curious. She would have been surprised if she wasn't, to be honest.
Silence was something Natsuki held dear to her heart. When she had her freedom, if a situation ever got out of hand, she would always slip on a pair of headphones. They had cancelled out all sound, and she would be pleasantly left alone…
Natsuki took a slow inhale, closing her eyes. Sitting up on the side of her bed, she listened to absolutely nothing, and relaxed.
Perhaps a condition or affliction… Either way, it was her, and she liked it.
Raising her hands, cold palms brushed over far too hot cheeks. Why was she suddenly feeling… Restless?
Standing, she cocked her head and moved fluidly towards the small barred window at her door, peeking out. Darkness met her, of course, but she stayed there.
Hands worrying at the bars, Natsuki could feel her breathing become heavier. Trying not to make much noise, she gripped steel tight and pressed her brow to the door.
Why was she feeling this? What was she feeling?
Heartbeat accelerated, lips straining hard against teeth to not curl into a distraught snarl…
She missed something. Someone?
Who?
Natsuki blinked in surprise when she started to cry, and finally broke the silence she so reveled in; Chest heaving as she choked back a sob before letting a whimper escape.
Well, that just would not do.
Throat constricting and silencing all noise, Natsuki tried not to swallow lest she choke herself.
She would not show weakness.
Holding the steel bars tight in her hands, she pulled back until her arms were straining and straight before wrenching herself forwards. Her head smacked the firm door, a crack of something heard before it all went white with a flash of pain.
Hands unable to hold tight to the bars, the dizziness swarming her head caused her knees to have an abrupt meeting with the concrete floor below.
Holding her head, she felt a warm dribble of blood course from her brow and over her nose. Head spinning, Natsuki collapsed onto her back; Falling into unconsciousness quickly.
She would not cry.
Unwinding from the tense phone call was not as easy as she would have thought. A mug of steaming tea was quickly pushed aside; A layout of the facility taking precedence atop her desk.
She had to bribe quite a filthy man for this…
Shuddering, Shizuru braced a palm at her temple and carefully traced a finger down and around the blueprint. "What in the world… is this?"
Fingertip tapping along a spot, she took a magnifying glass to the tiny writing. "Death row labyrinth…?"
Labyrinth? That was a little… Odd.
Easing the tool away, she leaned back against her plush chair and sighed. Hand abandoning her temple, she rubbed at her eyes; Exhaustion playing across her face as easily as amusement or disgust.
Nursing the mug close, Shizuru took a slow sip that turned into a gulp and finished the entirety of the tea inside. "Whew…"
Setting the mug down, ruby stared at it. She nudged it away from the map, yet was still bothered by it. "Ugh…"
Just the blueprint, and the mug upon her desk and she still felt cluttered. The mug was nudged away until it hit the carpeted floor with a dull thud.
"Oh."
"...Kruger?" Tomoe peered through the spoked hole in the wall, able to see the other prisoner splayed out. There was dried blood on the floor…
Panicking, the scarred woman stood and pressed against her door, shouting through the barred window. "O-oi! Guard!"
Startled, Mai checked the time before leaning off the wall and trying to find the source of the noise. It was just after dawn… Another fifteen minutes, and she wouldn't have been patrolling.
"Marguerite? Is that you?"
"Something's wrong with Kruger!"
Slowing to a walk by the prisoner's door, Mai was struck with a bad feeling in her gut. This could be a trick…
Cautiously, she peered through the new inmate's window, paling to what she saw. Natsuki wasn't bleeding anymore, but a gash at her brow was enough to draw concern.
"Shoot…" Mai murmured softly, backing off from the door. She grasped a small device at her belt, pressing a button to speak into it.
"This is Officer Tokiha in death row, Kruger's been hurt, we need medical assistance at once."
Static met before her request was replied with affirmity, with the promise of additional guards.
Tomoe eyed her, a little concerned for her neighbor solely for someone to talk to. She hoped they wouldn't see the hole…
Moving a small box over it on her side, the scarred inmate sighed. Hopefully…
Putting the radio back to her belt, Mai peered through the bars again. She couldn't wait for the others to show…
Pulling a small ring of keys, she mulled it over before sticking one into the door to slide it open. Frayed, the persimmon-haired woman strode through without removing the key from the door, the ring quickly falling with a jingle.
Remembering back to her emergency first aid class, Mai knelt by the prisoner's shoulder and pressed two fingers to her throat to try and find a pulse.
She noticed Kruger's nose seemed a bit red, as did her eyelids. Had she been… crying?
Pulse found, Mai counted each beat and timed it on her watch. Twenty-eight within fifteen seconds…?
That was a resting rate of one-hundred and twelve! Far too fast to just be… knocked out? Sleeping?
Mai's brows furrowed, her gaze on the inmate's chest as she watched her breathe.
"Like what you see?"
Springing back and against one of the glossy walls, Mai clutched at her heart in shock. One hand free, it gripped the baton at her belt and drew it shakily.
Natsuki kept her place on the floor, emerald eyes open and scratchy. "Did I startle you?"
"...Y-yes… You did…" Mai slowly regained her composure, exhaling heavily and wiping at her nose subconsciously.
"Forgive me…" The inmate stayed splayed on the floor, raising one hand to inspect her wound.
"W-we've got a medic and more guards on the way… I suggest no sudden moves, or words, like what you just did."
"I agree." Natsuki's lips slowly formed a grin, the cheeky inmate chuckling lowly.
Mai attempted a slow slink to the door, sighing in relief when the prisoner made no attempt to move further. She picked her keys up, clipping them back into position.
Grasping her radio, the guard softly spoke as to not rile up the inmate. "Kruger is awake, please come quickly."
She practically heard the scramble of urgency over the silent radio; Heavy footfalls littering the labyrinthine corridors.
"Please make sure to tell them that I am cooperating… I would hate to get hit while I am already wounded." Natsui pitched softly from her spot on the floor.
"...Kruger is cooperating, peaceful approach favored."
With a mob of guards, and one nurse, heading down the corridor, the fellow inmates inhabiting the labyrinthine row looked after them curiously.
"Wonder what has them all fussy…" One spoke in a low tone, pushing peppered hair from spectacled eyes.
"Sounds like the solitary cells… Perhaps the new blood?" The second occupant of the same cell spoke up, placing a hand upon the older woman's shoulder.
"That… Oh, what did Mai call her? Kruger Corvus?"
"Kruger Crow… Though, corvus does have a better ring to it…" The first woman chuckled lowly, tugging the auburn-haired woman from the door. Giggles were ignored as the guards rushed on.
Mai continued bracing herself against the wall, truly unsure if Natsuki would harm her or not. The inmate remained on the ground, the gash at her brow beginning to pepper with fresh blood from her expression changing from comatose sleep.
"...Medic first." Mai ordered when the guards crowded around the open door.
An older woman strode in, the only medic brought. She seemed not to fear the inmate, kneeling by her side almost immediately. Appraising the gash, she looked back towards the door's upper rung. Just above the barred window, a strap of metal was seen to hold the bars in place, and there across it lay blood.
"Feeling remorse now, Natsuki?" She asked, rubbing a gloved thumb along her own cheek over a beauty mark before opening her kit.
"Not particularly. Perhaps I wanted to see your beautiful face again." Natsuki's tease seemed so out of place, and yet, had a few guards chuckling.
Their shoulders relaxed, and Mai seemed oddly even more perturbed.
"Ah, so that's it, hm?" Tutting, the nurse grasped a bottle of water with a long skinner spout; The device no doubt used to clean blood from wounds.
"That's it." Natsuki's lips curled into a coy smile, eyes closing and being covered with a glove so the water and runoff wouldn't seep past sooty lashes.
"A few stitches, not much more. We could move you to the medical bay-" Yukariko was cut off by a simple wave.
"No, it can be done here. This… cell is almost sterile." Natsuki murmured, the nurse's hand still covering her eyes.
"As you wish." Drying the area with care, Yukariko looked back to Mai and beckoned her over. "Sit her up and brace her as such, please."
"Does she need handcuffs?" A male guard chirped in, a shake of the nurse's head quickly after.
"If Natsuki lashes out, I can take her."
The guards exchanged a few glances but returned dutiful eyes onto the inmate.
Natsuki was pushed to sit up, Mai on one knee at her side bracing her. The gash bled faintly; One line drizzling down in a sluggish pace.
The female guard made a face, but the blood was cleanly wiped away before Yukariko dabbed a numbing agent around the wound.
"This may still hurt…" The nurse spoke softly, readying a needle between her forefinger and thumb.
"It may." Natsuki responded, eyes still closed as not to disrupt the process.
Mai couldn't look, violet darting away towards the glossy wall. Yet… she heard every pass the needle made through skin.
Shuddering, the persimmon-haired woman kept the inmate braced until Yukariko spoke next.
"All done." She had even placed a bandage over the stitches, and Natsuki's eyes finally opened. Emerald was bloodshot, the skin around them flush and a little scratchy.
It was no secret she must have been crying, though no further mention was made and no explanation offered.
"Try not to do this again, Natsuki. Next time will earn you a suicide watch." The stained metal which the inmate had struck her skull against was cleaned with a few hard swipes of a damp cloth.
"I will be sure not to." The inmate gave a small sigh, as though tired already. Floor being cleaned as well, Natsuki slowly watched the guards around her.
This was fun…
Once dawn had struck upon the facility, a town-car bustled its way through the gates. As promised, Shizuru and her briefcase full of fake and real documents were accepted into the parking garage.
"This is it, Viola…" Adjusting silver frames, she took a deep breath. As she exhaled, her facial structure contoured into a cold and professional facade. What was that burning smell…?
A few guards were idling by the lift, watching her. They talked quietly amongst themselves and their earpieces in the faint darkness of the garage.
Soundlessly, the journalist grasped her briefcase and slid from the driver's seat. She had a lanyard with a phony badge laying at her chest, the guard's eyes flicking down to it as she approached.
At least, she hoped that was what they were ogling…
"Warden Graceburt has invited me. Doctor Viola?" She spoke smoothly, adjusting the grey pencil skirt adorning her waist and much of her legs.
"Top floor." One of the men nodded to her, opening the lift's doors with a push of a button. With a nod, she stepped in on modest heels and turned to face the garage.
The metal shut around her, and the lift slowly began to ascend. This made her all the more nervous...
That smell of fire, earlier - Should she ask if they had a crematorium on site? That felt… rude, though entirely plausible. Yet… there was something more.
Adjusting her spectacles, Shizuru took the time to use the shining metal of the doors in front of her to examine her appearance. Tawny hair had been put up in an especially complicated bun; Loose locks that did hang down were planned, every strand where it was meant to be.
As the seconds ticked by, Shizuru slid a small compact mirror from her purse. Popping it open, she admired herself and fixed what little flaws she saw.
Of course, she had made sure to apply her makeup sparingly…
Ruby tracing over her own face through the mirror, Shizuru closed the mirror and slid it back into her skirt pocket. There was a microphone laced within it, and a backup looped into the fabric of her collar.
Speaking of her collar, she was starting to become a little hot under hers; Nerves running a bit high before she steeled herself. Taking a slow breath, Shizuru cleared her throat and waited.
Finally, the lift arrived at the top floor with a metal ding to alert the nearby guards. As the doors slid open, two more men met her along with a woman far too young to be the warden.
"Doctor Viola, I presume?" The other woman spoke, tilting her head as Shizuru stepped from the lift and onto impeccable cream flooring.
"You would be right." The journalist smiled, tapping the badge hanging close to her chest.
"Good… You won't be searched, as you will most likely not be allowed anywhere near the prisoners today." The other woman spoke, turning quick on her heels to lead her away.
"A shame, that." Shizuru inwardly grumbled, worried now. "And your name?"
"How rude of me not to offer." The leading woman spoke, though did not seem keen on rectifying that until they reached a solitary room at the hall.
"Rosalie Claudel." The woman finally offered over, her uniform matching the guards in color but not in style; instead of slacks, a smart skirt adorned her legs.
Shizuru hummed softly, noting that this blonde woman must not see to the prisoners either. A notary; or perhaps the warden's assistant?
"Is this where I am meeting Miss Graceburt?" She asked, eyes scanning over the blonde woman. Skepticism playing on her features, she tilted her head for an answer.
"Of course not." Rosalie kept that damned faint smile on her face. The journalist fought an urge to strike her, and instead returned the smile.
"Forgive my silly question, then." Why had she brought her down the hall and here, then? Frustrated, she was looked over a few times by Rosalie.
"I just need you to sign a few forms. Waivers, truly. In case of a lockdown, and you are taken hostage, killed, or otherwise."
"...Otherwise?"
"Raped."
"How efficient." If Shizuru was stunned, she hid it well. With a flourish of ink across a dotted line, her signatures were all placed.
"Now then… Follow me." Rosalie smiled again, leading her from the room.
The top floor was a bit more complicated than originally thought; Hallways and corridors, some with no doors at all, even. As if they only served purpose to make this facility larger than need be…
Another surge of a shiver bolted her spine, but Shizuru again hid it. She was beginning to dislike this place more than previously…
Silver metal seemed to melt into sable gloss; The journalist realizing they had crossed into a different section of the facility completely.
Behind a set of electronic doors lay their destination, or so Rosalie's body language spoke. The blonde stood straighter as she walked, confidence in her stride.
Or, it was until another woman bumped into her and sent the blonde sprawling against the wall.
Lifting a hand to cover her mouth and suppress a well-earned chuckle, Shizuru cleared her throat. The officer hurriedly helped Rosalie back onto her feet, apologizing profusely with a flush.
"I am so sorry, Miss Claudel, I just… got back from patrol duty in the Labyrinth." Persimmon brows were furrowed, and violet eyes scanned the journalist's way.
"Ah…" Unsure if she should speak of what exactly had unnerved her, Mai decided to keep quiet.
"It is… quite alright." Rosalie fixed her skirt with a small huff, eyes narrowing.
"They had you patrol death row?"
Interested now, Shizuru stepped closer and held her files just a bit tighter. "Your death row is a labyrinth?" She interrupted, a fine brow quirked.
"I… Well, I'm off my shift now, I should really get home." The guard nodded to them both, passing with a faint tension.
"How interesting." Shizuru spoke back to Rosalie, the blonde's eyes still narrowed.
"Architecture. What will they think of next?" Blue eyes almost rolling, they snapped wide open when a grave voice spoke from behind.
"Miss Claudel?"
"Ah, Miss Graceburt… Sorry for the tardiness." Rosalie slowly turned to face the elder, and Shizuru hid another smirk.
Attention on the warden, the journalist readjusted silver frames and cleared her throat.
"Introductions in my office." The elder woman stared Rosalie down until the blonde turned heel and left. Amused, Shizuru bowed her head and followed the warden.
Only once the door had closed and locked did the elder address her; Maria appraising her with wizened forest.
"Warden Maria Graceburt." She spoke, extending a hand for the journalist.
"Doctor Shizuru Viola. I must say, your facility sure holds limitless surprise." Shaking the elder's hand, she was led to sit at her desk. "It is certainly… unique." Shizuru added, easing her briefcase to lay flat on her lap.
"Unique." Maria echoed, hands crossed over one another atop her desk. She stared the younger woman down, expecting her to squirm or speak again.
Shizuru did neither, waiting for the warden to speak once more. Patience… Definitely a trait of what she seemed to be trying to represent.
Maria was not convinced, not yet…
"Doctor Viola, you say you have more interest in making sure Kruger stays in this facility, on death row, than in her actual case?"
"Correct. The rushed trial, her father present there as well? The word 'guilty' barely left the judge's mouth before she was rushed off. It looks bad." Shizuru explained, hands clasped over the case in her lap.
"Simply, I will listen and prove that this woman indeed knew what she was doing at the time, so an insanity plea will not get her out."
Maria narrowed her eyes, a twitch between her brows a sign that she was doing well so far.
"How long do you presume this might take, exactly?"
"Truthfully, it depends on the subject." Shizuru began, unclasping her hands to open her briefcase. With dual clicks, she eased the top up and slid out her papers towards the warden.
"As stated over the phone, my employers at Chaldea Institute feel there is more to this case than was let on." Shizuru tapped the papers once and closed the case, setting it by her chair.
Maria inhaled sharply, briefly reading through the first piece of credentials. "Doctor Shizuru Viola; major of cognitive and clinical psychology… Yes, exactly as stated."
A moment passed between the two of them in silence; The elder reading over all the paper presented.
"...It will not be long before questions arise. I want answers before they are even asked, are we clear?"
A smile spread across Shizuru's lips, though she sobered it into a more restrained version. "Crystal."
Fingertips danced over the rough gauze applied to the gash at her brow, the stitches beneath itching just enough to irritate her. She knew not to scratch, and yet…
No, that would cause more blood. More fuss, no doubt as well.
Natsuki patted gently instead to rid of the itching, lowering her hand once it had faded. The door and floor had been cleaned of her blood, and an extra sugary breakfast had been sent up.
Juicebox in her free hand, she lifted the straw to her lips and sipped. Apple juice? Shrugging, the prisoner laid back in her cot and hummed. "Not that bad, actually."
Lazily, she sipped until the juicebox was empty but kept it either way, playing with the plastic straw. A guard knocked on the door, expecting the tray and little drink back.
"Suppose I cannot keep it." Natsuki sighed, easing her trash onto the tray and passing it back through the slot.
"Why would you want to keep it?" The woman questioned, confusion playing across her face. At least, as much of it as the inmate could see from the obscured vision through the bars…
"Semblance of normality… Mostly, I like juice boxes. Thank you for bringing me one." Natsuki leaned into the door, wanting to see more of this woman.
"W-well, you don't really need to thank me. You lost a lot of blood, so the doctor suggested something with more sugar…"
"Suggested something. You picked out the juice. Good eye." Emerald winked through sable bars, and Natsuki enjoyed the flush she received.
"Ah, you're a charmer… You would be in great trouble if you were out of that cell." The woman smirked, though obviously was quite submissive to the prisoner's glance.
"Maybe you could help me with that…?" Natsuki smirked, emeralds flashing with a horrid deceit.
She had an idea in mind of who exactly she would see first.
"Well, miss Viola… Sorry, doctor-" Maria watched for a reaction, only narrowing her eyes when Shizuru seemed to ignore the apparent mishap.
"You do seem the best for this… sensitive assignment." The elder sighed softly, standing to brush herself off.
Shizuru stood as well, adjusting the silver frames settled onto her nose. She had to fix the grooves before they dug more into her skin…
"Thank you, miss Graceburt. I only hope I can get… Kruger to open up." Even saying the name made a bad taste spring in her mouth.
She hoped none of the other reporters hounded her for details after this visit…
Checking the calendar, Maria sighed softly. "You have exactly two years to do so. On her twenty-third birthday, she will be put to death; Whether or not you've proved anything."
Shizuru's eyes widened, the journalist briefly stunned. There wasn't any guarantee she could do this at all, even with the seemingly long time limit…
"Of… Of course, miss Graceburt." She would need to brush up on her thesis…
Practically slumped over the front desk in absolute boredom, Sergei perked up when his watch began to beep. "Finally…" Silencing it, the blonde man sighed roughly as he was relieved.
"Go on your vacation, Wang. Two weeks, living it up in… Where are you even going?" Yamada quirked a brow as he took over the security console, fiddling with one of the screens.
"To my house. To sleep. Forever." Sergei blankly answered, met with a chuckle.
"So, you arrested that Kruger Crow woman, huh? Man, I would have killed to have been there…"
"Two died to be there."
Yamada snorted, snickering as a fist pounded the desk. "Damn, you are funny!"
"I wasn't making a joke." The blonde man packed a case, sighing softly. "I should have killed her when I had the chance." He grumbled, starting off.
"Yeah, yeah… Broody." Yamada turned back to the security consoles, humming as he surveyed them all.
"Yamada, are you manning the cameras?" A private channel? Securing the earpiece further into the canal to hear better, the man hummed softly.
"I am, Blythe. Is there something you need?" He asked, taking a subtle look around him. The area seemed clear…
"Camera fifty-three is going to need a bit of maintenance… if you catch my drift."
"Ooh… Alright, but I'm definitely going to watch it later. Same agreement as always?" Yamada rubbed his hands eagerly together.
"Money is already wired into your account." The man smirked, shutting down the suggested camera and flagging it for repair.
"Get it, Blythe!"
"Looks like we'll be able to swing it. You're due for your thirty minutes of freedom, for your shower." Leaning against the door, the guard smirked softly. "Mahya Blythe, at your service."
With a flick of her wrist, the door to Natsuki's cell was unlocked.
Though surprise didn't show on her features, it swam beneath briefly in her veins. That was fairly easy… Natsuki smirked softly, stepping out.
"I will need to cuff you, of course."
"Of course… Thank you, Mahya." Offering her wrists, the prisoner hummed softly as she started to devise her plan fully.
"You know, you've started to gain another name, other than Kruger Crow?"
"Is that right… what is it now?" Natsuki was led forward out of her cell, the door closing as they made way out of the labyrinth.
"Murder. Just that."
"Because a group of crows is called a murder? That's fairly cliche…"
"Did you like Kruger Crow better?" Mahya chuckled softly, leading her to the lift.
"Maybe." Natsuki smirked, standing in the corner of the lift as it began to ascend.
Silence permeated around them, coating them in a thick tension. "Miss Blythe?" Natsuki spoke quietly, looking the guard over.
"In twenty seconds, I am going to push you down. You will stay on the ground, and you will not be hurt."
Mahya quirked a brow, seeming to mull it over. The doors to the lift opened before she could confirm or refuse, and the prisoner rushed her into the wall.
Falling, she missed Natsuki running out of the lift just as the doors closed once more.
"Well… that wasn't supposed to happen…"
"What is all that ruckus?" Maria scowled deeply, having been planning to escort Shizuru back down to the parking garage.
"It… it seems that, perhaps, somehow-" An officer stammered, afraid of both the warden and the words about to spill from his mouth.
"What?!" Maria growled, grasping his collar to shake the man a bit.
"...Kruger… escaped?"
"She escaped? Lockdown the facility!" The warden ordered, pushing him back out of the room and slamming a button by the door. Shutters slammed down along the windows; Steel clanging tightly.
The door still open, Maria glared at Shizuru as if this were the doctor's fault. "We need to get you out of here, immediately."
"Agreed." The journalist appeared calm, but everything beneath her skin screamed. She was just glad that she had chosen to wear that microphone. Ishigami was going to go crazy over this audio alone…
She hoped he didn't try to kiss her feet again. Ugh.
"I want everyone on that fiend's tail. Guard the lift to the parking garage, we've got to get Doctor Viola out of here…"
"Perhaps I could actually be of some help?" Shizuru quirked a brow, fear raging in her head as the warden glared at her.
"No such thing will you do… Rosalie?"
"Yes, grandm- Ah, miss Graceburt?" The blonde flushed over her misstep, hands clasped in front of her.
"Keep yourself safe in my office. There's a loaded pistol in the drawer if you need it, dear." Maria murmured, stiffening over her granddaughter's slip.
Noting to write that little detail down later, Shizuru was urgently tugged along by Maria. "Lift is too dangerous… She could get in there, we'll use the stairs."
"How exactly could she get into the lift…?" The journalist gripped her briefcase tighter.
"Though this wing isn't connected to the main lift, the ventilation system is."
"Oh." Shizuru seemed even more worried now, but let her calm facade sink back onto her features. "Let's hope she isn't as flexible as she is mad."
"Lockdown commencing." An automated voice droned in through the corridors as guards filtered their way towards the exits.
It would have been efficient… if she had been trying to escape.
Natsuki chuckled lowly to herself, hiding behind a bare corner and peeking down the way. They had left this hall completely now, but the cameras would still be a problem…
If she were slow, that is.
With one objective in mind, the prisoner quickly slipped down the hall and into an open room.
"W-what the-?!" She knew that voice… Thankfully, she chose the right room.
Natsuki slammed the door shut, chains of her cuffs rattling as she turned to face the man. "Sergei… you definitely should have shot me when you had the chance."
The blonde man scowled, eyes steel and fixated on the prisoner before him. "So, you got out? Doesn't matter… you couldn't possibly escape."
"I don't want to escape. I rather enjoy it here… Except the food. But, that will be fixed." Natsuki took a step closer, and relished the fact that Sergei tried to stand his ground.
"What do you plan on doing, exactly? Holding me hostage and begging for better food?"
"That's extremely juvenile, Sergei…" Natsuki clicked her tongue, and rushed him.
"Miss Graceburt? We haven't been able to find the prisoner, and a guard is missing as well." Touching the earpiece, Maria sighed roughly.
"Who is missing?"
"...Her arresting officer, Sergei Wang."
"Oh, dear lord…" Maria stilled in the stairwell, looking towards Shizuru. The journalist was holding up well, on the outside anyway.
Would she be safe on these one on one visits with that inmate? Shizuru pondered as she slowly began to regret this decision.
"Keep close to me." The elder warned, and opened a door to exit into a corridor.
Everything was eerily quiet to Shizuru, who noticed there were no cells in this part of the facility. Instead, the smell of fire seemed to strengthen, and she remembered what she had meant to ask.
"Miss Graceburt, excuse the odd question but… Is there a crematorium on site?" Shizuru tilted her head, eyes behind silver frames examining every inch of what she could see. No labels on the doors, no written words at all… Numbers next to the slots in which she could only imagine were doors.
"Crematorium? No." Maria answered briskly, hearing a scuffle once she had paused to check on the situation.
The smell of fire… Was she just imagining it?
Bright eyes narrowing on a door, she gestured the journalist behind her and drew out a snub-nosed pistol. "Stay behind me, dear." Approaching the door, Maria cocked the small pistol and flung the door open.
The stench of blood hit them both immediately; Shizuru balking to the metallic edge that seemed to invade past her lips. It was so potent, she could taste it…
A squelch was heard, turning the journalist's stomach, the two rounding a locker to lay eyes on the gruesome sight before them.
Cuffs covered in blood, as well as her hands, Natsuki's gaze was soon diverted from a bloody wall to the two. "Oh, warden… A pleasure to meet you." The inmate grinned, a bit of blood speckled along her jaw.
Shizuru kept her eyes pinned to the wall splattered with the identical color, lips parting in horror. On the wall was a rendition of what she could only assume was supposed to be a starry night…
Of course, blood dripped and didn't quite do it justice… Shizuru shook herself out of those thoughts, shuddering. Gaze falling to the artist, rather inmate, she smoldered a glare.
Sergei lay dead, indentation of the chain around his throat. He had either fallen, or Natsuki had done worse, as his head was split open at the temple. The source of the blood…
"Kruger." Maria spat, aiming the gun at her chest. Tilting her head, the inmate opened her palms in a peaceful gesture.
"No need for such violence, hm?"
The question seemed laughable, and Shizuru was very put off by it. This audio was going to get her such a raise…
Maria glared, glancing quickly at the journalist at her side. "Make that one year." She growled, the door opening with a rush of guards.
"Ah, miss, come with me." Mai had not been able to leave before the lockdown took effect; Persimmon brows furrowed in concern as she escorted Shizuru from the room.
"You… might want to go see someone, like a therapist." The guard advised, no doubt having had a similar experience.
"I think I'll be alright…" Shizuru intoned coldly, inwardly regretting taking this assignment. This facility was slowly becoming much more a burden than she had thought.
Escorted back to the parking garage, and seeing a stunned Rosalie on the way back, Shizuru chuckled lowly to herself. Mai quirked a brow, wondering if she should be worried more about this woman than Kruger.
"Forgive me, but I have seen worse. I'm a doctor, this sort of thing just doesn't seem to faze me any longer." Shizuru lied cooly, shrugging as she was escorted to her car.
That smell of fire invaded her senses again, only seeming to strengthen as she turned towards the lift leading back into the facility. Shizuru stared, thin brows furrowing before she switched her gaze to the guard.
"Do you smell fire?"
Mai stared at her, looking a little disheveled before she seemed to jolt at the question. Straightening up, the guard cleared her throat and looked back to the lift. "I don't, no. You should go… I'm sure Miss Graceburt will be in touch with you when details of your first visit are to be known."
Narrowing her eyes, it was clear the journalist didn't quite believe her. "Alright… Have a good evening, officer." Shizuru was helped into her car, settling the briefcase into her passenger seat once more.
Ishigami was going to have a heart attack at this audio… Especially from Natsuki's voice.
Keeping the inmate at gunpoint until she was once again restrained, Maria huffed and holstered the small pistol. "Looks like Sergei never returned from his vacation." Natsuki's lips slightly twitched into a smile that didn't last.
"Count yourself lucky." Maria spoke down to her, eyes on the mess of the wall and then Natsuki. "Clean her up, then put her in isolation."
"I was not already isolated?" Natsuki spoke once more, tilting her head with a smirk. The gauze along her brow was bleeding again, no doubt from the pressure built up in her head.
"You'll know when you're isolated." Maria coldly spoke, turning her back on the inmate. Speaking lowly towards two free guards, she left the room to no doubt head back up to her office.
"Come on, Kruger… You're in for a real nice time."
"Lockdown has ended. Keep all prisoners in their cells until inmate 3181523 is in the isolation chamber." Maria reported from her office, Rosalie at her side. The younger woman seemed startled, a faint tremor visible in her spine.
Maria clicked the intercom off, brows furrowing as she repeated the number once more. "3181523…" Grasping a pen and paper, she began to match the numbers to the alphabet.
"Three is C…" She murmured to herself, cracking the pen's tip once she had finished it.
"That damned girl…" Maria growled, startling Rosalie as the younger woman backed up.
"Get me Juliet Zhang."
"Y-yes, miss Graceburt… Right away." Rosalie cleared her throat, marching from the room and off down towards the lift.
Maria glared down at the paper, down to the word mocking her.
Crow.
Having been cleaned up and forced into a stark ivory uniform, Natsuki grumbled inwardly at the state of the colorless clothing. Where exactly were they taking her…? As far as she could tell, they were already a floor below death row…
They hadn't taken the lift, however. Stairs upon stairs until their destination seemingly reached, the three guards escorting her spoke lowly between themselves. She wasn't interested in what they had to say, but noticed none of them seemed to be shocked or in any way affected by Sergei being dead…
It was almost concerning.
"Here we are, Kruger. Isolation." The door they had made her face had no handle, and she would have just assumed it to be part of the wall were it not for the card-reader beside it.
A clink of chains alerted her to the fact that her cuffs, both wrist and ankle, were being removed. A little surprised, she could not vocally voice her confusion in time; The door was opened and she was shoved inside.
"Tch… Rude." Door locked behind her, Natsuki regained her balance and looked ahead. Confusion struck her once more, noting this wasn't a room but… A corridor?
Everything was the color of her uniform; Ivory and blank whiteness so strong it was starting to give her a headache coupled with the lighting. She lifted an arm, almost unable to discern the fabric of the sleeve from the wall or the floor.
"What…?" Lowering her arm, she took a step but stumbled when the floor wasn't met with her foot. She fell, bracing herself on uneven hands.
The floor wasn't even… And she couldn't even tell where it dipped or where it rose. There were no grooves, no visual clues…
Just blank.
Natsuki hummed lowly, carefully managing to stand back up. "This just became interesting."
Seemed there was more to Artai Intensive Security than met the eye…
AN: I am terribly sorry for the great delay in this, but I was having trouble finishing this chapter out. I have since regained my ability to continue on Death Row, and that updates will be coming quicker than this chapter.
Please, read and review to brow-beat me on taking so long!