HOW CAN YOU STOP THEM FROM LYING ABOUT YOU?


The sound of her high heels hitting the floor echoed all the way down the hall.

In her ear, there was a small beep, indicating someone required her attention. She pressed the button on the cellphone clipped to her ear.

"What?"

"Which suspect are you supposed to be visiting?" Her superior's gravely voice was no less irritating over the phone.

She glanced at the sheet pinned to her clipboard, "Eleven. Because they found her fingerprints at the scene."

He coughed into the receiver, "Change that to Sixteen. Eleven's still unconscious from the last interrogation."

She raised an eyebrow, "Did Hirano use shock therapy again?"

"That's irrelevant," he replied, which meant yes.

She reached the door. Behind it, the current prisoners were locked away.

To her superior, she said, "I'll ensure that Sixteen talks."

"Good. Lie to him, if you have to," he said before hanging up.

She rolled her eyes and placed her thumb on the scanner panel. There was a clicking noise, and the door slid open automatically.

The rows of cells inside looked the same as always, from their dirty metal floors, to the must growing on the walls.

A rat nipped as her ankles as she made her way down.

"Sixteen," she said dryly, banging her fist on the cell bars, "Wake up."

Sixteen's eyes shot open and he stumbled over, "Aoki-san! You have to get me out of here!"

Aoki scowled, "Don't treat me like I'm your friend."

"But… we are friends," he responded quietly.

Aoki looked at her clipboard, "Not after you committed a treason punishable by death."

He cried, "I'm innocent! You should know that better than anyone!"

Aoki reached into her pocket and produced a single match. She struck it on the wall, and held it up to his face, "Really?"

"What the hell?!" Sixteen shouted, "Did you torture Kojima-san too?!"

Aoki replied, "Eleven is none of your concern. Why don't you tell me why we have a witness who saw you leaving the scene?"

Sixteen hissed, "You… You're lying. Aoki-san, we were together-"

"Are you trying to confuse me?" she asked, "It won't work. We know that you're guilty. All Shikiba wants is your confession."

Sixteen whispered, "Are all of you out of your minds? This isn't going to find the culprit!"

"Confess," Aoki said.

"Is this why Kagome-san is dead?!" he exclaimed, "What about Tsukuda-san?! How many more people is this damn company going to murder?!"

"We have not killed," Aoki responded, "We merely ended another's life."

Sixteen shook the cell bars, "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Aoki sighed, "I didn't want to have to do this, Sixteen, but you leave me no choice."

He choked, "That's not my name… Please, Aoki-san. Don't let me die here."

Aoki grit her teeth, "You won't win me over. It has to be you… Which means that I'll do anything to make you talk."

"At least tell me what you did to the kid," Sixteen said, "You… you wouldn't hurt-"

"That's not your business, Okada!" Aoki screeched.

Okada's eyes grew wide, "Y-You! You remembered-"

Aoki tightened her resolve and brought the flaming match to his skin, letting Okada - no, Sixteen - howl until he collapsed.


(From a newspaper clipping dated June 2nd 20XX)

"Today we mourn the passing of Susumu Okada, an honest, selfless, and benevolent member of society. He unfortunately perished in a fire that destroyed his life's work. We can only hope that his goal of-" (The rest of the text is illegible.)