Teeth?! Teeth?! So so so many teeth…!

Even Sarah's brain was spluttering in disbelief. Her eyes were glued on a long black void, the sides lined with sharp fangs. As the void extended into nothingness, extra teeth poked out of the tar-like flesh like shards of broken glass.

Sarah was utterly terrified by this toothy abyss. It took her what seemed like hours to realize that one of the teeth that lined the side of this mockery of a mouth was missing. All that remained was huge hole splattered with specks of dried blood.

"I won't let you convict Angel Dog," the figure whispered. "It's my tooth."

Sarah gulped. She pointed a shaky finger and stuttered: "Th-there's…You have..."

Gregory cut her off, trying to form a coherent sentence in vain before falling into confused splutters.

"YOU HAVE A SECOND MOUTH?!" Cactus Gunman screamed. He stumbled back, gripping onto his podium fiercely, knuckles turning white.

Hell's Chef had opened his shirt, revealing exactly what Gunman had shrieked about. His second mouth was on his stomach, a vertical cut lined with horrific teeth, like a sideways grimace on an eyeless face.

"No wonder the bite was so low on Steve's body…" Catherine breathed. "But… why would you do something so horrific?"

"I DIDN'T MEAN TO!" Hell's Chef roared, his voice echoing throughout the courtroom. Sarah winced when she noticed that the mouth on his stomach opened even wider when he yelled, rumbling loudly.

"Chef, please calm down!" Angel Dog pleaded. "N-no one is going to hurt you!"

Monoputa raised his hand. "I might."

"Shut up, you disgusting little worm!" Angel Dog glared at him, pointing her wand in his direction. It sprinkled non-threatening fairy dust all over the floor.

Is it just my imagination, or did she sound a lot like Devil Dog there? Sarah felt her stomach twist at Angel Dog's sudden hostility, even if it was directed at the one who was imprisoning them, it was still terrifying.

Clock Master, who couldn't tear his eyes away from the ghastly deformity, built a rumble in his throat as he gained the mental clarity he needed to speak. "...While… I feel inclined to believe you…" He ripped his eyes upward to Chef's face with the difficulty of peeling a barcode sticker off a book. "How...can you accidentally disembowel and slice the jugular of someone?"

The beginnings of a growl escaped Chef's throat and he stomped his foot. "YOU DON'T! UNDERSTAND!"

Clock Master recoiled. "R-right, well… That is why I inquired."

"GRRAAAAGHH!" Hell's Chef grabbed his head, folding in on himself. His second mouth started to froth at the edges. "STOP!"

"Do as he says!" Angel Dog barked.

"For goodness sake, you mangy dog, we need to question him!" Gregory frowned.

The aggravated canine balled her fists at her sides, visibly displeased. "Is it so wrong that I want to protect Chef from people who are making him uncomfortable? He said he didn't mean to, if he did at all. He might just be covering for someone!"

"Are you really sympathizing with a murderer?" Gregory leaned forward, squinting and gritting his teeth.

"Everyone deserves a second chance…" Angel Dog said quietly, her words barely a breath. "Let… let Chef…"

Suddenly, Angel Dog's head snapped up, her eyes blank. She floated like that for a few moments before being overcome with a puff of smoke, Devil Dog taking her place.

"Oh no…" Cactus Gunman slammed his palm against his forehead.

"Oh YES!" Monoputa hopped to his feet, a grin spreading across his face.

"Why are you showing up now?" Catherine glared at Devil Dog. "Can't you just let Angel Dog be?!"

"Pssssh, are you an idiot?" Devil Dog smirked and flipped one of her dark purple ears. "We share a body. If anything, she should leave me alone!"

Sarah bit her lip and found herself looking over at Hell's Chef. His head was bowed, his face completely shadowed, and both of his mouths were closed.

What's going on in your head, Chef? Sarah fretted, digging her nails into the cold wood of her podium.

"Chef is just trying to protect his mommy," Devil Dog snickered. "She does share a body with the murderer, after all!" Devil Dog proudly gestured to herself.

"Graagh!" Hell's Chef roared again, spittle flying out of his face and his chest, his yell rattling the room. "You're a LIAR! Steve knocked out my tooth!"

"Psh, Lil Stevie would never hurt a fly!" Devil Dog rested her paws on her chin, fluttering her eyelashes. "Chef tore out his own damn tooth to protect Angel Dog! It's as simple as that!"

Hell's Chef tore at his hair, growling under his breath, struggling to find the right words.

"S-senorita… y-y-you were responsible for that…" Cactus Gunman swallowed a lump in his throat, his stomach contorting in nausea at the memory of Steve's body. "... that… bloodbath?"

Monoputa's eyes widened and he held up a hand. "Babe, you-"

"Shh!" Devil Dog winked at Monoputa. "I'm talking."

Monoputa blinked and sat down, pacified. Sarah was almost impressed.

"Steve wanted to have a discussion with Angel Dog. I'm sure he wanted to reaffirm that she wasn't a threat…" Devil Dog's smirk grew wider. "She isn't, but I sure am."

"I took over Angel Dog right as she picked up a note from Steve that he slid under our door. I tore it to shreds so Angel Dog wouldn't know what happened; I can't stand it when she tries to mess with my plans!" Devil Dog growled. "Steve was an easy target; not only was he stricken with grief, he was weak, both in body and soul! I never saw a weaker being in my life!" Devil Dog cackled. "Roulette Boy and James… they were both stronger than Steve! I knew snuffing him out would be a piece of cake, and I'd get off scot-free!"

"He did bring the shovel to defend himself, but he didn't get a single blow in on me!" Devil Dog leaned forward, her smirk widening to terrifying proportions. "The blood on the tip of the shovel blade was his!"

"Chopping him to bits with one of the knives was as easy as slice, slice, slice," Devil Dog smirked. "Little bastard never saw it coming."

"Y-you are heartless!" Cactus Gunman choked.

"I can't believe Angel Dog has to share a body with someone like you," Catherine hissed. "You're a horrid woman."

"That's coming from Little Miss Blood Test?" Devil Dog pointed at her chest where Catherine had stuck her with a needle in the last trial.

"Gluck-!" Catherine choked, her face turning red as the blood she loved to draw.

"Why would you confess?!" Sarah folded her arms, her insides knotting with suspicion. "You're going to get executed now!"

"She's going to die with the rest of you, because I did it!" Hell's Chef wailed.

"Stop trying to take the fall, ya big baby!" Devil Dog stabbed her pitchfork in Chef's direction. "What happened to you being so afraid of dying?!"

"After what I did…" Hell's Chef gritted both sets of his teeth. "... I don't deserve to live… Neither do you."

"Well life ain't that simple, bub. You get your sweet sweet mamma and me or nothing," Devil Dog flashed her wicked canines.

"B-babe, about that-" Monoputa's eyes were boggling with desperation.

Devil Dog flicked him an irritated smirk. "I said shush it, honey."

Clock Master sighed. "We have quite a mess on our hands. Don't suppose you have any ideas, Sarah? ...Sarah?"

These thoughts fizzled about in Sarah's brain like bubbles in a newly opened can of soft drink. Two versions of the story. Whose to believe? A deceptive murder or an accidental attack? There has to be a way…

"So you're saying Chef planted the tooth to lead us off your trial and save Angel Dog?" Sarah pryed.

"Yeah, genius, did it take ya this long to catch on? Aren't you supposed to be Nancy Drew or something?" Devil Dog folded her arms.

Hell's Chef growled. "SHE'S LYING!"

There has to be a way. Think of a way…

"How do you explain the low bite mark?" Sarah frowned.

A proud smile crossed Devil Dog's lips. "I tend to get a little… animalistic in the heat of the moment."

"Oh boy, does she!" Monoputa waggled his eyebrows. "But-"

"I said shut it, toots!" Devil Dog barked.

Where is the way…? Unless...

"Then why was Chef's tooth hidden away?" Sarah wasn't done yet. "If Chef wanted to frame himself, why didn't he leave it where we can see it?"

"Because I DID DO IT!" Chef roared. "The shovel hit the mouth on my stomach and the tooth went flying!"

"He's just trying to cover for his 'mama'!" Devil Dog insisted. "I'm telling ya, he did it to make it look convincing. No murderer would be that stupid to leave it in the open."

No… It doesn't add up… If that's really what happened, how does that explain my dream? She thought back to Steve's distant voice, begging her to look under the counter. Steve would want more than anything to get his "evil" killer caught. Why would he lead me to evidence that would point out the person trying to frame himself over the actual killer? Unless Chef…

"Devil Dog!" Sarah's eyes flashed. "You're ly-"

"Wait!"

Monoputa was standing on his throne, his arms out by his sides, commanding everything to halt.

Gregory sighed and muttered. "Oh dear. Him again…"

"Babe, what are you doing?!" Devil Dog hissed. "Sit down!"

Monoputa steeled himself. "No."

"What?" She said sternly.

"I know what you're doing and I... can't." Monoputa gulped.

Devil Dog sneered, but she looked rattled. "What are you talking about?"

"I know last night I said I would and could do anything for you but… But babe, if you don't stop this right now, the boss'll have both our heads!" The prompter's desperation seemed palpable, even to Sarah. "I won't let it happen! Even for that dream!"

Gregory's ears pricked. "Last night…?"

"Wait, that… that little gremlin was telling the truth?" Gunman blabbered. "Wh-what dream is this?!"

"You… lied to me?!" Devil Dog roared.

Monoputa began to sweat a waterfall. "B-babe-"

"Sure I didn't kill anyone in time, but can you blame me if it happened while we set the goal in the first place?! I took advantage of the damn situation and you said you'd do anything! You lying runt!" Devil Dog screamed as imaginary steam poured out of her ears. "You've-You've ruined-"

Suddenly, she barked ferociously like a monstrous beast, snarling and howling. She dropped to all fours and began to leap over her podium, making a beeline for the phenomenally terrified promper.

Gunman shrieked and as quick as a dart, grabbed the dog's waist, suspending her over the front of the podium. "D-Devil Dog! Please, calm down! Angel Dog!"

Devil Dog's face began to contort and she vanished in a cloud of smoke. It stayed suspended there for longer than normal as a boggling-eyed Cactus Gunman had his arms looped around its outskirts and in seconds a very confused Angel Dog was in its place.

"Um…" She whispered. "I felt Devil Dog was losing her mind and I thought you were in danger. What happened here?"

Gunman was stunned into silence and slowly helped her back to her place. She brushed his fretting arms aside once balanced and he stared at his hand for the longest time. Sarah quickly wondered what it was like to hold onto a transforming dog.

"I'd like to know that too. Monoputa, what was all that?!" Clock Master demanded.

The prompter panted and shook. "Uh… Hold on there beer boy, I need a breather. Not everyday your girlfriend tries to kill you..." He laughed uncomfortably. "Oh she is so dumping me…"

Sarah's mouth twinged irritably. This is no time for his theatrics, we need answers!

"Alright, I gueeess I should tell you what's going on. Or not." Monoputa laughed devilishly.

"Monoputa!" Hell's Chef stomped his foot.

"Fine, fine! Geez… Sooooo... last night, you know, at the little rendezvous? Devil Dog and I…" He sighed in a heavenly manner. "...Oh we had a dream~. If Devil Dog could successfully murder, she and I could be together for good, and the boss would be ultra happy at all this despair! Heck, maybe we could put another group through Hell together! But then Stevie had to go and kick it, that brat. My girl figured if she could convince you it was her, I could skew the results and we could do it anyway. But boss'd never have that…"

"So it wasn't Devil Dog…" Gregory balled his fists. "To think I fell for her tricks! She almost had me killed!"

"But if it's not her then…" Angel Dog looked to Hell's Chef, alone, head bowed and surrounded by dead portraits.

"Mmm…" He mumbled.

Clock Master narrowed his eyes. "There's no tricks to this, is there, Chef? Let's hear your side of things."

Hell's Chef sighed. "That's… hard. I barely remember killing Steve."

"How do you not remember… dismembering someone?!" Gregory looked aghast, an expression that Sarah was not used to seeing on his face.

"It's COMPLICATED!" Hell's Chef roared.

"Chef, take a deep breath, please…" Angel Dog's voice was wavering a bit. "Please, tell us what happened…"

Hell's Chef took her advice threefold, inhaling and exhaling, trying to regain his composure. "Let me… start at the beginning…"

"I was… in the kitchen, at night, I was going over everything and making sure no one stole from me again. Steve didn't try to meet with me, he just… showed up behind me. Out of nowhere, gripping that… that shovel! He tried to put out my flame with it! He moved it up and down, making wind… but it wasn't enough to put my wick out."

Subconsciously, Hell's Chef moved a finger up to his flame, a bit of wax melting off of his fingertip. "I… panicked. Or I got mad. I'm not sure. But the knife I usually use… I didn't want to use it, because everyone would know it was me. I remember thinking that before everything… goes away. I grabbed a smaller knife from the chopping block, and I just saw… red. Red, red, red, red! Everywhere, red…! I was… so ANGRY…!"

"I had never been so angry in my life… or, in this life…" He looked at his hands like he could see it soaked in blood from another lifetime. "It all just… boiled over. I didn't want to hurt anyone. But… it's hard for me not to. He should have known, imbecile… Every glare or threat or bit of anger I had felt in this damned hotel - I took all of it out on Steve. When the red went away… out of my eyes, I saw Steve on the floor, dead, and I felt a big pain in my stomach, from where Steve hit me. I… I didn't know what to do. I put him in the fridge. I didn't care about the food, not then. I tried to clean the knife, but… but it was so dirty. No time. I knew I had to hide it. I knew someone might be able to smell the murder on it…"

"So I went to the storeroom. It's… it's so drafty in there. I couldn't go in there without my flame going out. So, I threw the knife in…"

"That's why it was stuck in the wall…" The sun rose in Clock Master's eyes. He pointed at the chef smugly. "Only a chef with your precision could achieve such a feat."

"After I took care of Steve, I destroyed my bloodstained uniform with my flame, and I changed into my pajamas." Hell's Chef looked up, his eyes drooping. "I… I don't know what I expected to happen. All this time, I didn't want to die, but I lost control so easily…"

Is he shaking? Sarah looked on in shock. She never expected to see Chef so afraid.

"Who… was I? You… all of you… you deserve to live more than I do. Steve did too." Hell's Chef inhaled sharply.

"Chef, don't say that!" Angel Dog's eyes were spilling over with humongous tears. "You deserve to live, too! You made a mistake, it's okay!"

"Angel Dog, he killed someone," Gregory shook his head in disbelief.

"Well, too bad that's not how things work around here!" Monoputa cackled. "Looks like it's time for the vote. How quickly the tide turns!"

Monoputa pulled the voting lever and the panel flipped open.

The courtroom filled with a small chorus of beeps as everyone cast their votes. The familiar monitor came down from the ceiling, and Hell's Chef's face appeared on that accursed slot machine, the word GUILTY! flashing in bright neon letters.

"You got it right! Good for you, all getting to see another day," Monoputa snorted. "Even with my girl messing things up. I'm almost impressed. Almost."

"Hold on, before…" Hell's Chef moved away from his podium and approached Angel Dog, looming over her, his face cast in shadow.

"Chef?" Angel Dog said quietly, her words barely a squeak.

Wordlessly, Hell's Chef pulled her into an enormous hug, now visibly shaking.

"Chef…!" Angel Dog sobbed, squeezing Hell's Chef tightly. "You're so brave."

"No... " Hell's Chef released Angel Dog from his embrace, looking down at her, his exposed mouth drawing into a small smile. "Angel… you and the others… you're the bravest of all. Don't… don't die, okay? None of you."

Sarah felt his familiar attempt at a threat, and somehow, her heart softened a little. And, to her surprise, tears formed in the corners of Hell's Chef's eyes and rolled down his cheeks. The sight of that alone made Sarah get choked up.

"That's enough of that!" Monoputa jumped to his feet. "It's time for the execution!" Monoputa drew his gavel over his head, keeping it poised above the big red button, ready to slam it down.

"Wait!" Hell's Chef held up a hand.

"Heh?" Monoputa's gavel stopped in mid-air.

"There's no need… for the chain," Hell's Chef buttoned up his collar and wiped his eyes. "I'll go willingly."

"Ugh," Monoputa griped, leaping down from his chair and toddling over to Hell's Chef. "How disgustingly noble."

A pregnant silence fell over the courtroom as Hell's Chef and Monoputa walked down the long hallway together, no one moving a muscle or making a peep.

Angel Dog finally broke the silence with a sniffle that turned into a loud wail.

"He's going to die! He's going to die, and I couldn't save him!" Angel Dog sobbed into her paws.

"Shh, shh, shh," Catherine sidled up to Angel Dog and pulled her her into a gentle hug. "You're going to make me cry too…" Catherine's voice was heavy with sadness.

With Catherine gone from her place, Sarah felt the emptiness surrounding her greater than ever. Eyes shut in agony, she heard little footsteps near her, the sound of boots on wood.

"I hate these executions," Gunman said, his voice thick with grief.

He had stepped into Catherine's place. Sarah sniffed and reached to place her hand in his when suddenly the room shook, knocking Gunman off his feet and nearly sending Sarah forward over her podium. The walls around them shimmered, and before everyone knew it, they had been transported to the execution room.

"I can't look…" Angel Dog wailed, gripping onto Catherine even more tightly.

Sarah felt weak. She knew she should probably tear her eyes away, but she couldn't. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the iron railing on the survivors' balcony up high. She watched in horror as this deadly scene began to unfold right in front of her eyes.

SOUP'S ON ME!

In the distance, close enough to make out their actions, Sarah saw Monoputa policing Hell's Chef forward. He cruelly and unnecessarily jabbed the candle with a roasting fork to nudge him along. Sarah had no doubts. They were walking toward the gargantuan steaming pit of some unknown solution. It had a scarily tantalising aroma.

He reached the edge. Sarah found Gunman's hand, her eyes like stones, set in place and fixed on Hell's Chef. She could tell by his eyes; he was smiling proudly.

Hell's Chef looked back to Monoputa. "It's one of mine." The prompter smiled in response and Chef turned his head back to his doom. "Only my recipes smell this good."

"Well why dontcha get real up close and personal with it?" Monoputa whipped out a remote and pressed a flashing button.

From the shadows a hulking piece of machinery emerged, snatching Hell's Chef in its claw-like grasp and throwing him mercilessly into the soup.

Deep, pained, blubbering wails jammed into Sarah's ears, boring into her brain, her memory, her mind. Chef floundered and gasped, wax cascading off his form. Surging through the tides with his shrinking form, he scrabbled at the wall, reaching for the lip of his enclosure, centimetres from his grasp. His desperate effort was visible, throwing soup and wax from his upper mouth in periodic, heaving typhoon forces and eyes bulging from his sockets, ready to pop or roll out with the rest of the wax.

Clock Master walked backwards away from the scene. "I-I can't…" He hit the wall, but still stared in undisguised, wordless horror.

Gregory by contrast had his ears piqued with interest.

Clasping her hand over her mouth, Sarah tried to formulate words, but it was as though they too had stopped and stared at the melting mass.

Angel Dog screamed, her claws scraping against the metal floor as if she could dig through and reach her friend. "Oh I can't look! MONOPUTA! MO-NO-PU-TAAAA!"

"A-a-Angel Dog…!" Catherine vainly tried to pull her up, sounding congested with her own tear streaked face.

With every breath the molten form breathed itself in and splurged itself out. It groaned.

"Ohh, don't think we're done yet! This one's for you, boss!" Monoputa hollered with manic eyes as as he pressed another button on his contraption.

A loud beeping started - the sound you would hear at construction sites. Sarah's jaw dropped as a giant mixer flowed in on endless wheels. Monoputa whooped as he pressed another button, lowering the mixer into the serum. It made a thudding smash.

Hell's Chef took a deep breath.

"Chef! No!" Angel Dog's anguish echoed.

A mixture of excitement and malice pushed that last button, and a mesh of wax and pain was blended into oblivion, breathing its last watery gulps before its lungs were eradicated.

Angel Dog howled and tears and mucus rinsed down her face. Catherine hoisted her weak form to eye-level and called to her. Angel Dog writhed before collapsing onto Catherine's shoulder, burying her face. She didn't see the soup turn an inky black colour and begin to bubble.

"Eugh! It smells horrible!" Gregory pinched his nostrils closed. "That was an awful sight, just awful! Who on earth will cook for us now?"

How can he always move on so quickly? How dare he?! Sarah had to cover her nose too. That soup reeked a hot, smoky smell and made her eyes burn more than her tears did. She caught her stomach contents in her throat; if she didn't leave soon, away from this infuriating and devastating sadness, she was going to be sick.

She found herself rubbing her thumb over the back of Gunman's hand for comfort. The prickles didn't hurt if you pressed down lightly. She had to take her mind away from that scene burned into her skull, Angel Dog's wails, Catherine's hushing and snivelling, Clock Master's panting.

"I-I can't take this." Gunman quavered. "He was the most terrifying man I knew but, I still felt like he was… guarding us, all this time. He dared the enemy and scared them into silence. It was incredible and...something I was jealous of. I wanted to fill those shoes before but now…" The cactus glanced at his holsters. "I wish he were back."

He pulled his hand from Sarah's. "Oh dios mio, who will protect us after this...?"

She gave him a soft side-hug but no answer. In the end, who could?

"Hi, hello up there, my esteemed war veterans! Did you enjoy the show?" Monoputa called up. He pulled out a wooden spoon. "And who wants to taste the spoils of victory~?!"

Clock Master charged to the front, face red. "We've had enough! Look what you've done to us, you monster! To Angel Dog! Your damned show is over and we will leave! Now!"

Monoputa's pondering pause scraped over time like nails on a chalkboard. He knelt down and sipped the villainous concoction. "Mmm… Tastes like despair… Okay tough guy, have it your way."

A small earthquake threatened to trip up the survivors as fairy magic danced around and in an instant they were back to where they started. It hurt Sarah to see the pesky bonsais by Monoputa's throne. Mere plants had lasted longer than good people.

"Alright kiddies, skedaddle on outta here!" Monoputa spun before elegantly gesturing to the elevator which dragged itself open. The soulless crew meandered over. "This trial was a hoot, am I right? Except for the girlfriend-attacking-me part. But she gave me the most precious gift of all… Sweet, sweet despair~."

Sarah barely resisted the urge to make an obscene gesture to the brat, and saw Clock Master feel the same.

As the elevator jumbled and rumbled to their prison, thoughts mingled in Sarah's mind. How different would their lives be with a mere six? Could their live up to their "guardian's" final wish? And after all this, what more could possibly come?