The wind blew through her hair and the bridge swayed in a way that felt both gentle and rough. In front of her was the barrel of a gun and to her right was the tip of a knife. Exactly as she had planned.
She clutched the soft backpack she carried, and jumped over the rope and plunged into the rapid waters below. Though she was descending deeper underwater, she felt weightless. She sunk lower and lower, her world growing darker with each passing second.
How many of those seconds passed, she would never know.
She stood tall and proper as she walked forward at a steady pace with armed men at either side of her. As she walked, the rope before her grew closer and closer. It dangled hauntingly over the raised floor. When it was mere inches away, and she stood on the trapdoor, one of the men tied the rope around her neck. She watched as a man reached for a lever, knowing that this time the fall would be much quicker.
The man pulled the lever down, and the floor came out from under her.
Dahlia awoke screaming, holding her bed cover tightly over her chest. She was still screaming, eyes shut tight, when she heard the lights flick on and felt a safe and comforting body embrace her with protective arms.
"It's okay Dahlia," Mia whispered. "It's alright, it was just a dream. Don't worry, I'm right here."
As Mia spoke softly, Dahlia leaned closer to her. The fear lingered, and she shook with fright. Nightmares had been haunting her for the last 2 months, soon after she had defended Larry Butz for murder.
"You're safe Dahlia, I'm right here sweetie," Mia said, her voice as melodic as a lullaby.
Dahlia only ever let Mia see this vulnerable side of her. She knew her cousin wouldn't judge her for it, and Mia always emanated a sense of understanding and radiated kindness.
"Shh," Mia stroked Dahlia's hair. "You don't want to wake Pearl, now do you?"
That was enough to make Dahlia look up and see her little sister sleeping soundly at the foot of her bed. Now I remember, Mother let Pearly stay with us for a few days. She wanted to sleep with me.
"There, see?" Mia said. "There's nothing to worry about. Was it the same nightmare again?"
Dahlia nodded her head. "Why do I keep having the same one?"
Both girls immediately went quiet when they heard Pearl move.
"Mm," Pearl mumbled in her sleep. "No Mystic Dahlia… Mr. Nick is not a thing to pound on…"
Dahlia cracked a faint smile. "Yes he is."
"No…" Pearl moaned. "Not your… special someone."
Dahlia rubbed her temples. "No, he's not. He's my assistant who screams like a girl."
"Hhmp," Mia smiled. "Are you sure? You seem rather fond of him."
"I know you're joking," Dahlia said.
"But you did defend one of his best friends, despite how much you couldn't stand him," Mia said, playfully.
"What about you?" Dahlia said. "You're here with me right now because you heard me scream. Would you like to stay in my bed a little longer?"
"Well, you're feeling better," Mia said. "But of course I love you. You're my little cousin."
"What about Pearly?" Dahlia said.
Mia leaned over to the sleeping girl and kissed her forehead. "She's my baby cousin."
"The bonds of a family are as pure and strong as the blackness of a perfect cup."
Mia and Dahlia looked at the open doorway and saw Diego standing there with a mug of coffee in his hand.
"Oh look, it's Mia's special someone," Dahlia teased.
"Ha, I've trained you well young grasshopper," Diego said, sipping coffee.
Mia frowned. "You do know it's 3 in the morning. Don't you think it's a little early for coffee?"
"Nope," Diego said, taking a swig from his mug.
Dahlia chuckled.
"Don't encourage him," Mia said. "What are you doing here Diego?"
"Just enjoying the view of three lovely young ladies," Diego said.
"You're on your 17th cup aren't you?" Mia said, smirking.
"The Kitten's mind is as sharp as her claws," Diego said.
"So then you've been awake for like 20 minutes already," Dahlia said.
"And it runs in the family," Diego said.
"You better believe it does," Dahlia said, completely back to normal.
Pearl, still fast asleep, swung her hand around. She slapped Dahlia's foot.
"What'd I do?" Dahlia said.
Pearl just smacked her lips.
"I think that means it's time to get back to sleep," Mia said. "For those who still can sleep."
Diego drained the remaining coffee. "What are looking at me for?"
Mia rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. She hugged Dahlia. "Good night Dahlia."
"Night Mia. Night Diego," Dahlia said, getting back up the covers.
She soon drifted into a blissfully dreamless sleep.
Sooner than she would have liked, sunlight streamed into Dahlia's room. She stretched as she sat up, lazily waiting for sleep to fade away and unclouded her being. She blinked and looked at the foot of her bed. Pearl was nowhere to be seen.
Guess she woke up before me. Dahlia rolled out of bed and trudged down the hall. As she neared the kitchen she heard voices.
"I know it's true, I just can't believe it," Mia said.
"It's hard to swallow cruel reality," Diego said.
"What are we going to tell her?" Mia said. "I mean, this is…"
"When drinking coffee, you'll inevitably reach the bottom of the cup," Diego said. "That's just how it goes."
"I know…" Mia said.
Dahlia, suddenly wide awake, hid at the corner of the wall. What are they talking about?
"Good morning Dahlia!" Pearl said.
"Ah!" Dahlia jumped, for she hadn't heard her little sister coming.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," Pearl said.
"Uh, don't worry about it," Dahlia said. "Good morning."
"Dahlia, Pearl, you're awake," Mia said.
Drat! Dahlia flashed a smile. "Yeah, just woke up."
"Would you like some breakfast?" Mia said. "We have eggs."
"That would be great," Dahlia said.
"Perfect, that's what I was going to make for Maya," Mia said.
Dahlia and Pearl each took a seat at the table with Diego.
"So Mia," Dahlia said. "What were you just talking about?"
"Oh, uh, I was just trying to get Diego to cut down on the coffee," Mia said.
"Kitten, without coffee I am a bane to all around me," Diego said. "I do this for you."
"Uh-huh," Mia said. "Well, I'm going to start on breakfast. Dahlia, Pearl, if it seems my boyfriend needs to be whacked you can go to town."
"Mm-kay," Dahlia said. She wasn't wearing her Magatama, so she couldn't see any Psyche-Locks.
"Only if he starts flirting with Mystic Dahlia or Mystic Maya," Pearl said.
"Just Dahlia, Pearly," Dahlia said.
"Still," Pearl said.
Their banter was interrupted by a loud yawn.
"Hey Maya," Dahlia said.
Maya flopped into a chair.
"Morning beautiful," Diego said.
"Blah," Maya said. She wasn't a morning person.
Once it was ready, everyone ate breakfast. As they were cleaning up their dishes, Dahlia looked at Pearl.
"Guess what?" Dahlia said.
"What?" Pearl said.
"Tag!" Dahlia touched her sister's shoulder and sprinted out of her chair. Not just because they were playing a game. The instant she touched Pearl, fully dressed in her acolyte robes and Magatama, she saw Psyche-Locks on both Mia and Diego.
Once everyone was dressed and ready to start the day, that's exactly what they did. Dahlia sat in the lounge, playing with her Magatama. It was a slow day so far, and Phoenix was busy doing something so she couldn't bug him about it.
She wished she knew what those Psyche-Locks were about, but she had no evidence or even the foggiest idea. She had tried asking Diego, but even if he had wanted to tell her the truth he spoke in riddles anyway so she couldn't decipher what he was getting at. What was it he had said again? Something about sugar?
Bored and defeated, she stood up and walked down the hallway of Fey & Co. Law Offices. I need a distraction. Good thing I keep my DS in my office.
As she passed by Mia's office, she saw Pearl.
"Pearly?" Dahlia said.
"Oh, Mystic Dahlia perfect," Pearl said, trotting up to her older sister.
"What's up?" Dahlia said, letting the 'Mystic' thing slide just for once.
"I was looking for Mystic Mia," Pearl said.
Yeah, letting it slide isn't working for me. Dahlia looked at Pearl. "Pearly, Mia and I aren't Mystics. I can't even channel spirits."
"I know," Pearl said. "But you're really good with Magatamas."
"Well, sure, but that's not the same thing," Dahlia said.
"And Mystic Maya told me Mystic Mia trained for a little while," Pearl said.
"Yeah, true, but…" Dahlia caved. She can't even spell 'reconsider.' Actually, she can't read it either.
"So, have you seen Mystic Mia?" Pearl said.
"No, she and Diego went out to lunch or something I think," Dahlia said. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Well, you see," Pearl said, putting her thumbnail in her mouth. "I'm trying to read something, but some of the words are really tough."
"Let's see what you got," Dahlia said.
"It's right… oh no!" Pearl said. "I must have dropped it somewhere. I'll be right back!"
Before Dahlia could say anything, Pearl sped off. That kid's got a good pair of legs on her.
Going into her office, Dahlia grabbed her DS and looked around for new Pokémon. She had no idea how much time went by, but she rejoined the world when she heard Mia and Diego come back. Turning off her DS, she went into the lounge to say hello.
"Hey Dahlia. Anything happen while I was gone?" Mia said.
Dahlia shrugged. "It's been pretty slow today. How was lunch?"
"It was great," Mia said. "Thanks again Diego."
"Anytime Kitten," Diego said, giving her a quick hug. "Except right now. I've got to take care of something."
"Alright, have fun," Mia said.
Diego left the office and Mia turned back to Dahlia.
"I've got a couple things to take care of myself so I'll be in my office if you need me," Mia said. "You look bored, why don't you call Phoenix or something?"
Dahlia considered it for a moment. "Hmm… Sure, why not?"
Mia started down the hall when another thought popped into Dahlia's mind.
"Hey Mia," Dahlia said, causing her cousin to stop.
"What is it?" Mia said.
"Is everything alright?" Dahlia said, playing with the Magatama around her neck. "You and Diego were acting weird earlier."
To Dahlia's dismay chains rolled around Mia, keeping the truth caged away from everyone around her. In front of these chains were 4 Psyche-Locks. "Everything's fine Dahlia."
"Are you sure?" Dahlia said. "Nothing's going on?"
Much to her surprise, one of the locks vibrated as if it were about to break. But then it subsided. "Nothing you need to worry about."
She's really torn about this. Dahlia bit the inside of her cheek. Maybe I should just leave her alone.
Mia gave Dahlia a hug. "Now go bug your assistant or something."
Dahlia hugged her cousin back. "If you insist."
Mia left the room and Dahlia pulled out her cell phone. Sitting on the couch upside-down, she hit speed dial number 7 and waited her assistant to answer.
"Phoenix Wright speaking," Phoenix said.
"Hey Nick, what's up?" Dahlia said.
"Dahlia, hey," Phoenix said. "Just working on a couple sketches."
"Still sticking with the whole artist thing?" Dahlia said.
"Yeah, it's fun," Phoenix said.
"Say, did you ever finish that painting?" Dahlia said. "You know, the one covered in red from your trial?"
"The police kept it because it was used as evidence," Phoenix said, somewhat miffed.
"Sounds like that hit your artist pride," Dahlia said.
"Eh, it wasn't my best idea," Phoenix said. "That's why I'm working on my sketches. I'm hoping something will come to me. Hey, maybe I could draw you."
"I'm not much of a model," Dahlia said.
"You just have to sit stillllllllllllllll," Phoenix realized what he was saying.
"Yeah," Dahlia said.
"Well, I'm sure I'll come up with something," Phoenix said.
While they were talking, Mia came back into the room. "Hey Dahlia?"
"Yeah?" Dahlia looked up at her cousin.
"Have you seen Maya and Pearl?" Mia said.
"Oh, now I remember," Dahlia said. "Maya probably took Pearly to a Steel Samurai street performance. She insisted on it, Maya that is. It's just you and me here."
"Okay, just checking," Mia said. "I haven't seen them around."
Mia left again and Dahlia put her cell to her ear again.
"What was that about?" Phoenix said.
"Oh, Mia just wanted to know where Pearly and Maya were," Dahlia said.
"Ah," Phoenix said. "Hey, maybe I could do a family portrait of you guys."
"Now you're asking for me and Maya to sit still," Dahlia said.
"Oh yeah," Phoenix said.
"Don't artist usually go commune with nature or something?" Dahlia said.
"I'm an artist, not a hippy," Phoenix said.
"Why don't you find a picture of something and draw that?" Dahlia said.
"Hmm, I do have some pictures on my phone," Phoenix said.
"Perfect," Dahlia said.
"Yeah, I've got just the picture in mind now. Thanks Dahlia," Phoenix said.
"No biggie," Dahlia said. "I'm just awesome like that."
"And don't forget that charming modesty," Phoenix said.
"I'm as modest as you are funny," Dahlia said.
"I'm wounded," Phoenix said.
"Yeah, yeah. Go use your pain for your art," Dahlia said.
"It'll be a masterpiece," Phoenix said. "Later Dahlia."
"Later Nick," Dahlia said, and they hung up.
She sat up correctly and grabbed the remote. Maybe something good will be on for once.
As she was channel surfing, she heard footsteps behind her.
"Oh, you need something Mia?" Dahlia said.
….. My head… Dahlia fluttered her eyes open. What happened?
She looked at the clock. Whoa, what have I been doing for the past 3 hours? Looking at her shoes, she noticed red splotches. What's that stuff? Her head spun when she stood up. I can't remember, what was I doing?
The room was dimmed down from the lack of light outside, and there was a strange scent in the air. That smells familiar.
Dahlia turned around and froze. Her brain tried to process what she was seeing, but it couldn't be real. Everything was quiet and still, she wasn't even thinking anymore. Finally, it all came crashing down on her.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Dahlia shrieked.
This was worse than her nightmares, worse than the day Misty Fey disappeared, it was too horrible to be a fantasy. Tears streamed down her face, each droplet stinging her eyes. But nothing hurt more than what she saw through them.
Mia Fey lay against the wall, cold and unmoving, a knife sticking out of her stomach.
