Wish you were here

Chapter 11. We are coming close to the end…

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Shiori didn't know really how everything happened.

First, she saw Johanna's face. Then…the Index Council members's severe faces…Kakeru's face…

Then…she was here, in this cell. It looked like a jail cell…With just a bed, waters and nothing else. Even not a book. Just Shiori and the dark around her.

"Why does it mean, Great Holy?"

Johanna stood up before her, with a crooked smile on her lips. A smile which scared Shiori. Johanna showed something to her. A report. Her report.

"Didn't you hide something to us, dear Ursula?

"…"

Shiori knew she was lost. But she still tried to deny. "What did I hide to you?"

"Very easy. I'm sorry, my dear Ursula. But… I don't really believe in your report. When you said you fought Liselotte herself alone. It must have been something else."

"Great…Johanna. I swear I didn't hide the most little thing to you!"

"Swear? I don't think so."

"But…what do you want me to hide you?" Shiori tried again, with a very sincere look, which during a second, Johanna wanted to believe. But just her faith she believed. Nothing else. "I would like to know."

"I hid…nothing."

"That's enough with your lies, Ursula!" The magus who accompanied her cried out. "We let you one chance! Why did you give a false report?"

"…" Shiori didn't answer. Johanna smiled. "Your silence means anything."

"It's enough. I don't understand why we waste our time! It's obvious she lied to us about her mission."

"I think she must having a good reason."

"But which one?"

Shiori didn't answer, still scared by her own situation. She looked up at Johanna. She expected it. What she was afraid of…happened.

"Johanna. If I could…"

"You can."

"Ursula of The Bookshelf, apostle of the Index, as apparently you refuse to tell the truth to us…I think an argument is useless. I think a trial is necessary to clarify things."

"But…a trial?" Shiori asked.

"Let me tell you. You will be the only one to defend yourself. Attorney or nothing else will be here to help you. Nothing help liars. Must I remember you the punishment if you lose it?"

"No.…I understand."

"So. During the period to your trial, you will be taken in a cell. I think you'll be here during a long period."

"…yes."

"So. It's enough."

While she was brought to her cell, she just saw Johanna's look silently staring up at her. Shiori could discern some amusement in her look.

Kakeru or Yuka didn't be allowed to come. It didn't involve them. It was the only good thing in her situation. Suddenly, she heard sound from the corridor. She looked up and saw her mother, Sophia, in front of her. She looked very angry. "So it was true…You're really here ."

"Yes." Shiori said, cowering. Sophia cried out. "Johanna! You bitch! You can be the Pope herself, you're just as much heartless as I am! And so you bastards to follow her stupid actions!"

"Sophia. Calm down. You can be…"

"Don't care! I'm so angry…But it won't be happened! I will go to Johanna's room and…"

"I don't advise it to you. You'll just be put on a trial as I am."

"Ursula…I will right here! I will find a solution to get you out of here. Just…wait for me. Okay?"

"It's okay. Sophia."

Sophia sighed again. "Stupid Johanna…What is…the punishment if you…"

"…"

Shiori sighed.

"I would be executed."

"…I will get you out. I promise. Chiara tried to speak to the Pope but…you know. She couldn't."

"She is just a normal human after all."

"Maybe but that's not my case! I will speak to her."

"Can you just…"

"Yes?"

Sophia came closer to her barriers. "Go to…"

"Where?"

"Go to…Kakeru and tell him…to leave. I don't want him to be involved. Tell him it will be okay for me."

"Ursula…No…"

"Just do it. Please."

Shiori begged her. Sophia sighed and looked down, very angry. She sighed again and ended up to leave, obeying her.

When she came out of the jail, she unexpectedly met someone she didn't wanted to see: Samson.

"Why are you here?"

"I wanted to see you. I know…for your daughter…Are you okay?"

"Yes! Let me now." Sophia said spitefully.

"Sophia…I know how you're attached to this girl. I know it must be difficult to you."

"…Why are you concerned about it? We broke up. It's over."

Samson came closer to her. "I think…I'm wronged about you, Sophia."

"…?"

"Listen…I always saw you as a kind of replacement for my crush on Misao. I never really loved you. I just didn't want to be engaged with someone like you. Furthermore; you're a cruel and sadistic person. I don't like people who doesn't value human life as you do."

"…" Sophia tried to stay impassive. She sighed. "So what? What do you want from me?"

Samson came closer to her again. "Sophia…When you told me…that you were ready for everything just to keep your daughter safe I didn't believe you. But now…When I heard words you said to your daughter…"

"I said it?" Sophia rolled her eyes. "Crap!"

"…I can see another side of you. And…somehow or other…I like this trait."

"…I don't care."

"And…" He said, taking her hand in his own. "I would like to know this trait of this Sophia better. If you want…we could…"

Sophia guessed. "Do you want you and me to come back together?"

"Possibly, yes." Samson smiled. Sophia looked down. She seemed hesitate. Samson took her hand again. "I will be here for the trial. I will be here to support you."

And, without another word, he left. Sophia stayed here, unmoving.

Did she dream or something?

The night fell down. Shiori was ready to go to bed. She needed to sleep. Really. With everything…She must have some rest to prepare herself to the worst. She wondered however if she had a chance to win the trial. She didn't think so. With Johanna against her, it was already lost.

Kakeru…She wondered if he was fine.

I wanted to see you…I love you. I always loved you but you didn't see me. You're the boy who were in my eyes and you never saw me. If I could…just see your face again.

Suddenly, she heard a sound. She expected it was Sophia who was already back but when she saw the new comer, she goggled.

"Why?"

"Good evening, Ursula."

"…Benedictus."

It was really him. He stood up in front of her cell. She moved away. "What do you want?"

"…"

He didn't answer. He looked very concerned. She didn't know why. "Why did you do that?"

"…What?"

"Why did you push me into the pool? Why did you try to kill me?"

"…I just wanted to…"

He came closer to her. "I just wanted to help you. As you did for me."

"In killing me, you wanted to help me?" Shiori said, ironically. "Somehow or other, I knew what you risked when you false this report."

"How…"

Benedictus explained himself. "Listen to me…I remembered. Everything."

"…What? Do you mean."

He nodded. "Everything about the Red Night events. The Black Knights. My death. Twice."

"…No way…"

She goggled astonished. "My comrades too. They remembered everything. What you did to us, Fragments. But now…it has been changed."

"…?"

"Georgius didn't want to be involved with Index anymore. So he left with Misao and stayed to Japan. Samson wanted to go on and chose to forget everything. Everything. That's why he pretended to not knowing you when Sophia introduced you to him. Sebastianus and Elaine left too. They wanted to raise up their baby child. Away from all this pain…"

"…What about you?"

"…You don't know. How much we suffered during 64 years! We gave our life to stop this witch and you killed us! You're the worst!" He cried out.

"That's why…You…I understand now."

"Yes." He calmed down. "I wanted just some revenge."

"That's why you pushed me. You wanted me to die."

"Yes." Benedictus stared up at her. "You'd killed me once, when I am as Acedia…Do you remember?"

"…I'm sorry."

"…" Benedictus frowned. He moved away.

"But…" Ursula went on. "I hate you. I will never forgive you. I loved you. Once during this night. Even if you weren't nice, I forgave because I know you weren't a complete monster. I knew how much you loved the girl and she didn't see you, although you were her brother. I understand now how much you suffered for this. I think you were the unhappiest person I never saw."

"Because…you know this same situation right now, I suppose?" Benedictus mocked her. Shiori glared at him. "Benedictus…revenge is useless. I know you aren't all bad. It was my mission. And I must have protect my friends. I couldn't help it. I think if you've been the one instead of me, you would have been do the same for your sister."

"Don't give me moral lessons! I will be here for your trial. I just want to watch you growing up scared and suffering…So. Ursula. Good night."

"…"

"You know. Don't hope. Johanna never lost. Never."

"…"

"And…if you lost…I will finally be avenged."

And after his last words, he left, letting Shiori alone.