"What are you doing?" Maya said, backing against the wall.
She could barely see through the darkness, but the silhouette was enough for what she had in mind. In her hands she felt the handle of a knife.
"S-stay back! I'm- warning you!" Maya said.
She took another step closer. She reveled in the power she felt; at last revenge would be hers.
"Help!" Maya screamed. "Please! Help me!"
She looked down at her knife, and saw a red light reflect off its surface. Suddenly, there was a sharp pain in her stomach. She crouched down, the cold wet ground numbing her cheeks. Finally, she felt nothing and the dark and shadowy night became nothing but pure blackness.
"Aaaahh!" Dahlia sat up, hugging her chest. She felt her pulse beating so fast it was almost one continuous vibration. She breathed heavily and rapidly, her eyes darting back and forth around the room. I'm… in my cell.
A hand touched her head, making her jump out of her skin.
"Who's there?" Dahlia said.
A short, willowy figure stepped forward. In the moonlight shining through the barred window of the prison cell, Dahlia recognized Viola Cadaverini. Her cell mate.
"Are you okay Ms. Fey?" Viola asked.
Just back away from the creepy porcelain doll and be happy she didn't kill you in her sleep. Dahlia shied away.
"You were screaming," Viola said. "Why? Is something hurt?"
Dahlia shook her head. "I-I'm fine."
"You're lying," Viola said. "You're… afraid."
"It was just a nightmare," Dahlia mumbled.
"Nightmares are scary," Viola said. She sat down next to Dahlia.
"D-doesn't matter," Dahlia said. "Even if I have been having them for the past 2 months."
This felt awkward. Dahlia had been the one to get Viola arrested for murder, and now they were cell mates together. It made her defensive.
"If it doesn't matter, that's good," Viola said. "It was the same with Lotta, and she's fine."
"Right," Dahlia said.
"Be quiet!" April May said. "I'm trying to get some beauty sleep!"
I got her arrested too. Now this is really awkward.
"Ms. May, you should go back to bed," Viola said. "You obviously need more beauty sleep."
"Shut it!" April said.
Dahlia looked at Viola, surprised. "You hate her too?"
Viola gave Dahlia a weak smile. "I'm not sure if anyone could sleep with so much bright pink on them."
Dahlia returned the weak smile, though hers was a little more cynical. "Good point."
"Well, good night Ms. Fey," Viola said, standing up.
"Yeah, good night," Dahlia said.
Later that morning, Dahlia once again faced Maya and Phoenix from the other side of the glass.
"Hey guys," Dahlia said. "Anything interesting happen?"
"A few things, yeah," Phoenix said. "Like, the knife with your fingerprints, and the receipts in your wallet, among other things."
"Receipt?" Dahlia said.
"Pearly found your wallet under the coffee table," Maya said. "According to it, you bought the knife that... you know."
"I bought the knife huh?" Dahlia said. "Interesting. I don't remember leaving either."
"Maybe you didn't," Phoenix said. "Someone could have taken your wallet right?"
"Who?" Dahlia said.
"For once, can you please not make things difficult?" Phoenix said.
"Sorry Nick, I don't make things difficult. Difficult just happens," Dahlia said.
"And now you're cracking jokes," Phoenix said, his features drooping. "Oh, by the way, we didn't come back alone. Want to guess who the prosecutor is?"
Larry stepped into view. "Hey."
Dahlia just smirked. "I was the defense attorney for your trial so you'll be the prosecutor for my trial. That must have sounded better in your head."
"Yeah, sorry this happened to you Fey," Larry said. "Kind of wish you were going against me instead."
"Dahlia, who's going to be your attorney?" Maya said, urgently.
"Hmm, I don't know," Dahlia said.
"Oh! Maybe Mr. Armando can do it," Pearl suggested.
"Diego Armando?" Larry said. Dahlia could see beads of sweat forming on his brow.
"Are you afraid of Diego?" Dahlia said.
"No, I'm not afraid," Larry said. "It's just that last time I faced him he threw his coffee mug at me. And I'm still trying to figure out what a chipped coffee mug has to do with a murder witness hiding from view."
Phoenix looked confused. "What does that-"
"I don't know," Larry said. "Point is I'm not afraid of that guy. If I'm afraid of anyone it's that lawyer with the whip."
"True, my bruises didn't heal for a month," Phoenix said.
"Oh, that's another idea," Dahlia said.
"No it's not," Phoenix said. "Remember? She won't talk to us now since she found out we went into her father's office."
"Oh, that's right," Dahlia said.
Larry let go of the breath he'd been holding.
The Fey girls rolled their eyes.
"Boys are weird," Pearl said. "Even your special someone."
"I object to the second half," Dahlia said. "The rest is fine though."
"I object to all of it," Phoenix said.
"Overruled," Dahlia said.
"I'll call Diego," Maya said, already whipping her phone out. She hit speed dial number 4 and waited.
"… … What?" Diego said.
Oh, he must be taking Mia's passing really hard. Dahlia winced; pain and guilt beginning to resurface.
"Hey Diego, how are you doing?" Maya said softly.
"Maya… you sound so much like your sister on the phone," Diego said. Though he wasn't even in the building, his voice made the room that much more depressing.
"I miss her too Diego," Maya said. "But remember what you and Sis always said? A lawyer can't cry until it's all over."
"And what do you do when it is over?" Diego said. "When you've reached the bottom of your 17th cup, what then?"
"Seve-mmph," Larry flinched when Maya put her hand over his mouth.
"You… uh…" Maya looked around the room, her eyes pleading for a line.
"You clean your dishes and wait for the next day," Dahlia said.
"My Kitten was my sunrise," Diego said.
Phoenix had to stop Pearl from saying "Aw."
Guilt and remorse ate away at Dahlia. I wish I remembered what happened. Just to give him some kind of closure. She battled with herself about whether or not she killed Mia. What if I did? I can't have Diego defend me, I'm not even sure he's fit for it right now.
Dahlia looked at Maya and shook her head. Her cousin got the message. "Do you want me to come over in a bit or would you rather be left alone?"
"I appreciate it Maya, but I'm not sure you should be around me right now," Diego hiccupped. "I broke my 17 cup rule 40 minutes ago."
"Oooh," Maya said. "Alright, just don't… damage anything I guess."
"I'll try," Diego said.
"Bye Diego," Maya said.
"Bye Maya," Diego said, hanging up the phone.
"Ouch, poor guy," Phoenix said.
"I know, I'll have to check up on him later," Maya said.
"I guess I'm out of options," Dahlia said. "I'll defend myself."
"What?" Maya said. "You can't Dahlia! If you defend yourself you're going to make yourself lose I know it!"
"No she's not," Phoenix said. "I'll still be her legal aide. If Dahlia doesn't say something I will."
"Really?" Dahlia said. "Thanks Nick."
"But you still have to try," Phoenix said. "You're still the attorney."
"Don't worry, I won't try to lose," Dahlia said, starting to feel empowered. "I'm throwing myself at the mercy of the evidence here. I don't know whether I killed Mia or not, but I know that if I really am innocent there's a way to prove it."
"Promise Mystic Dahlia?" Pearl said.
Dahlia nodded her head. "Listening to Diego, I realized I have to stop wondering about what happened and figure it out. Mia's killer is going to pay, whether it's me or someone else."
"That's the spirit," Maya said.
Dahlia looked at Larry. "That means I'm going to need your best Mr. Prosecutor. Clear?"
"Crystal," Larry said.
"We're all going to give it our best," Pearl said.
"Yeah, we'll all help find the truth," Maya said.
"That being the case, I'm going to have to interrogate you like I came here to do," Larry said.
"Okay, but I'm warning you. I have no memory of what happened," Dahlia said.
"That's fine, I wanted to start with something you will remember," Larry said. He brought out the black dahlia. "I have to know, what is the significance of this to you?"
At the sight of the flower, all the self-assurance and color drained from Dahlia's face.
"Holy What?" Phoenix fell out of his chair.
"Are you okay Nick? What is it?" Maya said.
Phoenix picked himself up off the ground and stared at Dahlia. "Oh, no no no no no. Dahlia, no please."
"Huh?" Larry said.
Phoenix reached into his pocket and held out a scarlet charm on a silver chain.
"Dahlia's Magatama…" Maya said.
Dahlia looked down. "You want to find the truth huh? Well, here's your starting point."