Episode 2: The Mocked Turnabout

Part 2: Investigation

Tristen walked out of class, still feeling a lot of anger towards Lumos for getting him into this. (Still… Why is this script in the prosecution's favor?)

"Why are you questioning it? You can do this!"

(No, not with this script. The prosecution is supposed to win before the first testimony!) Tristen looked at the clock posted on the wall. (School's over, apparently. But this gives me a good chance… To ask Ms. Hams about this.) He walked back in.

"Huh?" Ms. Hams turned around to face Tristen. "Tristen? What are you doing here? I thought you would've left by now…"

"Ah, I want to ask you about this script for the mock trial…" Tristen said, getting a reaction from Ms. Hams.

"…W-What about it?" Ms. Hams had a bead of sweat dripping down her forehead.

"It just seemed like… It seemed like this was made for the prosecution to win."

Ms. Hams reached out behind her, towards her desk. "U-Um… Really? I… Uh… I hadn't noticed."

"Really? Did you not read it?" Tristen crossed his arms.

Ms. Hams grabbed her car keys. "Um… N-No… Not really… Excuse me, I must be going…" She started for the door.

"…Hold it!" Tristen stepped between her and the door. "You can't hide anything from me, Ms. Hams. Tell me the truth. Did you read this?"

Ms. Hams stood in place, thinking about something. "I… I'm sorry Tristen. But… your reputation may be… destroyed."

"…What?"

"I… I really must be going…!" Ms. Hams pushed the teenager out of the way, staggering him.

"What the…!" Tristen looked out the door, and didn't even see his teacher leave. "What was that all about? My reputation?" He walked back into the room. (…)

"Tristen, you know what time it is?"

(…Adventure time?) Tristen grinned stupidly.

"No, it's snooping time!"

(What…?)

"She's obviously hiding something. Perhaps it is time you… I dunno… investigated a little?"

(Yeah, that's true…) Tristen walked over to Ms. Hams' desk. "Alright, time to start investigating."

Ms. Hams' desk was a little messy, a bunch of papers were all about, with a desk lamp in the upper left corner.

Tristen moved and swished the papers about. None of them caught his interests too much, until…

"Hm?" Tristen picked up a paper. "It's from the principle… It's about the mock trial!" Tristen read it out loud.

"Here are three scripts for the students of the mock trial. Its first come first serve, and I'm sure we know who the prosecutor is going to be, so that's why we gave it to you first."

(…I see. But why do they want Alyssa to be the prosecutor… Especially since Ms. Hams sounded like she wanted someone else to take the position?) Tristen closed his eyes, trying to think. Instead, he heard footsteps coming from the hallway.

(Crap!) Tristen ducked and crawled under the desk.

"…Are you sure you made the script specifically like that?" A man's voice said.

"Yes, Alyssa WILL win. Don't worry." A woman's voice said.

"Good. Do you know who will play the role for the defense?"

"A boy by the name of Tristen Lawful…"

"What?! He was the one who defended that famous prosecutor!"

"Tch, was he more famous than the prosecutor in front of you? He will fall to Alyssa." The woman's voice said menacingly.

"Yes… I will see you later, Sayra."

"Goodbye… and good luck." Tristen heard the sounds of footsteps getting quieter and quieter.

(What the heck?!) Tristen shook his head. (So this script was made like this on purpose! But for what reason? And this… Sayra character… She's a prosecutor. And she sounds like she has some sort of personal vendetta against other prosecutors…) Tristen lifted himself up.

"…When is the trial?" Lumos asked.

(…Tomorrow… Tomorrow?!) Tristen took one more look at the desk. (The drawers are locked. I guess I'm done here.) He walked right out, hoping the two were gone.

He was right…

But someone else was there.

"Ack!" Tristen staggered back, but caught himself with his foot. The person he bumped into fell forward, but he caught them. Er… More like he caught her.

"…Agh, thanks…" Alyssa lifted herself up on her own two feet. "…Ow… My head…."

Tristen looked at her, just as she opened her eyes. "You!" They said simultaneously.

"You're that Lawful guy!" Alyssa pushed him back. "What are you doing here?!"

Tristen had an annoyed look on his face. "…I could ask you the same thing."

"I came to get my book bag!" Alyssa yelled.

Tristen was about to let her through, until he opened his eyes a bit. "…So, you came to get your book bag?"

"Yes! Didn't I just say that?!" Alyssa stomped her foot down.

(Good god, this girl is so…!) Tristen pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm not stupid. I know that you didn't come for your book bag."

Alyssa shook her head. "Tch, well, you can't disprove it!"

Tristen smirked, and shook his head in a smug manner. "Really? Do you really think that?"

Alyssa backed up a bit. "T-That's it! You can't prove it!"

"…What's that hanging from your shoulder? Oh, hey… It's a book bag." Tristen said.

"Ah… Um… The thing is…"

"The thing is nothing! You aren't here to get your book bag!" Tristen pointed his finger at her.

Alyssa's eyes began to water. "Agh! W-Wait. I admit it… I wasn't here for the book bag… I was here for the mock trial script."

(I guess that would make sense…) "Hold on, I saw you walk out the door with it."

"I'm retracing my steps, because I lost it earlier." Alyssa explained.

"I see, well, I'll just be going now…"

"Hold it!" She yelled. "What were you here for?"

"I had to talk with Ms. Hams." Tristen responded.

"…But I saw her leave about fifteen minutes ago." Alyssa said.

"Oh! W-Well…" (Wait a minute…Why was she here for fifteen minutes?) "Wait, why were you here for fifteen minutes?" Tristen questioned.

Alyssa began to sweat. "Ah… I was talking with some friends…"

"Friends? First time I ever heard about friends, especially your friends." He smirked.

"Uh… Well, I had been talking with some teachers…"

"I doubt that. I figured the teachers would want to hitch hike it out of here."

Alyssa had an agitated look. "…Just get outta the way!" She pulled Tristen out of the doorway, and locked the door.

"H-Hey! Let me back in!" Tristen yelled. "Ugh… How did she even lock the door…? Wait… How did she lock the door?" Tristen felt a presence behind him, and turned around.

"What are you doing here?" The man asked.

"Uh…" Tristen looked at the man's attire. He had a light brown business suit with matching pants. He had pure white hair and a beard that was pure white too.

"Well? Or are you just going to stand there?" The man said.

(…He reminds me of someone.) Tristen shook his head. "I was just picking up my book bag."

The man eyed him carefully. "I… see. Get out of here. Now."

"Y-Yes sir!" Tristen backed away, and ran out of the building. (Ugh, just what the heck is going on?!)

"Beats me."

(Looks like we won't win. Well, we'd better give up now-)

"You know better than that. Besides, that Alyssa girl said that we might be a challenge! We gotta beat her!"

(Ugh…)

"You know you want to. She insulted your intelligence, and now you should show her how smart you really are."

(…Fine.) Tristen sighed. (This is gonna suck, isn't it…)

To Be Continued…