Second Trial

[yourghosthost]

[Just like last week, as soon as everyone’s done investigating and back in the stretching room, the doors close and everyone slowly descends. As it does so, the Ghost Host's voice once again echoes across the room.]

Tell me. Is this haunted room actually stretching? Or is it just your imagination?

[This is apparently a thing he does.

When it stops, everyone is once again welcomed to the graveyard 25 tombstones arranged in a circle. Now there are three new epitaphs to the newly dearly departed Mulan, Princess Anna, and Sophie. They are dressed with their own rose and class of cognac to each of their tombstone.

Here lies Ping Mulan
Wanted to do anything for honor
It’s a shame she is now a goner

Here lies Princess Anna
She stumbled upon a bride’s wedding
And earned herself a nice beheading

Here lies Sophie Hatter
She was a wonderful little maid
But sadly went and got betrayed

When everyone goes to their places, the Ghost Host speaks again.]

I suppose you all remember from last week how this works. Remember you only have one vote.

[Well there’s only one way to go now.]

Comments

[folkscallmewander]

[He should do this for Sophie, for everyone, but there's something nagging him.]

So what happens to the folks in the photos? They're safe, right?

[terribibble]

[He glances at Wander very sharply and even though he doesn't say anything there is clear worry in his expression. Oh, no. No, no, don't ask, because if you ask then it might be confirmed in a way no one wants to hear. Don't do that.]

[folkscallmewander]

[He's really worried about Hiro and everyone's families and Lord Hater! And he didn't think this through but this is what happened when you need confirmation in order to move on.]

[yourghosthost]

...I'm not sure. I wouldn't know.

[terribibble]

... What do you mean you wouldn't know? You're part of this, you have to know somethin'.

[yourghosthost]

Not everything is shared with me.

[terribibble]

But y'can't just... y'can't just dangle somethin' like this in front of folks and make them worry for a week just to push someone to murder and then not -- Look. You and your employer wanted someone to die. Someone's dead. Y'can't just leave us not knowin'.

[They can, and they will, and it'll foster even more fear and unrest. He hates this. He hates this so much.]

[yourghosthost]

I never wanted anyone to die. I would suggest you watch your tone, Mr. McGucket.

[terribibble]

[inhales. boi]

Fine.

[Look. It's not that he doesn't entirely believe their Host, and deep down he realizes he's being unfair. It's just that there's a large part of him that is also very petty and it tends to come out most when he's just the wrong mix of stressed and angry and running on maybe ten hours of collective sleep for the past week.

It's just that 'I don't know' is as good as 'they're probably dead', to him.]

Then you ought to understand why I'm upset. You tell your employer from me that if he's done anythin' to my son I... I am goin' to make sure he answers for it.

[It's not a threat he can really follow through on and he knows it but oh boy it feels good to say.]

[yourghosthost]

I'm sure they heard you.

[folkscallmewander]

...Thanks, Ghostave.

[Even if it is a terrible answer. Wander lets his fingers hover above the typewriter for a moment.

Tadashi Hamada