Unexpectedly: Chapter 7

Unexpectedly: Chapter 7

Phoenix was sitting in the same uncomfortable plastic chair he had sat in many times, but both he and it were over eight years younger.

At least he was in better shape than it was…

The girl across from him, a pane of bullet proof glass between them, was chewing her bottom lip nervously. Phoenix knew two things about her:

One, her name was Julia Akiharu.

Two, she would be on trial for murder in the morning.

The victim, circumstances, murder weapon… he didn’t know any of these things.

But he was about to find out.

“So, Julia. Why don’t you tell me what happened?” He asked casually, leaning back.

The blonde brought her hand to her mouth and looked anywhere but at him. “I…I’m not too sure myself. I was… knocked out.”

The man sat up. “Knocked out?”

She nodded. “I… remember what happened before, though… if that will help.”

“It’s a start. If you go through your thoughts in order, you may remember what happened next.” He supplied.

Julia shifted in her seat. “Well… I work at the Ni Hao, a Chinese restaurant. I’m a waitress. I usually have the lunch shift.”

She shifted again, pressed her fist against her lips, then spoke again. “I was talking to my best friend before I checked on a few customers and went back into the kitchen… and that’s where I go black…”

“When I came to, the assistant chef was dead, and I was being arrested…”

Phoenix hummed and rubbed his chin with his forefinger, deciding what to ask about first.

“Can you tell me a little more about the assistant?”

Julia nodded. “Sure. His name was Thomas Nethers. He’d only been working for us for about three months. He cooked during the lunch rush, but only if the head chef, Xai Long, wasn’t there.”

“He wasn’t there today?”

She shook her head. “She’s having a baby, and she had an appointment.”

Phoenix scratched the back of his neck. “Ehe… sorry.”

“It’s alright, Mr. Wright.” She smiled. “Not many people know unless they’re regulars.”

“So, you don’t remember anything else about the assistant?”

“No, not really. He… wasn’t very sociable.” She said. She was looking a bit gloomy, so Phoenix tried to lighten the subject.

“You said you were speaking with someone before the incident. Who was it?”

Julia stiffened and looked away. This caught Phoenix’s attention. He reached into his pocket and touched his spirit tool, the magatama.

Chains encompassed her, and four red and gold locks appeared.

“I thought you wanted me to be your lawyer. That won’t happen if you keep things from me…” He murmured slowly, gazing at the Psych-Locks.

“Wh-What?” She whispered heatedly.

So much for cooperation.

IGIARI!! OBJECTION!! IGIARI!! OBJECTION!! IGIARI!! OBJECTION!! IGIARI!! OBJECTION!!

The Detective pair walked into the detention center. The receptionist looked up.

“How can I help you?” He said.

“Is Phoenix Wright here?” Asked Gumshoe.

“I believe so. He’s currently in the visitor’s room-“

“Thanks, pal!” He yelled from the hallway as they sped to the designated place.

“Er… you’re welcome?”

They reached the visitor area’s door. Ema grabbed Gumshoe’s sleeve. He looked at her.

“I… don’t think we should have told her…” She said as she pressed a palm to her cheek.

“Sometimes people do what they don’t want to, for the sake of others.” He told her, trying his best to comfort his teacher. “C’mon. We’ve gotta go in.”

She let go and nodded, turning the door handle.

IGIARI!! OBJECTION!! IGIARI!! OBJECTION!! IGIARI!! OBJECTION!! IGIARI!! OBJECTION!!

Trucy was running.

She was running as fast as her legs could carry her.

She could barely see from the tears in her eyes.

The door to the visitor’s room opened, revealing Detectives Skye and Gumshoe. Phoenix looked up, a question in his eyes.

She pushed through the crowd, desperate.

“What brings you two here, Ema?” He asked, a light smile on his face.

“Mr. Wright, there’s something you should know before taking this girl as your client…”

She ran through the sliding glass doors straight to the first person she saw.

She begged for her questions to be answered.

They were.

“Ah, I was hoping you had more information for me-“ But he was cut off.

“Mr. Wright… this girl is accused of murdering the cook at the Ni Hao…”

Her shoes squeaked loudly as she ran down the hall.

She couldn’t- wouldn’t stop yet.

“But she’s also being charged with attempted murder…”

She stopped, spun, pressed her hands against the glass.

Red… so much of it… it was everywhere.

“…What? There’s… another victim? Who is it?”

The blonde girl cowered, wrapping her arms around herself to try to keep it all out.

“The other victim’s name is…”

Tears streamed down her face as she watched in horror.

Blood… so much of his blood…

Her brother’s blood.

“Apollo Justice.”