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You were nearly tripping over yourself, trying to desperately keep these documents close to your chest. It was rather strenuous for you, having to bend over to pick up any stray papers that may have fumbled from your clumsy arms. Not to mention it was the dead of night, noticeable by the lack of secretaries. Why is a task as simple as delivering papers to the Prosecutor’s Office so difficult?
You groan as you shuffle through the lobby, looking for the nearest elevator. This place always gave you the creeps, yet you could never pinpoint why, exactly… Well, no matter. Your shoes squeaked against the floor as you leaned up against the cool, off-white wall, having to use this so that you could use your other arm to press the elevator button. A small “ding!” noise was made as you pressed the plastic mechanism, listening to the metal elevator churn its gears to lower itself to your level. Wherever this thing was, it was definitely up quite high.
You take this time to run your fingers through your spiky hair, careful as to not ruin the rigid points. Before you knew it, the doors pulled themselves in, the elevator wide open. You swallow your fears, as there was no way you were walking up several flights of stairs with this many documents in your hands. The last trial you had endured felt like it dragged on for eternity, with so many pointless details… Which had left a lot of paperwork. You wondered why you were assigned this task as you stepped onto the elevator, remembering something.
Ah. Right. The prosecutor of that trial seemed to have pushed himself to even ATTEND the trial, let alone figure out the paperwork…You felt bad for him. It had been years since you had last seen him, and this is the condition you witnessed?
The monotone lull of the elevator kicked on as you pressed your side into the button that led to the floor you were going towards, a yellow light illuminating the number on the pad. You make sure to shift your weight towards the right-most wall of the elevator, just… in case. Of course, you knew this was a stupid thought, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
You waited in this metallic box for quite awhile, tension clawing at your muscles. Sweat beading at your forehead. You just hoped and prayed that nothing would happen, that the power wouldn’t cut, as the elevator felt like it had jostled several times. Yet you couldn’t tell if it was in your imagination, or reality. Shaking your head, you try to take a shaky, but deep breath in to calm yourself down. Holding for several seconds, you exhale deeply. This repeats for a few times, even finding yourself speaking for reassurance.
“Everything is going to be okay..”
You repeated this, over and over, under your breath until the elevator stopped. See, that wasn’t so bad! You thought to yourself, managing an acute smile. But right as the steel doors cracked open, you felt your stomach drop.
You weren’t quite expecting this sight.
What stood in front you, made you freeze. You felt your eyes widen to stare at it, your hands beginning to quiver under the sudden onset of anxiety. What stood in front of you, was a person. What stood in front of you, was a very particular, infamous person.
Manfred Von Karma.
You weren’t ever expecting to meet him once more. You particularly didn’t even WANT to. He stood there, a malicious glint in his eyes. He seemed to have thrown something in between the doors, preventing them from closing. Your eyes tried to look away, but there was nothing besides him, blocking the doorway, that pure-white carvat still neatly tied around his neck.
After what had happened in the Evidence Room, you were sure this couldn’t be good. You tensed up your shoulders, forcefully straining your eyelids to close, trying to ignore him. Yet you couldn’t ignore his voice, echoing throughout the elevator you were practically stuck in.
“We meet again, Phoenix Wright.”
The sentence sent a shiver down your spine, causing you to unintentionally flinch. You decide to not respond, silently hoping he would just go away, but he only continued monologuing.
“Though, I’ve noticed it’s quite unfortunate.. For you, at least. I reckon this feels all too familiar? Standing in an elevator, your back pressed up against the wall..” He gives a booming chuckle.
“How pathetic.”
You open your eyes, trying to survey the situation. You couldn’t get past Von Karma, you were easily outmatched in size and power. You felt a desperate question escape your lips.
“What are you even doing?! What are you TALKING about?” You demanded, your voice shaking in an overwhelming feeling of fear. It felt scrutinizing with him taunting you.
“Isn’t it too late for questions by now? You’re just babbling nonsense.”
You notice him reach for his pocket, and you find yourself beginning to hyperventilate in response. He yanks something out of the said pocket, something dull and metallic. Rectangular in shape… Before you could analyze further, you find the barrel of a gun pointed directly at your head. You immediately drop everything you were holding, unable to find yourself doing anything else. You doubted you could unarm him, and this doubt scared you. You heard the faint, yet aggressive clicking of heels across hard tile, but you couldn’t tell where it was coming from, or going.
“Say goodbye, Phoenix Wright.”
Before you could object, there was a head-splitting gunshot, your body going limp. A crimson paint splattered against the metal walls, draping them in a deep maroon curtain.
It wasn’t long until your vision faded to black.