Death is not a hunter unbeknownst to its prey; one is always aware that it lies in wait.

[mentis_reae]

Who: The Ghost of Christmas Grouching and YOU.
When: The nights of December 31st and January 1st, 2010 and 2011.
Where: All over the city.
Summary: Edgeworth, having been killed, has been mutated into a creature of the darkness and is now operating along the lines of his old instinct, seeking out evildoers and punishing them for their misdeeds.

Comments

December 31st | Shortly After Sirens | Sector 3

[hairdecs]

Oh no oh no oh no!

[Finny is late. Late and very lost. Clutching a plastic bag in one hand he runs down the sidewalk, tears are already welling up in his eyes. He'd intended to be back to the mansion well before the sirens, but there had been a parrot in a pet shop on his way home and he'd lost track of time.]

Please please please no monsters!

[mentis_reae]

[The ghost doesn't appear before the boy. The ghost merely recognizes him, and recognizes what he's done, and acts.

The pavement comes up to seize Finnian about one ankle. Nothing more. Let his own momentum harm him.]

[hairdecs]

[And so it does. There is that brief moment where Finny doesn't realize what's happened, his eyes wide as he watches his plastic bag full of snacks go flying from his hands as his body is suddenly stopped mid-run. Before he can think, it's over, and he's had the wind knocked out of him by the cold pavement. With a small, shaky sob he tries to push himself up from the ground, only to become aware of a searing pain in his ankle.]

... aah! AAH! It huuuurts!

[mentis_reae]

[The ghost approaches in that moment, standing over him. It makes no move.]

[hairdecs]

[It takes a moment for Finny to notice he's not alone, and when he spots the specter he freezes in place, looking for all the world like a deer caught in the headlights.]

G-ghost! Please... please leave me be, Mr. Ghost!

[mentis_reae]

[Its voice is quiet and dull.]

Justice leaves no one be.

[And then it acts, raising its hand. Another wave of stone accompanies that gesture, rushing towards Finny.]

[hairdecs]

Aaaaaah!

[Instinct kicks in, and sends Finny limping awkwardly towards the closest shelter he can find. An alley. It's so close, and yet so far when you're down use of one of your legs.]

[mentis_reae]

[But a wall springs up in his path. And the ghost stalks forward.]

[hairdecs]

Aah! AHH! [He tries to pound through the wall with his super strength, but it doesn't so much as crack. He backs up against it, tears streaming down his face as the ghost comes closer.]

Please! Please! Let me go!

[mentis_reae]

[It speaks, its voice flat but human.]

Have you ever killed?

[hairdecs]

I... I...

... yes! I did! But I didn't mean to!

[mentis_reae]

[A smile.]

Speak of it.

[hairdecs]

[Finny swallows hard, holding back further sobs.]

A bad man was trying to get into the mansion... young master said nobody's allowed in the mansion when he's away! I asked him nicely to leave, but... instead, he attacked me. I bled a whole bunch. Then... I had to stop him. So... so I threw him

[mentis_reae]

And he died.

[hairdecs]

He did.

[mentis_reae]

So you confess: you are a murderer.