Part 7

No more. No more. The king. I had to talk to the king. I had to fix this; I had to fix what I'd caused.

I kicked the door open, my eyes blazing like two really little suns. I growled under my breath and screamed for someone in power.

"KING!" I yelled.

Guards flanked me on all sides, afraid for their kingdom and their lives. They held me by the arms and pulled me back towards the door. I struggled, but to no avail. My feet dragged on the floor, tracking mud and the blood of my fallen companions onto the pristine tiles, streaking like boxer shorts when you forget to wipe.

Just as we reached the threshold, a throat cleared, and everything stopped.

The King stood from his throne and thrust his hands outwards. The guards let go, and I tumbled to the floor. I scrambled to my feet, and walked once again towards the dais.

"You have something to answer for, you tyrant!" I screamed.

The guards moved on me again, like flies on that girl that was in your kindergarten class that always inexplicably smelled bad.

He waived them off once more and stepped off his pedestal to meet me face to face.

He looked at me, thoughtfully, and scratched his chin, and then opened his mouth to speak.

My eyes widened. With that, the guards threw me out the door with the stipulation that I not return until I had what was asked of me.

I was livid. I didn't know what to do or where to go. The King was a drug fiend, and likely the whole kingdom was a giant lab. He wanted his pipe.

He wanted his pipe.

I twitched, my hand shaking and my legs trembling beneath me.


I only had one way out. I stalked back to Mother Goose's house in fury.

The corpse of the goose had been removed, likely by the duo responsible for the consumption of the poor lamb, eaten as if by vultures on the roadside. Absently, I wondered if they even bothered to cook it. No matter.

I opened the door and entered the quaint little hut.

"Hello," I replied gleefully.

And then I shot her in the face.

So here we are. I've lived in these woods for three more days without any way home and nobody to talk to. I don't know what to do. I don't know where to go. I don't even know where I am.

I look at my gun, despondent.

I swallow just once, forcefully, and check the chamber.



I have one bullet left.

With a heaving sigh, I bring the barrel to my temple.

But do I have the nerve? The sheer resolve?

Can I really do it?

...

Hold on a second.

Where did I get this gun? It was just... here. I don't have a license for this weapon, nor have I ever carried a gun in my work.



What's going on? Why can't I remember how I got here? Where am I?

I can't... where... hospital hospital no not... last case, Gertrude. Gertrude and Mona what... where?


I can't see. My eyes are covered by something. I try to think think thinkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.



No. What? No. Gertrude

Gertrude oh shit Ger--

Oh my God I killed her. That last case. I killed her. Paranoia, she was out to get me paranoia I killed her hospital hospital Mona saw.

I had to stop Mona no police no fear no pain what did I do? How did -- I killed her too, broke her neck killed her I'm a killer I'm...







Where am I?

Oh God.

Oh God asylum I'm in the...
No.

No, please. This can't -- MOTHER GOOSE does exist made her up in my head banbury what's banbury why is it familiar oh my god banbury. GERTRUDE! MONAmonamonagertrude

_no
no
NO
NOO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O