That day it was crowded in the courtroom. The day after I found myself back, I had been interviewed by so many journalists that I had lost count. The whole world was offended by what had happened to me. Everybody wanted to hear my story. The hotel room was full of sent flowers. When it was dinner time, some interviewers literally had to be pushed out of the room. And if so many people follow the case, many will come to the courtroom for it, as I noticed while trying to make my way to my chair. 

The case went by smoothly. Carl had nothing to save by denying what he'd done, and so he didn't. I guess the news was disappointed; I expected them to hope for a more fiery discussion. Carl and Ashley were both guilty and sent to prison. 

I could say that I was relieved when Carl stood up and was led out of the courtroom. Finally I could leave this chaotic time behind completely. I moved back a bit on my chair and let my hand glide over my black skirt. We had found back my red gloves, too, but I wasn't wearing them. Since the Day of Rebirth (as I called it) I found that I didn't need them anymore. Maybe, if I were to go back to performing, I would wear them on stage again, but just as a symbol for the audience, and not for me. 

The crowd started to stand up and mumble. The case was closed and over. At least, I thought it was over, but at exactly that moment I heard Carl's voice echoing sharply through the room, carrying a strong command:

"You must kill!"

I stood up. I didn't want to, but I couldn't help it. I just automatically stepped towards the nearest person I saw walking by. He seemed to not have heard what Carl said, he seemed to not even notice me. My arms were stretched out in front of me, as if I was sleepwalking, but my fingers were curved into claws... 

"No you don't," I heard Rik say, and I felt two arms around my waist, pulling me back. I lost my balance, but Rik caught me and held me tight.
"Help me..." I whispered hopelessly. I couldn't breathe. My collar was so tight. I tried to hook my thumbs behind it and stretch it a bit, but my hands didn't cooperate. 

This collar is a sign of me, your Master... It's a sign of my control...

That's when I realized what I had to do. I gathered up all my willpower and tried again. My thumbs slipped behind my collar, almost accidentally, and I stretched it as far as I could. My hands burned, Master didn't want me to do this! But I didn't care. I didn't have any attention left to pay to Master's will anyway. 

Then the collar broke. It slid past the sides off my neck and fell off. I let myself drop with a sigh of relief. This time it was really over. 

Right in front of me I saw Kasper, holding a pair of scissors. "It looked like you needed a hand," he said softly.
I nodded gratefully.
"Are you okay?" Rik asked. 

All of the sudden, I felt a wave of energy, of the kind I hadn't felt for decades. I jumped up and turned back around to them. "My universal migrator," I called out, "where's my notebook?! I've got so much inspiration!"