The judgmental crimson sun glanced down on the courthouse. Milky, the town's voice of authority, stood at the center of a growing mass, shades shielding him from the heat. Elmer, a quiet lookout, stood behind him, an envelope clutched in his hand. Milky's calculating eyes spotted someone across the crowd, someone who obscured his yearning for Rusty's peace.

The cunning manipulator within Milky rallied the townspeople. Their hatred for Kate made this case questionably easy. Milky knew something was off, even if this was a cakewalk. A painted smile, a canvas white mask, adorned the face of a stranger separated from Milky by Elmer's command. Noticing this stranger, he asked, "So, the damning inferno, are you supposed to be?" Studying this person, Milky was reminded of someone. Before he could place it, the stranger blurted, muffled by the mask, in a slightly high-pitched tone, "I am Doctor Hydes, the defender for Ms. Kate." Milky's eyes widened behind his shades, his teeth gritted. Taking a deep breath, he hissed, "So, what in God's name did you think, defending a terrible mistake from a disappointed father like Kate?" The people around Milky looked at the doctor like vultures at a carcass, sweat dripping down the doctor's chin.

"Kate Anderson is my first client..." Hydes faltered, sweat trailing off before assertively continuing, "A free publicity stunt either way besides," Hydes wiped the sweat with their sleeve, declaring, "This hellish heat of a mask hides a..." The doctor's voice shifted, faltering, "disfiguring scar," a tone of vulnerability betraying the masculine persona before regaining composure. "A little parting gift from a small incident back at my home country."

"So Doctor," Milky sputtered cynically, his eyes narrowing, "Why would you care for a stain like her?" His voice lowered, and he took off his shades, his hands tightening into fists. "Kate was more of a victim of circumstances. I believe Kate has redemption," Hydes' voice gained steel, yet was paused by Milky's shaking hands.

The crowd's eyes locked onto Hydes like skeletal trees as Milky broke his shades, his veins throbbing, his heart beating like firecrackers. "REDEMPTION!?" he spat. Hydes saw the man in all crimson, shattering Hazzle's persona. "I... I mean there's more than meets the eye for Kate..." Hazzle's voice was a mix between Hydes and a genuine stuttering Hazzle, hesitant. Milky hissed, "WHAT REDEMPTION?" he barked, before calmly telling Hazzle about Kate, "THAT STAIN OF A DISAPPOINTED AND ALL IN RUINS FAMILY SHOULD HAVE BEEN SWALLOWED BY HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS BEING..."

Elmer demanded Milky stop, his eyes wide, his heart pounding in his ears. "Milk, this person is just the defendant, don't lose your cool!" Milky attempted to speak but realized his meltdown. "My apologies, Doctor," Milky said, massaging his temples. Hazzle stood frozen, fearing the primal rage. Elmer sighed, disappointed. A moment of silence passed as the doors opened. As Elmer tried to explain the situation to Hydes, someone screamed...

As the trio approached the courthouse, they saw a surreal spectacle. Kate was suspended in a makeshift cage. Before they could react, a voice cut through the silence. "Kate Anderson is safe. Don't worry, don't panic." A man in armor stepped into the light.

"So, Mr. Milky, did you..." The man paused, his expression blank, then chuckled. "M. Mocha, what a name." Milky's face contorted. "What the hell do you want this time, sir?" he growled.

The man, oblivious to Milky's fury, introduced himself, shaking his head. "Bingo the third. Call me Dag, if you want." Milky's jaw clenched. "Bingo? Why the hell would you chuckle at a name like Milky when yours is taken from a nursery rhyme?"

Bingo shrugged, a smug expression on his lips. "It's... funny I guess? Seriously, even I don't know, Mister... Mocha."

Milky's temper was about to boil over. "Great, now why are you here?"

Bingo scratched his head. "I heard rumors about you having... meltdowns. I was supposed to check up on you and your friend to see if you were sane enough to continue." A pause. "Turns out, those rumors weren't wrong."

Milky suppressed his anger. "This case will determine that," he replied menacingly.

"Exactly," Bingo agreed. "Don't screw up, M. Mocha."

Bingo gestured toward the hanging cage, Kate's panic evident. "Also, the cage could drop if you win. It's a safety measure, not a witch hunt." Milky's eyes widened. "Wait, this is an actual normal trial?"

Bingo chuckled. "Don't worry, Mister Mocha, no one can stop you." Before he could finish, Hydes interrupted, "I'm sorry, but I'm Kate Anderson's defender." A tense silence followed.

"Well, good luck," Bingo said mischievously. The courtroom was filled with people, their noise chaotic. A spilled drink added to the disorder.

Hazzle, or Hydes, checked on Roy, finding him unharmed. Their eyes met Milky's, a silent battle of wills.

A figure emerged: the judge, an aged, sickly white man with a weathered face, his outfit dark blue with crimson underneath. His voice, gravelly, echoed. "The case of Kate Anderson will now begin."

Realization washed over Milky and Hydes. This was a formal trial. The pressure was immense. The hanging cage cast a long shadow.

"Opening statements for the prosecution," the judge demanded. Cheers erupted from the townspeople.

Bingo leaned in to whisper to Elmer. As the judge's patience waned, Elmer relayed the message to Milky. Milky cleared his throat. "Apologies, Your Honor," he began formally. "I am Milky, the voice of my fellow townspeople, and I stand before you to bring Kate Anderson to justice."

Elmer's eyes widened at Milky's confidence. Bingo seemed taken aback, though he snickered. Milky continued, his voice rising. "This case is not merely about Kate Anderson's past crimes, but about the fate and past of our town." He paused, then tapped Elmer's shoulder.

Elmer unfolded the envelope and presented its contents. As the blueprint was revealed, excitement rippled through the crowd. The judge slammed his gavel. "Order in the court! This is not a circus!"

Milky pressed on. "This, Your Honor, is a blueprint for a heist, created by Kate Anderson herself." Hydes' heart pounded. Kate, trapped in her cage, seemed to sense doom.

The judge leaned forward. "This is supposed to be the main evidence?" His tone was skeptical. The blueprint was marred by water damage. Disappointment washed over Milky. "It was supposed to be vital," he explained. "But the rain..."

Bingo stepped forward. "Perhaps some information survived," he suggested.

Kate, initially overwhelmed, found the situation absurd. A chuckle escaped her. The crowd reacted with confusion and amusement. Hazzle's eyes widened, while Milky wished the cage would drop.

"What in the pits of hell did you find?!" Bingo exclaimed. "Stealing a rich guy's pouch was one of the key points," he added skeptically.

Kate's laughter grew, manic. Hazzle, realizing the plan, joined in, tears of amusement streaming down her face. "Oh man, you probably found her drawings," Hydes said casually. "She was tired, Your Honor, and drew this in a sleep-deprived state. A product of a tired mind."

The judge sighed. "For the sake of order, how did you, Mr. Milky, obtain this... evidence?" Milky paled. "A mistake, Your Honor," he stammered, "a mistake made by my assistant." The judge's expression was disbelief. "Of course," he muttered. "Any other evidence, Mr. Milky?"

Milky nodded. "Yes, Your Honor," he replied, turning to Elmer. "Get the second piece of evidence." Bingo once more snickered, the name Milky amusing him.

Kate, in her precarious situation, glanced down at Hazzle with doubt covered by a veneer of betrayal. The truth was vague, but deep down, Hazzle was somewhat innocent. The initial laughter started this doubt, but the venom and vagueness of who pulled the trigger remained.

Then the next evidence arrived: several constables, their faces bearing marks of violence. Half were victims of Kate's previous rampage, their injuries a reminder of her brutality. The other half, including the constable who had found the small incident with Milky and Kate, claimed to have witnessed Kate's return from the dead.

Milky seized the moment. "These men," he declared, gesturing towards the injured officers, "are living proof of Kate Anderson's wrath. And this man," he continued, pointing to the constable, "claims to have seen her rise from the grave."

The judge's expression remained impassive, his eyes subtly rolling. "I've heard this story before. Kate Anderson, the fairytale undead witch. Burn her at the stake, right?" His tone dripped with sarcasm as he leaned back. "Every accusation is more ridiculous than the last. Women are just as capable as men, if not more. This witch-hunt nonsense is tiresome." Bingo snickered, his eyes looking down at his lips, something about the name triggering him.

The Judge, noticing this, looked at Bingo. He paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face. Bingo forced a cough, a single bead of sweat dropping. The Judge spoke, "Anyways Mr. Hydes, what was your initial counterargument?"

Hydes, a faint smile playing on their masked face, announced, "An unusual counterargument, Your Honor." With a flourish, they produced Roy. The courtroom erupted in laughter and confusion. Kate dropped her head, sighing. The judge, however, leaned forward, intrigue replacing his skepticism. "How does a mouse relate to this?"

"Roy, Your Honor, is the key," Hydes explained. "The bite marks and scratches on Kate's body match Roy's teeth and claws. This cloak, a relic of that night, bears silent witness." They presented the cloak and a diagram.

Bingo, skeptical but intrigued, examined the evidence. After consideration, the judge declared, "Mr. Mocha, your case is crumbling. A fraudulent accusation could have dire consequences."

Milky's face was a mask of fury. "This is a desperate attempt to sway the court," he retorted, his voice rising. "This thief has ruined our town's 'legacy' and 'heritage'!" Hydes remained calm, though with a hint of hesitation. "Kate Anderson is a victim, Your Honor. A victim of circumstance and a cruel society."

The tension was palpable. The judge sought to regain control. "Mr. Milky, you have one more chance to present your evidence," he declared, his voice firm. Bingo snickered, then coughed. "After that, we will proceed with the defense."

Milky sighed, his anger momentarily subdued. A frown replaced the fury. "The last evidence," he proclaimed, snapping his fingers at Elmer, barely audible. Hydes scoffed, adopting a defensive posture. But as Elmer left and new witnesses entered, her confidence faltered. Their predatory eyes sent shivers down her spine. The sound of a squeaking wheelchair echoed from behind the courtroom wall. These people were not connected to Kate's past; they were also connected to Hazzle...

It was them, the ones from the brothel who caused her transformation.

Hydes' breath, once steady, was now ragged and almost desperate. Cold sweat dripped onto the wooden planks, and every muscle shivered as their hand trembled towards their chest, feeling the frantic drumming of their heart. Their vision blurred, the people around them swirling like a mouse surrounded by predators.

Milky shifted his eyes to the doctor, noticing the panic. He realized something. The personal information, the rodent's trust—this was the same person from the graveyard. Combined with the eyewitness accounts from the brothel and the doctor's profession, Milky recognized a crucial piece of the puzzle: the doctor was part of it. These witnesses swore there were two people in the brothel, and knowing Kate had no friends besides the rodent, Doctor Hydes was an obvious suspect. An idea sparked in Milky's mind, and he faintly smirked, waiting for the right moment. The smirk vanished quickly.

The wheelchairs squeaked closer, their shadows illuminating the entrance. Silence spread. Hazzle, behind the cracked mask, felt every remaining scale as a torturous reminder of the brothel. This reminder blurred her vision with tears, the vibrant world melting into a grey hellscape. However, as she stared at Kate, asleep in the dangerous cage, the pain burned into an inferno, and vibrancy returned.

She wasn't here to show vulnerability. She was here to free Kate. This male persona was different from her personal life. This was Doctor Hydes, hiding the panicked Hazzle with a sense of purpose. The built-up anxiety fizzled as he prepared for the challenge, the courtroom doors slamming shut, embracing the impact.

TO BE CONTINUED