Chapter 23: It’s Time

"Trial?" asks Ace, his eyes on the dagger.

"Just stand up,” I say. “And I recommend you not try to run off. Bolt for even a second, and they won't hesitate to kill you."

As Ace remains bewildered by everything going on, Ember walks around to the back of him, tying his hands together.

"Hey! I just got free, and you are already tying me back up? Seriously, what is your guy's deal?”

Ember stands up after tying the final knot, and Ace winces at the tightness before quickly growing accustomed to the discomfort.

"My job here is done,” says Ember, walking off with Code.

"Thanks,” says Code.

"Whatever."

I walk behind Ace and hold the dagger to his back, "Now stand up and start walking. Don't stop until I say you can."

Peering over his shoulder at me, Ace demands, "What the hell, Scar, what is all this?!"

Shoving him forward, he stumbles a few steps before regaining his footing.

"I thought I told you to start walking."

Scowling at me, Ace follows my orders as he looks around at his surroundings. Following close behind him while Falcon and Forest keep up their intimidation factor on either side of Ace, I voice, "Make a move and you die; try to run, and you die; try to fight and you die. We don't want to hurt you, so don't do anything stupid."

"What makes you think that... that I killed her…?"

"Delta took a couple of us to where it all went down yesterday. The smell of blood loomed over the entire area. And we saw everything. The two damaged wooden swords you took, the bloody dagger that I'm holding close to your back right now, the remnants of a fight that broke out, we saw it all."

"What about all the boulders and the trap that was rigged?"

"We didn't see any trap or boulders lying around."

"That's impossible…are you sure?"

I don’t respond, and the four of us silently walk for another minute. Ace then stopped walking and yelled at me, "Did you hear me?! That's impossible! I didn't kill her, I didn't kill Grace!!"

Swiftly placing the dagger against his neck without hesitation, Ace’s eyes tremble as he stares at the dagger, blood beginning to leak out from his neck.

"Stop again, and you die; this is your final warning."

Lowering the dagger, the two of us once again lock eyes. But at that moment, Ace’s heart and body filled with resolve, "I'm innocent."

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Showing no reaction, I swivel Ace back around and push him forward, forcing him to start walking again.

"Just keep walking, we're almost there…"

"Aye, aye, captain."

I glance ahead and see some trees and bushes coming up fast.

"Just through there."

Passing Ace, I weave, the others following behind him. As we exit to the other side a second or so later, Ace picks his head up and recognizes where we are, not knowing how to feel.

Around the camp, lit torches are everywhere as makeshift seats from tree trunks are scattered around the campfire. As the four of us walk into camp, everybody is watching us.

The campfire's light reflects off Ace’s eyes as I whisper, "Keep walking, or else they'll think you're trying to get out of this; that won't look good for you."

Walking side by side into camp with Forest and Falcon following close behind, people are lined up on either side of us. They are all standing, watching, observing Ace. At the end of the line stands Code, with Ember and Sky on either side of him.

"Welcome, Ace. Thank you for not making that any more troubling than it needed to be… your compliance is greatly appreciated,” says Code.

Ace smirked while I firmly grasped his bounded hands, keeping them behind his back.

"Whatever helps, your majesty,” replies Ace.

Code backs up and points to an isolated tree stump, "Ace, you'll be sitting in that seat there."

Taking the initiative and frankly not wanting to look at Code any longer, Ace lumbers over and takes his seat as Forest, Falcon, and I follow closely behind him. Once Ace is seated, I cut his hands free. Wiggling his fingers and rubbing his wrists, Ace smiles in relief.

"That's a lot better. You know, tying somebody up for that long has got to be a crime or something..."

Falcon and Forest walk to either side of Ace, not saying a word as he murmurs to me, "What's their problem?"

I walk back over next to Code, "They've both volunteered to guard you. They were part of Ember and Sky's group that went into the woods the same day you did. They are going to protect you during this trial."

Code piggybacks, "There are some around camp who, well… to say they dislike you right now would be putting it nicely. But don't let that distract you from the fact that if you try to run, escape, or fight, those two will not hesitate to cut you down. Think of them as your protectors but also your executioners."

"Executioners?"

"Yes, you're executioners. They even promised to kill you if it comes to that."

I mock, "You back out of that job too? Too difficult for your fragile heart and weak mind to handle?"

Code sneers, "Tough talk for the guy on trial. Just don't be stupid and try anything that'll end up getting yourself killed."

Ace glances at Falcon and Forest momentarily before returning his focus to Code and me, "Don't worry about it. I have no intention of running away."

Code says, "And we have no intention of taking any chances, I'm sure you understand."

Ace leans back, "I get it, and once this is all over, I want an apology from all of you for doing this because I am innocent."

Delta tries to barge in between Code and me. Still, we hold her off as she angrily asks, "Is throwing a dagger into the chest of a helpless and tortured girl what you deem to be as innocent?"

As Ace locks eyes with Delta as she continues trying to get through, she asks, "Do you truly believe that those are the actions of an innocent man?!"

"You got it wrong, Delta, all of you… are wrong."

"Delta… calm down. Save it for the trial,” I say.

After restlessly scrambling for a few more seconds, Delta's muscles relax.

"You're right.. you're right. But don't stop me then like you did just now."

Transferring his gaze back to Ace, she glares at him for a few seconds before walking away.

Code turns to me, "I think it's about time we get started."

"Agreed. It's time.”