“Otto told me that he opened your door and saw creatures who couldn’t have any relation to you inside,” President declared triumphantly, pride evident in his bearing as he rustled his burnt pages. He didn’t have those burn marks the last time I saw him.

And then I noticed clown Otto who was standing in the trees' shade and it all clicked together. If Otto really saw my door and was afraid that I would reveal his identity, what he needed was simply to blame me before I could blame him.

“Me and Otto completed the cave together. I was shown his memory and he probably saw mine. He tried to make me a scapegoat, and you didn’t let me explain anything after I came, Pres.”

“And you reached the settlement later than an old man?” President felt like he found a weak point in my story.

“I walked as fast as I could without running, Pres. I don’t know how he got here but he didn’t use his legs for that unless they are stronger than they appear. Maybe he used his card?” Did he learn what I saw with a card? Was it a surveillance tool? This also was a possibility.

A back-and-forth discussion continued. Soon Richard and Hugh appeared and also vouched for my innocence in the matter.

The day was coming to an end. On the sixth day I woke up closer to midday. I had a fulfilling breakfast and then I went to the trial grounds, Hugh and Richard coming with me.

When the trial started, President summed up the situation, followed by Hugh who once again reminded others that he knew that Otto was fake from the very beginning. That discussion was getting on my nerves – I never really was a fan of endless bickering. Conversation only has some worth to it, when new information is introduced. After that point it becomes meaningless.

Unfortunately, some of my classmates seemed to find importance in mulling over and over the same few words. I had done what I could to explain myself but President still looked unconvinced.

The only point that grabbed my attention was that clown noticeably winced the moment I mentioned the girl I saw in his door.

Finally, the voting started. I, as one could expect, voted for the clown immediately, as did bear Richard and headless Hugh. Clown voted for me in response, he was closely followed by President and dragon Isabella who always had her worldview magically aligned with President.

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Unicorn Vlad voted for me, did he suspect everyone who was together in the tunnel with him? Pumpkin Jack voted for clown, his eyes glowing inquisitively. He didn’t let me down there. Hooded Jill, who spent a lot of time together with Jack before the island, voted for me.

Aurora’s rabbits, and I mean a dozen of identical rabbits, which were comically moving their snouts, voted for me. Jellyfish Dezire put her tentacle on the clown's button, voting for him.

Jedediah Smith who was let out as everyone had to be present during the trial, voted for me. Goblin Polly, who never said even a single word in the discussion, voted for clown.

Fluffy Leo had a hard time understanding what was going on, but in the end he followed President’s lead and voted for me. I thought that Henry would vote for me or abstain from voting, taking into account that I almost ended up eating him whole once, but he voted for clown as well.

Sleepyhead Jace was still peacefully sleeping, something so insignificant as choosing who to exile couldn’t possibly wake him up. Angel Sophie was sitting immovably, staring at an empty spot, it didn’t seem like she had any desire to participate in voting.

And suddenly it hit me that perhaps I should have put more effort into the discussion and the whole process of foiling the clown's plot. The votes were divided evenly, with only one person left to vote.

I looked at Reina. The porcelain doll was sitting there, her face untouched by emotion. And finally she voted, her vote breaking the tie. The trial has ended, the time ran out.

“Why?” I exclaimed, feeling surprised and betrayed: Reina voted for me. I could hear a few other classmates talking as well, but I couldn’t pay attention to their words, implications of what was about to happen weighing heavily on me.

A voice resounded in my and most likely everyone’s mind, “The results are out. As per majority vote, D is to be exiled. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the second traitor. Still, the rules are to be upheld and he will be sent to a place of no return. Now then…”

A blinding light surrounded me.

“I would like to ask for a favor,” the clown interrupted the voice. “Let me talk with the person who’s about to be exiled. Alone.”

“Very well,” the voice gave their consent.

The next moment I knew me and the clown were standing, surrounded by dancing motes of light.

“It seems,” the clown said, “This is the end. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t afford to lose.”

Gone was his grating voice. His words were booming with power. Even his posture changed. He didn’t seem like an old man at all.

The clown watched me, “You were careless. My standing was rather precarious, if you didn’t make so many mistakes, our situation would be reversed.”

The clown continued, “What’s your relationship with Fatalist, that girl you claimed to see in my door? You have met her before, I saw her in your door of truth. I need to know what she is up to.”

So that was the reason the clown adjourned my exile. To ask about his acquaintance. The time was running out and I could be sent to exile any moment I answer his question.

I already accepted my defeat. But even if I were to die, I would make him accompany me. He wouldn’t win. With such thoughts I bit my tongue off. The darkness engulfed me, leaving the clown alone with whatever comes after me.