July 17
Fesseln Court House
8:55am
Courtroom Lounge- Neverending Overture
A court bailiff wheeled the still bound and gagged Lana Skye out to the defendant lobby where Mia was waiting for her. 
Her hands were strapped to the handles and her arms were pinned to her sides with more leather straps, framing her chest. Further straps held Lana’s legs together at the ankles and knees and held them tight to the wheelchair. Lana was gagged with a tight, black panel gag with a rubber ball shoved into her mouth. The bailiff stopped the wheelchair in front of Mia and locked the wheels in place, removing the gag from her mouth for the moment.
“I’m getting a little tired of that thing...” Lana said as the bailiff stepped aside and let the two of them speak.
“Where’s... your partner?”
Mia sighed. “Already inside. We had some... difficulties at the crime scene.”
“Difficulties?” Lana asked, furrowing her brow.
“Athena will be there but let’s just say I’m going to be doing this on my own.”
“Oh... so she’s...”
“You won’t be alone in your current state, Lana. I’ll say that much.”
“Mia... I’m sorry...”
“None of this is your fault, Lana. You just got mixed up in a bad situation. And I’m going to get you out of it.”
“Mia...”
“Lana I want you to think for a moment.”
“Okay.”
Mia took in a breath and finally began to voice her concerns about the case. “Is there a chance that Ms. Entfuhren... set you up?”
“What!?” Lana said, gritting her teeth. “Why would she do that? We hardly know each other... and we’re at least on friendly terms if not friends...”
“There’s just a lot that doesn’t add up in this case, Lana.” She explained what she had found at the crime scene. “The rickety ladder, the blue muffler, the burnt note... Something isn’t right here.”
“But I need to know why. Why would Alina fake a kidnapping just to set me up for the fall?”
Mia shook her head. “I don’t know. But I’ll do what I can to find out.”
The bailiff returned and gagged Lana once again. “Trial is about to begin,” she said. “The defendant is needed in court. As are you, Ms. Attorney...”
She wheeled Lana away, grunting and struggling with her bonds, unable to escape. Finally, with no other choice, Mia stepped her way into a courtroom. It had been a long time since she had actually led a trial on her own. Being dead made that rather difficult... but that didn’t matter at the moment. All that mattered was proving Lana innocent. And she was the person to do it.
July 17
Fesseln Court House Courtroom
9:02am
A rambling crowd of women filled the gallery as the judge presiding over the trial took her seat. Mia stared across from her council table toward the opposing council... where Franziska Von Karma stood with her arms folded, eyes closed, deep in thought and still clutching her whip in hand.
The Judge was an older woman and sat behind a raised desk with a gold plated gavel resting beside her. The entire courtroom was really rather ornate and perhaps even more so than the ones back home. The walls were polished and shimmering cherry wood, accented with silver and gold carvings. Behind the raised judge’s desk, the same scales of justice used in America hung there. It was a silver sculpture with one key difference. On either side of the scales, identical sculptures of heavily bound and gagged women sat in each, perfectly balancing each other.
When the Judge picked up her gavel, Mia noticed it wasn’t a gavel at all... it was a sort of whip. The normal hammer shape had golden tassels hanging from it and Mia jumped when she whipped her desk harder than she had ever seen Von Karma do it.
The Judge herself was dressed, once again, in a tight latex corset and sleeveless shirt showing off her bare shoulders. A tight, very short skirt barely covered her legs and she wore absurdly high heels. The entire outfit was black save for the short, white cape she wore around her neck. On her head, she wore a golden tiara that matched her lipstick colour and shining eyeshadow. Her dark eyes and dark hair gave her an even more menacing appearance as Mia caught herself staring.
Her attention was distracted by the grunting coming from her left and right. Athena sat in a chair beside her, with her hands cuffed behind her back and secured to the back of the chair. 
Leg irons locked her legs together and were pulled up underneath the chair, linking the longer chain of her leg irons to a metal loop beneath the seat. Leather straps encircled her arms and torso, framing her chest, and holding her arms tightly. A large, black ball gag was wedged in Athena’s mouth as she struggled, saliva dripping down onto her chest. And that was just Mia’s right...
On the left, flanked by guards, Lana struggled away against her bonds in the wheelchair and grunted into her gag. Mia could only shake her head at the strange state of this courtroom.
The judged cracked her strange gavel whip against her desk again, snapping Mia back to attention.
“This court is now in session for the trial of Ms. Lana Skye...” she said, eyeing both the defence and the prosecution.
“Th-the defence is ready, Your Honour...” Mia said before anyone else spoke.
“My honour...” the Judge said, whipping her gavel down on the desk again. “That is no way to speak to judge of Fesseln, Ms. Fey...”
“Um... er... sorry,” Mia said, biting her lip. Jeez... her stare is just... I want to crawl into a tiny hole and never come out again!
‘Since you are not from our little country, Ms. Fey, I will overlook your disrespect. You will refer to me... as Your Mistress. That is, you will say ‘My Mistress.’ Do you understand, defence?”
Mia felt herself sweating bullets. “Er... yes... My Mistress...” It felt wrong to say that but, if she didn’t want to lose the trial before it even started, she would have to go along with the rules of this strange court.
“So... are both the defence and prosecution ready?”
“The defence is indeed ready, My Mistress,” Mia said.
Franziska remained silent, still deep in thought. “Well, Ms. Von Karma? Are you ready?” the Judge asked.
“Yes... the prosecution is ready, My Mistress...” she said, not even opening her eyes.
Stop acting so confident, Von Karma! Mia thought. You haven’t won anything yet!
“Then let us begin the trial of Ms. Lana Skye. Ms. Von Karma, please give your opening statement.”
Franziska Von Karma finally opened her eyes and glared straight across the courtroom at Mia. She slapped her whip against her desk and held it above her head, pulling it taut. “Decisive evidence... a decisive eyewitness... and the defendant has no alibi, was the last person seen with the victim... what else do we need? It is a perfect case. As will be shown here in this courtroom today the defendant, Ms. Lana Skye, kidnapped the victim, Ms. Adelina Entfuhren in order to ransom her back to her family. And said motive will be clearly established beyond all reasonable doubt...”
The Judge nodded. “Very good, Ms. Von Karma. Please call in your first witness.”
“The prosecution calls... Detective Ema Skye to the stand.”
“Mmmmph!?” Lana said, struggling even harder.
“What!? E-Ema!?” Mia said, flinching at the mere mention of Lana’s younger sister.
“Intriguing. What will this witness tell us, Ms. Von Karma?” the Judge asked.
“Detective Skye was granted permission to investigate the crime scene. She will tell us her completely objective findings at the conclusion of her investigation.”
“I see... very well. Bring Detective Skye to the stand!”
It didn’t take long for them to escort Ema to the front of the court... with her hands cuffed behind her back and her arms and torso strapped up above and below her breasts. She was also wearing leg irons and gagged with a similar panel gag as her sister.
“Mmmpphh...” Ema grunted.
“Ms. Von Karma... why has this witness been restrained?”
“Detective Skye was less than pleased with her sister’s incarceration, you understand,” Ms. Von Karma said. “And when she first arrived, she was not very co-operative and... lashed out at a Fesseln officer at the scene.”
“I see...” the Judge said. “Then she will have to learn her lesson in restraints. But the gag shall have to be removed for now while we hear her testimony.”
“Of course,” Von Karma said.
The bailiff removed Ema’s gag and stepped back, allowing Ema to relax her jaw and get in some deep breaths. When she caught her breath, Von Karma began speaking again.
“Witness... will you please state your name and occupation?”
Ema sighed. She looks so sad... what did they make her do? Mia thought.
“Detective Ema Skye... I’m a forensic investigator from the United States....”
“Very well. Now, would you mind telling us the findings of your investigation?” Von Karma asked.
Ema sighed again. “Yeah, okay...”
Poor Ema... Mia thought.
Taking in a deep breath, Ema began:
Cross Examination- Moderato 2004
“At the scene, there were two things apparent.” Mia logged that sentence away as the first statement.
“First, the kidnapper did not break into the house on the ground level. I checked everywhere and found no signs of forced entry.” Ema took in another heavy breath.
“Second, she used a ladder to climb in through the second storey window and carry the victim, bound and gagged, from the bedroom.” Her shoulder seemed to deflate before the next statement.
“In the struggle, she dropped a red muffler. A scarf. It has... it has Lana’s fingerprints all over it...”
When Ema was finished speaking, the Judge nodded once and seemed to ruminate on the words for a moment. “Hmmm... that does seem a rather damning indictment of the defendant...”
“As I stated,” Von Karma said. “Perfect in every way.”
“Yes, it seems that way,” the Judge replied. “Ms. Fey, you may cross-examine the witness.”
Okay Mia, it’s go time Mia told herself. Contradictions and facts. That’s what it’s all about...
So they let Ema begin her testimony again and Mia listened carefully to each statement.
“At the scene, there were two things apparent.”
“Hold it!” Mia shouted, surprising Athena beside her with the power of her voice. “What two things would that be, Ms. Skye?”
“Objection!” Von Karma shouted back. “Foolish Ms. Fey. You didn’t let the witness finish. She is getting to that...”
“Right then,” the Judge said. “Continue with your testimony, witness.”
“Yes, ma’am...” Ema said. She took in another long breath and continued.
“First, the kidnapper did not break into the house on the ground level. I checked everywhere and found no signs of forced entry.”
“Hold it!” Mia shouted once again. “How can you be so certain of that?”
“Well none of the windows were broken. And the locks on the doors were all fully intact. The doors themselves also showed no signs of damage. I was quite thorough on that. And we know for a fact that all the doors and windows were locked, save for one.”
“And which window was unlocked?” Mia asked.
“Um... you see...” Ema said, taking in another breath. She began by repeating yet another statement from her testimony.
“Second, she used a ladder to climb in through the second storey window and carry the victim, bound and gagged, from the bedroom.”
“Hold it!” came another shout from Mia. She pounded the desk in front of her with both hands. “Are you sure she used the ladder? How can you know that?”
“Objection!” Von Karma interjected. “Ms. Mia Fey... this is the testimony of the victim herself. And the eyewitness. The fact that ladder remains against the house still is yet more proof that it was used on the night in question. And the owners of the house can confirm that the ladder was not there the day of the crime. It only appeared there the next morning, meaning it was used that night. Therefore, Ms. Mia Fey... your foolish question is exposed for the folly that it is.”
The Judge nodded. “Indeed. The question was quite foolish, Ms. Fey...”
Mia glared hard and her eyes flitted back and forth between Von Karma and Ema. There must be something to that ladder. I know it. What was it? Mia gasped to herself when she hit on it. That’s right! I remember!
She looked to the evidence and stared at a photograph of the ladder leaning against the house. As she suspected, one non-skid pad was missing from the right side of the ladder making it both imbalanced and unsteady. She had her contradiction. Smiling to herself, Mia took in a deep breath and readied her arm.
“Objection!” she shouted, pointing outward toward Franziska Von Karma. “You say this ladder was used on the night of the crime? Well I say...” Mia’s lips curled into a cocky smirk and she flipped her bangs to one side. “That’s impossible.”
“Ha! Impossible, you say?” Von Karma said. “Well then I suppose you have proof to back up this ridiculous claim, Ms. Mia Fey?”
“I do have proof...” Mia said. “Check this photograph of the ladder here. What’s missing?”
“There’s something missing?” the Judge asked. “I don’t see anything wrong with it.”
“Look a little closer Your... My Mistress. Check the right foot of the ladder there...”
“Hmmm... let’s see here... oh! One of the feet of the ladder appears to be missing! It would be completely imbalanced!”
“And... unstable,” Mia said.
“What!?” Von Karma exclaimed.
“Upon closer examination of this ladder, I merely touched it and the thing nearly fell over onto me. Now, I must ask this court... how is someone expected to even climb up such a ladder? Nevermind trying to carry someone back down it...”
Ema gasped. “You’re right! It would fall over as soon as anyone went to step on it!”
“Objection!” Von Karma said, shouting. “You’re forgetting one thing, Ms. Mia Fey.”
“Oh? And what’s that?”
“You say that ladder is unstable. But we only know that in the present.”
“What are you talking about?” Mia asked.
“I mean, we have no way of knowing, or proving, that this ladder was unstable on the night of the crime. Therefore, your little contradiction proves nothing! The ladder could have easily been used and then damaged after the crime. Perhaps even in the act of, oh, carrying down a kidnapped young woman?”
The Judge nodded. “The prosecution does have a point, Ms. Fey.”
Mia flinched again and bit her lip. “W-What!?”
But she’s right... I can’t prove that...
“What’s wrong, Ms. Mia Fey?” Von Karma asked. “Have you given up already?”
“Of course not! But the defence still believes that this ladder’s lack of balance is of utmost importance!”
The Judge slapped her gavel whip once again. “Very well, Ms. Fey. Then please, follow up on this. Can you prove that the ladder was broken on the day of the kidnapping?”
“Well... no,” Mia said. “But that doesn’t mean anything! It could still have been broken and therefore erases the only way the kidnapper could have broken into the house!”
When she stared across at Ms. Von Karma, the prosecutor was leaning forward, resting her chin on one hand and wagging her finger with the other. “What a foolishly foolish statement you’ve made, Ms. Mia Fey. As there is more than just the ladder that proves the culprit broke in via the second floor window.”
“More!? What do you mean more?”
“The witness will testify to this fact,” Von Karma said. “Won’t you, witness?”
Ema sighed again, slumping into her bonds. “Yes... I suppose I will...”
“Ema...” Mia said.
The Judge once again slapped down her gavel whip. “Very good. Then let us hear this witness give further testimony.”
With a heavy heart once again, Ema began to speak her findings once more.
Cross-Examinations- Moderato 2004
“We found something just inside the second floor window that puts... Lana at the scene...”
“Mmmphh!” Athena said from beside her. Mia looked to her young co-counsel and met her eyes. She must be hearing Ema’s emotions... if only they hadn’t gagged her... Mia thought. Ema continued.
“It was this red scarf. The muffler. We found it on the floor of the bedroom.”
Mia leaned forward and listened carefully to the next statements. “It’s covered in Lana’s fingerprints and we can, in fact, confirm that this scarf belongs to her.”
Ema kept speaking. “We also found traces of the victim’s fingerprints, meaning she must have pulled it off her kidnapper during the struggle...” Ema said with a sigh, not wanting to continue but pushing through anyway.
“The only way a scarf like this could have ended up on the floor is if the kidnapper entered via the second storey window...”
When Ema was finished speaking, Mia felt herself sweating bullets all over again. Franziska smirked, dripping with confidence, and the Judge seemed to be letting Ema’s words settle in.
“That does seem to prove that the kidnapper entered the second storey window. Which means the ladder must have been undamaged on the night of the crime.”
“As I said, My Mistress,” Von Karma said.
“Indeed. Ms. Fey, proceed with your cross-examination.”
“Of course, My Mistress...”
Taking in the statements one at a time, Mia ruminated on the last one for a long time. “The only way a scarf like this could have ended up on the floor is if the kidnapper entered via the second storey window...”
Was that really the only way? Mia asked herself. Perhaps there was something... oh!
Gripping the blue scarf in her hand, Mia once again raised her hand and thrust it forward, pointing as emphatically as she could. “Objection!”
“Ms. Skye, are you certain about that statement?”
“What do you mean?” Ema asked.
“I mean... are you certain there were no other scarves like this one in the vicinity?”
“Well... yes. And we know this was Lana’s. There’s no denying that.”
“That is interesting... especially when you consider... this scarf.”
For the first time, Von Karma seemed rattled and clutched at her shoulder, reeling backward. “What!?” Where did you get that?”
Mia once again let a cocky smirk cross her face and flipped her long bangs. “At the crime scene.”
“What!?” Von Karma said, gritting her teeth. “Witness... how did your investigation overlook this crucial detail!?”
“I didn’t! It was your people who must have missed it!” Ema said. “I would have spotted a scarf like that right away!”
“Where exactly in the room did you find that scarf, Ms. Fey?” the Judge asked.
“It was in a dresser beside the window, hastily stuffed inside. And look at this... it still has its price tag on it.”
“So that must mean it’s brand new...” the Judge said.
“Exactly. But why? Why would a scarf of the exact same type as the defendant’s be in the same room where the crime occurred? I find it highly unlikely that this is a coincidence...”
“H-how absurd!” Von Karma said, slashing the desk with her whip, once again holding it above her head and pulling it taut. “Please enlighten the court, Ms. Mia Fey... why was that scarf there?”
Mia took a moment to think. All right, it’s time to start bringing my little theory to light. Let’s see where this goes...
“This scarf was at the scene because... the kidnapper hid it there.”
“The kidnapper... hid it there?” the Judge asked, clearly confused. “What on Earth are you talking about?”
“It makes no sense that the victim would be trying to hide evidence in her own kidnapping. So it had to be the kidnapper who brought the scarf. She must have hidden it in the drawer.”
“But why would she do that!?” Von Karma asked. “Why would she bring two scarves with her? Was she making some kind of ridiculous fashion statement!?”
“I believe it is because she had brought... the wrong scarf.”
“The... wrong... what?” The Judge was even more confused. “Explain yourself, defence!”
“It’s simple, really. The kidnapper was trying to frame my client. She bought this blue scarf in an attempt to look like her. But, realizing that she had bought the wrong colour, hastily stole the defendant’s scarf and planted it at the scene. But she must have still been wearing the blue scarf. Knowing that the scarf would be left behind, she must have stuffed it into the drawer to hide it. After all, any potential witnesses would have seen her climbing out of the window... with a scarf around her neck.”
“R-ridiculous! What foolish folly is this!?” Von Karma said. “I assume you have proof to back up your wild assertions?”
“The defence does not have proof. But we do have the next best thing... testimony. With further witness testimony, we can prove that this red scarf was planted at the scene of the crime. And thus, erasing the prosecution’s entire case!”
“This... this is... foolish! You fool!” Von Karma said, pounding the table once again.
With another crack of her gavel whip, the Judge looked to Ema on the witness stand once more. “Witness, if you please, testify once more about this red scarf.”
Ema sighed again. “Okay...”
I’ve got this now! Mia thought. Let’s turn this thing around already!
Ema began her testimony one more time. “As stated before, the scarf had fingerprints from both the defendant and the victim...” Ema drew in a deep breath again.
Cross-Examination- Allegro 2004
“It is most definitely Lana’s. I... I’ve seen her wearing it all the time. She’s worn one just like it for years...” Slumping into her bonds yet again, Ema looked as defeated as she could.
“It was the only scarf found in the room at the time of investigation. On the floor by the second storey window...”
“Besides, the scarf was never reported stolen. And there was no way anyone knew, specifically, that my sister wore a red scarf...”
“At least, that’s what I think. Sorry, sis...”
With the conclusion of her testimony, the Judge paused again to take in her words.”Well, I don’t see how we’re going to contradict that but... your cross-examination, Ms. Fey.”
“Thank you, My Mistress...”
As Ema once again repeated her testimony, Mia listened for the right moment. She had been waiting for this moment. To present that evidence. Finally, Ema made the statement and Mia was ready, emphatically pointing once again and shouting as loud as she could.
“Objection!!”
Ema looked up and hope began to stir in her eyes. “You... you found something?”
“I did, Ms. Skye. Would you please take a look at this scrap of paper?”
Mia could feel the sharp glare of Franziska Von Karma from the other side of the courtroom as she handed Ema the paper they had found in the fireplace. Ema took a moment reading it and then gasped. “Th-this is... is...”
“Witness!” the Judge said. “Tell the court what the note says!”
“’And don’t forget about the muffler...’ What looks like the beginning of the word ‘Remember’ and the end of ‘important.’ Then the word... ‘Red.’ Followed by ‘I’ll be in my room’ and it’s signed... Alina.”
“Alina? Who is Alina?” the Judge asked.
Mia couldn’t help herself as she smirked and flipped her hair once again. “Alina is often a diminutive of longer names, My Mistress. Names such as... Adelina.”
“Adelina.... Isn’t that the victim’s first name?”
“Indeed it is. And, as has been well established, the victim knew the defendant beforehand. Which means... she would have known about the red scarf!”
Pursuit- Caught
Von Karma reeled again, clutching at her shoulder and pounding the desk. “That... that’s completely absurd! Are you suggesting the victim planned her own kidnapping!?”
“How else would you explain this note, Ms. Von Karma!?” Mia shot back. “The victim instructed the recipient of this note to bring a red muffler to her house. Why would she have done this? She knew the defendant, Ms. Lana Skye, wore a red muffler scarf all the time. And so with the intent of framing her, had the scarf planted at the scene of the crime!”
“Objection!” Von Karma shouted. “Stop this foolishness at once, Ms. Mia Fey! That note means nothing! How are we to know it wasn’t intended for the defendant!? Can you prove that, foolish Ms. Mia Fey!? I think not!”
“Objection!” Mia shouted back. “This time the burden of proof is on you, Ms. Von Karma! Do you have proof that this note was written to Ms. Lana Skye!?”
“Why you... fool! How dare you!?”
“What’s wrong, Ms. Von Karma!? Has your case fallen apart before your very eyes? Because we have just cast serious doubt on this red scarf. And if this scarf wasn’t lost during the struggle, climbing out the window, then this means that the ladder was not used to break into or exit the house! And then that means... you have nothing! The defendant, Lana Skye, could not have been the one who kidnapped Ms. Adelina Entfuhren!”
The Judge lashed her gavel several times as the gallery caused quite a ruckus. “Order, now! I will have order in my court! Bailiff... restrain the defence and the prosecution!”
“What!? Why!?” Von Karma and Mia both asked.
“Your outbursts have made a mockery of this courtroom! Gag them as well!”
“Wait... stop!” Mia’s hands were quickly cuffed behind her back and a long length of rope was tied around her arms and chest in a sort of harness, pinning her arms tightly in place. The rope was lashed to the chain of the cuffs, pulling them upward. Leg irons were fitted to her ankles and a tough cloth was stuffed into her mouth, sealed in with strong, microfoam tape wrapped around her mouth and the back of her head. Ms. Von Karma received the same treatment, save for the gag. She was given a tight harness ball gag, with a bright red rubber ball filling her mouth.
“Mmmph!” she said, battling her restraints. But the guards left her and she continued fighting fruitlessly.
Mia also struggled but she, too, fought her bonds to no avail. They seemed highly practiced in the art of restraint, after all...
Trial
The Judge heaved a sigh as the gallery began to quiet down and the muffled grunts of Mia and Franziska were the only sounds in the room.
“Now that I have silence... I must confess that the defence has cast severe doubt onto the prosecution’s case.”
“Ymmmph!” Mia said behind her tight gag.
“Mmmrrphh! MMMPPPHHH! MMMMRRGHHH!” Von Karma snarled, dripping saliva down onto her chest and struggling hard against her unyielding bonds.
“However... we still have unanswered questions. And I would like to find them out. Ms. Von Karma, you mentioned an eyewitness. Perhaps her testimony can shed some light onto these unanswered questions. Namely, why would the victim plot her own kidnapping and try to frame the defendant for it? Why did the kidnapper bring the blue scarf in the first place? And, most of all, how did the kidnapper get into the house if she did not use a ladder? If we can answer these questions in the testimony to come... then I will be able to render my verdict.”
The Judge once again slapped down her gavel whip. “For now we will take a twenty minute recess while Ms. Von Karma’s final witness is summoned. In the meantime... you both will be staying here to reflect on your outbursts.”
“Mmmph!” Mia said, struggling once again.
“Mmmmrrgggh!” Von Karma growled, thrashing about wildly.
“All right. Court is adjourned for recess!” The Judge struck the desk with her gavel whip once again, standing up and leaving the courtroom with the two freshly bound and gagged lawyers. They glared at each other and struggled against their bonds, unable to escape. And they would have to wait twenty minutes until the court reconvened...