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Chapter 3: It's a Mystery to Everyone!
Author's Note: I await everyone's theory/speculations on the mysterious stranger. ^_^
Disclaimer: Inspired by Capcom's Ace Attorney series and this epic roleplay, TACAC.
Summary: Mystery dude appears and acts all....mysterious.

Nicky never spent all her days visiting friends in the complex. Most of her days, she spent wandering the streets of LA trying to find a new job. Eight years of working in the Borscht Bowl and she wanted to move on. The Borscht Bowl, a quiet and extremely cold Russian Resturant. A place where normal customers saw her as a pianist that catered to their requests. But the regulars knew the dark secret behind that little restuarant. It doubled as a place for card sharks. And Nicky was the highlight of it all. She had gone undefeated in poker for 8 years.

But now, she felt it was time to move on. She didn't want to spend the rest of her life trying to defend a title. So each day, she would go from place to place trying to find a permenant job. But within a week, she always had to move on to another job while balancing her shifts at the Borscht Bowl. It was the story of her life. No one wanted to keep an employee that was known in the underworld as a reknowned poker player. But she didn't care. All she wanted was money to keep everything in her life together. And tonight was no different.

Nicky had finished her shift at the Borscht Bowl, and there were two things on her mind. One was whether or not she should consider that position at the local day care. The other was what was going on at the complex. Rou's expression was embedded in the back of her mind. He looked so pained...so fearful. "Like he saw a ghost," she said outloud.
She sighed lightly. It wasn't her buisness what happened between Rou and Klavier in the kitchen. But it irked her a bit.

"But ghosts aren't real." Nicky froze in her stride and carefully looked to her side. Then she started to walk forward slowly...and stopped when she heard a few steps behind her. It seemed she had a stalker.

"I never said ghosts were real," she said. And then she turned around and spotted a figure just a few feet away from her. She couldn't tell from far away, but it seemed the person wore a top hat.

"Is that your belief or what you were raised to believe?" The figure took a step forward.

"I don't know. But I guess that belief would be comforting." She replied as she took a careful step back.

"Do you want comfort or are you fearful of what may be true?" He started to walk towards her.

"It depends on what is considered to be true," she replied, keeping a firm stance in her place. She shifted her feet apart, standing in a defensive position. Just in case this stranger decided to attack her. But to her surprise, he stopped just a foot away from her. From his new position, she could see this stranger clearly. A dark cloak fitted gently around broad shoulders and what seemed to be a scarf was covered over his mouth. It seemed her stalker was a very strange gentleman.

He chortled lightly at her. "Science prooves what is true and fictional in this world we live in. But there are some things in this world that have yet to be disprooven." He puased lightly. "Do you believe in the supernatural?"

Nicky smirked at him. "I tend to not believe in such fairytales. But if there is evidence supporting any claims of the supernatural, I don't dismiss it. I guess in a way, I'm a believer." After all, a certain spirit medium's channeling prooved the existence of ghosts.

"Interesting," he replied. "Then tell me, what is your opinion of these recent murders in this area?"

Her smirk quickly shifted to a more serious expression. It seemed her stalker was more knowledgeble then she thought. "I think there is a serial killer on the loose." She answered calmly.

"And yet with that fact, you walk alone late at night." He shook his head lightly. "Head my warning: Stay indoors at night and never walk alone. This serial killer is more lethal then you think." And he turned to walk away.

"And you know that, because...?" She asked.

He kept his back towards her, but he tilted his head in her direction. "Somethings are better left unknown, Miss Wright."

"How did you-" But it was too late. The stranger had dissappeared into the night. His movement was so swift that all she saw was a blur that faded in a few seconds. An awkward silence ensued as Nicky stood in place. Then she turned around and started walking in the opposite direction. But as the fear started to set in, her calm stride quickly turned to a quick paced jog to the nearest building. And before long, she found herself at the steps of the complex. "How ironic," she said as she inhaled deeply. The complex wasn't the safest place in the world. Yet in her fear, she raced to this building without thinking.

"Nicky?" She looked up and spotted a familiar face by the doorway of the complex. It was man wearing a gray hoodie and a blue beanie with "PaPa" etched on the side. A golden locket hung loosely around his neck. His whole attire was similuar to Nicky's. The only difference was his masculine build and his spikey, porcupine hair. It was her male alter, Phoenix Wright.

"Hey Nick," she responded after inhaling some fresh air. Her heart rate slowed down but she still felt a bit nervous.

"I didn't know you liked to exercise so late at night," he smiled at her. But Nicky knew it was a facade. In truth, he was deeply concerned about her.

"Nor did I, Nick," she chuckled lightly. "Maybe I should enter a traithalon."

He laughed. "Mind telling me what inspired this career change to an athlete?"

"Sure, Nick. But do you mind if we talked inside?" She smiled lightly.

He nodded and gestured her inside. "Ladies first," he announced and bowed lightly to her. She only chuckled lightly before walking past him and through the doorway. Once inside, she walked into the lobby and was surprised to find no one. It was rare to find the lobby empty. Most of the times she visited the complex, she would discover the place packed with people. She wasn't sure whether to be fearful or happy about this strange occurence. But regardless of her feelings, she sat down at her usual spot on the couch by the window. Her alter followed closely behind her and sat down next to her.

"What happened?" He asked calmly. He tilted his head towards her, causing his beanie to shade his eyes. His usual facade was slipping away. But that wasn't new to Nicky. The two of them easily saw past each other's masks.

"I'm not exactly sure what happened, Nick. But..." And she told him of the strange gentlemen. She explained the conversation, his attire, his demeanor. Everything. "...And before I knew it, I found myself here." She ended her tale.

"That's quiet a tale, Nicky. Maybe you should stay here for the night." Which wasn't really a suggestion. Nick may have seemed calmed, but his voice was distraught.

"I don't have a death wish, Nick," she smirked. "But I don't think this lobby is the ideal place to sleep." She maybe safe indoors, but the lobby can be dangerous. There were rumors of strange things happening in this place. And she didn't want to find out if any of those rumors were true first hand.

"You're welcome to sleep on my couch in my room," he smiled. He moved into this complex recently. But not by choice. Unlike Nicky, he had lost his home, the "Wright Anything Agency" due to finanical problems. She had offered to have him stay in her agency before. But he declined. He knew she was struggling to keep her agency afloat too.

"Thanks, Nick," she smiled. "I don't have a late shift tomorrow night. So, I don't think late night jogging will be on my schedule." She chuckled.

"Let's hope not," he replied and got up from the couch. "It's almost three in the morning. We should both try to get some sleep."

Nicky nodded and got up from her place. "Rest sounds like a good idea." And the two of them walked out the lobby and up the stairs in silence. Nicky didn't have to say anything. The two of them had the same thing in mind. They both were considering investigating the stream of murderers around the complex. But it would have to wait in the morning. All that Nicky wanted now was just a good nights rest in a place she knew was safe.