Journal Entry 12
There was so much blood.
Chapter 4: "Interrogation"
Max groaned in exhaustion. He sat down on the edge of the roof, overlooking the street below him. Each of his limbs felt as though they had been coated in lead. Dark bags weighed under his eyes. His brain buzzed with a thick fog, smothering his mental processing power. Dragging himself through the rest of his school day had been an intense trial. Thankfully, everyone else had been too distracted by the second rampage to focus in class. Even the teachers seemed preoccupied during the afternoon lessons.
No one paid attention to him as he fought against his exhaustion. He had forced himself to stay awake after the final bell rang, during the train ride home, and throughout his afternoon chores. Max didn't think the quality of his homework or his cleaning met his usual standards, but his foster family was too stressed by the frenzies to notice. They all lived in a refurbished boarding house that John and Martha had bought to shelter the neediest kids in the government system. The Visionary owed a lot to the older couple. Thus, he never complained or asked for anything. Max even tried to take a larger chunk of the chores to ease the pressure from the other kids.
His roommates were nice enough. None of the other kids talked much with him. Many of them had bombastic, needy personalities, pushing his more reserved demeanor into the shadows. Such a result was fine with him. Max preferred to hide away on the roof, listening to the sounds of the city traffic. Being away from prying eyes made him feel more relaxed. Normally, he would detox after a long day by watching the world around him and thinking about the past. Unfortunately, he didn't have the energy to stay awake for long tonight. The exhaustion from two transformations was too much for him to handle.
Luckily, he hadn't been wounded during the second fight. Max was certain he would have fainted in the restroom after the battle if he had to endure any more punishment. Explaining why he had been knocked out to whoever found him wouldn't have been an easy task. Someone would have become suspicious. Fortunately, no one cared enough about him to give him a second glance as long as he showed up to class on time.
Max wanted to contemplate the odd circumstances surrounding the second rampage. Someone seemed to have attacked the clay monster before the frenzy, and the timing between the two assaults was too convenient. That had been the perfect amount of time for an exceptional Visionary to recover enough for a second transformation. Unfortunately, he was too tired to think about the mystery. Max groaned as he forced himself to a standing position. He needed to crash for about twelve hours of sleep. Then, he would have enough brain power to speak with Crow about the Meta Psychosis incidents.
Before he stepped through the door leading back into his foster home, Max paused, glancing over his shoulder. There were many spots and buildings he observed while gazing across the city. Bad memories seemed to linger around every corner for him. One place from his past was the enormous, dark tower at the center of the metropolis. Both of the Meta Psychopaths from today were reportedly taken to the police headquarters after the frenzies. He could only hope that they were recovering well.
***
Xavier Loom scowled as he walked down the halls of the police station. Officers stepped out of his way and waved at him as he passed, demonstrating respect even though he was still a teenager. They had given him grief during the first few months of the Meta Psychosis investigation, but his hard work had earned their admiration. He was now accepted as a member of the rampage unit. Despite being the son of Luminary's CEO, he had worked his entire life to earn his position. Nothing had ever been handed to him, and he made sure his coworkers understood his values and his expectations.
The seventeen-year-old had graduated from high school early and had already earned his degree in software engineering. He had been studying the Realization app since the data first appeared on his phone. While progress was minimal, Xavier continued his efforts every day. His family's business was the leading tech company in the world. When the government reached out to them for assistance, his father had been happy to comply on a single condition. Xavier would be deputized to use his Visionary abilities and help the public.
He was taller than the average man. A tan, checkered suit with a dark tie had been tailored to fit his muscular frame perfectly. Xavier walked with poise and confidence in each step. His arms were usually folded behind his back as a disarming tactic. Few felt threatened by a person who couldn't theoretically attack them. As always, his chestnut eyes were narrowed in thought and contemplation. A stern expression coated the chiseled, handsome features of his face. His black hair was cut short in a low fade. The young man took pride in his appearance. There wasn't even a single blemish on his dark skin.
Walking past the posters and screens lining the brick walls, Xavier approached the police chief, "Chief Officer Havers."
"Mr. Loom," the old detective was staring at the two-way mirror blocking them from the interrogation room. The man wore a dark suit over his withering frame. His white hair was steadily thinning. Wrinkles mapped the entirety of his square features. "You took longer than expected."
"I was trying to delete the Realization app from his phone, but I was too late," Xavier admitted. "The vulnerability period ran out before I got my hands on it. Now, only the user can delete the data. I tried to scan information from the device, but I was blocked. Whatever is behind the transformation continues to evade me. It's either centuries ahead of our current technology, or it's just plain magic."
"I never thought I would hear you blame hocus pocus for all this," Havers mumbled.
"There are few other viable explanations," Xavier shrugged. "Any attempts to replicate the Realization app fail. Even the strongest supercomputers in the world crash instantly. Yet a person's phone can easily hold it without using any storage. I won't stop my research, but I don't think the origin of all this is human."
"Huh," Havers pointed at the window. "And what do you think of today's second rampage?"
Xavier's scowl deepened. He had been in the middle of profiling the other two Visionaries that were usually active during the frenzies when the alarm sounded again. The programmer had wanted to rush to the scene, but there was nothing he could do. Because he worked with the government, he had to follow their regulations. Their tests had demonstrated that more than one actualization in less than twenty-four hours was dangerous. Xavier knew from experience how painful multiple transformation attempts could be. Thus, he couldn't logically argue against the orders to stay back during the second rampage.
Despite this, Featherman had arrived at the scene without any problems. The shadow Visionary demonstrated a level of speed and strength which matched a first actualization. Xavier knew that Featherman was using a second transformation because of the video evidence detailing the injuries the other man had obtained during the first rampage. Other than a second fusion, there was no way to heal so quickly. This was far different and more impressive than Xavier. He would have been a weak, pathetic mess if he had rushed to the scene.
He assumed that Atropos had stayed away for a similar reason. If either of them tried to intervene, they would have struggled to remain actualized for a few minutes before passing out from the pain. Featherman demonstrated no weakness, and this bothered Xavier. The software engineer had broken down the vigilantes' personalities in an attempt to discover their secret identities, but the raw willpower the shadow Visionary demonstrated didn't fit the rest of his profile. Someone who was introverted, quiet, shy, and people pleasing shouldn't have been able to take down a Meta Psychopath while on his second Actualization. Such determination did not match someone who was so meek.
"I noticed the pattern. The time between the frenzies was shortening. This was inevitable," Xavier responded. "Although, my prediction for a dual rampage was in three more days. That's why I have been upping my mental training and made the re-evaluation request."
"Yes. That was scheduled for Saturday," Havers rubbed his chin. "It's rare for your predictions to be off. It's a bad sign."
"You're right," Xavier clicked his tongue. "This is escalating faster than what I calculated. Meaning that there is information that I'm missing."
"And that's why you want to talk with the Meta Psychopath," Havers grimaced.
"This is the first one that's not in a coma after their rampage," Xavier reasoned.
"Because the shadow Visionary soothed him without harming him," Havers noted. "Have you tried to do that?"
"Every time I arrive at a scene, the Meta Psychopath attacks right after I order them to stand down," Xavier's eyes burned with rage. "Am I supposed to just endure the punishment? The so-called Featherman is a fool. He obviously wants to endure all of the burdens of the world by himself. He holds no value in himself or his own safety."
"But it worked in our favor," Havers argued.
"If you're asking me not to defend myself during a life-or-death battle, then I will contact Father and dissolve our deal," Xavier dismissed the criticism. "The Loom family is no longer willing to sacrifice itself needlessly."
"I'm aware of that. I can't exactly send you out there and strip you of the right to defend yourself," Havers shrugged. "It's just something to think about. Featherman alone created a better outcome than you and Atropos ever did."
Xavier grumbled, "I'll be thoroughly examining the data obtained from the second frenzy and will track down Featherman in due time. So, do I have permission to interview the Meta Psychopath or not?"
"The mayor personally approved your request," Havers huffed. "But I'll be here watching the entire time, and if anything goes wrong, I'm putting a stop to it."
"Fair enough," Xavier smirked. Such a response was the best he was going to get. Havers didn't approve of putting a teenager out in the field, but desperate times called for desperate measures. They had to find a way to stop the rampages before people were seriously hurt or killed.
Xavier stepped around the police chief and entered the interrogation room. A blinking lightbulb hung over a metal table separating two chairs. The Meta Psychopath sat in the seat furthest from the door. He held his palms over his face. His dark suit was wrinkled from the strenuous day. Xavier examined the man's curly, red hair. Rampagers rarely had any connecting factors. Age, gender, skin color, and background all varied among the attackers. They only had one aspect in common. Each of them had experienced terrible, stressful days before the frenzies.
"Mr. Volkov, my name is Xavier Loom. I'm here to interview you," Xavier slid into the open chair.
Walter Volkov removed his hands from his face. He was a towering and broad man with a friendly demeanor. Freckles mapped the entirety of his pale features. Thick glasses covered his pear colored eyes. The man seemed mildly surprised by Xavier, "Huh? But you're just a kid?"
"Sir, I am only six years younger than you," Xavier bristled. "And I assure you that I'm an authorized member of the Meta Psychosis investigation team."
"Meta Psychosis, huh? I guess I'm a designated Psychopath now," Walter laughed bitterly.
"You need not worry. There are no plans as of yet to prosecute rampagers," Xavier folded his hands in front of him. "But this is an official interview. As such, I will remind you that you have the right to have an attorney present and the right to remain silent."
Walter looked down at the table, "So, I've been told. It's fine. I don't want a lawyer. I just want to make up for what I did."
"Well, you could be a big help by answering some of my questions. I'm in charge of investigating the Realization app and how it activates Meta Psychosis," Xavier explained. "Please. I need to know what caused you to change. Establishing a real pattern can help us prevent this from happening again."
"I'll tell you what I remember," Walter tugged at his collar. "I was super stressed this week. The firm got a new client. Apparently, some rich kids who inherited their money didn't exactly pay their taxes on all of it. Not to mention all the gifts they were giving and receiving. Plus, their use of their family's business property for personal use. You name it. These guys did it. The audit was going to be insane."
Xavier nodded. He had learned that much from the interviews from the other people at the accounting firm, "And you were stressed?"
"Oh. You bet I was. I'm the new guy, and I was put in charge of this stupid project. My boss wanted a fall guy when the mess wasn't sorted out in a week like the clients wanted. Well, the joke's on them. I pulled it off. Around the clock work. I didn't sleep. I barely ate. I was even working while using the bathroom, but don't tell anyone about that last part," Walter insisted.
"Then why did you accidentally actualize?" Xavier frowned.
"The clients wanted everything printed on cream paper instead of white. I tried to explain to them that I used government approved sheets, but they spent a whole hour yelling at me. I managed to keep my cool until the end. They demanded that my boss fire me, and well…" Walter sighed. "I can't believe it actually happened. I was just going to go to my car and scream for a few minutes. I thought that would cool me off."
Xavier slowly nodded. The story sounded familiar. Meta Psychosis reportedly happened after a great amount of stress. A terrible car accident, a dying family member, and intense breakups were all different causes of rampages. So far, the police had only managed to interview witnesses due to the Visionaries falling into a coma after their frenzies, "And what was the transformation like?"
"I don't remember much. I felt a terrible stinging pain in the side of my neck," Walter rubbed his throat. "It was like a giant bee stung me. Then, a fog rolled in through my mind. My Realization app activated on its own. All I could think about was holding it back, but the fog grew and grew until I was lost in it. But then there was a muffled voice and a blinking light, pulling me back to reality."
"What?" Xavier leaned forward in his seat.
"I remember…dark feathers. It was Featherman. The guy from the news. I remember him pulling people to safety through the mist. And then he…played with me. He talked to me. He didn't hurt me. He was just trying to calm me down. I felt so happy. I was reaching through the mist to touch him when he pulled me in for a big hug. And then that calmed me down. The fog lifted. I fell asleep, and that's all I remember before waking up in police custody."
"That's it?" Xavier tapped the table impatiently.
"That's it," Walter nodded. "Hey. Does Featherman work with you all? I'd like to thank him. That's the first time someone has been so nice to me in a long while. He could have really hurt me, but he saved me instead."
"No," Xavier gritted his teeth. "The shadow Visionary doesn't work with us."
"That's too bad. I think he would help you a lot," Walter gained a fond smile. "He seemed…super selfless."
"Too much so," Xavier spat. "He obviously doesn't value himself at all."
"Huh?" Walter blinked.
"Someone who takes all the pain on himself is a fool. He thinks he's selfless, but he's not. He's just adding a different kind of pain to the people around him," Xavier declared.
"But…he saved me. And he keeps everyone safe," Walter argued weakly.
"And I guarantee you that he suffers every second of every day because of it," Xavier's eyes flashed with rage. "Transforming isn't as simple as people think. It's dangerous. It's taxing. It's sacrificing your body. And he does it without thinking. Eventually, it will catch up to him."
"So, I added to his pain?" Walter clenched his fists in self-loathing.
"You did," Xavier didn't sugarcoat the truth. "But I don't blame you. I blame the Realization app."
Walter blinked, "Really?"
"Tell me about the pain you felt in your neck," Xavier calmed himself. He leaned back in his seat.
"The pain in my neck? Why?" Walter asked.
"I'm just curious. That's different from my own actualization," Xavier's eyes darted to the mirror. He kept his suspicions to himself. There was nothing about the clue in the police reports or interviews, but the broken office window wasn't shattered by a clay arm smashing into it. Instead, the damage could be described as a piercing attack stabbing into the glass like a bee stinger, and based on the fallout, the assault seemed to have originated from outside the building.
"There's not much to tell. It felt like a bee stung me, and then the fog rolled in," Walter shook his head. "I never used the app before, so I don't know much about how it normally feels to transform."
"Very well. Thank you. Perhaps, Meta Psychosis causes a surge of pain in the spinal cord before actualization begins," Xavier turned his gaze back to Walter. He remained skeptical, but he couldn't give himself away when people were watching. "So, let's continue with the basics. Why didn't you turn yourself in when you first obtained the Realization app?"
"I-I didn't have time to be detained. I didn't think Meta Psychosis could happen to me. So, I thought it would be fine," Walter lowered his head. "Plus, I didn't know what you would do to me when you found out. I-I guess I was afraid. Of the transformations. Of the police. Of everything."
"I see," Xavier sighed. This interview was going to lead to a long, sleepless night. "Well, that's something we have in common at least."