Chapter 7: The Chainsaw Consequence
Penber tried to keep his eyes on Light as they moved through the crowded inner city. It wasn't overly difficult despite the swathe of people out for the weekend, and so far, today looked to be the same as any other. Light hasn't done anything suspicious, and the FBI agent was growing weary with following a model student out to dates and classes.
His girlfriend had her arm around his and they were both laughing softly. The picture of young love. There were many other couples around, holding hands and simply enjoying being together. If only he could take some time to properly spend with Naomi… their wedding was bound only a month from now and Penber felt a smile grow on his face at the thought.
He followed them into a cinema, and with a final all clear to L, bought a ticket and settled on the row behind. He couldn't very well communicate through his earpiece in this environment and not anticipating anything more than perhaps a few amorous kisses, Penber settled in for the movie.
The lights dimmed and Penber stretched out his legs, thankful that he was able to get an aisle seat. Light whispered something but Penber couldn't catch it and the title screen flashed with a garish screech. The Chainsaw, huh? Penber rolled his eyes. How many inaccuracies would he be able to catch in this movie?
Then, from behind him, he heard the rev of a chainsaw. Odd that it didn't seem to mesh with the other sound assets… was there a malfunction with the speaker system of the cinema?
Then came the screams and they were all too real. Penber, along with the others in the audience whipped around and the movie cut off, freezing in frame. In the absence of the soundtrack, the whorl of a chainsaw was ever more prominent.
"Nobody move."
The man, middle aged, scraggly with scars all over his considerably muscular arms, held the spinning blade of the chainsaw right up against the upholstery of the seating. The people on that row scrambled to get away. He growled and slashed at the air.
"I said nobody move!"
Penber reached down for his gun and unholstered it from his belt. He couldn't use it, though. There were too many people who could get caught in the cross fire. He touched his earpiece and activated it with a tap.
He needed back up, fast. L? No, the police would be quicker.
"Emergency services, how can we help you?"
"I'm FBI, requesting immediate assistance at the cinema in Baling Place. Code XT46BB2. Armed assailant with a chainsaw. Repeat, immediate assistance requested."
Penber kept his eyes trained on the madman as he made step after step to the front of the cinema. Come on, respond. His palm was sweaty where he gripped his gun and his collar seemed too tight around his neck.
There was a pause, then, tenser and with more speed, "XT46BB2, copied. Two police contingents will be dispatched to your location Agent Penber. Estimated arrival time seven minutes from now. Confirmation of single assailant?"
"Confirmed. Unknown firearm status. Assailant shows no hesitation of violence," Penber whispered back.
Then there was no chance to talk as the man drew close, the whirling of the chainsaw was about the only thing he could hear. In front of him, Light and his girlfriend huddled into each other and Penber gave a brief promise to keep them safe.
"Look at you," the man said, voice dripping with derision. "Cowering before me like the worms you are. Kira has nothing on me. None of you have anything on me. I'm the true God of this miserable earth and I am the God who will paint the dreaded canvas red with blood."
A girl screamed from the back rows and the man chuckled.
"Yes, scream. Scream and wail and beg for a quick death, you powerless fools."
This man was crazy, of that Penber had no doubt. Crazy as Kira but not even a fraction as smart. He looked to Light and saw the boy's ashen white face and the way he protected his girlfriend from the chainsaw. This wasn't Kira. L couldn't have been more wrong.
How long had it been? A minute? Two? The man has passed their row, and was headed straight for the projector screen.
Light whispered frantically to his girlfriend and Penbar leaned forward and managed to catch the end.
"… distract and you make a run. He shouldn't be quick enough to catch you and I'll be able to hold him off."
Penber's eyes widened and he reached forward and grabbed the boy's shoulder. The girl hissed in alarm but didn't scream.
"No, it's too dangerous," Penber said. "Stay seated and the police will come in just a few more minutes."
Light was determined and moved to stand. Penbar pushed him down.
"The false God Kira will fall and in his place I will rise and take this filth ridden country into a new era. I will reign supreme and force all those who oppose me into the scarlet river of their death."
The madman, now up on the railing that separated the seats from the screen, threw his head back into the sky and continued to bellow out his talk. He hadn't noticed. Thank goodness.
"Look, I have to do this," Light hissed. "I need to do this for Shiori and for everyone else in the room. That man's mad. Look, I think I can handle him. My father the chief of police and he's taught me something about taking down criminals. So please, let go and…"
Penbar cursed and dug through his pockets for his ID. He needed to keep everyone under control or there'll actually be rivers of blood running from the madman's weapon. He knew these kinds… talk and posture until the moment someone disobeyed or moved to challenge him. Then would come the brutality.
"Here, look. I'm with the FBI."
Light's eyes widened.
"Let me handle this alright? Now everyone needs to stay in their seats and keep calm until the police arrive. Trust me on this."
Eyes still lingering on is badge, Light nodded. Penber could see he still wasn't convinced, but hopefully the word of a FBI would be enough to keep him from being too radical. Although even Penber couldn't say if the current plan was the best.
"When the world lets loose its fury, I will be there. When the world is disilluminated by lies, I will be there. When the world is cracked and crumbling, when the leaders of the four worlds lie in pools of poison, when fire rains down from the sky, I will be there."
"I guess you're here for that guy, then?" Light asked with a head jerk to the madman at the front.
Penber thought for just a moment before he shook his head. "I can't tell you anything. Confidential."
Light nodded. "Alright. Apologies for asking, I should have known."
"How can you two be talking like nothing's even happening?" Light's girlfriend said. "Light, I'm really scared."
She hugged his arm close to her chest and there were tear tracks on her cheeks. Light leaned down and whispered something in her ear and she nodded.
Crying silently? Penbar's heart went to her, but his mind couldn't help but compare the girl to Naiomi. If his fiancé was here and still an Agent… No, they'd agreed that she wouldn't take part in any more of this dangerous shit.
"It shouldn't be long now, the police will come soon," Penber said. He didn't exactly know who he was talking to but had a feeling it was partly for himself.
There was certainly something to be said about delicious food. Harry absentmindly patted his full stomach, relishing in the post-lunch haze and resisted the temptation to buy one of those sugar coated fruits from a nearby stall. He didn't give his destination much thought – the elder wand was guide enough that his feet were sure on the ground.
Already, Luna's words were fading into the mist of memory. Harry frowned, but countless repeats of this very situation and the certainty that he'd never, ever forget Luna herself calmed him. He'd made a promise… and she said she thought there was too much light. Harry snorted and thought to Light.
He couldn't help it. Really. Here he was on holiday and he's stalking this kid. When did his lose his… zing? Was that a word people used any more? It was odd, but Light had something going for him, and Harry wasn't just thinking of Ryuk. Light had the same passion, the same fire as those great people on the rise through society.
He wanted to be the God of this world and Harry hadn't yet seen anything that would stop him. L? What had L done, besides that broadcast? Okay, well that was a pretty good move but L was a silly little computer. Harry could fry it with a single spell.
He could fry Light with a single spell as well, but that wasn't the point.
They were at the films? Huh. Maybe he was wrong about Light. If that boy had time to fool around with muggle entertainment, he wouldn't have what it takes to become great. But Harry was on vacation and couldn't really tell anyone else off so he shrugged and went in.
He caught a glimpse of the gleam of metal and the familiar madness of echoing laughter of a man balancing on a railing.
What?
Before he could think, his wand was out and a stupefy was upon his lips.
Then several things happened in quick succession. The chainsaw man flopped over, unconscious, and tipped over the railing to land head first with a sickening crack. The chainsaw fizzed and dropped to the side, the blade sparking.
Several people sitting on the aisle yelped and hands went to pockets and pulled out phones frizzing from a clash of technology and magic. One man stood, hands to his ear, grimacing in pain.
Oh. Curse the muggles and their gadgets. Why would anyone stick something like that in their ears anyway? Harry was not going to feel sorry for the guy.
It set off a chain reaction and soon the whole room was filled with screaming, hysterical people. Oh come on, Harry thought, it's not as if they were in any danger anymore. You'd think they'd be more grateful and whatnot.
Ryuk started chuckling.
Then the sound of sirens filled the air.
That was quick. Harry blinked and shot off a couple calming charms that left people placid and blank-faced. Ahh that was better. He never liked the sound of screaming, unless it was in excitement as he caught the… Snidget? That didn't sound quite right.
With the calming charms dished out, next came the confounding. He would've gone for memory charms but he usually saved those for more extreme mistakes. Like if he had to change into his animagus form or if everyone got to witness Ryuk's grinning face.
Harry swiped at the reaper who had left Light's side in favour of swirling around him, cackling like crazy.
"Shove off Ryuk, I'm just about done confounding everyone. Hey! I'll do the same to Light if you don't stop messing around."
He relented, spinning off and landing in a crouch on the back of a seat. "Don't you want some fanfare for your first kill?" Ryuk asked, teeth gleaming.
"First kill? Whatever. Hey who's that guy anyway?"
Harry nodded to the man in the trenchcoat, leaning on Light and clutching at his ear. There was just the faintest feeling of de ja vu.
Ryuk didn't have a chance to do more than laugh before the door slammed open.
"Police! Get on the ground with your arms up."
No one moved, with all the calming Harry had given, it was surreal to see the dozen uniformed men and women smarm into the cinema, guns out and crouched in a way that was like those badly done crime shows Harry's old cousin used to watch.
It was frustrating that he could remember something so banal but forget other, more important things. At least, Harry thought they were important.
Everyone pointed their weapons at Harry who stared at them in disbelief.
"Hand up. On the floor. Now!" A man at the forefront gestured with his gun.
Harry crossed his arms and hid his wand up his sleeve. "Are you serious? I'm not even-"
"It's not him," came Light's voice from behind.
Harry raised an eyebrow. You see? People should really stop threatening before talking. Harry himself wasn't a fan of non-action, especially seeing as the man he walked in on holding a room full of people hostage was currently head down in the ditch at the front, but people should really stop assuming the worst of him.
Really, just because someone looked suspicious doesn't mean they're the bad guy, and Harry didn't even look out of place.
"Hands out, where I can see them, and go take a seat."
Harry shrugged and complied. He fought down a smile as Ryuk followed him and crouched on a nearby seat.
"There's exciting events happening, Master," the reaper said.
Harry rolled his eyes. Of course there was. You knew things got heated when people pulled their weapons out, wands or otherwise.
"Light's going to enjoy this. Everything is going to chaos and there's no coming back." With a final cackle, Ryuk jumped off and returned to his customary spot behind Light's shoulder.
"Are you the FBI who contacted us?" The police barked.
Light shook his head, still holding up the trenchcoat man. He nodded.
FBI? Wasn't that one of those fancy muggle spy people? Harry didn't usually count himself among the geniuses but he wouldn't say he was an idiot. He nearly felt like one, watching Light bring the FBI man up to the police. What was he doing here? What was Light doing helping him?
"Light?!"
"Hello father. The man you want is over there. I think he tripped and hit his head. You better get him locked up before anything else happens."
Light sounded awfully tired. His face was white and he didn't look much stronger than the FBI agent he was propping up. It was either good acting or Light was shaken more than Harry had expected. For a mass-murderer, Harry would've expected the former, but who knows. Perhaps today was the first dangerous situation that Light's been in and there was nothing like a good near-death experience to expose someone for who they really were.
That was why Harry always thought himself a good judge of character.
Light's father, now he didn't look like he was acting at all. Harry didn't have the luxury to say but he hoped that his own father, if he had lived, would show the same fear as Light's father did for the boy. It was touching, really, but there was something funny about the whole situation that made Harry want to chuckle.
Two officers helped the FBI tend to his ear. The man's hand came away bloody but he didn't seem to be in too much pain. Harry could respect that.
The others split up to circle the room and a half dozen went to investigate the chainsaw men. One crouched down, hesitated, and then holstered his gun. The others did the same. One dug out a thick, grey plastic sheet and laid it over.
Oh so that's what Ryuk was talking about. Man, Harry had seen people fall thirty feet into a sand bank and jump right back onto their brooms. Who'd have thought someone could die as simply as taking a tumble?
"…acting a bit off?"
Harry overheard an officer remark to another. The man was balding, either from an excess of stress or some sort of unfortunate heritage, and the woman he was talking to seemed no older than Light. She was very proper, with a tight bun and pursed lips as she looked around the room.
"Now that you mention it, yeah. A bit too chill, aren't they?"
"Gives me the creeps," the man said. "Like their souls have left their bodies."
"Give it a rest, mate. It's just because of all this Kira speculation, getting to our heads."
Harry spoke up, too amused to hold it in. "I know for sure I still have my soul."
The way the two officers jumped almost made up for being threatened with a gun again. Harry cleared his throat and nodded to the two barrels in his face. In the background, Light's father towered over the shorter FBI agent, gesturing wildly with an air of disbelief.
"Can I get up now," Harry asked.
"What?" She said.
"I was told to sit down and I've sat for a while. Can I get up now?"
Harry wasn't usually purposefully obtuse but just the look of these officer's faces made it worth it.
"I quite fancy another bite of turkey mayonnaise sandwich. There's a delightful little sandwich shop not a few minutes away and I swear they make the best lunches ever."
The female officer rolled her eyes and put away her gun. "You see? These people are absolutely normal. Bit hungry, but normal." She turned to Harry proper. "I'm sorry sir, but you may have to wait until you're debriefed at the station. In fact, I think we're about ready to move right now."
A pair of police wheeled the chainsaw man's body up through the aisle and lifted the stretcher up the last few steps. A thin murmur started up from the audience and they filed out calmly with the guidance of the other officers, still under the effects of Harry's charm.
Light was squirming in the midst of his father's bear hug, and a girl lingered on the sidelines. A girlfriend? She didn't seem too pleased to have taken part as a hostage, although in Harry's experience, the greater the adversity, the greater the bond. Who knows, maybe this was going to be Light's wife one day.
Or, maybe not, as the boy continued to ignore her in favour of discussing the situation with his father.
"Alright, you as well," the female officer said to Harry.
"Do you at least have sandwiches? Or noodles?" Harry asked with a stretch. "Or anything else, really. I haven't had some good food in ages. I'm on a holiday, you see?"
She sighed. "We can probably go buy something for you, but you know you're a weird-ass fucker, don't you?"
Harry laughed. "I didn't know you police types were allowed to swear."
"Alright, no more small talk. Get yourself up and follow the crowd. You can talk to the debrief officers back at the station and they can deal with you."
She ushered Harry to the trail of calmed bystanders and he shrugged and followed them into the back of a police van. As long as he could try out some new food, and as long as Light continued to make things interesting for him, Harry would be happy. It certainly beat sitting in his office all decade matching souls to resurrection station.
Who'd have thought being the Master of Death could get old after a few years? Being mortal was so much more fun.
"L, you should take a look at this."
The video started playing and L leaned forward from where he perched on his chair. A long string of shell-shocked people trailed out of a building – a cinema, L realised – the same one that Light had entered. L tensed.
Was this why Penber had ceased contact with him? What had happened for there to be an evacuation… another move by Kira?
"Watari, I need the footage from the security cameras in that building."
"The cameras are all short circuited, L. Some footage can still be salvaged. I'll get them to you now. You should also know that our transmission to Raye Penber has been lost."
Unfortunate, but not a big deal. It would be problematic if the agent was killed but L could turn it into more support for action against Kira.
L picked up his phone with two fingers and dialled Soichiro Yagami. He needed some eyes in the scene and although the man himself would be unsuitable, he would be able to dispatch anyone closer –
"Chief Yagami answering." Then, quieter, talking to someone else, "Excuse me for a moment. We will meet back at the station."
L blinked. So he was already there.
"Oh dear," Watari whispered. "I believe this is a bad turn for us, L."
If Penber had not revealed himself to the police, he could still salvage the situation.
"L. I don't know what gall you have to be calling now, after you set a FBI on my son. This is unacceptable, L. To think you suspect Light, my son. Do you suspect me as well, L? Do you think I'm Kira?"
Or not. Watari was right, L thought, face blank as Soichiro Yagami continued to rail against him. Perhaps he should deconstruct the cameras in the Yagami household before their relations deteriorated any further.
"Mister Yagami," L said. "Please understand. I have not signalled out Light as a suspect by himself. I have had FBI track all family members associated with the Japanese Task Force."
Watari sighed and L ran his words though his head again. Ah, perhaps he shouldn't have said that.
There was silence for a few seconds and L caught the background noise of sirens. There was a disconcerting lack of other noise. He would have expected shouting, screaming… whatever it was that would give him a clue about what had happened.
This silence would have to be clue enough.
Then L narrowed his eyes as he spotted a familiar figure – messy black hair, a plain scarf wrapped around his shoulders and wearing a pair of wire frame glasses. The man had appeared again, and that was twice now that he coincided with mysterious circumstances. With a tentative link to Light and then from Light to the Japanese Task Force database, L considered the probability that the as yet unidentified man could be the Kira he was looking for.
"L, I have half a mind to hand in my resignation like all the others. The only reason I will not is out of duty to my family and country and I will not allow someone like you to drive me from justice. But know your actions will not be tolerated. You may have a flawless record with other cases but you are not the only one in the world who can catch Kira."
L gnawed on his thumb, unsure of how to pacify the man. Perhaps…
"Mister Yagami, I'm sure that you and many of your associates have expressed displeasure at not knowing my true face. I admit it was a blunder to not inform you and the others in the Japanese Task Force of my intentions and as a show of faith I propose a face to face meeting later today. I only have the utmost respect for officers such as yourself who place their lives on the line in the search for justice."
Watari approved, going by his nod, but the man shared L's apprehension. The past could not be changed, whatever he did, but L was adamant that the future had been salvaged, if only a little, by his words.
"As I said, L, I won't quit. As for the others, and I will be telling the others that their privacy had been impinged by someone we had been willing to trust. What they decide I cannot say."
"You agree to the meeting?"
Yagami sighed. "Yes. Yes, and I will try to convince the others to come as well. For justice, L, nothing else."
The call ended and L put the phone down. Justice. Odd the police Chief couldn't see the justice in L's actions, couldn't see that it was only justice driving L's actions. He shook his head. Sometimes he thought he'd never understand people.
In any case, it was time to prepare. He couldn't afford to let anything else get in his way. If Kira had a hand in the events of this day, L would find every scrap of information and use it to put the murderer down for good.
AN: Actually didn't get to a few scenes planned out for the chapter. Pretty pleased with it so far… hope you enjoyed as well. Oh, and seriously, I can't tell you all how much a review does to get me bolstered. I won't be one of those people who asks for 10 reviews before the next chapter, but I'd really appreciate even a "good job" or even a "this sucked." See you all next time.
Edited: 18.1.2014
