Chapter 2:

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Samuel Barton: Doctor's log... "I dug a little deeper today into Jennifer's psyche. She doesn't seem to be resisting the hypnosis, but Helen's concern is slowing down the research. If only I could get Jennifer alone for a day; even a few hours, I could break this case wide open. I fear some may see me as a monster for my methods of information retrieval, but I'm just doing my job. Tomorrow, we'll see how far we get before Helen stops the process."

My name is Samuel Barton. I am a psychologist; offering my services mainly to victims of unspeakable crimes. In Jennifer's case, she was attacked by what she believes was an immortal monster, but my educated guess is it's just another odd psychotic. Either way, she claims to have killed the monster before it could do the same to her, and is now in my psychological care for study and observation. Medication doesn't seem to help in cases like these, so we've left that option out altogether.

I walk over to the table in the corner, where one of the key items in the investigation rests. It is a giant pair of shears, a supposedly exact replica of the weapon used in the Clock Tower murders. It gives most people a chill to think of someone murdering people with a weapon like this, but it's all in a day's work for me. I don't have time to be squeamish.

Damn. I nearly forgot. I have an appointment downstairs with a news reporter about the strange events at the Clock Tower. He should be here by now, probably waiting and wondering where I am. As I walk out the door I notice a few of the office workers are still here. I overhear Elizabeth (or Beth as we all call her) saying, "Helen and Jennifer are really starting to look a lot like sisters. I guess that's what happens when you live together for a while."

I walked up to her and organized a few sheets of paper on her desk. "One mustn't put personal feelings before the case. Jennifer is simply another patient." Beth looks back at me with a stoney glance. That's just how it is, if she can't take it she can leave. Nothing more to say here. I continue walking and run into Jason, another office worker. He is holding something in his hand.

"So Professor, this is the mask the killer wore?" He hands me a repulsive carnival mask.

"Yes, that's what the patient said. Forgive me, I don't have time to go over it now; there's a reporter waiting downstairs for an interview about the case."

"Oh, it's no problem Professor. See you when you get back."

I grunt and slide past him into the hallway outside the office. I step into the elevator and hit the first floor button. The reporter sees me coming, sets down a mug of black coffee, and offers me a handshake. I decline. "I'm sorry I'm late." I tell the reporter, and his cameraman. "I was finishing up some work in my office."

"Not a problem, sir." the reporter says. At least he called me sir. "I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Nolan Campbell, and this is my cameraman Tim." Tim nods a hello. "We work for the Oslo Weekly newspaper."

"Professor Samuel Barton." I reply. "So let's start the interview already."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir." Nolan says. "First of all, we saw one of your patients leaving a little earlier. Jennifer, I believe her name was."

"What about her?" I ask. "Oh, nothing. We just asked her for an interview and she declined." He replies. "Is there any news on the Clock Tower case?"

I massage my chin. "No, the witness's testimony lacks credibility, so we're at a stand-still."

"Witness.. you mean Jennifer?"

"That's right. She believes she was attacked by a monster. Something inhuman. We can't go putting that in the paper, now can we?"

"Erm.. no, no I guess not." Nolan stammers. "The supposed murder, the Scissorman.. the story has all of the children in town scared witless."

"That's because trashy gossip magazines like yours sensationalize the entire case." I return.

"Ouch. That's harsh." says Nolan

"If there is nothing else, gentlemen?" I say. "I have another patient that will be arriving shortly, and I must be ready. The only other survivor of the Clock Tower murders."

"No, that's all we need from you today sir. Thank you very much."

"Don't mention it." I tell them, and walk back to the elevator. When I return to my office, Leon is already waiting for me with his usual round of questions. To get him off of my back, I ask him to take one of the items found at the scene of the crime to a former butler for the Barrows family, named Rick, to see what information he can provide the investigation. An address later, Leon is out of my hair for the time being. Now onto the other survivor.

I walk into my office to see that the survivor is already here, and with his guardian, a blonde woman in her early to mid 30's, if I'm not mistaken. It is a small boy. "Hello there." I say, trying my best to warm the boy up to the questions I'll be asking.

The boy's guardian encourages him. "Say hello, Edward."

"Er.. hello." the boy says at last. Does the boy actually remember his name? I had thought he forgot everything about his life from the shock.

"Oh, he has." the guardian answers after I question him. "It's just that having no name to go by makes things so much more difficult. Thus, Edward."

"I see. So Edward, let's start with the easy questions...."