The boy sitting across the room had been still for what seems like ages. I was almost starting to doubt that someone who looked so serene had done something so horrible... But as a police officer, I knew that even the most harmless faces can hide the worst crimes. A case this complex is really hard to deal with though... When it could be any one of many people on the surface, you can't ensure that the right one is being punished... From our brief talk with his mother, it seemed there were 5 personalities total, and one of them had quite the dark side... Or, Mike simply got fed up with being pushed around. My analysis was interrupted by a deep gasp. The boy looked around and cleared his throat.
"Are you Mike?" I asked him.
"Y-yes. Um, could me and my mom speak in private for a minute?" He spoke nervously.
"I'm sorry, but this has taken too long already. Do you know why we're here?"
"Not exactly. Manitoba mentioned the hospital..." He trailed off.
"We need to ask you a few questions."
"Uh, Sure thing!"
" ok, we will start easy. Do you know Tony Spencer, Daniel Parks, or Edwin MacDonald?"
"Not really..." He said, rubbing his neck. "I know they pick on Mi-yyy friends and I sometimes."
"Okay... Were you, 'you' right after school today?" He looked uncomfortable, shifting nervously.
"Um, I think so?" He didn't sound convinced.
"So you don't know then? How about this. Can you tell me exactly where you were at 4:15 today?"
"Uhm..." He paused seeming to think hard. He shifted some more, then half reached for his coffee, hesitated and put his hand back in his lap. Wait, didn't his mom mention that he doesn't drink coffee? I raised my eyebrow. And glanced at his mother, she returned it with a small shrug of her own.
"Excuse me, 'Mike'?" I got his attention. "Are you sure that you are who you say you are?" His eyes widened in shock, suddenly he gasped, hunching over and scrunching up his face sucking in his lips.
"Durned people askin' all these confounded questions!" He exclaimed in a weathered voice before apparently realizing his company. His features softened. "Oh sorry officers, is there a problem?" He asked us.
"Actually yes." I replied, mildly annoyed. This was taking too long! "We were talking to mike. Can you please bring him back?"
"Mike? But Mike is sti-hey, what's the big idea?!" He stopped mid sentence, and suddenly yelled at no one in particular.
"You whippersnappers! What're ya tryin ta do!?" He again yelled, thrashing about. Suddenly, he slumped down. I sighed. "Well, we don't seem to need as much force as anticipated, and this isn't looking near concluding anytime soon...Childs, stay with me. Espo, Vierra, go back to HQ and inform dispatch of the change in plans." I instructed my team. I watched them leave then turned back to Mike.
"Does this... Happen often?" I asked raising an eyebrow at his mum.
"Not often, but it has before. Usually it's Veto." She said with a shrug. Heaving a sigh I settled into my seat, waiting for the boy to resurface.
Meanwhile
I sat bolt upright at the sudden outburst of noise.
"Gah!" I squeezed my eyes shut at the bright light, then slowly opened them once again, revealing a neigh comical scene. Chester was lying on the ground cursing and flailing about, Manitoba sitting on his back, trying to lasso him for some reason, as Svetlana was covering Chester's mouth, muffling his protests. Veto appeared to be pinned under Chester.
"Ey, will ya get this lug offa me!" He shouted, struggling to free himself. Muffled 'dagnabbit's and 'kids these days' were heard, on top of Svetlana and Mani struggling to silence him.
"Um... Guys? What's... Goin' on?" I asked cautiously. All noise ceased save for Chester as the group froze. Svetlana was first to speak.
"Mike! You are avake!" She cried in delight.
"Marvellous timing mate." Manitoba said to me. "Ya should probably git out there before ya get arrested."
"Wait, what?! Mani what did you do!?"
"Nothin' mate, I was about to ask tha same ta you!"
"Me? What'd I do?"
"That's what we wanna know!"
"I am so confused!"
"Vhy are ve making vith ze shouting?!"
"Will ya get this geezer offa me!"
"SHUT UP!" I cried, silencing them. They all turned to look at me.
"From the beginning, what happened?"
Overworld
"SHUT UP!" The boy across the room shouted, shattering the silence and making us both jump. I looked over hopefully, but he was still out. I frowned, narrowed my eyes and settled back in my seat with a sigh.
Subconscious
"But then Chester woke up an' caused a fuss, nearly blowing my covah..."
"Zat pretty much takes us to vhen you avoke." Svetlana finished.
I sat silently for a minute to process the information.
"Well... Thanks for getting me home... And taking the... um... momslaught for me." I chuckled. "Well, I should get out there if it's that serious... I'm sure it will be fine." I gave them a reassuring smile, trying to disguise the worry that flashed across my face. I hoped they wouldn't notice, and turned to leave.
"Ey, Mike?" Veto spoke up, surprising us all. "Wouldja mind leavin' a window open fer us? So we can see what's goin' on?" Was that genuine concern?
"Aw, Veto, you do care! I'm touched, really." I said in a mocking tone. He frowned at me.
"Oy, if you get locked up I wanna know. It's my body too, and those prison chicks is crazy." He reasoned.
"Point taken. I'll try to stay on the right side of the bars just for you Romeo." I chuckled nervously. 'I hope' I added silently. I quickly summoned a window, then faded out.
Overworld
*gasp*
I blinked and looked around. I was back at my house, in the living room. Across from me were two officers, one a young man with a notepad, the second a female slouched over and looking bored. I looked around for the other two that Manitoba had told me about, but the only other person in the room was my mother, who hovered awkwardly in the corner. Maybe they're outside? Oh well.
"Ahem..." I cleared my throat quietly. "You wanted to see me officers?"
"Hm? Oh! Yes." The female started. "Wait, this IS Mike this time, right?"
"Haha, yeah, It's me. Sorry for not being here earlier, I was asleep and Svetlana was... hesitant to wake me. I really did need it though...you would not believe the day I've had." The officer raised her eyebrow.
"What makes you say that?"
"Well there was school today, so there's that daily struggle. aside from that, I had an unfortunate run in with the local bullies, then somehow ended up across town in a very... undesirable area." I summarized. Glancing at my poor mother who looked shocked.
"Would you care to name these bullies?"
"Um, I can try... I don't know them well... The first names only though, if that. The leader is named tony, I know that much... one was Ed maybe? Probably short for something. the last one... D...Derek? No.. Don?"
"Dan?" She supplied. Causing my eyes to widen.
"How'd you know!" I exclaimed. she shook her head sadly in reply, her face grim. That's not good...
"Mike those boys are in the hospital, one in intensive care with multiple fractures and head trauma."
"Oh wow! Who did that?" I asked, not liking where this was going.
"According to them, you." she said flatly. I started to shake uncontrollably. My voice took on a higher pitch than usual
"M-M-ME?! There has to be a mistake! I-I-I'd never!" I floundered.
"If that's so, then what really happened?" She asked me.
"T-they chased me!" I burst out, still shakin- Deep breath- "I was just leaving the park, and I noticed them tailing me." I tried to calm my breathing. "I tried to shake them but they caught me in an alleyway. I started to call out, but then..." I gulped, shaking once more, not wanting to relive that moment. "H-h-he grabbed m-my n-n-n-neck..." I gestured at it. Shaking harder. "A-And slammed m-me against th-the wall..." My voice broke. I stopped, unwilling to continue. tears welled up in my eyes.
"Then what?" The officer pressed.
"He-he choked me until I-I blacked out..." I finished shakily, taking a shuddering breath. "When I woke up it was nearly dark, I was god knows where, all alone, and they were nowhere in sight." I finished. My mom was white as a sheet, her hand covering her mouth. I couldn't bear to see her like this.
"You can't remember anything after he choked you?" I shook my head sadly.
"And no one saw except you and the bullies? No one can confirm your location at 4:15?" I shook it again.
"Well, Mike, it breaks my heart to do this, but... you're under arrest." What?!I heard the others' collective gasps along with my own, and my mother's cry of disbelief, then the world went dark as my eyes rolled back in my head and I crumpled to the ground in a heap.