Chapter 2

The week passed and Alex gained more proof of something strange going on.

The Smile Man watched his patients. For any doctor, this was probably a normal occurrence, but Alex quickly grew paranoid about the frequent sightings of cameras – in the seemingly harmless palm trees, the innocuous umbrella stands by the pool, even positioned on the lights of the bathroom.

However, much as he despised the 'big brother' effect, he forced himself not to glare accusingly at the lights while doing his business. For one, it hurt his eyes.

Also, the many 'bonding sessions' in the rainforest made him extra glad for the extra-strength STINGO ™ (which actually repelled mosquitoes this time) Smithers had given him.

These sessions, however, didn't seem to have a point. They supposedly helped the patients learn to work together and form strong bonds with each other, but Alex really didn't see how trying to outrun giant boulders down a large and very steep mountain could possibly help.

The Smile Man definitely didn't, standing on the sidelines or at the finish line smiling gleefully as his patients hurtled down towards him (most of them still grinning, apparently in exhilaration).

Alex could see Danny Yu was a prideful man who enjoyed revelling in his success. Sadly, Alex could feel no success at outrunning the boulders.

He had made an – almost – friend when first arriving on the island. Danilo Ilic was not a bad person, he decided, even if he was a little spoilt. At least, that was how he had been when Alex had first met him.

Now? Well, he had definitely changed. Alex looked morosely at his once-friend, who was almost dancing with excitement, waiting for the boulder to be set after them.

It had been five days until Danilo's first check-up when Alex had met the bored young man. Danilo had not been looking forward to it. He had noticed the weirdness of the island – had put it down to paranoia, really – and was more than a little creeped out by the Smile Man. But after the appointment, Danilo could be heard singing the praises of the man, and was his staunchest supporter.

I hope brainwashing can be reversed, thought Alex. It was after this piece of evidence, acquired just before his own check-up, that Alex decided the check-ups were the sessions in which patients were brainwashed.

He had enough proof to prosecute the man and had devised an escape plan. It was foolproof. He hoped.

(OoO)

Alex entered the Smile Man's Lair, his special sunglasses hanging casually from his shirt pocket.

As the Smile Man tied his hands behind his back, he dropped his kind façade and started smiling maniacally.

Stepping back, he grinned at Alex and boasted to him (as all super-villains seemed to do) of his master plan. Really, were they that bad at keeping their mouths shut? But then again, this was the Smile Man.

"They say I must have had a wonderful childhood. They say I must be trying to bring that childhood glory to the people who need it. Hah! What do they know?"

Alex sighed. It seemed like this monologue would be a long one. At least he could use the extra time for removing the rope around his wrists.

The man continued, oblivious to Alex's awesome cunningness.

"My childhood was not happy. How could it be? I am Asian. I have never been sporty, and have always been into academia. I am a nerd, something the other children always took great pleasure in reminding me.

"My father left before I was born. Because of this, my mother took anti-depressants, but she still managed to take her frustrations out on me when I came home from school.

"Do you know what it's like to be beaten? Do you know what it feels like to have your mother, the one person who is supposed to protect you, scratch you and spit at your face and blame you for all her troubles?

"I retreated into myself and focused more and more on my studies. My grades got better, but my mother didn't care. Oh no, in fact it was the opposite. She expected even more. The beatings and insults got worse. By the time I reached high school, my mother was not the only one in the house taking anti-depressants regularly.

"Who would have thought that I, of all people, would want to make people happy?

"You sad people have come to my island at the behest of your loving, devoted and most importantly, powerful parents."

His face twisted into an ugly grimace, a startling contrast to the friendly but somehow ominous look he had been wearing for the majority of Alex's time on the island.

"How can you be so ungrateful? What I would have given to be in one of your families!

"But that is all over now. Some would have sulked for the rest of their lives, but not me. I have gotten over such trivial things."

Alex inwardly scoffed. Yeah, right.

"I am a good person, whatever my mother said. That means I want others to be happy. So what if they are brainwashed to be happy? They don't know that! All you'll remember is that we had a nice chat and you became happy.

That is all.

"But of course, what is the point of brainwashing others to be just happy? I mean, I might as well use it for something. No point letting it go to waste – my mother never would have stood for that. So why not get revenge?

"Let me tell you; revenge is definitely sweet. Once I have killed – or rather, once my brainwashed patients have destroyed my childhood 'friends', I will be happy; happy for the very first time. It is a goal worthy of the genius I am."

He paused, as if waiting for approval. Finding none, he continued petulantly, almost as if trying to convince himself. "I am a good man. I am getting rid of all the bullies in the world. Is that not an admirable aim to have?

"You are my 24th patient, and one of my most powerful. Your father will certainly have people at his disposal – and yours – that will kill those who killed my childhood. My happiness is your success. Don't stop me now. Make another one bite the dust. Play the game, Gavrilo, and show them the loser doesn't always have to fall."

As soon as Yu finished his speech, Alex leaped up spectacularly, his bonds falling to the ground as he wielded a long knife. Seriously, what kind of villain didn't check patients for weapons before bringing them to their secret lair?

The Smile Man's jaw dropped. His eyes bugged out.

"I eat wide-mouthed frogs," Alex stage-whispered dramatically, his own eyes widened to look more intimidating.

Now our Hero's adversary looked puzzled and slightly discombobulated. "Wha–?"

Alex sighed and gave him an uppercut to the jaw, knocking the man out. What was wrong with his dramatic statements? They worked for Bond.

Whistling the tune of Crazy Frog, he ambled out the door, hands in his pockets, and made his way to the Smile Man's boat moored on the pristine white jetty.

He fervently prayed it was air-conditioned.