Chapter 3: Visitation
Robin sent the Titans out to a distress call from a bank. It appeared one of their local villains was searching for an early payday yet again with the assistance of small explosives. When Robin announced he was behind his team didn't question him, having become accustomed to him leaving Cyborg in charge in his place.
At ten Robin and the Chief met and drove over to the Asylum tucked discreetly away a few miles outside of the city. They checked in with the office and were led to the underground floor. The hall was the stereotypical white linoleum, with overly bright blue lights every few feet, lighting up patches of hall and leaving the others in darkness. The glass windows showed the patients going about, either eerily quiet or screaming bloody murder. The Chief and Robin made no comment as the nurse led them to the first patient they were to interview.
"Now this one has been deemed nonviolent but out patients can be unpredictable so I advise caution." The nurse said, pausing in front of the door. They could see the man sitting quietly at a desk, playing with his fingers. "There is to be no physical contact, please do not supply the patient with anything, your weapons have already been confiscated but if there is anything we missed—" She glared at Robin. "I suggest you give it up now." She smiled at the Chief. "Anything weapons or questions?"
Robin frowned annoyed. "No." he lied. His knife stayed safely hidden on the inside of his sleeve and he refused to give it up, wary of going anywhere completely unarmed.
The nurse frowned back but turned to unlock the door. "Twenty minutes."
She stood aside as they entered and locked the door behind them.
"Mr. Paice?" The Chief said.
The man at the table didn't respond. His head stayed down, focused on his twiddling fingers.
"Mr. Paice." The Chief tried again.
This time the man turned to them, a thin smile plastered on his lips. "Ah! Welcome dear, welcome."
The Chief forced a smile. "Hi there. We had a few questions for you."
The man nodded. "Of course, please take a seat at the dining room table and we can chat as soon as I'm done here." He motioned for them to sit. The room however was empty except for the desk and chair he occupied and bed that was fastened to the padded wall. "It'll be just a moment."
The Chief looked at Robin and shrugged. "Thank you but we'll stand."
Mr. Paice nodded. "Suit yourselves but please move from the front door and come into the living room. My daughter will be coming in soon."
They took a step forward and the man nodded pleased. "How have you been?" Robin asked.
The man shrugged.
"We're here to talk to you about some recent events Mr. Paice. To see if you remember anything." Robin continued.
Mr. Paice nodded again. "Yes, of course, of course. About my daughter right? She's been obsessed with that…boy. He's no good and I trust you two have come to the same conclusion no doubt."
Robin gave the Chief a confused look. The Chief cleared his throat. "Mr. Paice, we're not here to discuss your daughter actually. We're here to—."
Suddenly the Mr. Paice grimaced, his elderly features twisting into agony. He let out a loud, drawn out cry. "How dare you! How dare you!" He screamed.
"I'm sorry?" The Chief asked.
"You stay away from her! That's my little girl! Mine! You stay away from her!" He got up from his chair and ran at Robin. Surprised Robin caught the man. Mr. Paice screamed again. The door behind them swung open and the nurse ran in with a needle in her hand. She injected it into Mr. Paice's arm easily and within seconds he was slumped in Robins arms unconscious.
"I made it clear there was to be no physical contact. Two minute in the room and this! Hero or not you still must abide to the rules." The nurse snapped.
"The man ran into him." The Chief said grabbing the man and dragging him to the bed. He turned to Robin. "No help there. I don't know why I thought they would. Made no damn sense." He sighed.
"Let's try the next one." Robin suggested. They went to interview three different women who also seemed to live in a fantasy world. One woman insisted that they were co dancers who were preparing for a show. The interview ended when she began screaming about her broken leg despite being in perfect physical condition. They left the hospital.
"Useless." The Chief said taking out a box of cigarettes.
Robin walked with him to his car deep in thought. "Actually, it helped." He said after a while.
"Don't see how."
Robin explained. "Each one didn't seem to be in reality. They're all stuck in their own worlds."
The Chief nodded. "Your point? Not exactly a revelation in a mental bin kid."
"Did you notice at the end of all their pretend worlds there was something tragic that happened? Mr. Paice started screaming about his daughter, the dancer broke her leg, the other woman drowned before she finished the swim across the channel. It seems these people keep experiencing their worst nightmares over and over again." Robin paused and thought for a moment. "Whatever is happening to them, whatever is making them crazy is using their own fears against them. The question is are these memories or just hallucinations?"
The Chief inhaled. "Makes sense as far as those cases go but what about the guy who blew himself up in the park bathroom? That case doesn't seem to fit at all besides him going mad a few minutes before."
"Suicide. His hallucination was too much and someone provided the means for him to stop them. The other guy just so happened to help the wrong person at the wrong time." Robin said.
The Chief sighed. "So, you're thinking there's some lunatic running around making people live there worst nightmare, and so far, just for kicks and giggles?"
Robin nodded and leaned on the police car trying to piece things together. The Chief threw his cigarette on the floor and crushed it under his shoes. He unlocked his car and got in.
The Chief rolled down his window and leaned out, "You know kid, sadly, that doesn't sound too farfetched. People do some horrific things for no reason." He said. "They just like to watch people squirm."
"Yea, well we should see how these people were before they went crazy. Get some background information; before and after as you said." Robin said quietly.
The Chief nodded and rolled up his window. Robin got off the car and walked to his motorcycle, his mind too wrapped up in the possibilities to wave goodbye as the Chief drove off.