Previously on Destruction. . .
"It's alright. You don't need to share with us about why. Later you'll meet up with a psychologist to address your needs. Thank you for sharing."
She felt a happy feeling spread through her body. For once, she felt heard. She felt like she was valid. It was the most wonderful feeling she had felt in almost four months.
Fae Blackmire crossed her arms as she leaned against the window of the passenger seat door.
Her partner in crime was currently driving Black Pearl. It's what he named his Oldsmobile cutlass, an older-looking vehicle that made them look like it was history living in the present. He couldn't depart something like this and refused to get a newer car because it was something his father gave him.
Crow noticed the body language his partner was displaying. While he kept his eyes on the road, he asked, "You don't typically cross your arms unless you're thinking. What's on that mind of yours?"
Blackmire knew she couldn't hide a thing from Crow. They've been in this case for a few years and have been at each other's side for a long time too. "I'm thinking about Marinette. We haven't even met her yet. I keep thinking she isn't real. None of the targets Lila has targeted made it out alive. Is this all pretend?"
"It's not all pretend? This is some pretty good luck here. We'll bring justice to everyone. So, please just focus on one thing at a time."
Those words comforted Blackmire more than Crow could possibly understand. If she didn't have him, she didn't know where she'd be in this case. She silently thanked him for grounding her.
The Black Pearl came to a stop.
Blackmire looked up at the building the Black Pearl had stopped near. She had unfolded her arms.
The building in front of them felt almost towering. It wasn't only a mental hospital, but a regular hospital as well. It was easy to transfer patients with mental health issues, suicidal ideations, etc to their mental health facilities with it being two and one. Vise versa if a patient harmed themselves despite sedatives.
Crow and Blackmire exited the vehicle.
Crow slipped his car keys into his pocket and followed Blackmire with a notebook and pen in hand.
Blackmire took the lead. She entered the building with a simple push of the doors.
Her partner held the door and followed her inside.
"You guys here to arrest someone or something?" The receptionist asked. She had the brightest blue eyes, which complimented her long red hair. She was wearing turquoise-colored scrubs.
"Actually, no. We're here to see a patient who's currently staying here."
The receptionist placed her hands on the keys of the keyboard. "What's the name?"
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng."
"On floor seven. I'll let them know you're coming up."
"Thank you," Blackmire said.
The receptionist pointed to the elevator. "I know you guys are part of the investigator team or whatever, but please follow protocol. Leave your personal belongings such as a phone or gun here. You can bring your notebook and pen as long as you hold it close to you. We don't want the patients to be grabbing it and harming themselves."
Blackmire and Crow nodded. Both of them put down their cell phones, guns, weapons, and other personal items. They were only left with Crow having his mini notebook and pen and Blackmire with a hidden record device that sat in her jacket. Both headed towards the elevator.
The receptionist picked up a phone and dialed a couple of numbers. "Permitted guests heading your way for Marinette Dupain-Cheng."
Crow pressed the up arrow for the elevator. It only took a few moments for the doors to open.
Both of them stepped in.
Blackmire pressed on floor seven out of ten floors.
The elevator doors closed. There was a soft dinging noise as they hit each floor. Once they hit floor seven, the elevator doors opened up to reveal a simple hospital hallway. They stepped out of the elevator and approached the grey double doors where a female nurse stood.
"Fae Blackmire and James Crow?" the nurse asked. She held a clipboard in one of her arms.
"Yes," Blackmire replied.
"We've let Ms. Dupain-Cheng know about your arrival. She's ready for you. I'll guide you both to the location where you'll be able to have some privacy with her." she turned around and opened one of the double doors with her free hand.
Blackmire and Crow followed.
The nurse who guided them had soft pink hair and the deepest blue eyes. She still held that clipboard close to her. "I apologize if any of our patients stare at you. We typically don't get guests like you. This must be a special occasion."
"You could say that," Crow answered.
Respectfully, the nurse with soft pink hair didn't push any further. This wasn't any of her business. Just the business of the psychologist who would be seeing Marinette and these people who have come to question her. "Well, we're here. Let me or any of the staff know when you're done or if you need some help. She's in the next room."
Blackmire thanked the nurse. She headed towards the room where Marinette was with her partner in tow. Before she opened the door, she knocked. "May I come in, Ms. Dupain Cheng?"
"Yes," a soft voice replied.
Crow held the door open once Blackmire had entered the room.
Marinette sat at a desk with two chairs across from her. She looked pretty exhausted. Emotionally, however, that was unknown.
"It's good to finally meet you, Ms. Dupain Cheng." Blackmire's tone of voice sounded soft.
"It's good to meet you guys too." it was noticeable how tired the bluenette sounded. Ever since Lila had returned, she had to put up with so much. And just a couple of days ago, she had lost the will to fight.
Blackmire and Crow took a seat.
Crow placed his notepad on the table while he clicked his pen.
Blackmire placed the recording device on the table. She too clicked something. It was something on the recording device. Most likely the begin to record button. "Do you understand why we're here?"
"Not really. I was just told there were some important people looking for me because they wanted to ask a couple of questions."
"I'll start off by saying you're not in any kind of trouble. We came out here because of Lila."
"Did Lila contact you?"
"No. Lila Rossi is a very bad person. We're just surprised that one of the victims she's bullied into taking their own life is still alive. It's very fortunate."
One of the victims she's bullied. . . Marinette gave them a confused look. "I'm not the only one? I..."
"I know this is all so much for you to hear. But we need to hear from you what you experienced. If you have evidence of her harassment towards you. If you're alright with that."
"I don't think there's anything you guys can do. She has diplomatic immunity." Nervously, Marinette clasped her hands together.
"It won't last for long," Blackmire exclaimed too confidently. To be honest, she wasn't quite sure if that was the case. With the amount of suicides Lila had caused, she was sure that victim number seven would be enough to revoke Lila's diplomatic immunity.
Surely someone like that would be seen as a threat. Especially when there were so many people impacted.
"It all started about four months ago. I barely remember that day. I remember Lila corning me in the girl's bathroom. She threatened to take away all of my friends and..."
"And?" Blackmire pressed as she leaned forward in her chair.
"There's this boy I had a crush on for a while. She said she'd make this crush of mine hers' if I didn't step in line."
"When did the bullying increase from her?" Crow scribbled away in the notepad. He noted Lila threatening Marinette.
"A couple of days after I tried pointing out the holes in her stories. She turned her waterworks on and cried to my former best friend about how I pushed her down the stairs and made her left wrist? No." Marinette shook her head. "Was it her right wrist? I don't-"
Blackmire almost wanted to reach out to the bluenette. She imagined herself placing a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. But in this present time, she didn't. She was to stay professional around those who weren't family. The investigator wasn't here to make friends. She was working. "You don't have to push yourself, Marinette." Blackmire hadn't realized she had used Marinette's name. "If this is all too much, you're more than welcome to ask us to leave."
"No... I... Lila needs to be stopped. I don't want what's happened to me to repeat."
There was no way Blackmire could disclose the other victims. Not now. "It won't. We'll make sure of it."
The blunette took a deep breath. She looked away from the investigators. To keep herself rooted, she clasped her hands together nervously. "A couple of days later, the bullying worsened. I was accused of things without evidence. No one wanted to hear my side. I... I was told by a friend to take the high road to prevent Lila from being akumatized. But..." Her fingers pressed into her knuckles. "What about me? What about my feelings? What would he have done if he knew she threatened me in the bathroom?" At this point, Marinette had tears rolling down her face. "What about my words? I knew all of my classmates for a very long time. Why did they cast me aside after everything I had done for them? What did I do wrong?!"
Crow stood up and excused himself.
"You didn't do anything wrong. Lila did."
"I..." A sob escaped from the blunette. "She twisted everything... It didn't matter what I told my friends... She would always twist it to her advantage. I don't think there's anything you can do..."
The female investigator knew there was nothing she could do for Marinette. She wasn't a licensed psychologist. So, she made the difficult decision to turn off the recording device and exit the room.
A/N: Certain traumatic events can cause a person to have some memory loss. Which is why Marinette barely remembers certain events.