Sol: The True Self

by Joshua Chou

  He had a few vivid memories of how badly their team’s interrogation went last time. Iris was quite vicious with the holy water to torment her subjects.

  Meanwhile, Ethan had to watch his senior work fervently. Iris sent out a few texts and phone calls to Liam, Nikita, and other A.X.E.L. personnel that may need to be in on her plans.

  “Send in the North Precinct if you have to,” said Iris. “Well get someone who’s not busy! They should be ready to go immediately!”

  Ethan, Winston, and Nora stood by and watched the woman contact everyone she needed to. Iris’ next few words were so fast and acute that it was almost as though she were speaking a much angrier dialect of bad cop.

  No one had the gall to try interrupting Iris. They all knew how much worse the situation could get.

  From the tone of her voice, it sounded like she was making a lot of progress in those stifled few minutes.

  In addition, she worked with remarkable speed. At the rate she was going at, Iris could easily begin Sophie’s interrogation any minute.

  Iris finally hung up. She put her phone away and looked at the trio. Ethan gulped. Iris took a moment to let her nerves calm down.

  “Thank you for waiting,” she said finally. Iris’ tone still stung with malicious intent. “We can begin in a few minutes.”

  “Begin what?” asked Winston.

  “The interrogation,” said Iris. She watched her newest member try to hide his fear. “We’ll exorcise Sophie in a room I’ve arranged.”

  “If she’s too far along with the possession,” said Ethan, “an exorcism could kill Sophie.”

  “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Iris replied. “But that won’t change our plans.”

  “If I may, Mrs. Iris?” said Nora. “Maybe we should handle this more delicately.”

  Iris stared down Nora. “Delicately? Not this time.”

  She stared down Iris. Nora still had something to say, and she was standing up for herself. The problem was the fact that she was helpless as a twig in a stampeding buffalo’s path.

  “I’ve met her,” said Nora. “Sophie won’t like getting conned into this.”

  Iris folded her arms. Nora hadn’t changed her mind. Ethan silently shook his head.

  “And this case goes bigger than how ‘delicate’ you want to handle cases,” Iris replied. “We need to deal with the drug quickly.”

  A shrill ringing came from Iris’ hand. She looked to her phone. Ethan knew immediately that other A.X.E.L. personnel acquired a room for Iris to do her business. Someone sent her a text confirming the interrogation room.

  Iris looked to Nora, who hadn’t begun backing down yet. “If you’re done being pacifistic about this,” said Iris, “then show up for the interrogation.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Nora replied sternly.

  Then Iris looked to Ethan. “Are you going to be clever with me too?”

  Ethan shook his head. “No, ma’am.”

  Iris stared daggers at Winston. Winston nodded with agreement.

  “Then get your best suits ready.”

  ***

  Sophie reported immediately upon her summons.

  She received a direct command to come to an office on EU’s main campus. The new class rep had to go turn in a few assignments before going back to her home in uptown.

  Right before she could board an MTA bus, her phone rang. Whoever was calling sounded really urgent, but they did say they were part of Elysium University’s student council.

  “Miss Crawford,” said the mystery speaker, who sounded like a regal woman by the tone of her punctuated words. “Your presence is requested immediately. We urge you to arrive promptly.”

  She stopped herself from stepping through the bus doors. Sophie stepped out of the way, but kept a transit ticket in hand.

  “What for?” she asked.

  “There is a matter involving the EU Disciplinary Committee,” said the woman. “We’re bringing the members of the student council to discuss it, but we need you in person. Can you come in now?”

  Sophie checked her phone. Her father was expecting her, but he would understand if she said it was for school business. He normally didn’t take any of her excuses, but perhaps Sophie could get away with that one.

  Perhaps she could sneak in a capsule or two before hiding them and coming home. Her father would actually kill her if she was found with the pills in her possession.

  She had to make her time at campus count, or else she wouldn’t get her fix.

  “Where will the meeting be?”

  “Security office on 14th. You know the place near Union Station?”

  “Yes, I’ll see you there,” she replied.

  Sophie left the bus stop and quickly paced back to Elysium University. The sun descended to its earthy bed as Sophie walked along the road. She arrived at Union Station sooner than she expected.

  The city square was a hub for malls and transit. This was an open area for pedestrians to hop on and off the subway lines that ran underground. Great glass entrances led to stores galore between packed streets of cars and taxis.

  It would have been a great tourist spot, but Sophie didn’t have the time to marvel at it. She’d seen it plenty of times like everyone else who had to transit in and out of this city.

  A chorus of angry cars was the worst aspect of this place. Some angry taxi drivers honked at another car that was obstructing traffic around Canal Street.

  Thankfully Sophie left this mess behind her. She spotted her destination across the street.

  The Security Office was unassuming, but it was there. EU’s school insignia was plastered along its wide windows, along with a flag above the door.

  Sophie entered. Within were a handful of security personnel casually making small talk at the front desk. Not too much work, from the looks of it.

  “Excuse me,” said Sophie. “I’m part of the student council? They’re expecting me.”

  They glanced at her, and three hands pointed to a hallway behind them. Apparently this was the right direction. Sophie briefly thanked them and went along the hallway.

  The path seemed clear enough. All doors were closed, except for the second one on her right. Chances were that other guards were inside conducting business and needed their privacy.

  So she turned to the door that was ajar. Sophie peeked inside the open doorway to be sure this was the place.

  This room was furnished with the kinds of desks and file cabinets she expected. Not that Sophie had seen the inside of a security office, but she had seen enough cop shows to know what one looked like.

  This one was unique for being significantly smaller than a setting that was intended as a TV set. Only a dozen other people in suits could work in here. There was barely enough room to walk through the desks back out into the hallway.

  At the end of the room was a woman sitting at a desk. She was the only one out of “uniform,” but she was still well-dressed enough to look like a secretary.

  She noticed Sophie and waved. Sophie walked over and took a seat in front of the regal secretary.

  “Thank you for coming,” said Iris.

  “My pleasure,” said Sophie. She put on her best smile, despite how antsy she was getting. “Is something wrong?”

  Iris smiled. “I don’t mean to alarm you, but I’m afraid there’s a bit of a problem happening on campus. And we’d like your help.”

  “What kind of problem?”

  A pair of metallic clicks came from under the desk. She was opening something. Iris pulled up a folder from her briefcase. Sophie watched with earnest curiosity.

  Her face froze at the sight of some gray pills in a Petri dish. Iris held the forensic photographs for Sophie to see.

  “We believe this may be connected to a few cases that have been coming up lately,” Iris continued. “I don’t mean to alarm you, but we need all the help we can get for gauging how far the problem has spread. Would you be able to assist us, Sophie?”

  “Alright,” Sophi
e replied. ”If it’s a matter I can bring up with the student council—“

  The regal young woman wiped the smile off her face. “No, that won’t be necessary.”

  A pair of judgmental eyes stared down upon Sophie. She found herself squirming in place. Iris put down the photographs between them. While the pictures themselves were not much to look at, it was as though an anchor was pulling Sophie closer to this figure of authority.

  Did Iris know? Sophie wasn’t sure if now was a good time to make a hasty exit.

  “Have you heard of this new drug on the streets?” Iris asked. She rested her arms on the desk, weaved her fingers together, and rested her chin atop her hands. “Perhaps an alternative to anti-depressants or other behavioral conditions?”

  “No,” said Sophie quietly. “No, I haven’t.”

  “Now we both know that’s not true.”

  Iris darted her glance aside. She made eye contact with Ethan, who was dressed like one of the other guys in suits. Everyone else in this room was a contact from A.X.E.L.’s North Precinct. He was packed with a duo of other Wraith-slaying personnel dressed for this set-up.

  Ethan checked with his pupil. Winston was also dressed for good measure, though his collar was ill-fitting for his neck. Ethan gave a wink with one eye to him. Winston nodded.

  They knew it was go time.

  Iris turned back to their target, Sophie, who was sweating in her seat. Meanwhile, their class representative began to show the fear that was hiding under her façade all day.

  “You’re a smart girl, Sophie,” said Iris. “We can help. And I want you to tell me everything you know.”

  The other members of A.X.E.L. rose from their seats. All of them had their sights set on Sophie. The only way out of this room was through the mob.

  Sophie stood up. The arch of her back became more rigid than a live wire running through a dead frog. Her eyes flared a sinister shade of gold.

  “Stupid hag!” it cursed with Sophie’s voice.

  The Wraith was in control now. Unfortunately for it, the unholy creature was trapped. Sophie’s Wraith made a break for the door, but half a dozen A.X.E.L. members rushed at her. Their possessed target was brushed by at least ten different hands and brought to its knees.

  Some black mist leaked from the ground at Sophie’s feet. It had no time to transform though. Ethan and Winston had their hands locked on Sophie’s neck and shoulders.

  “No” it cried again and again. Sophie’s Wraith shrieked in vain.

  The haunted class representative thrashed as much as she could. Iris coldly watched all the while. Her chin never left the comfort of her hand’s cradle.

  “Lock her down,” said their field leader.

  All her cohorts made short work of Sophie’s Wraith. They forced her back into the chair and placed handcuffs around her wrists and the armrest.

  Sophie’s Wraith was stuck in that position. If the beast were transformed, it could easily break free. But that was not the case with a wholly human form. Sophie’s Wraith stopped struggling finally.

  “Wretches!” the monster cursed. It spouted further obscenities while muttering “Ugly maggots!” a few times.

  Someone walked out from behind the creature. Sophie’s Wraith turned its head.

  It was Nora, who emerged out of the crowd. She had a more sympathetic face than Iris had at the moment, but that brought no comfort to the Wraith.

  “Sophie,” said Nora. “I know you’re not comfortable, but we’re trying to help you.”

  The Wraith remained silent. It was the creature’s turn to stare back callously.

  Nora continued. She kept her tone as consistently calm as possible. “I know you want to be healthy just like everyone else. But it’s up to you to tell us who your supplier is. It’s really important.”

  Sophie’s Wraith scoffed. “Oh please. You can’t break me like that.”

  “Just try,” Iris retorted.

  “Ma’am, I can handle this,” said Nora.

  Iris closed her lips. Nora resumed her efforts to continue persuading Sophie to spill the information.

  It was a noble effort, but Iris had seen these kinds of actions go south quickly.

  Nora would fail. She didn’t know that, but Iris did.

  Chapter 19 - Absolution

  A few hours later, Nora was still trying to make this interrogation work.

  According to Iris, they had this Security Office room for at least four hours. In that time they assembled enough people to hold the Wraith in one place, and had to finish promptly.

  They could easily exorcise the Wraith, but extracting information was of the utmost importance. In Iris’ eyes, that was more important than finishing off a monster immediately.

  Ethan understood that much, but he wished that he didn’t have to stick around for something so time consuming. He almost cheered out loud when Iris excused him.

  “Get the West Precinct lunch,” Iris commanded. “Don’t care where. I’m only reimbursing you for $20.”

  Ethan agreed and left as soon as he could. Winston was bummed that he had to stay behind. On the contrary, Ethan thanked the stars that he didn’t have to buy food for the other thirteen people packed in that room.

  One trip to the deli later, Ethan had a lunch bag with sandwiches inside. He still wore the suit Iris commanded him to wear for A.X.E.L. business, which got a few stares from other kids on Elysium’s campus.

  As Ethan crossed Union Station, he spotted the Security Office. It was well past noon now, and this was one of the last humid days in the year. Ethan could feel the sweat bunching up on his collar and cuffs, but he was almost glad he could feel any heat.

  Even for a short trip to the sandwich store, it was pleasant autumn weather. Soon East Coast winter would settle in, and all the humidity would be replaced with gray skies and bleak winter snowfall.

  “Winter is almost here, isn’t it?” someone mused.

  Ethan caught a familiar figure in his peripheral vision. “Not now, Gabriel.”

  The ice spirit walked in Ethan’s shadow. Even though it was daytime, the sky wasn’t bright enough to obscure Gabriel entirely. Ethan could see him in the partial shade. This was unfortunately the best way for him to annoy Ethan during the day.

  Gabriel’s form still evaporated whenever direct light touched it, but a faint visage was still visible to Ethan. His voice was clear as well.

  “What do you think the Wraith will say?” asked Gabriel. “Do you think it’ll even know who created it?”

  “Dunno,” Ethan replied. “Couldn’t Sophie have gotten the gray pill from an over-the-counter pharmacy?”

  “Or it’s just plain old drugs.”

  Ethan approached a crosswalk. EU’s Security Office was right across the street, but a river of moving cars flowed between him and his destination. He also happened to be standing in the shadow of one of the many buildings around Union Square.

  With more free space, Gabriel freely roamed about to twirl around a streetlight. The ice spirit cupped one hand around the long iron rod and spun about like any other child. Ethan dared not stare at him.

  “It has to be drugs,” Gabriel mused. “Why do you think she was keeping it under wraps? Medication is fine. But did you see her try to run?”

  Ethan looked up. He spotted someone standing in front of the Security Office. Liam stood like a vigilant guard, despite his left arm being out of commission. He at least wore a good suit for the job.

  The upperclassman tried to cover his yawn. He was still on duty.

  “Ethan?” asked Gabriel.

  Ethan checked the crosswalk. He gripped the bag of food in his hand. Meanwhile, a blaring neon palm on the crosswalk sign warned him it still wasn’t safe to cross. Everyone jaywalked in this city, but Ethan needed to get one last word in before returning to his team.

  “Maybe I think she has a chance, alright?” asked Ethan. “Out of all the people in the world who could be rotten, I’d like to believe that some of them can redeem thems
elves and try to make the world a better place.”

  That got Gabriel to stop spinning about. “Like you?”

  Ethan fumed. “Yeah, and others too.”

  The crosswalk sign flashed a walking stick man. Traffic stopped to make way for Ethan to cross over. Ethan didn’t wait to leave Gabriel behind.

  “You keep telling yourself that,” Gabriel called out in a sing-song voice. “I’ll be here when it all blows up in your face!”

  Ethan’s ice spirit finally disappeared without another word. The mysterious boy left his host’s vision, but would certainly return whenever he pleased.

  Ethan may have been relieved in any other situation, but he had to get back to the interrogation.

  “Any luck?” he asked Liam.

  He whipped out a sandwich wrapped in wax paper. Liam took it happily and began to dig in.

  “Nope,” Liam replied with a mouth full of spinach and ham. “Any chance you can swap with me? I really have to pee.”

  Ethan walked through the doors to the office. “Nah, sorry. But how’s Nora doing?”

  “Can’t say,” Liam replied. “I’m guessing the good cop thing isn’t working out.”

  Ethan had a feeling that was the case. But he had to see it for himself. He entered the Security Office and ventured down the hall and back to the room.

  Their target was still handcuffed to her chair. Sophie’s Wraith slouched forward within her bounds. From the looks of it, the monster was getting tired of this grilling.

  Nora stood over her with arms folded and rocked between her toes and heels. A lie detector sat on the desk, and its wires were hooked to two pads on Sophie’s forehead.

  It’s a Wraith, but it still has a human body, Ethan reminded himself. If it lies, the host’s pulse spikes. We’ll see it when that happens.

  Iris hadn’t moved an inch since the start of this interrogation, which Ethan found rather impressive. Ethan remembered seeing Iris burn the midnight oil for days on end for some of their previous cases.

  She didn’t go into detail about those, but Ethan could tell they were just as critical as this drug case.

  Of everybody in the West Precinct, Iris probably had the most experience sitting for hours on end to do a singular job. That’s why she looked so much calmer than Nora at the moment.