The Mayview Murders

Into The Brain (Margret)

Students sit around the classroom talking and laughing, waiting for class to begin. The light dims, and the bright light from the board fills the room. A woman leans against the front desk, remote in hand. Ms. Marget Banks, a psychology professor, is a tall, slim lady with short hair barely reaching her shoulders. She wears a clean white button-up tucked into a pair of khakis and a light brown jacket. She watches as the rest of the students fill the lecture hall.

The board reads:

"The Study of ASPD"

Margret waits for the class to settle before grabbing her clipboard from the desk. She catches a glimpse of her phone, a text from Mom, and four missed calls. She sighs, deciding to leave it for later.

"Who can tell me what ASPD stands for?" Professor Banks asks looking around the classroom twice before settling on a student.

"ASPD stands for antisocial personality disorder. It is a mental health illness sometimes referred to as sociopathy."

The professor leans off the desk, crossing her arms. "Very good, thank you, Mr. Edwards. Antisocial personality disorder is a new umbrella term used to encompass people who have a certain set of traits, you would know them better as 'psychopaths' and 'sociopaths.'"

"And who can tell me the difference between the two?"

A student at the back of the class raises her hand before anyone else.

"A psychopath is someone who shows no remorse or guilt for the crimes they commit. They typically plan their violent behaviors. They are good at pretending and blending in with society, typically they will get into relationships for their own gain. A sociopath on the other hand will have more impulsive and violent behavior. They will have a tough time maintaining relationships, They often have anger issues and can be extremely volatile and hostile."

"That is correct. Often, the terms sociopathy and psychopathy are used interchangeably nevertheless, there are a few distinct differences between the two. A sociopath has very little empathy and a unique sense of right and wrong. They will most often justify their wrongdoings. It is generally believed that sociopaths are a product of their environment. Sociopathy may develop when a child is being neglected, during the developmental stages of their life. Whether it be abuse or an unstable home environment all could be factors that later lead to sociopathy. That being said, not every abused child will develop sociopathy. Margret pauses before continuing to let the people writing catch up.

Margret begins to pace the front of the class as she talks, stopping occasionally to make sure everyone is paying attention. "Psychopathy, in contrast, is considered the result of biological factors. Psychopaths are considered meticulous and calculated. As said before, they are often exceptional at blending in. They can seem charming and may even seem trustworthy. But it's all surface-level. They study, and they watch. They are often pathological liars. They will manipulate anyone to get what they want. Much like sociopaths, they usually lack remorse or guilt. However, unlike sociopaths, psychopaths have no conscience whatsoever." She pauses, returning to the front of her desk.

"Now that we've covered the basics, are there any questions so far?" Ask the professor as she walks behind the desk to sit down, crossing her legs.

Margret glimpsed her phone again. 4 messages. 7 missed calls from Mom. She can feel a headache forming, dreading whatever it is her mother is going to say. Whispering is heard throughout the class, and as the professor looks around the room, taking in all the different students, each with their own unique lives, She can't help but analyze them. It's a habit she can't seem to shake. She notices things. Some people may call that a superpower. Maybe it is. For Ms. Margret Banks, it is nothing but a curse.