Delirious || Bozari

Chapter Six: Boze

"Our next story is about Mari Takahashi, a former psychologist made famous when she was kidnapped by Wesley Johnson, a serial killer who went by the name of Silver Slayer, a year ago. The case earned a lot of attention when Dr. Takahashi wrote her bestselling book, The Inner Mind of a Sociopath, describing the ordeal. Johnson recently recaptured her after he broke out of jail. No one knows what he did to her over the period she was gone, but after she was arrested at the Loft massacre and taken to an asylum, psychologists reported that she 'wasn't right in the head.' Everyone is wondering; what happened to the esteemed psychologist? And is it possible to get her back? My name is Gloria Borger, and I am here with Courtney Miller, her former colleague, friend, and the psychologist who was assigned to her case. Welcome, Dr. Miller."

"Thank you for having me," Boze had to scoff at Courtney's appearance. There were dark bags around her eyes. Her skin was at least two shades paler than normal. She looked like a corpse. Was she really that worried for Mari? How touching.

"We're glad to have you," the newswoman responded. She was short and on the heavier side, with brown hair and green eyes. "We're all wondering; what did you mean when you said that Dr. Takahashi wasn't 'right in the head?'"

"She meant that her brain had been fried," Pamick said from the bar stool next to her, a mug of beer in hand. Boze nodded in agreement.

"She was... different," Courtney replied. "And not in a small way. The way she talked, the way she acted, even the way she moved... I've known Mari for a long time, and the woman who had sat in front of me in that room was someone else entirely."

"So you think Wesley Johnson did something to her?" the newswoman asked.

Boze laughed. "Of course he did something to her! What kind of question is that?"

"Absolutely," Courtney replied. "There were burn marks on her temple. My... colleague, Dr. Sui, deduced that they were from an electroshock device. We don't know how Johnson got ahold of one, but our best theory so far is that he used one to fry her brain, to put it in simpler terms."

"Why'd she hesitate before she said the doctor's name?" Pam asked.

"They're fucking," Boze replied, taking a sip of her wine. "She tried so hard to keep that a secret from everyone, but we all knew."

"If that is the case, is there any way to reverse the damage?" the newswoman asked.

"I don't know," the sadness written across Courtney's face was so severe it almost made Boze feel bad for her. Almost. "I only had one session with her. I'd have to spend more time with her before I could deduct an answer to that question. It depends on how long he shocked her for, the voltage he used, and how strong-willed Mari was. But God, do I hope she's still in there. She has to be."

"Okay, this is boring," Pamick yawned. "Change the channel. Let's see what other news channels are saying on this story."

"Gladly," Boze replied, grabbing the remote. She wasn't in the mood to see Courtney break into tears either.

The bar was alive with sound. At least twenty of her girls were in the many booths, gossiping and making out and all the usual shit they did. It was Freya's turn on bartender duty, and she was rushing around to fill everyone's orders. In other words, it was a usual night.

The next news channel had Mari's parents on it, who both looked even worse than Courtney. You'd think after the third time your daughter was kidnapped, you'd have gotten used to it, but no. There they were, begging Wes to give her back. Idiots. Wes hadn't even been smart enough to break himself out of that asylum, let alone someone else.