Cognitive Deviance

16. Strike One

March 31, 2045 - 10:23 PM

"Psychwatch Ignores Brutal Murders of 4 Teenagers. Arrests Drug Addict Instead," Doug laughed as he skimmed through the article on his holo-computer. "Can't believe that's what you decided to go with in the end."

"We needed a story and I got us one," Arthur replied with a prideful smirk. "Twelve thousand reads in just the first three hours of its publication! We're back in the business, buddy."

"But isn't your article kinda bullshit?"

Arthur raised his brow. "What do you mean? I was there at the crime scene. They were interviewing a man for a firsthand account of the crime but immediately lost trust in him once they found an empty Blue Caterpillar in his pocket."

"Speaking of which," Doug said as he pulled out his own Blue Caterpillar and took a puff of Wonderland Mist from it, "want a whiff?"

"Were you high on that this whole time?" Arthur grimaced.

"Hell yeah, I was!" Doug laughed. "This whole time, you were suddenly more handsome and muscular and kinda turning me on. And I'm not even gay!"

"So they weren't lying? That drug really does turn people pansexual?"

"Nah, I wouldn't go that far. But I shared some with Lily earlier and we started making out like crazy and—"

"No, no, no," Arthur impeded. "Spare me the details please."

"Shit, I got way off-topic," Doug added before clearing his throat. "What I meant earlier about calling your article bullshit is that...didn't the doctor-cops end up catching the killers anyway? You told me that Mr. DeShawn saw some masked men out in the distance run off into the abandoned zoo. Didn't Psychwatch end up catching them?"

Arthur shrugged. "Yes and no. They caught a few suspects, but they didn't catch the real killers."

"The hell do you mean?"

Arthur awkwardly paused for a moment, nervously twirling his fingers around. "Well...I may or may not have some associations with the guys directly responsible for the killings."

"Why didn't you tell anyone?!"

"Because they threatened me if I did," Arthur replied casually. "But I'm pretty sure it won't matter if I told just one person. It's mainly this one particular trio. Two males, one female. The main guy wears a mask like the ones worn by the strangers at the zoo, except his looks more sleek and plastic. The other two are these mentally unstable albino twins still in their teens."

Doug had the most dumbfounded look on his face. He exchanged glances between his tube of Wonderland Mist and his possibly insane coworker. "You sure you never took any of this?" he asked.

"Doug, I couldn't make this up even if I wanted to," Arthur replied.

"Alright." Doug paused once again, still secretly questioning his colleague's imagination. "Have a goodnight, Cohen."

"And don't tell anyone! I highly doubt they'll find out anytime soon, but play it safe and keep quiet about what I just said."

Doug didn't say another word. He simply exited the room and closed the door behind him

"What have you done?" whispered a teenage girl's voice in Arthur's ear.

The lights in the room blacked out. A hand quickly clamped over Arthur's mouth and a dagger pressed against his throat. He started sweating bullets as the frightening sounds of heavy breathing filled the room, and the rough edge of the dagger continued to prick his neck. He wanted to scream, but he knew nothing good would come of it, especially not now.