Reverie [The Distortionist x reader]

Chapter 3

(Art by sais-scribble-corner on Tumblr)

Now take the time to realize

Despite what you believe

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The person you should interview first is the girl with white hair from the audience. Her demeanor showed she was very eager to leave, after all. You need to speak to her before she does so. Detectives will stay on the premises until later, so you have time to spare for them.

People are milling out of the one-story building, chatting amongst themselves. Only people somehow connected to the criminal, victim, or the press had been allowed to attend since there were so many people who wanted to come. You spot the albino woman on the other side of the street from you, so you weave through all the attendees of the trial that are outside. You are careful not to accidentally hit anyone with your heavy briefcase.

You get to her side. Out of courtesy, you don't immediately sit down next to her. She has her face covered with her hands and hair. It looks like she has it rough. You decide to act in the same sensitive way you did with Henry.

"Um... Hello. My name is [Y/N] [L/N]," you introduce yourself, making her drop her hands and stare up at you. Staring into her eyes, you notice they're not wet. She wasn't crying.

"What do you want?" Her purposefully spiteful tone is shattered with a voice crack. You throw away any doubts you had about her feelings. She is grieving.

"I'm writing an article about the murder." You try to keep a soothing voice since your words couldn't be. "Would you be okay with disclosing information through an interview?"

"Ugh, you journalists are so insensitive." She frowns. "Writing an article about something my brother did and then daring to ask me about it."

"So he's your brother?" you confirm, opening your notebook and inking it with quick words. Seeing her expression, you quickly add, "I'm so sorry, but this is needed. You do understand, correct?"

"Yeah," she grudgingly huffs. "I'm Izabella Pierre."

You write more onto your notebook, taking the liberty to sit next to Izabella. "So, do you want to start, miss Pierre?"

"Please, call me Bella." She winces. "Miss Pierre is weird. My brother calls himself by his last name, and it sounds like I'm his daughter or something."

"Sure," you chuckle. To make her feel better about you in general, you say "Call me [N/N] (nickname), then."

You lean against the backrest, twirling your fountain pen, capping and uncapping it multiple times.

"I... Don't know where to start." Bella admits. "Aren't you supposed to ask questions or something?"

"If you want me to. To start it off: how is your relationship with your brother?"

"We aren't super close, as some siblings are." She shrugs. "We speak regularly, though. He works at a traveling carnival with me, or, well... He won't be anymore." Christopher working at the carnival meant that he might not be crazy and just be good with entertainment and words. It would better explain what happened at trial than the 'crazy' label, you figured. But then what was his motive?

"We have a few friends there, so it isn't all bad," she finishes.

"What are those friends?"

"I'd say Nah, a clown, and... Albert, part of the freakshow... Yeah, they're the only ones."

"What were your positions at the circus?"

"You mean my brother's and mine?"

"Yes."