Twisted

by J. L. Meyrick

  “He’s okay. He’s alive. But, oh, I don’t know how to say this.” Yates had switched from pacing to bouncing on the balls of their feet, rubbing their hands together anxiously.

  “Just spit it out already.” Rose was simply getting annoyed with Yates. They always seemed to get on each other’s nerves.

  Instead of coming back with a witty retort like they normally would, Yates just turned to the small television caged up in the room’s corner ceiling and pressed the power button. The screen flickered to life onto a local news station; they were reporting on the battle between Sentinel and Dark Warrior.

  “Sentinel is already helping with the cleanup effort throughout the city, currently working on the rubble pile near the office building on 15th Street, which seemed to take the brunt of the blows between the two fighters.”

  The feed switched to a shot of Sentinel moving massive blocks of concrete and metal with ease. Liliana thought she saw him flash a smile to the cameras before flipping over great rocks like they were pancakes.

  “The brutal fight ended when Sentinel trapped Dark Warrior under an enormous pile of concrete, effectively rendering his weapons useless. After rendering Dark Warrior incapable of fighting, Sentinel unmasked him to the world. Our cameras were nearby and caught the moment for all to see.”

  The feed switched again to show previously recorded footage. Sentinel tied Dark Warrior up in thick metal cables, making him unable to move his arms to activate any of his technology. Liliana could see him struggling to get free as Sentinel approached and broke the device which was holding his armour together. A strangled cry escaped the face hidden under the dark helmet. Sentinel whipped the helmet off and shattered it on the ground as a flash of dark hair accompanied the face behind the mask.

  Liliana felt her breath stop in her throat as she recognised the man everyone knew as Dark Warrior. Blood ran down the man’s face from a cut on his forehead, bruises already forming on his soft cheeks. He glared up at Sentinel as he continued to struggle. Sentinel broke more and more pieces of armour off him, exposing the skintight jumpsuit underneath.

  “You won’t win, Sentinel. Not until you kill me. I will always protect—” Sentinel cut him off by slapping a piece of fabric over his mouth. It stuck to his skin, stopping him from speaking.

  Liliana felt tears fall down her face as she stared at the face she’d grown to love. She couldn’t understand how this was happening. It was Max. Max was Dark Warrior.

  Rose stood up from her hospital bed to get a closer look at the television screen. “What on earth? How is Max Dark Warrior? Did you know?” she asked Yates, who remained silent.

  “Yates?” Liliana asked, finding her voice again. She couldn’t wrap her mind around this revelation. She knew Max. He wasn’t a fan of the Supers, but he didn’t hate them. He didn’t want them hurt, or anyone. He wouldn’t try to hurt anyone. Why would he? It made little sense. Why would he do this?

  A memory flashed into her mind from earlier that day. The office building, destroyed. He was fighting Sentinel near her office. If it weren’t for her coffee break, she would be dead.

  He tried to kill her. No, he wouldn’t do that. Would he?

  Did she really know him?

  “It isn’t as it seems, Ms Masters. The media has it wrong. Mr Victor didn’t start this fight. Believe me.” Yates implored Liliana to listen to them, to believe what they were saying.

  “Didn’t start the fight? Then who did? Sentinel? Why would Sentinel start a fight that destroyed half the city?” Rose argued. She would always get defensive for Sentinel. Liliana was sure he was the only man Rose ever loved.

  “I don’t know what happened exactly. But Mr Victor didn’t plan for this,” Yates shot back at Rose before turning back to Liliana. “You know him, Ms Masters. You know he wouldn’t do this.”

  “Everything I know about Max tells me this can’t be true,” she admitted reluctantly. “But I can’t deny what I’m seeing. Max is Dark Warrior. His fight with Sentinel destroyed my office today. If we hadn’t been getting coffee, both Rose and I would be dead right now.” Liliana felt her voice rising, feeling the panic of the day’s events setting in. “Max lied to me. Plain and simple. He hid this from me. He knew what I would say if he told me. He knew what I would do if I knew he wanted this to happen.” Liliana pointed at the television as she shouted. She was angry and confused.

  Why would the man she loved do this? She felt conflicted, down to her soul. She loved him, but she feared what he had become. He was a villain in a world where she reported on the heroes. What was she supposed to do with that? What did he think she was going to do now?

  “You must believe me. There is more to this than meets the eye. He is not the villain they are making him out to be.” Yates held their hands together as if in prayer. As much as Liliana wanted to believe that Max wasn’t the villain, she couldn’t ignore what she was seeing with her own eyes. She shook her head at Yates. She couldn’t believe them over her own eyes.

  “Okay. You can’t believe me. But please, believe him.” Yates pulled an envelope out of their breast pocket and held it out to Liliana.

  “Liliana, you can’t. You know what Max is now,” Rose chimed in, pleading with her to stay on the light side of this argument.

  “I know what Max is, that’s true, but what I need to know is why? Why would he do this?” Liliana reasoned, taking the envelope from Yates.

  Before they could say anymore, they all heard a commotion down the hall, loud footsteps and, from what Liliana could tell, an angry nurse. Faster than Liliana had ever seen them move, Yates slipped out of the room and moved down the hall in the opposite direction to the commotion, leaving no trace they’d been in the room apart from the noise of the television.

  Feeling the heavy weight of Max’s letter in her hand, Liliana had the urge to hide it away until she had the chance to read it in private. Stashing the envelope under her hard pillow, she straightened her covers as the door swung open yet again. It would seem the source of the commotion in the hallway was two surly looking police officers.

  “Liliana Masters?” the shorter of the two asked. She was round at the hips and wore her brown hair in a tight knot at the nape, a kink in her brow showing her stress level. Given the events of the day, she was most likely run off her feet.

  “That’s me,” Liliana replied, staying polite.

  “We have some questions for you regarding Mr Maximus Victor,” the taller man stated roughly. He stood at the foot of the bed, almost as broad across the shoulders as the bed was wide. Before Liliana could respond, he turned to Rose who had moved back to Liliana’s side. “So, if you could give us some privacy, love?” He nodded his head towards the door.

  If there was one thing Rose hated with a passion, it was being patronised, particularly by men who looked down to her.

  “Actually, love, I think I’ll stay. Seeing as my good friend here is currently recovering from a concussion, I think she’d appreciate the support.” She stood tall against the man and crossed her arms.

  “I don’t think you’re in a place to speak for Ms Masters—” The man raised his voice, readying himself to shout Rose down, when his partner cut him off.

  “She’s allowed to stay, Reynolds. If Ms Masters wants her to, of course. This is only an informal interview, anyway.”

  Reynolds begrudgingly held his tongue, shooting his partner a quick, dirty look. Anyone realised with half a brain he hated his partner. If her gender had something to do with his feelings, Liliana wouldn’t be surprised.

  “Yes. I would like Rose to stay. I’m still a little fuzzy so I don’t know how useful I will be to you, officers,” Liliana stated as clearly as she could. She focused on the shorter officer, though she spotted Reynolds roll his eyes over his shoulder. He ignored Rose as if she had done what he told her to do.

  “Very well. My name is Detective Nikki Berkowitz. My partner here is Detective Stephen Reynolds. We have some questions about Max Victor and your relationship
with him.” She was professional and to the point. She flipped open her notebook, ready to take down Liliana’s answers.

  “I’ve seen what’s been happening on the news. All I can say is that it makes no sense to me. Max wouldn’t hurt a soul, not unless someone he knew had been threatened. He doesn’t have it in him to be a villain. Not like this.” Liliana was adamant that something else was going on here. Max wasn’t a villain. “I don’t understand how this happened. The Max on the TV isn’t the Max I know.”

  “I’m afraid it is true, Miss Masters. I’ve seen it for myself. I was present when Mr Victor was brought in.” The detective held her gaze firmly. “Mr Victor attacked the city and Sentinel earlier today, causing rather a lot of damage to the city and innumerable injuries. Thankfully, there are not yet any reports of fatalities following the fight. I can only hope that remains the case.”

  Liliana felt a weight lifted from her shoulders. No fatalities. Regardless of Max’s apparent involvement, she was happy to hear no lives were lost in the fight.

  “How long have you known Mr Victor?” Detective Berkowitz asked, eyes back on her notepad.

  “Almost a year. It’s our anniversary in a couple weeks.” Liliana thought that maybe if she helped the detectives she would make them see Max couldn’t do what they claimed he had done. That there was more to this story.

  “And have you been in a physical relationship the whole time?” Detective Reynolds chimed in.

  “I can’t see how that’s any of your business. But no. We met in my office, became friends and then progressed our relationship a couple of weeks later.” Liliana didn’t feel comfortable answering detailed questions about her and Max. She just had to remind herself why she was doing this.

  “We need to know the details as it gives us a better understanding of your relationship to Mr Victor. It’s all part of understanding why he attacked the city,” Detective Berkowitz replied. “Although, we do normally ask these questions with a little more tact than that.” She shot a quick look over to Detective Reynolds, chastising him silently. He simply grunted in response.

  “Did you often spend time at Mr Victor’s residence? Or your own?” she continued with the questions.

  “It was fifty-fifty, depending on where we needed to be the next day, I suppose. We live across town from each other, so the decision was mainly one of convenience.” Though she preferred Max’s apartment, she added silently. It was much nicer than her own.

  “Do you have a key to his apartment?”

  “Yes. And he has one to mine.”

  “So, you could access his property at your own leisure? Did anything ever stand out to you? Something you didn’t expect, given what your own experiences with Mr Victor lead you to believe about his character?”

  That felt pointed. They were trying to get her to incriminate Max further.

  “No. Nothing like that. No suits of armour. No ‘evil’ plans to attack the city or Sentinel. Or any of the superheroes.”

  “He probably kept all of that at a separate property. Keeping his public and private lives apart,” Detective Reynolds chimed in again.

  “Well, you’re not biased at all, are you?” Rose shot across at him.

  Detective Reynolds finally looked across at Rose and opened his mouth to shout back at her, but before the words could leave his wide mouth, the door opened yet again.

  “Liliana? Liliana!” a voice exclaimed over the heads of all in the room, which had become crowded. A voice which Liliana was very well acquainted with.

  “Mother,” Liliana replied. Her mother bowled into the room, easily clearing a path through the two detectives. “How are you?”

  “How am I? You’re in a hospital bed! How are you doing, sweetie?” Liliana’s loud mother stood no taller than five foot one but had the presence of a giant, and she let everyone know it.

  “I’m fine, Mother, just a mild concussion.”

  “Good, good. Who are these people?” She finally seemed to notice the two officers she pushed past to get into the room.

  “We’re detectives, here to interview your daughter regarding her relationship with Mr Max Victor.”

  “Oh god, don’t talk about that man to me. I’m glad you’re finally rid of him, Liliana.”

  Now that confused Liliana. It thrilled her parents to land a man such as Max. His wealth and standing would do well for Liliana and her family. Or so they thought. She could have been miserable, but if she had Max’s money they were happy.

  “Rid of him? Mother, you love him almost as much as I do!”

  “Oh shush. He’s a villain, be glad he’s locked up.” She fluffed Liliana’s hard pillow and twitched her sheets, typical fussing.

  “You’re confusing, Mother.” Liliana shook her head and went to speak to Detective Berkowitz again before her mother opened her mouth again.

  “You can go now.” Her tone had changed as she stared Rose down. Liliana’s mother never liked Rose; she didn’t agree with her ‘lifestyle’ as she so elegantly put it. “Her mother is here to look after her. She doesn’t need you to stay anymore.”

  “Mother! Rose is here because she is my best friend. She got me out of the subway tunnel when I passed out and couldn’t stand on my own two feet. I would be dead if it weren’t for her,” Liliana spoke, louder than her mother, the pain throbbing in her head as she raised her voice.

  “Nonsense, you need to rest, you don’t know what you’re saying,” her mother replied to her, pushing her down onto the bed fully.

  “I’ll stay as long as Liliana asks me to. We just had this discussion with the ‘lovely’ detective over there. I’m staying.”

  “Yes. What is this about you interviewing my Liliana? Don’t you realise she’s injured? She’s in no fit state to be answering your questions. You need to leave.”

  Liliana couldn’t help but feel embarrassed by her mother. She still treated her like she was twelve and under her control. Liliana felt the blood drain from her thumping head to her cheeks as she blushed from the embarrassment. Her mother shooed the two detectives from the room, not intimidated by their height or their authority.

  “Fine. We’ll end the interview for now. But we need you to come down to the precinct near your home address once they discharge you to complete the interview.” Detective Berkowitz pulled out a card from her faithful notepad and handed it towards Liliana. Of course, her mother snatched it out of the detective’s hand to look it over before handing it back to Liliana, who shot a quick glare to the back of her mother’s head.

  Chapter 6

  Liliana’s mother pushed her back down onto the bed and tucked in her sheets, fussing over her like she was a child again. She then fussed about the room, silently aside from the occasional tut of disapproval. Liliana watched her fidget across the room, avoiding making eye contact with Liliana.

  “Mother?” Liliana asked, trying to get her attention. Instead, she kept moving about the room, fussing with things that didn’t really need fussing with. She could tell Rose was getting frustrated with her. She watched her move about the room with a puzzled look on her face.

  “Mother!” Liliana half shouted, making her mother jump. She finally made eye contact as Liliana sat back up in the bed, moving the back of the bed into a sitting position with her.

  “You should rest, dear.” Her mother made a move to get the bed control out of her hand before Liliana pulled it back.

  “No. I’m fine. Stop moving around the room so much and talk to me. Is Father okay? Is he here?”

  “He’s fine. He’s back at the shop, keeping it running while I’m here looking after you,” she replied, her voice stern. Like it was Liliana’s fault for getting a concussion. That woman infuriated her sometimes.

  “You don’t need to stay if you need to get back. I’m fine, I’ll probably be out and home soon enough,” Liliana replied, trying to hold back her annoyance from showing.

  “I’ll be here to watch over her, don’t worry,” Rose chimed in, placing her hand on Li
liana’s shoulder. Liliana’s mother sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of Rose touching Liliana. She finally looked Rose in the face. Though Rose stood head and shoulders above her, she stood her ground like she was seven feet tall.

  “Don’t you touch my daughter! I don’t want your illness catching.” She batted Rose’s hand away, or rather she tried. Rose wasn’t one to back down easily. So, in response, she sat down next to Liliana on the bed and linked arms with her, to which Liliana couldn’t help but chuckle a little.

  Liliana’s mother raised her shoulders tight at the sight. Before she could start a shouting match with Rose, which had happened before, Liliana cut her off.

  “I don’t want you talking to Rose like that. She isn’t ill. She’s a normal person who just likes women instead of men.” Liliana got her mother’s attention and she would not back down this time. She’d had enough of her mother belittling Rose for her sexuality.

  “She is ill. That is the only reason to be the way she is,” her mother retorted, sticking to her guns.

  “You’re so small-minded to believe that. Being gay isn’t an illness or everyone she meets would ‘catch it’,” Liliana replied, using air quotes. “YOU would have caught it if that were true!” Liliana pointed out, remembering when she first introduced Rose to her mother. She was a hugger back then.

  “Besides,” Liliana took a deep breath as she was finally about to tell her mother the truth, “I was bisexual long before I met Rose.” That sentence landed with a thud; her mother looked like she’d stopped breathing. Liliana felt Rose tense up beside her. She clearly wasn’t expecting her to tell her mother. Not like this, anyway.

  Liliana and her mother stared at each other for a moment while the truth sank in. Her mother looked like she was going to say something before she shook her head. She walked out the door as fast as she could, the door slamming shut behind her.

  “Well, that went well.” Rose’s comment filled the room with her sarcasm.