Sebastian Vassinari
I awoke to Levin's voice. His swearing and the following sounds of wet squelching, I shot upright, only to find my hands bound by two metal handcuffs that linked to a white hospital bed.
"Good, you are awake." A voice said from my side, and I turned, seeing a face that I recognised but couldn't place. She was old, perhaps in her mid fifties or early sixties, she had long since abandoned her hair colour, leaving it a dull grey which was tied in a neat ponytail that fell free behind her back. She wore an expensive looking suit with black trousers and boots, no rings but the indents of them were visible on her wrinkled fingers. As I looked her up and down, trying to recall where I placed her, she stood from her seat, trying to turn the tv off. It stayed on as she clicked the off button, then she opted to pull the power lead out, which still made no difference. She didn't look surprised when the broadcast continued screening, just unamused. I looked about the room, seeing white walls and a single door. Above the door was a security camera that had its one large eye on me. I struggled against the bonds, wondering whether to use my ability to force them loose, but Isaac's words rose in my mind, warning me about using them.
"Where am I?" I asked, keeping the idea of using one of my two powers at the back of my mind, in case I had to act. The woman turned to look at me, though the word, look, was an understatement, she seemed to stare through me, glancing over parts of myself I didn't want her to. Seeing my discomfort in her gaze, she smirked, the small mask of foundation cracking around her smile, making me unnerved.
"You have been, for lack of a better, more suitable word, arrested." She stalked back to her chair, collapsing into it and placing her boots on the bed where I lay. "You may have all the answers, but-" she pointed at the screen, "you have been implicated in this whole mess. My boss and his bosses are unsure of what to do with you, and whether you speak the truth. I am here to see for myself."
"Implicated?" I asked, "Implicated in what? For what?"
"This," she brought out her phone, showing me a picture of London. Fires billowed out from buildings as remnants of the building called the Shard scattered amongst the roads and slicing through buildings. Metal and glass alike wounded the once untouchable city, she flicked the screen showing me another photo, this one of two bodies holding two smaller bodies in their arms, at least that was what I was able to conclude. The sight sickened me as she flicked through the photos faster, showing more of the destruction and lost lives. "After your little conference with the press, you had been shown to accurately predict this event, and that makes you, in no uncertain terms, a terrorist. I assume you understand what you may look like one to an observant member of the public."
"I'm not a terrorist," I answered, my tone defiant and I didn't care that it could be seen that way.
"Oh, I know you're not," She showed me another photo, this time of the white marbled theatre. "All this is uncharted territory, never before has such an event occurred, never before have people been taken from their homes on a mass scale, only some of which returning alive, and never before do buildings just appear out of thin air." She locked the screen, placing the phone back into her pocket. "The only reason why you are not locked up somewhere more deserving is because we need time to see whether you are just a very clever and dangerous conman or, someone with the unfortunate preternatural ability to know the future."
"Each word at the conference, was the truth, I don't know everything, but I can at least help the best I can."
"Sincerity can make lying words seem truthful, absurdity can make the insane seem sane, I'm not entirely sure what to make of you Sebastian Vassinari, on one hand, you seem to be trying your best to ensure people survive these, tribulations. But on the other hand, you seem dangerously ready to abandon all semblance of morality, take the conference for example. Dear ole Samantha Kollin. Lovely news anchor, receives a threatening call from yourself, blackmailing her into repeating your words." I wanted to interject, say that it was Isaac, but I knew that would make it worse, so I kept quiet as she continued. "Sometimes people can perform acts of evil if they believe themselves to be doing it for the greater good. I don't need to give you any historical examples now do I? I can tell by your expression that you agree with my sentiment." She paused, waiting for me to speak up, but when I didn't she pushed herself off of the chair. "Your friends are in there, partly to save you, but also I expect, because of something else. One of them, I recall that his name was Isaac, was all too eager to go into that building, not even questioning why? Or even how that even was built, where it came from? What was inside ? It was as if he already knew those answers. Sebastian, while they are in there, we want you to tell us what is happening, we have even sent a few of our people in after them. We need to know whether you and your group are a threat to Britain, and perhaps the world at large, or whether you have the answers we need. Think on it, I will come back shortly, perhaps then we can have a proper talk." As she left the room, closing the door behind her without a sound, I suddenly felt, off. The kind of insecure feeling one would get when they hear the floorboards creaking and think they are not alone anymore. It was a strange feeling, her words were easy to refute, just blame Isaac. But it wasn't as easy as that, she was right in saying that one could easily perform acts of evil if they believed it was for the greater good, and for Isaac, that was the truth. He had seen the world at its worst, Continents boiling in a sea of magma, food no longer sustainable by the change in climate. Chaos reigned like a king where he had come from, this was his chance to change that, if it meant performing small acts of blackmail, of allowing those around him to die, but allowing him to save the world, those small acts will be forgotten. As I thought about it, I looked at the screen as it changed to show Isaac, making his way down corridors that all looked the same. His face showed a look of annoyance, rather than panic as he found himself back at the beginning. I didn't know what to think when it came to this man, but as Henry had stated, if Isaac did come from the future, then it would be best to keep him as close as possible, no matter the repercussions of doing so.
?????
As I left the hotel, leaving my client to clean up the mess, I found myself feeling somewhat guilty. He had simply wanted someone to talk to, he had said that he had lost his wife two weeks ago during that impossible first trial. I had sympathised with him at first, showing him a loving side that other clients never saw or never wanted to see. We sat, chatted, then he wanted something to forget his wife and I obliged. It was only a short time, he wasn't very good, but I assume that was in part due to the loss he had felt. Afterwards, taking his money felt as if I had mugged him, but he had handed it to me, thanking me for my time. He was sweet, unlike the others that I had the displeasure of knowing. The cloud of ash formed in the distance and quiet tapering off echoes of pain could still be heard all this distance away. I zipped my coat up and as I went to put my earphones in my ears a familiar voice called out.
"Are you finished with him babe?" The question was less of a question and more like a statement that held a cold cruelty in it. I turned to the source of the voice, seeing Jim, a frequent client of mine leaning against a building, a darkened alleyway next to him. His smirking face showed a confidence that made me grimace. Jim was a man, no one really liked, he was that man that people tolerated due to one reason, connections. The sleazy man was able to procure services for those that wanted it, could get drugs to those too stupid to take them, and was unfortunately one of my bosses. In a weird way, he was the perfect boss, he knew exactly who fitted which client, which was a very good ability in this line of work.
"Yeah, he was a sweetheart," I replied back and as I tried to walk away, I noticed his hand gesturing to me to come to him. I hid my scowl as I made my way across the road. Now that I was closer to him, he seemed slightly different, his once round frame was now slightly less round, his muscles were slightly more pronounced. His greying hair was now a perfect ream of black. He must have seen me eyeing him up and down as his punchable face held a wide smile that also showed perfectly white teeth.
"You like?"
"You are looking good." I replied, putting my act back on. Jim's eyes lit up at my words, his smile widening.
"Why, thank you babe." I shuddered at the word, but kept the act going.
"I was about to head home, did you need me for anything?"
"Well, the way I see it, you still have five minutes." I tried to contain my scowl, but he must have seen it. "Don't worry, I will make those five minutes worthwhile." He took out a wad of cash, handing it to me, as I took it, he gestured to the alley behind him.
"You want me to do it in public?" I asked, astounded by the breach of work ethics, that he himself had come up with. Always in a hotel, or the clients apartment, never on the streets. A way to stop the police from snooping he had said. But now, he simply nodded at my question.
"Yes, just a quick one, I have just come back from hearing some great news and I wanted to give myself a little gift."
"What great news?"
"Oh, aren't you a curious one today."
"I was only wondering what would be so great that you would break your own rules."
"Fair enough, come with, if you are willing to break the rules with me, then I can at least be a gentleman and tell you why I am willing to risk it." He entered the alley that seemed too dark. I assumed it was due to the cloud of ash, blocking the sun like a woollen blanket. The alley was just like every other alley in London, or in every other city of this size I presumed, hiding the trash and dregs of society. The homeless occupying the area scampered off as they saw Jim, I wasn't sure whether that was due to his reputation or due to a sixth sense they seemed to process after living outside for all this time. I pitied them as they ran off, leaving their makeshift homes where they were, but I understood wanting to run from this man. "You see, due to all this, funny business, regarding the apparent state of life now, jobs have changed. You are now looking at the new big boss." He seemed overjoyed, but the revelation stabbed my gut like a blade, twisting and wanting blood to leak free, it made me physically ill.
"Congratulations," I stated, my emotions in shambles as I lied to him.
"Thank you dear," He bowed in a mocking way. "I believe this will be the best place to do it, don't you think?" The floor was overflowing with trash, small bags once filled with illegal pills, some used needles, it was disgusting, the smell alone almost made me vomit, but I kept my act up, if not for anything else, I was confident in that. I looked up at him, a plea in my eyes and I could tell that he saw that.
"Why here? It's filthy." I stated, giving my words a nice tenderness which gave them an almost begging tone.
"Here is fine," he stated as he took off his top, showing that he had indeed changed drastically since I had last seen him. A six pack, looking very out of place, was carved into his stomach and he seemed to take pride in it. He placed the shirt, then the remainder of his clothes on the nicer edge of the bin.
"I hope you don't mind, but I would rather not leave my clothes to suck up this, filth." I said and he nodded.
"Fine with me." I placed a hand on his chest, gliding it downwards. He smirked.
"Close your eyes, feel the sensations through your skin." He did as I suggested closing his eyes. He tensed as I placed my other hand on his chest, working my way downwards. I almost stopped the act completely, the difference in his muscles and stomach was not the only thing he had worked on. I stared in astonishment at the size, too long to be natural and definitely not what I had seen previously. It was comically oversized, and then it clicked, the sudden change in appearance and that.
"I thought you wanted five minutes, not-" He stopped abruptly as I plunged my knife into his neck. Blood leaked over my hands as I brought the blade downwards, slicing through skin and hacking at the bone beneath. He wanted to scream, but only the sound of gurgling could be heard. His eyes were wide open now, I didn't know what expression he could see on me, but I hoped it was contempt. It felt freeing, slicing the man open. I kept going, noticing the power in me lighting up minutes before I actually stopped slicing. I should've thrown up at the sight, should've blocked my nose from the awful smell, but I did none of that, I simply looked at my handiwork, impressed. I left the blade where it was, the metal covered in red and unwrapped the hilt. I looked at my bloodied hands, and focused. The fingernails popped off, replaced by new ones that emerged looking chewed on. A thick layer of hair, more akin to fur, coated the arm. I scoffed as I looked down at Jim, naked amongst the garbage. He had such a lovely ability, and he used it to make it bigger, I laughed, louder than I should have. A part of me was overjoyed, whilst the other felt, hungry. I could feel that as I willed my body to look like that of a colleague, my chest grew a little smaller, my frame becoming more cute and petite. My hair shortened into a pixie cut, the once brown of my hair became a vibrant blue colour, that matched the sea. I stumbled out of the alleyway, a different woman entirely. I didn't look back as I simply walked home, proud at ridding the world of a man like Jim.