CHAPTER 138: CHAPTER 138: PERFORMATIVE

[Uh oh oh, I’ve just been told that villains aren’t allowed to disguise themselves as the other roles! We need to reset. Reset!]

"Oh."

Riley stood up, lowering the gun from Butcher’s shiny bald head as he looked up.

"I suppose that somewhat makes sense, or perhaps not—they should be preparing you for scenarios such as this one, Hero."

He glanced back at Butcher, or rather at his own reflection from his bald head.

"I suppose our battle would have to be postponed for now."

"Postponed?" Butcher looked Riley straight in the eyes, not blinking even once, ever since they left the water. He stared at Riley for a few more moments before gazing down at his hands.

"You have already beaten me, Riley Ross. Whether or not this round is void does not change that."

"I believe it changes everything, Hero. I have a role to play, and therefore must abide by it."

"Regardless, what happened already happened, Riley Ross."

"Not if they said it did not, Hero."

Riley’s feet started to leave the foundation.

"I shall return to my position now. But I have to commend you, moving underwater was one of the best approaches you could have done."

"And what would be a better one?" Butcher asked.

"You are testing in for the Hope Guild, Hero—arguably the best superhero organization in the entire world. They also have the most proficient heroes in the world. You, and the one before you are acting like Street-level heroes. You are not...

...and I am not a Street-level threat, and I am not alone either."

"But I am alone, Riley Ross."

"Are you, Hero?" Riley tilted his head before glancing at the riverbank. "It does not seem like it at all. But as I said, you are applying for the Hope Guild—they deal with threats at the City-level at minimum. They deal with it fast."

With those words, Riley flew back up into the bridge, leaving Butcher staring at the riverbank where the one who exposed his position shouted from—and behind her, the freshmen students who were roleplaying as cops also stood idly by.

He then glanced up at the bottom of the bridge, finally blinking once as he breathed out.

"That was a twelve-year-old?" He muttered. "Interesting."

***

"Do you guys know what time it is?!"

At the same time, detectives Dorothy and Jake knocked on someone’s door, with Prophet standing behind them and waving at the person who answered them violently.

Dorothy slightly leaned back, glancing at her partner before pulling out her badge.

"It’s one o’clock in the afternoon, Ma’am. Are you Ms. Kathleen Lang? Kitty from ABC-ZBN?"

"Oh..." Kitty blinked several times, quickly brushing her unkempt hair with her fingers as she realized who the people were on her doorstep. She pulled down her oversized shirt as it was the only thing she was wearing, and she was going to leave and refresh herself, but Dorothy stopped her by placing her hand on the doorway.

"There’s no need for that, Ms. Lang. We’ve seen worse. We’re just here to ask some questions and then be on our way. This is my partner, Detective Suarez. And the one behind us is—"

"A specialist." Prophet cut Dorothy’s introduction of him. "You can just call me Francis."

’Right..." Kitty squinted, her eyes that were still clearly groggy staring at Prophet. "...I feel like I’m obligated to tell you that I know you’re the director of the FBI’s Superhuman Affairs."

"Well, of course," Prophet said, letting out an amused chuckle as he stepped forward. "I’d expect a seasoned journalist like you to know who I am at first glance. My friends here just have a few questions for you—I believe you know what this is about?"

"...Is it about Darkday?" Kitty sighed, shaking her head and motioning for the detectives to enter as she made way for them. Dorothy was expecting Kitty’s apartment to be a mess from her personality and how she acted... but not at all.

Everything was spotless.

"Can I get you guys anything?" Kitty said, guiding them to the living room before heading to the kitchen. "I only have chilled coffee, energy drinks, and tap water."

"It’s fine," Dorothy said, sitting on the couch as she waved her hand and pulled out a notebook. Jake and Prophet also sat down, with Jake looking around and Prophet only staring at Kitty.

"We’ll only be in and out of here before you know it." Dorothy clicked her pen. "We just have a few questions, that’s all."

"Well... okay." Kitty shrugged, leaning on her counter and lightly sniffling as she prevented a yawn. "But if you’re asking if I know where Darkday is, then that’s a no. The first time I even ever saw him was the other night, with the rest of you."

"Hmm. No?" Dorothy narrowed her eyes, slightly turning her head to the side. "Not like the rest of us, you were right up there with him. Close and personal. You’re the only one who’s been in close proximity to him."

"That’s not entirely true. Your people were, too, when he broke Replica Ricky out of the convoy."

"What I’m trying to say is that Darkday allowed you to record him, Ms. Lang. And then he also called you directly on your phone before he broke Replica Ricky free."

"That was a work phone, and correction..." Kitty crossed her arms. "...We still don’t know if Replica Ricky’s free."

She sighed, shaking her head as she looked at Prophet.

"Look. He mentioned something about taking Replica Ricky as a guest. I think Darkday... keeps him locked up?"

"The Guesthouse," Prophet joined in on the conversation. "That was what he called it when he took Replica Ricky."

"Yes." Kitty nodded. "Did you guys... want my work phone? I can give it to you if you want to track him or something."

"No. It wouldn’t be of any use to us anyway." Dorothy followed up.

"Then... I don’t really know how much more useful I can be to you guys. I just happened to be at the wrong place at the right time. Well, no. That’s not true, either. I wanted to be there."

"Is there any other information you can tell us?" Prophet asked. "Anything unusual about Darkday?"

Which one? The fact that he survived a stab through the back, or the fact that he could also replicate himself like Replica Ricky?

"Hmm... no. I don’t think so?" Kitty shrugged, shaking her head as she pretended to be deep in thought. Oh, well... I can tell you he’s extremely durable for a TK?"

"I need you to think real hard, Ms. Kitty..." Prophet looked Kitty in the eyes, his own eyes seemingly glowing as he stared at her. "Is there anything else you’re not telling us? A lot of lives might be at stake here."

"Hmm. I’ll let you guys know as soon as possible if I remember anything."

"Please do, Ms. Kitty." Prophet nodded and then stood up. Dorothy and Jake were confused, as they still had several questions to ask her. But they could really only follow Prophet as he started making his way out of Kitty’s apartment.

"Ah!" Before he actually stepped out, however, he glanced back and turned around.

"Can I ask you one final question before we go?"

"Hmm?"

"Your accent, where is it? Hey, y’all?"

"That... It’s performative."

"Huh...Well, have a nice day."

And with that, Dorothy and Jake followed Prophet out. Dorothy hastened her pace, walking beside Prophet as she slid her notebook back into her pocket.

"Why’d we leave immediately? Our visit to the Academy is still in a few hours," she asked.

"She’s hiding something."

"Huh?"

"She’s hiding something, and she wasn’t going to tell us what it is."

"Then... why did we leave?"

"Because we were going to die."

"Huh...?" Dorothy’s steps halted, glancing at Jake, who was equally as confused as her.

"What do you mean...?"

"The future..." A glow flickered in Prophet’s eyes, vanishing as his lids closed once more. "...I couldn’t calculate it. Our future in that room, I mean. That only means two things...

...either we’re dead, or the entire apartment was gone. Either way, both would lead us into turning into nothing."

"Are you saying..." Dorothy’s eyes widened, glancing back at the door.

"Is it... him?"

Yes.

"Eek?!"

Back inside Kitty’s apartment, she slapped her hands onto her mouth to stop herself from screaming loudly. How could she not, when Darkday suddenly stepped out of her pantry while she was putting ice on her coffee?

"What the...?!" Kitty grabbed a handful of ice and threw it at Darkday, only for the ice to stop in the air... and then gently float into her large glass. The straw then moved and stirred the coffee on its own before Darkday stepped forward.

"Don’t—just stay there!" Kitty quickly grabbed a knife from the counter. "I’ll scream for help! There... there’s literally detectives right outside my door!"

"If you do that, you will kill them. Relax." Darkday raised both his palms.

"I only want to talk—or if I use your language...an interview."