The Helix Ion Part 2
#2 of The Helix Ion
Finally a second part! Stupidly I uploaded the first right before my major exams, promising more to come soon. After holidays and work experience here it is. Expect a third part in a few days or so.
This continuation explores more into his previous experiences with fire, building the mystery. We also meet another character and are given some background information into the world in which these anthropomorphic wolves live.
The Helix Ion Part 2
1 hour previously,
Charlotte's concentration was overpowering, even diminishing the cues of her developed senses of smell and hearing. In truth it took the familiar voice of Harvey Goode to break her focus. As he walked towards her, his purpose became clear. "Charlotte", she looked up, "Charlotte what the hell is going on?" He continued quietly but with a sense of harsh urgency. "I've been hearing screaming and, and crying and ... well it sounds more like torture than like you're trying to cure a patient with a post-traumatic stress disorder. I meant come on just look at him for God's sake." Harvey indicated with an open paw at the shaking wolf on the carpet.
Charlotte's boss kept his stare whilst she responded. Goode was a rather fat, tan wolf whose appearance was more like a bear's than a canine due to his short and stocky muzzle and flaccid ears. His glasses seemed too small for his face and his feet looked unable to uphold his weight. He believed strongly in rules and this ideal was only beaten by his hatred for unprofessional conduct. Yet he remained full of life, eyes of electric blue and tail bushy and alert. Considering this, Charlotte's response appeared out of place and uncalled for.
"Look", she spat. "He is experiencing severe traumatic stress due to his repressed memories resurfacing. If you want to shut him up then help me comfort him." Harvey was used to such backlash. It was the best way to keep him focused; otherwise he might become a stammering wreck. Harvey dropped to his haunches and spoke quickly, "I'll be back as soon as I can, but the governor's outside and he cannot know what is going on." Charlotte responded with a thumbs up to which Harvey nodded and pushed himself up with effort. As he strode towards the door, He turned to look back at Charlotte. Her gaze was set firmly on the Vietnamese wolf.
As he did sometimes, Harvey admired the ability of his employees which was, ironically, rather unprofessional. He looked at Charlotte, and the light was cast in through the blinds from a low lying sun. The dust and fur around her head was illuminated. The wolves enjoyed the sun greatly; in fact its rays were beloved and had many legends surrounding it, wars had been ended by its political gravity. Those who worshiped it were in greater numbers than those who prayed to the God who had created it.
That changed with time.
Charlotte however was unaffected by the sun, a trait not many possessed. Harvey could smell the semi-molten tar from the road and the sweat from a hard day's work; as always on a midsummer's day. Harvey savored this artistic view until he scanned lower, at the length of Charlotte's apparel. Life was too short, as was the skirt. Regulations were essential. Their enforcement tedious. He grimaced, then left, closing the door behind him. The whole conversation had lasted mere seconds.
"What was all that commotion about Mr Goode", inquired the stooped governor. "Er... it's a ... new method we're using to stimulate ... er ... emotions for documentation?" Harvey replied as confidently as possible. It was unconvincing. Fortunately the governor had been bored before Harvey even started to speak. "If you say so", he clacked his teeth together, "shall we continue?"
"Yes, please this way", the tan wolf led the way, adjusting his crooked tie.
Harvey was often chosen to lead the governors around during an inspection. As a result that was not the first time Harvey had covered for Charlotte. In reality they were living a lie, regulations hardly impeding progress as much as they should. This did however, allow for more, inventive, strategies to be utilized. In a sense, if not for Harvey the whole organisation would have been disbanded and the building re-purposed long ago. That's why he was in charge.
"Look at me, look at me."
"I ... my ... grh", he choked in reply. Charlotte cradled his head.
"Just take a deep breath and keep talking."
He was back in his chair and facing the west wall of her room. Charlotte was diagonally opposite him facing the south east corner.
"Okay, okay". Regaining his confidence he continued, "Before, before in Vietnam, 1968, I was only young", his face twisted into a scowl, "My whole village was burnt when the Americans invaded, napalm lit the river alight. It was the beginning of the TeT offensive." He started to growl. "My family perished in that fire, only I and ... and I alone survived." He looked around the room suspiciously before meeting Charlotte's cool eyes. He was suddenly apprehensive, regaining his previous demeanor. The creases in his brow deepened. "Why are you staring at me? You invaded," he spat. His anger was quickly subsided by loss as he started to blush.
Charlotte was intrigued but didn't show it. Instead, she intervened, "Just keep going, that's all I care about".
"Hmpf", he mumbled. "I lost everything, but we had little. We were overwhelmed in seconds; the timber of my house crackled and popped under the heat, oh God". He put his head in his hands, "I just, I just can't forget, even after all this time". His voice started to quaver, "I can still hear their screams", then he chuckled, "and they haunt me with a vengeance". He nearly broke down, but never came close to crying. Not that there was any honor left to uphold. Scowling at the floor, he peeled back his lips. Charlotte was unsympathetic this time and looked away out the window. As she looked through the blinds the sun was a red orb on the hills. Tall shadows were cast across the road as the grass turned from green to yellow. The leaves of the trees were golden. The temperature dropped. Night was upon them.
"I am afraid you will have to leave soon"; she tried not to sound vindictive.
"Sure", he croaked through his fingers. "I've had enough of talking. Every time I think about it, I just, dammit, I GET SO GOD DAMN ANGRY!" He shouted at the floor. "My, my mind unfurls, I haven't slept in days. That fire is still consuming my life, bit-by-bit." He stressed every syllable. Charlotte nodded her appreciation, which he returned. Very slightly. Soon after he left.
"He's definitely hiding something, I'm sure of it."
"How can you be? You said yourself he was barely holding it together by the time he left."
"There's barely holding it together, and then there's crafty, I'm not saying he was acting the whole time, but he was keeping something back."
"Well what then?"
"I'm not certain, but it seems to be something tangible, something that was with him after the fire."
Charlotte was at her desk; Harvey sat across from her in one of the large chairs. The sun had gone down by now and the building was soon to be closed for the night.
"What would be your professional opinion on the situation then?" Replied Harvey slowly.
"I need more time to talk to him", Charlotte said levelly. "He's starting to become less aggressive and more willing to speak at length, especially about his emotions."
"I'll try and get it done, but the police want to interrogate him". Harvey hesitated as the headlights of a car swept through the cracks in the blinds. He lent over the table and spoke quietly. "The chief of police is confused, he told me himself that they have no leads, suspects, no real evidence ... And on a case of arson this severe ... it's unusual". Harvey leaned back into his chair, "Not to sound superstitious, but something isn't right about this guy, and this case, none of it makes any sense."
"So, you want me to find any possible enemies of his or any motives someone might have a reason to..."
"No", Harvey interrupted, "that's the police's job, I want you to investigate further into his involvement with the war, something like this couldn't cause his PTSD on its own, try and find out what he's not telling us."
"Got it", Charlotte replied confidently.
"I'm leaving, are you staying?"
"Yes, I've got some work to finish."
"Just make sure you lock up."
"I will."
"Good, see you tomorrow."
Charlotte moved her attention back to the papers on her desk. After 5 minutes of staring blankly at the work in front of her, she moved over to one of the padded chairs to think over what had happened in the last hour.
Shit, what a night. Charlotte had had her suspicions then, that it might be connected, but she was too tired to consider that possibility.
That changed with time.