obeytherod | Blankstate // Private (Day 23)

[The drawl was enough to set his nerves off, and he spins around to raise his voice at her--it's not really because of her though. It's the situation, it's how afraid he is right now after thinking he'd been clear.]

I already went last case! What the hell is this about?! Nobody's gone two cases in a row before, have they?

Edited 2014-05-07 22:32 (UTC)

Not in a row. Maybe the cat's pissed at you. [everyone else was, so why not.

But she can see he's freaking out, so she won't say that and goad him more. He obviously brought her here for a reason.]

... Do you think it means something? [she's cautious as she asks. She's starting to draw her own conclusions, but she wants to hear his first.]

I don't know... [He looks away, his brow knit with worry. For once, Malik speaks softly.] Whatever it means, they're going to force me to open my cabinet again...

Well...

[Harriet sighs.]

Do you at least know what Johnny's guilt was about?

... [He shakes his head.] Maybe I forgot something after all?

[and that notion just sends an ice spike through her heart.]

That's not good. That's not good at all, forgetting things where your father's death is concerned. That has to be what the guilt is about...

[she's just going to come out with what she'd been worried about.]

Ultio... Revenge... it seems like it points to you.

Edited 2014-05-07 23:26 (UTC)

But...! [Now he's panicking, freezing up as he looks like akin to cornered and frightened animal. The underground setting, being locked up, revenge. If the case looked like it was centered around him, then...]

I swear...there was always a memory gap there! [His voice hushes.] I thought so... How am I supposed to know?

I thought there was... [He holds his head.]

What d'ya mean, always?

[Her voice pitches higher. What can that mean? This is starting to freak her out too. They'd come so far... she thought they were safe!]

Tell me. Perhaps there's some kind of mistake.

[Malik swallows, taking a moment to recompose himself, shake his head, and straighten up. He's sure of what he saw then, what was there to doubt? Just thinking about it...it made him angry!

How could he possibly hold guilt?!]

...I saw him before and after he died, but I don't remember the murder itself. After he died... That was when I saw the Pharaoh's spirit hovering above him!

Edited 2014-05-07 23:46 (UTC)

... Okay. [that is VERY suspicious that he doesn't remember the murder, so Harriet is squinting hard. But she'll give it the benefit of the doubt.]

How did you know it was him? The Pharaoh.

Edited 2014-05-07 23:49 (UTC)

"It was the soul of the Pharaoh that drove your father to his death." [Malik recites the words as if they'd been burned into his memory.]

That's what he said to me.

Drove him to his death?

... Maybe it's because I'm getting used to these ridiculous blame cases, but that sounds like he only had a part in it.

Your father did everything he did because of that Pharaoh, isn't that right?

Edited 2014-05-08 00:34 (UTC)

...That's right. [He sounds bitter now.] My family lived the way they lived because of the Pharaoh.

And the reason he carved up your back... that was also because of him?

[She's going somewhere with this.]

[His expression twists into something more sour.] ...Yes.

[Harriet just nods, thoughtfully.]

... What happened before he died?

... [Malik's shoulders tense, his fingers curling into a fist against his palm.] He was hurting Rishid. I thought he killed him.

[Harriet looks up in surprise.]

He hurt him too? [Just how abusive WAS your dad, Malik!?] Did he hurt you both all that often? Why did he do that?

Edited 2014-05-08 01:24 (UTC)

No... I don't know. That's the first time I saw him do that.

[His knuckles are losing some of their color with how tight he's clenching his fists.]

That's just how he was. Father usually just yelled, and he tried to hurt me once, but that's...right before I stop remembering.

Well....

[She thinks on this, furrowing her brow. It's definitely suspicious, but... she doesn't feel like it's conclusive.]

There seemed to be something missing from Johnny's cabinet, as well. So at the very least, maybe your memories weren't taken, the way Naho's were. If there are so many gaps, then I'm willing to believe it's just a pre-existing thing. [...though does that really make things better? She isn't sure.]

As for the case. If Johnny really doesn't, then one of the other persons of interest might know something.

[Even if it may not make things better, the sentiment seems to calm him some. He didn't forget anything new.]

Right... Then we should work on unlocking the others. We won't know anything until we piece them all together. [Malik's still scared, but he looks like he has the strength to keep working now.]

We will. In the meantime, you should think hard about why you can't remember. It happened when your father was hurting you or Rishid... you were a child then, so I'm sure it was traumatic. But it might be more than that.

I'll try... But right now, I think I'm just going to worry about the case. We need to solve it as fast as possible.

[Because if it's him... This uncertainty. He wants all the time he can get.]

Just solve it, huh...

[Harriet looks distant.]

Fine by me, then.

Okay... Let's go back.

[Turning, Malik heads for the door.]

Blankstate // Private (Day 23)

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