X-Corp Temporary Holding Cells

[Narrator]

An empty room (except for the table and two chairs) has been prepared for Sam. Melpomene is sitting in one of the chairs, wearing wrist and ankle cuffs and the inhibitor collar. Currently she's staring at the wall with a slightly unhinged look on her face. She looks a little like she's waiting for something. Behind the one-way mirror the X-Corp liaison shakes his head as he turns away and towards Sam.

"She hasn't said a word since we brought her here. We're still waiting for the DNA results, but her retinal scans confirm it's her. We would have taken her prints but... she seems to have peeled off the skin on her fingers."

[Samantha McManus]

"Well that's decidedly not reassuring," she frowns. "And you say she walked into the police station willingly? Was she more lucid than this?"

[Narrator]

"According to the reports, yes. Apparently she made people in the waiting room leave and kept the junior officer from sounding the alarm. That is all she did as far as we could tell."

[Samantha McManus]

"This is a game to her, I'm nearly sure of it."

[Narrator]

"If it is then she doesn't seem to be interested in playing it with us."

[Samantha McManus]

"I'll do what I can. If any irregularities happen, I need a security team ready to go in there."

[Narrator]

"We have several guards on standby." he says, maybe unconsciously reaching for the pistol hanging on his hip. He's trained enough to not show it much but Sam would sense that the fact that she seems nervous is not exactly putting him at ease.

[Samantha McManus]

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to alarm you, but she's a very dangerous individual."

[Narrator]

"I have read her file."

[Samantha McManus]

She nodded, and went to enter the room.

[Melpomene]

"Sammy! I was wondering when they would let you come visit. How nice of you to drop in." she says, a grin spreading across her face.

[Samantha McManus]

"What's your angle here, Mary?" She asked, sitting down.

[Melpomene]

"I'm a threat and need to be locked away before they get me. I thought they were yours but they're not. The birds." she says, her voice going quiet and very insistent.

[Samantha McManus]

"You already had help getting out..."

[Melpomene]

"I didn't ask them to! They promised all those things, Sammy..." she says, her eyes almost glazing over. "But I wasn't going to share. You belong to me alone!"

She pauses for a moment.

"It's so nice of you to drop in."

[Samantha McManus]

She peered at the woman.

"...you're unwell, but you're not this unwell."

[Melpomene]

"Yes, I'm better now. They tried to get into my head. My head!" she laughs. "But I didn't let them. I cut them out." she taps the side of her head three times. "Didn't know who they were dealing with."

[Samantha McManus]

"And you've been cutting yourself..."

[Melpomene]

"I'm better now. Got all of it. Never thought I'd be doing that to myself but it works. It works..." she drifts off a little.

[Samantha McManus]

As wary as she was of this woman's mind, even with an inhibitor on, she didn't fully make contact. However she did bring the flock around Melpomene to try to get a feel for the surface thoughts.

[Melpomene]

Even from a cursory glance it wasn't hard to tell that Mel's mind was in shambles. All her surface thoughts revolved around the fact that she should turn herself in to be safe and how happy she was that Sam came to visit. It was hard to tell, especially from a distance, but Sam had first-hand experience with Mel's handiwork, as good as she is at hiding it, and it seems like Mel has been quite busy. And once she starts noticing the signs it becomes easier to tell that below the surface huge chunks are just... missing.

[Samantha McManus]

"...what did you do?"

[Melpomene]

"They tried to get into my head. I got all of it."

[Samantha McManus]

"You got more than that..."

[Melpomene]

"I'm better now, Sammy. Who is that Mary you were talking about?"

[Samantha McManus]

"Just because you don't like to admit to it doesn't make it any less your name..."

[Melpomene]

"I'm... not... That's not... my name... That's not my name!"

[Samantha McManus]

"Not Melpomene. Not the Muse of Tragedy. In the end, you were just ordinary Mary Bell..."

[Melpomene]

"No I'm not!" she screeches and jumps up. Or she tries to anyway, the cuffs don't leave her much room. Regardless the door immediately flies open and two armed guards burst into the room.

[Samantha McManus]

She frowned, standing.

"I think we're done, here."

[Melpomene]

The guards nod and step up to Mel, unlocking the cuffs from the chair and escorting her out of the room. "Sammy, no... don't leave... That's not my name. My name is Mel... Yes... Mmmmmel. Mel?" she mumbles to herself as she's dragged off.

[Narrator]

The light turns on on the other side of the mirror and the X-Corp liaison looks at Sam. "Your recommendation?" he asks over the intercom.

[Samantha McManus]

"Something's chasing her. We'll need a security detail on her cell. If the institution doesn't feel comfortable with the increased risk, we can offer to move her to Muir."

[Narrator]

"That would be much appreciated." he says, glad he didn't have to bring that up himself. "I have the transfer papers in my office."

[Samantha McManus]

"I'll see to them," she said as she walked out of the interview room.