CHAPTER 8: INTERROGATION - SERENA MAIZONO

XENON WINGATE

PRESENT DAY - INTERROGATION

I can feel my blood pressure rise as I reminisce the old nightmarish memories that I reacquired. The rage. The wrath. The pain. It all makes me alive. It makes my blood boil. It makes my head clear. It makes my heart beat faster.

“Cheng… Trystgade… Eldritch… They must pay.” I muttered to myself. “They conspired to put me in hell, so I shall do everything to drag them with me.”

[You saw the broadcast that happened in Elysia three years ago, which means that you are certainly alive after the Crimson Dragonfly Incident. Yet you died during the said incident. How did you learn about all of that?]

I tried to dig deep in my memories, but my brain immediately hurt. It feels like pulling a splinter that was stuck in my skin.

“I… I don’t know… I don’t know how I learned about it…” I said. “I just… know it…”

[The secret lies in what happened right after your death, Xenon Wingate. Try to remember… What happened after your death? How are you still alive?]

I tried to think more, but my brain is frying itself. It’s like everything I am trying to access has been blocked by my own defensive psychological systems. My head hurts the more I try hard to think about it.

“Aaargh! It hurts! I don’t know! I don’t know!” I bowed, suppressing the excruciating pain I’ve been enduring. “I don’t know!”

[How, Xenon? How are you still alive!?] The interrogator kept on asking questions.

“Stop! Don’t make me think more than I should have!” I growled. “No matter how many times you electrocute me, I won’t be able to answer the questions in which I have no idea at all!”

[I know we wouldn’t get answers from you by that method, but we still have lots of cards to play.]

Finally, the cybernetic voice stopped. There was a long silence, maybe twenty or thirty seconds. That made me catch up my breath again. I’m so tired. I just want this to be over.

Suddenly, the hologram globe projected a window that presents a picture of a teenage girl. She has a long shiny black hair that is silky smooth, crimson eyes that are wide and adorable, pinkish cheeks that makes her look like a cute child, and a smile that is worthy of protection. She is wearing a gold headband with stars on each side.

“...Serena?” My jaws hung.

Much to my frustration and anger, I can only grit my teeth as the interrogator tells me more about her.

[Serena Maizono. Twenty years of age. Former human and now a full-fledged dragonoid through mysterious circumstances. You have met each other during your junior high school days, and you met her during the war in Vanilla City. You made a promise of rescuing her from the messy war she got herself with. But you made a promise that you never kept.]

“Serena… Serena… Serena…” 

Suddenly, my eyes went wide as rage-filled my blood once again. Hearing my own voice mutter the name of the girl is enough for me to remember a person that is dear to me. 

“Where is she!? What did you do to her!?” I cried out loud. I balled my fist as I tried to shake my chair, but the chair is stiffly stuck on the ground. It won’t budge even if I convert my anger to brute force.

[Serena Maizono will be fine as long as you give us the location of the Psychic Amplifier.]

“How many times! I don’t know where the Psychic Amplifier is! You have to believe me!” I cried. “Now release Serena before I slit your throats!”

[You are in no position to intimidate or threaten us, Xenon Wingate. We have you. We have Serena. Your lives are on our hands. Now tell me, where is the Psychic Amplifier!?]

“I don’t fucking know!” I cried. “Release Serena, please! This is just you and me! Don’t involve her into this!”

There was silence again that lasted for ten seconds. Then, the interrogator shifted the topic that only revolves around the pretty girl in the picture.

[Let’s go back to the recovery of your memories. Serena Maizono. You remember her?]

“Yes… I remember her completely.” I settled with a low voice. 

My energy is almost depleted after shouting and arguing with a man who doesn’t have the balls to show me his face. I thought that arguing might not be the best way to get out of this situation.

They have Serena. I can’t do any reckless actions. I have to cooperate with them and give them all the things they want to learn from me. The problem is, my memories are sealed. They keep asking about the Psychic Amplifier in which I never knew anything about. I have no idea what that thing is, what it does to people, or why the heck does this mysterious interrogator is torturing me just to get information about it.

There’s still so much to learn and rediscover. For now, I will answer their questions truthfully and get it over with.

[Serena Maizono is a human during her younger days, yet when you saw her during the Vanilla City siege, she was a dragonoid slave with red eyes. Do you know the reason why?]

“I know.”

[Do you remember everything about her?]

“I can remember a little. I have few memories of her when we were in junior high, but my memories with her after the Crimson Dragonfly Incident is blurry.”

[Try to remember, Xenon. Try to remember all the memories and the times you spent together. She is the key part of all of this. Once you remember her, you will be able to piece all your memories together.]

“I’m trying. I’m trying.” I closed my eyes.

Several images flashed on my head. All of it shows the same thing but on a different background. All I can see is her beautiful smile and puppy-like eyes that twinkle like stars. I can remember her repeatedly calling me “Senpai.” with her gentle and caring voice. I can remember her laughing. I can remember her being mad. I can remember her crying at me.

I can remember her turning into a dragon. 

[Xenon, do you remember something now?]

“Yes.”

[Tell me how, Xenon. How did you cheat death?]

I kept my silence for a few seconds. I looked at my tied arms. And then I looked at my chest. I focused my ears to hear the beating of my heart, and there, I confirmed the answer on my mind.

[How are you still alive?] The interrogator asked again.

“The Vesryn Pulse,” I muttered. “Serena… she saved me.”

<>