A Scripta

Jack Matthias set aside the report, and rubbed his eyes through his glasses. It was impossible, but there it was.

Finally, he got the report from the Isles. His brother had not gone down without a fight. They found blood under his nails. They did a DNA test, and ran it against known criminals in the Isles. It didn’t show up. Then they ran it against known heroes. They had a match.

A fellow named Masonry, who had died a year ago. However, he was allegedly alive and well and operating in the Isles.

Then, just a week ago, he received a text message from Trip saying that the data base had been updated and maybe everyone should be aware of something. Jack read about the new members of Safe Havens, and what they were doing there. He read the dossiers of the members, and decided that he should meet them sometime. Especially one.

Bladeless, who had just recently admitted that he was the long-dead Masonry.

This is the report he put aside. Did they know? Trip must have known. Trip could have stopped it, but she was of the belief that anyone who applied to Havens must have a good reason, and should be accepted for what they were. Masonry had been a member before. It was okay to welcome him back.

Jack went to his locker, and pulled out his suit. He would wait.

Bladeless came down dressed in casual clothes. Jack was in the TV room, which had a good vantage point of the entrance. Bladeless waved to Jack, heading toward the lockers. “Stop right there,” Jack said.

Bladeless stopped, turned around slowly. “Everything all right?”

“No, everything is not all right.” Jack felt his suit hum, and knew that Bladeless would hear it. “I know who you are.”

Bladeless said, “I’ve made no secret about it.”

“You don’t belong here. You belong with those murderers that those people are running from.”

“Can’t you believe I’m trying to change? I want to be a hero again.”

Jack didn’t want to hear it. He reached out with his hand, and invaded Bladeless’ mind. Bladeless stumbled, and something came up to block him, a wall of nothingness. Jack pushed. Bladeless fell against the wall.

Jack shoved, and got through the blackness, and saw the horrible things Masonry had done. He had a total disregard for people. Jack saw his brother’s death, and felt the lack of feeling that Masonry did. Jack almost tore out his mind right then and there.

Then he saw the passion, the love he was capable of feeling. He saw Masonry’s loss of intelligence, what he had gone through himself. Jack couldn’t excuse Masonry of what he had done. However, he couldn’t kill him out of hand. Jack was a hero, not a murderer.

Jack weighed the pros and the cons. According to Bladeless, he couldn’t die. But he could suffer. Jack went over to Bladeless, lying on the floor, stunned. He touched Bladeless’ third eye with his thumb. Jack knew he’d be incapacitated after this, but it would simply satisfy his thirst for vengeance.

“This is going to hurt,” he muttered. “Not as much as you’ve hurt me.”

And he started to tear Bladeless’ mind apart.