Felicio

The Interview

Ariel

“Should I sit down for this?” he asked. I was standing in my office. It was late at night. I don't know if he knew I'd be here or if he just gave it a shot. I still couldn't actually believe that Felicio, the man himself, was standing in front of me. He was more than a man. My heart thumped in my chest as I tried not to stare at him, but this was the first time I had seen him this close and he was even more impressive than the pictures. As he emerged from the shadows I almost gasped. He moved gracefully, which was to be expected. His sleek black suit left little to the imagination and he was an impressive specimen. Nobody knew where he had come from or whose face lay under the mask but if I had to guess it was an athlete. Nobody could have had that physique without training for years. His voice was muffled through the mask, another method to protect his identity I thought. He must have been someone famous, that was the only thing that made sense. I'd gotten into journalism because I wanted to solve mysteries and here was another that had fallen right into my lap. There were a lot of people who would have given anything to be where I was. I couldn't blow it.

“Please, make yourself comfortable,” I said, gesturing to a small couch. I tried to keep my voice even. I wondered if he could hear my heart. It was so odd to see him sitting on the couch like any normal person. This was not a normal person. This was Felicio, hero of the downtrodden, protector of the innocent, and he was sitting in my office. “I have to admit that I never thought you'd actually be here.”

He shrugged. “I thought maybe we could help each other.”

“Oh?” My curiosity was piqued. He leaned forward and tilted his head. I imagined that below the mask he had a puzzled expression. It was so strange to talk with a man when I couldn't see his face. It was almost as though he could be anyone I wanted him to be. Maybe that was the point. I sat down opposite him with a pen and a notepad.

“Now I want to be clear from the start that I don't want any of my words to be taken out of context. A lot of people already think I'm out to hurt them.”

“I can assure that I don't. Frankly I think that what you're doing is worthy of praise. You show people that ordinary men can rise up and still make a difference in the world. I think there's a widespread apathy across this city. People don't believe in the impossible anymore. You can bring that back.”

“I'm anything but ordinary,” he said bitterly, “but thank you. I appreciate that. It's why I came this late. I didn't want there to be a big circus around. I'm also not going to tell you who I am or how I got my powers. I think it's better that some things are kept secret.”

“What are you here for Felicio?” I said, crossing my legs and leaning back. He hung his head a little. I was used to seeing glimpsed pictures of him leaping into action and reading reports of how he took on groups of men to prevent crimes. Now he was sitting like a normal person. I was stunned. Thankfully I was also a professional so I didn't like it get away from me.

“I need help.”

“You need help? From me?”

“Yes. I'll do the interview for you but you have to something for me in return.”

“I'm not used to being held to ransom,” I said, suddenly feeling a little defensive.

“I'm not trying to...look, the fact is that there's a drug going around. It's called Kaos, have you heard of it?”

“I can't say that I have.”

“I don't know how far it's reached but I do know that a lot of college kids are using it. They think it helps their concentration. I know for a fact that this is bad news. I lost the lead though so I don't know where to look next. I'd like you to try and dig something up. Find out where it's coming from and who's behind it. It's so new I don't even know if the police know yet. But I'm worried about everyone. My...my source was excited and didn't see the downsides. I've seen people who have been taken it and it's definitely addictive. I'm worried that soon we're going to start seeing the drop and the real harm. I want to protect people in this city but drugs...I can't punch them in the face.”

“Can I quote you on that?” I asked. Felicio glared at me, at least I imagined it was a glare. He didn't seem the type for jokes. “I'll see what I can do. I'll ask a few questions. But now you're going to answer a few for me.”

“I'll do my best. Just remember what things are off limits,” he said. I nodded and pressed the pen to the paper, ready to write.

“I wish you'd have given me notice so I could have prepared questions but I know there are some that people have been dying to ask you. What made you decide to become Felicio?”

“How do you know that I haven't always been Felicio?”

“Well...I suppose that's a fair point. I guess that I just assumed there was a man under that mask with another life. What made you decided to fight crime and put your safety at risk for the sake of others?”

“When I...realized I had these powers I couldn't sit by and not use them. It's like technology or drugs...when you discover something that can help the rest of humanity you have to make it available to them. I just wanted to do what I thought was right. I try to help the people who need help.”

“And what do you say to your critics, to the people who claim that nobody should take the law into their own hands. The police have been particularly vocal, saying that they will arrest you upon sight.”

“I say that I wish they would spend time looking at the people who are really hurting others. I think that society has an influence on all of us and we are all a reflection of society. Isn't it better that a society produces people who want to take steps to make the world a better place rather than people who are happy to stand by and let other people take control? I understand that the police have their procedures but they can't be everywhere at once. I'm there to help them, I'm just trying to be a good citizen.”

“A lot of this criticism came out in the wake of Emma Shaw's death. You were placed at the crime scene but you chose not to speak to the police. Can you shed any light on your decision?”

“I knew they'd arrest me. A lot of people already made up their minds, but the truth is that nothing I could tell them would help them. I'll tell you now what happened. I was patrolling the city and I saw her standing there. At first I thought I'd made a mistake. I went up to her and talked to her. I tried to get her to step away from the edge. She didn't say anything to me. She turned to me and looked at me and then she fell. I ran towards her but before I did she was falling. I had to watch as she...as she died.”

He was evidently still affected by what he had seen.

“Did you know her before this?”

“No. I only found out the following day when all the news reports came out. I wish I could have gotten there sooner so I could have helped her but I was too late. I don't know why she died but I didn't push her. I tried to save her.”

He hung his head and I wished that I knew what to say. There was something about him that seemed so...so young. “I'm sorry, I just don't really like talking about that night.”

“I understand. Listen, if this is too much we can always arrange another interview so I can prepare properly-”

“No, I think that's enough for now. I'll be in touch again. Find out about Kaos.” And with that he rose and leaped out of the window, off on another adventure. I looked down at my notepad. I didn't know what I had been expecting but it hadn't been that. I walked to the open window and felt the cool night of the air wash over my skin. I looked out at city and tried to see the outline of Felicio, but he had disappeared into the darkness.

I sighed as I gathered up my things and then gasped as I looked at the time. I rushed out to my next meeting, this one with someone who was far less formidable than Felicio.

I stepped out of my car and walked down into the alley that lay between a group of houses. Gina was already there waiting for me, looking anxious. When she heard me approach she stiffened, then relaxed, almost as though she was afraid of me being someone else.

“Evening Gina.”

“I can't stay out long,” she said, her eyes darting around. I wondered if perhaps I had made the wrong choice. The other girl she'd been with had seemed hardier. Gina was my only way into the Shaw building though. I had to find a way to help her keep it together.

“That's okay. I'm sorry I'm late. What have you got for me?”

“Not much. We're kept in a room all day and we're only allowed out to use the bathroom. We're not told anything about what else goes on in that building and the files we work on have things redacted all over the place.”

“It's okay, it'll take some time. Just keep your eyes open and wait for the right opportunity. I brought you this as well,” I said, and pulled the mini-camera out of my pocket, pressing it into her palm.

“What is that?” she asked, her eyes wide.

“It's a tiny camera. You press the button on the side and it'll take a photo. As long as you're careful with it nobody will discover it. It's small enough to hide in your bra, and believe me it's saved my hide a few times.”

“I don't know, they might discover something like this. They have eyes everywhere.”

“You'll be fine Gina, really you will. Just keep it concealed until you need it. Once you've taken some photos bring it back to me.”

“And you're definitely not going to use my name?”

“Of course not. Anything you tell me will be completely anonymous. You're doing valuable work Gina, and you should feel proud.”

“I only feel scared,” she said, and laughed nervously. I pitied the girl for what she was going through and I hoped that it was worth placing her in danger.

“It'll be over soon. Just get what you can and then your job will be done. No go home and get some rest,” I said. She seemed relieved and turned, but before she did one more question came to mind. “By the way, did you see or hear anything about Kaos?”

Gina repeated the word to herself and then shook her head. My instincts told me that the Shaw corporation were mixed up in Kaos somehow. When it came to this city they were mixed up in everything. I wondered what I was getting mixed up in as well. On the one hand I was helping out Felicio with this Kaos deal, on the other I had Gina funneling me information about the Shaw corporation. Somehow it seemed as though Emma was involved as well. The fact that she was a Shaw had to mean something but I didn't know how it was all connected yet. I was holding a few strands to a web without any idea of how it all fit together, but I would find out, and one day I would find out who lay behind the mask of Felicio. By the end of this my name was going to be on the byline of the stories of the century.