Other Dream's Mystery / Horror Writing (PM for feedback)

[Dreamer99]

Dream's Mystery / Horror Writing (PM for feedback)

This is a thread for me to put my mystery / horror writing.

Please PM for feedback.

 

[Dreamer99]

[Content Warning / Disclaimer: Content warning for history of abuse, violence, gore, implied SA, self harm, etc. This is not intended to promote or glorify any of these things. This is also not intended to stereotype LGBT people, or anyone else, and I am just writing relevant characters for a horror / mystery setting. I am attempting to write this with what I consider to be a reasonable degree of personal sympathy.]

General Table of Contents
Completed Stories:
The Disappearance Cases (complete)

 

[Dreamer99]

[Content Warning / Disclaimer: Content warning for history of abuse, violence, gore, implied SA, self harm, etc. This is not intended to promote or glorify any of these things. This is also not intended to stereotype LGBT people, or anyone else, and I am just writing relevant characters for a horror / mystery setting. I am attempting to write this with what I consider to be a reasonable degree of personal sympathy.]

The Disappearance Cases
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. The Main Cases
Chapter 2. Later Developments
Chapter 3. The Final Cases
Chapter 4.1. The Endgame, Part 1
Chapter 4.2. The Endgame, Part 2
Chapter 4.3. The Endgame, Part 3
Chapter 5.1. Revelations, Part 1
Chapter 5.2. Revelations, Part 2
(Final Chapter of Story)

 

[Dreamer99]

THE DISAPPEARANCE CASES
Chapter 1. The Main Cases

Spoiler: SPOILER

Case Group Title: THE DISAPPEARANCE CASES (D.C.)

Summary: A series of unsolved cases, theorized by some to be the work of one person.
While some of the cases have been officially solved, these remain debated.
There were many false understandings and misinterpretations during the long history of the cases.
The nature of the crimes committed, and the motivation for them, remain a mystery.

Case History:

[OOC note: This is assuming that the main RP begins in 1980 as present day. Adjust dates if necessary.]

1965. (Case D.C.1.) A girl, aged 13 to 14, reported to have gone missing from local junior high school.
Family believed that she was staying at a girl friend's house. Girl did not return for 7 days.
Case was brought to attention of local police.

1966. (Case D.C.2.) Another girl, aged 14 to 15, reported to have gone missing from local senior high school.
Girl did not return. Case was lost in sea of other missing teen cases.
Commonly explained as having merely run away from home.

1967. (Case D.C.3.) Yet another girl, aged 15 to 16, missing from local high school.
Did not return. No explanation found.
Some detectives note that the 1966 case, and the 1967 case, were both girls from the same school.
Both were considered physically attractive, and socially popular at their school.
Detectives theorized a possible connection between them. With also a possible connection to the earlier 1965 case.
Most detectives did not agree. Connection was considered, probably just a coincidence.

Case group, tentatively titled, "The Disappearance Cases".

Detectives attempted to profile a possible captor.
Detectives believed him to be an older man with a thing for younger girls.


Other investigations ran in parallel.

Case Group Title (controversial): DR. FRANKENSTEIN (DR.FN.)

1966 to 1967. (Cases DR.FN.1. and DR.FN.2.) Two teenage girls, unrelated to the other cases, appeared before police.
Girls appeared to be alive and unharmed, but claimed that a strange man had earlier kidnapped / assaulted them.
One of them said that it had been more recently, while the other said that it had been several months to a year ago.
They said that they weren't sure if it had really happened. That they thought it was a dream.
Until they told each other and found that they had experienced almost the same thing.
Each girl said she had found herself in a strange room. Alone, except for a masked man wearing white clothes.
Girl said that man seemed to be well-educated. Girl said that man was very polite, and that he said sorry for hurting her.
Girl said that there was something that smelled like chemicals.
While in the background there was something that sounded like medical equipment.
Girl said that man's hands were delicate. Girl thought that he might be a doctor.
After a short time, it was over. Each girl said she found herself in some random location, like waking up from a sleep.

Detectives considered this to be a very strange story. Most abandoned it, due to lack of evidence.
Some believed that the girls were making it up.
Some detectives, however, insisted on keeping a case file.
Case group, tentatively titled, "Dr. Frankenstein".

1966 to 1967. (Various Cases.) Police investigators noticed the many unusual cases happening in town, both the aforementioned ones,
and possibly others. Police investigators decided to question random members of the public.
Some people claimed to have seen girls wandering around town, seeming confused. Some people believed that they were on drugs.


Another investigation.

Case Group Title (controversial): THE LONELY BOY (L.B.)

1966 to 1967. (Cases L.B.1. to L.B.7.) While questioning girls, investigators found several girls claiming similar stories.
To avoid contamination, investigators questioned each girl separately and told them to keep it private.
Multiple girls claimed the same thing: Girl believed that girl was having a strange dream.
Girl said that she was kept in a dimly lit room. She said that she was accompanied by a young man.
Description of physical environment and personality did not match "Dr. Frankenstein" cases.
Girls did not reference a medical environment. Rather, girls said that they thought they were in a castle, or underground somewhere.
Girl said that the young man said strange words, like reading from a book.
Investigators questioned if there was cult activity.
However, experiences appeared to have no angelic references, no demonic references, and no obvious religious content.
Possibility of cult activity was ruled out.
One girl understood that the man had been reading poetry. She attempted to recite what she had heard.
Literary expert identified these approximate lines, as being from the work of gothic romance author, E. A. Poe.
Another captive said that the captor had quoted Shakespeare, and when the captive then recited a following line, her captor appeared very pleased.
Alleged victims differed on their description of their captor.
Alleged victims, first interviewed, claimed that they were held by a boy.
Alleged victims, later interviewed, claimed that they were held by a girl.
"It was a younger boy." "A boy?" "No, it was a girl. She was definitely a girl."
Case group tentatively titled, "The Lonely Boy".
One alleged victim said, "I thought he was a girl, until, well, you know..."
Another alleged victim said, "He sounded like a gay man. I thought he was gay, until he started touching me."
Some detectives believed that the captor was a young adult man, perhaps a theater performer.
Detectives asked those being interviewed, if the person hurt them. Responses varied.
Some claimed that the captor asked them if they loved him; if a girl said yes, she received "better treatment", although with questionable consent;
if a girl said no, she was "punished".
One girl claimed that "it wasn't too bad"; he asked some questions about her daily life and hobbies; he seemed to be writing a book.
Some detectives believed that the captor was possibly an English teacher.

 

[Dreamer99]

THE DISAPPEARANCE CASES
Chapter 2. Later Developments

Spoiler: SPOILER

Later developments:

Case Group Title: THE DISAPPEARANCE CASES (D.C.)
(Part Two)

Later in 1967. In a town garbage dump, on top of a low pile of garbage, collectors found skeletal remains of a human body.
Body was in poor condition, with not much soft tissue remaining. Body measurements and hair fragments suggested an adolescent female.
Some time after that. In a refrigerated warehouse for the storage of meat, workers were surprised to find a different kind of flesh.
Displayed like some kind of grotesque statue, a nude young woman, several cut marks, and limbs apparently amputated and re-attached.
Cold but not frozen. Freshly dead.
Detectives discussed the cases. "He left her there, on a garbage pile? Why not bury her?" "He's trying to say that she's garbage."
"Not even a bag?" "Maybe he was trying to humiliate her. Expected us to find her earlier."
"What about that one found in a meat warehouse?" "Maybe that guy wanted us to find it. Saying that she's just meat."
Newly dead body was identified as Case D.C.3.; decayed body was suggested to be Case D.C.2.; Case D.C.1. was still not found.
Cases D.C.3. and D.C.2. had classification changed from mere disappearance, to murder.
Some detectives theorized that these cases are the work of the same person. Whom they called, "The Pretty Girl Killer".
Although this idea was controversial, the rumors reached the public; the idea of a mysterious serial killer became popular.
"You think that killer is that 'English teacher'?" "But why would he change from killing to kidnapping?" "Catch and release?"
"Maybe he's grading them. The living ones are the ones that 'passed'. The dead ones are the ones that 'failed'."
Some called for schools to be closed. The police urged the public to remain calm, saying that the city remains as safe as ever.

1967 to 1968. Skeletal remains confirmed to be Case D.C.2.; fresher body confirmed to be Case D.C.3.;
However, lab analysis demonstrates something else. Victim of D.C.2. demonstrated crush marks and broken bones, suggesting death by blunt force trauma.
Victim of D.C.3. demonstrated precise incisions consistent with industrial equipment or medical equipment. Cause of death of D.C.3. unknown.
Opinions varied from gradual blood loss, to drug-induced death.
Due to very different methods of killing, most detectives concluded that they were dealing with two or more different attackers.
A minority of detectives continued to believe in the single attacker theory.
New theorized killer of D.C.2., was named, "The Brutalist", with a new case opened.
Killer of D.C.3., was believed to be some kind of doctor. Connection was made with Cases DR.FN.1. and DR.FN.2.;
Death of D.C.3. attributed to "Dr. Frankenstein", and that case group was upgraded to a murder investigation.
Several doctors were arrested, but no conclusive evidence of wrongdoing was found. Some doctors believed that they were being investigated for "inappropriate workplace behavior".

1967 to 1968. A parallel investigation. Police also questioned a theater group about the L.B. cases.
Some young male actors were arrested, but the investigation produced nothing of value.
Some actors were confused by the police talking about a mysterious young man capturing a beautiful maiden, and believed that they were discussing a new theater production.

Current Case Groups with Ongoing Investigations:
THE DISAPPEARANCE CASES (D.C.)
THE BRUTALIST CASE (B.C.)
THE DR. FRANKENSTEIN CASES (DR.FN.)
THE LONELY BOY CASES (L.B.)

 

[Dreamer99]

THE DISAPPEARANCE CASES
Chapter 3. The Final Cases

Spoiler: SPOILER

The final cases:

THE DISAPPEARANCE CASES (D.C.)
(Part Three)

1968. (Case D.C.4.) A girl, aged 16 to 17, was reported missing from local high school.
Due to recent events, fears grew that she will become one of "the victims".
Some said that she may have just joined a hippie commune.


THE LONELY BOY CASES (L.B.)
(Part Two)

1968. (Cases L.B.8. and L.B.9.) Public attention of the L.B. cases, resulted in citizens being more cautious.
However, as the legend of the L.B. figure grew, a new profile of "victim" would emerge...
Two girls reported being taken by The Lonely Boy.
One girl said, "He called himself, 'a shadow'... Or was it 'The Shadow'?"
"Like a superhero?"
"I don't know! It was really weird."
"How would you describe this person?"
One girl enthused, "He was so manly!"
Another girl said, "It was kind of romantic, actually. I'd let him do it again."
Detectives questioned if these were real victims, but added it to the cases anyways.

1968 to 1969. (Case L.B.10.) A girl reported having been taken captive by a young man.
She said that she had expected to be violated or killed.
The girl said that she started crying, and said something, though she did not remember what.
The girl said that the attacker stopped, and said that he had done something wrong.
The girl said that she did not remember much beyond that, but she found herself next to a church, clean and fully clothed.
Detectives were unsure how to categorize this case, but decided to place it in the L.B. group for the time being.

 

[Dreamer99]

THE DISAPPEARANCE CASES
Chapter 4.1. The Endgame, Part 1

Spoiler: SPOILER

THE ENDGAME

Investigation Team A.
Late 1969. Investigators asked people if they'd noticed anything strange about the teens in town.
A woodsman replied, "Strange? No. But a lot of them come out to the woods for kissing. Sometimes it gets a little heavy."

Late 1969. The team found in the woods, a small shelter built into an old cave.
"The natives used to come out here, to make cave paintings."
"Who lives there now?"
"I don't know."
Detectives knocked, but there was no answer. They decided to try to get a search warrant and come back later.

Investigation Team B.
Late 1969. While idly patrolling around the city, detectives came across something unusual.
On the edge of town. They found an abandoned hospital. Not been used for the past few years, but was still in semi-functional condition.
In the parking lot: A single ambulance. And a short distance away, an old junker car.
"You're gonna want to see this."
"What did you find?"
"You know Dr. Frankenstein? We got two guys working together. Dr. Frankenstein and... Someone else."
"Who would own a car like that?"
"Some old man. Or someone desperate."
They took a look at the cars. "They're not here right now."
They tried the hospital building. Doors were locked. They tried knocking. No response.
"We'll come back later with search warrants."
Ambulance was found to be unregistered. Other vehicle was found to be unregistered.
Investigators asked people if they had seen anything unusual involving the ambulances around town.
An old lady replied, "Unusual? No. But a lot of them girls seem to be fainting a lot lately."
"How do you mean?"
"Oh, those girls seem like they been getting dizzy. Maybe from the weather. They ain't drinking enough water."
"Really?"
"One girl had to call a paramedic to pick her up and bring her home."
"A paramedic?"
"Oh, yes. And it's always the same kind young lady. She must be so overworked. And she's so small, too. She seemed to be struggling to put them on the bed. I would have offered to help, but I'm not a professional."
Investigators decided to pursue this possibility.
They asked questions at hospitals. "Do you have any short women?"
"We have a lot of those. (laughs) Which one?"
"Has there been any new staff lately?"
"We get a lot of trainees, so it's hard to keep track."
"Any of the doctors seem different to you?"
A random female nurse replied, "There is one doctor, who I don't know the name of. A young man. He sometimes comes in to fill prescriptions. Usually sedatives, or psych drugs."
"He ever talk to you?"
"He doesn't talk much. Very professional. He always calls things by their proper scientific names. He doesn't seem to understand the slang we use here. That's why I think he's a recent medical school graduate. Or, he might be a foreigner."

Investigation Team A.
Late 1969. Investigation Team A obtained a search warrant for the house attached to the cave.
Investigators knocked and asked to conduct a search. After waiting and receiving no response, they forced open the door.
Inside, they found a primitive dwelling. Some simple furniture. Not much for modern comforts. But a lot of books.

Investigation Team B.
Late 1969. Investigation Team B obtained search warrants for the ambulance, old car, and abandoned hospital.
Investigators knocked at the hospital. After waiting and receiving no response, they picked the lock to the front door, and went inside.
A few rooms. Looked dirty, rusted, like they hadn't been used in years. But there was one room that was oddly clean.
It seemed to have functional machinery, also.

 

[Dreamer99]

THE DISAPPEARANCE CASES
Chapter 4.2. The Endgame, Part 2

Spoiler: SPOILER

Investigation Team A.
The team looked around the house. Rustic, almost gothic looking from the inside. A desk with some books, and some papers with writing on them.
"I think we've found our 'English teacher'."

Investigation Team B.
"And I think we've found 'Dr. Frankenstein'."
The team decided to check the parked vehicles. They picked the lock to the ambulance, and looked inside. Everything seemed standard at first.
Normal medical equipment. But someone noticed something. Multiple full sets of uniforms for paramedics, nurses, and doctors. All in small / women's size.
A full set of surgical tools. "Do doctors normally do surgery in ambulances?" "Only in extreme emergencies."
Some textbooks on anatomy and chemistry. "So he's an amateur. Or, she? You think she's a woman?" "Anything's possible."
And, notably, several bottles of medication, including: Fast-acting injectable sedative. And LSD.

They looked at the old car next. Picked the lock. Looked inside. Smelled kind of bad. But looked empty.
The trunk. Empty, except for standard maintenance tools. There was a book on car maintenance.
Checked the engine. Everything normal. Except. On the side, there was an oil-covered gloved handprint. Not a clear print for identification.
But there was at least an approximate hand shape and size.

Investigation Team A.
The team continued to look around the house. In the writing desk, they found various papers. Among them, some drawings. Mostly of things in the forest. Sketches of nature. But two drawings stood out: One pencil drawing of a girl, looking around 13 to 14; a neutral expression on her face. Another drawing in bright colors, possibly in crayon, of a girl, looking around 16 to 17; she seemed to be smiling happily.
Detectives could not recognize who these were.
Further exploration from the house to the adjoining cave revealed something more: A stone slab. With a hammer on it. Next to it, a canvas with a large charcoal drawing, in realistic style, of an angry but frightened young woman. Detectives identified it as D.C.2. (B.C.1.) from the Brutalist case. A "pretty girl", who, though popular at school, had had a negative reputation for her egoism and cruelty towards others. Her remains, already earlier found in the garbage dump, had borne broken bones characteristic of multiple repeated impacts.

Investigation Team B.
In the ambulance, almost ignored, was a small metal box with a strong lock on it. After struggling with the lock, seemingly military-grade, investigators opened the box. Inside, there was a book. It appeared to be a girl's personal journal. Identified as belonging to Case DR.FN.1., a survivor. And another journal, belonging to Case DR.FN.2., another survivor. A third journal, belonging to Case D.C.3. (DR.FN.3.). Case D.C.3. had been a girl obsessed with her personal appearance, and reputed by some to have "loose morals". Journal entries appeared to confirm her "superficial" nature.
There was also a doctor's journal. Writing down notes about various medications. Patient conditions. Seemingly normal, until...
Descriptions of an operation performed on [patient number]. "...Incision made on right [censored]..." "...Status of [organ], under review..."
Also inside the box were found multiple photographs bringing material reality to the described operations.
Although the victim's body had already been found, after her death, these images brought new "life" to the (un)dead patient.
The victim's body cut open, on display like a live dissection. "...[Organ] temporarily removed..."
Her suffering was beyond that which they could imagine.
"...Patient will be drained of [quantity] of blood... ...blood will then be restored..."
"...Amputation successful..."
"...Re-attachment only partially successful..."
"...Unfortunately, although we tried to save her, patient may not be able to survive for much longer..."
As an oddity, the normal writing suddenly stopped. A blank spot. And then, in a different style of handwriting, like that belonging to another person, a violent scrawl, declaring: "SHE GOT WHAT SHE DESERVED."
More blank space.
Then the professional style writing resumed: "I'm sorry. The patient had to be cleaned again."
At the conclusion of the operations: "Patient has been restored to original state, or as much as is possible. Now she is clean as a doll."
For the detectives, it was deeply disturbing.
And at the bottom of the box, unremarkable, for how ordinary it was, but in an unexpected place...
A few folders with papers. Police papers. Old police cases that had been solved. And new police cases that were ongoing.
Transcripts of internal police communications.
An officer then contacted the station, telling his partner, in a cold voice, as calmly as possible, "Be careful what you say. He's someone on the inside."

 

[Dreamer99]

THE DISAPPEARANCE CASES
Chapter 4.3. The Endgame, Part 3

Spoiler: SPOILER

Back at the Police Station, A Scene
Late 1969. Investigation Team A and Investigation Team B met together to discuss their findings.
An officer from Investigation Team A said, regarding the "English teacher" and Case B.1., the "mean girl" presumptively hammered to death: "It looks like 'Mr. Nice Guy', wasn't so nice that time."
An officer from Investigation Team B said, regarding the "Doctor" and Case DR.FN.3., the "material girl" made into a patchwork corpse: "We are looking for one sick, twisted dude. ...Or lady." "When I saw what they did... I almost threw up." "Someone highly intelligent... A chessmaster." "He could be watching us right now." An officer jokingly asked, "You think he wears glasses?"
Just then, a young female secretary appeared. "Here are those papers you ordered, Sir," she said, placing the stack on an officer's desk.
"Thank you," the officer said routinely. "I never remember your name."
She smiled and said, "Don't worry about it." And she walked back to her desk, re-adjusting her glasses.


...


THE DISAPPEARANCE CASES, CASE STATUS:
D.C.1. STILL NOT FOUND.
D.C.2. FOUND DEAD.
D.C.3. FOUND DEAD.
D.C.4. STILL NOT FOUND.


...


Investigation Team A had collected some of the poetry writings from the house of the "English Teacher".
They decided to submit them to an expert for style analysis to see who wrote them.


...


Police Station, Final Scene
Late 1969. A few weeks later.
A detective asked, "Any results on that poetry analysis?"
An older woman, a literature professor at a nearby university, not knowing the details of the case, responded:
"Based on the handwriting, and the style of the poetry... We have a possible match."
The detective listened carefully.
The professor continued, "A few years ago, we had a poetry contest at our university. Where people could submit poetry by mail, and we would choose our favorites to publish. The handwriting and style seems substantially similar to that of a young man named 'Virgil Inocente'."
There was something.
The professor explained, "He received an 'honorable mention'. He seemed distraught that he didn't win. I told him that he was a decent writer. But his work was rather 'standard'. We were looking for something more... 'progressive'. I told him that he should practice writing more. Maybe try some new experiences. Meet some new people."
The detective asked, "And where is he now?"
The professor said, "I don't know. Although, last I heard from him, I believe he said he would try writing a novel, next."
"'Virgil Inocente'... Where have I seen that name before...?"
When reviewing the Disappearance Cases, detectives noticed something. The average age of the victims was gradually increasing each year.
"That 'English teacher'... He's not a teacher. He's a student. He's been these girls' classmate. This whole time."
Detectives noted that those alleged victims claiming things chronologically earlier, described the captor as a girl;
whereas those alleged victims claiming things chronologically later, described the captor as a man.
Some detectives believed that the captor was most likely a young boy, and the change in perceived gender, was due to the effects of puberty.
On the other side of the office, someone asked, "She taking some time off work?" "Seems like it."
Back with the investigation team. A detective said loudly, "Can we look up this 'Virgil Inocente' in the directory?"
A young female office worker said, "There's no need." And placed a newspaper on the detective's desk for everyone to see.

 

[Dreamer99]

THE DISAPPEARANCE CASES
Chapter 5.1. Revelations, Part 1

Spoiler: SPOILER

THE NEW NETHERLANDS TIMES

... Virgil Inocente ... Ranked Number 8 on the Best-Seller List.
Nominated for Best Young Adult Fiction or Non-Fiction.

A picture of what appeared to be a teenage girl, or boy with long hair.
Possibly Asian. Or Latino. Or native ancestry.
An awkward, soft smile on her face.
Arms posed chastely.
Sitting in what could possibly be a wheelchair.

An Interview with Virgil Inocente, Author of THE BOOK OF DARKNESS.
Transcript from an earlier interview with Virgil Inocente.

INTERVIEWER: We are here today for an interview with Virgil Inocente, our young author.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: Hello.

INTERVIEWER: So, you are causing quite a sensation with your new book.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: Am I?

INTERVIEWER: It seems that way. ... Your debut novel, published when you are just 17.
You just turned 17, is that right, Virgil?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: Um... I suppose so...

INTERVIEWER: Happy birthday, Virgil.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: ...thank you...

INTERVIEWER: Absolutely amazing. Tell me, Virgil, what's it like?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: ...I never expected this...

INTERVIEWER: And what is your new book called?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: ...the... the... Book (nervously giggles) ... of Darkness.

INTERVIEWER: And, as I understand it, your new book is quite controversial. A work of horror, no doubt.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: ...Actually, I would describe it as a romance. Or, a comedy. Not a comedy in that it's funny.
But, like The Divine Comedy. There's a happy ending.

INTERVIEWER: Well, forgive me if I don't quite understand that. Let's see, what are critics saying...?
"...At once, like both 'Werther' and 'Faust'..."
"...Like The Marquis de Sade meets Dostoyevsky..."

VIRGIL INOCENTE: (laughs nervously) Hahaha... I'm not that important.

INTERVIEWER: It sure is "something". Now, not all reception of your new book has been positive.
There is quite a lot of negative attention, as well. From both so-called "feminists", and Christian conservatives.
This work, some people claim, is "cruel, obscene, and disgusting".
How do you respond to people saying that you hate women?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: I don't hate women. I love women.

INTERVIEWER: Did you expect this many people to react negatively to your book?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: I expected negative responses. What really surprised me, is how many women bought the book.
Even teenage girls. I've been getting a lot of... "interesting" letters.

INTERVIEWER: It's more common than you might expect. What do you think of the theory, that all women want to be hurt?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: (coughs) ... I don't agree. ... I may have used to believe that. But, I don't agree.
I think that, some people, not all, but some people, want to be hurt. I personally prefer the opposite.
... Or rather, I think that some people want to feel like they're being hurt, but at the end of the day, they want to go back to normal.
I don't think anyone wants to be hurt for real.
VIRGIL INOCENTE: I hate people that romanticize real life serial killers. Because their victims, those were real people.
They got hurt for real. They really suffered. I feel so sorry for them.
VIRGIL INOCENTE: I love women. That's why I am revising my book, to include the victims' perspective, as well.
Because their story needs to be told. And I am considering donating a portion of my book sales profits to charity.
For victims and survivors.
VIRGIL INOCENTE: The characters in my book. I really care about the victims. Although, the protagonist, the killer, was actually the first victim.

INTERVIEWER: What do you mean, when you say the book is "from the heart"? As one edition of the book says...?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: It means that it's true. Not literally true. It is a work of fiction. But it's true.
Everything in the book is based on the real world.

INTERVIEWER: Except for the murders, of course.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: Of course. People don't really die.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: The protagonist of the book, who becomes the killer, is based on myself.
Like the protagonist of the book, I suffered from a lot of trauma, when I was a child; some trauma is still ongoing.

INTERVIEWER: Did all of those things really happen to you?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: All of those things really happened to me.

INTERVIEWER: Did your older sister really do "that" to you?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: ... (holding self) ... We're not allowed to answer that at this time.

INTERVIEWER: ... I'm sorry.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: ... Is there anything else?

INTERVIEWER: ... We won't go into the specifics of "that" topic... But... You must have suffered a lot in your life.
Could you talk about that?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: I have suffered a lot. Yes. Because of my condition, I was, what some people might call, "bullied", in school.
People used to call me weak. People used to call me [homophobic slurs] and [misogynistic slurs].

INTERVIEWER: No one should have to go through that.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: No one should have to go through that. Right. It was so awful. And I just endured it. Patiently, I guess.
But, as time went on, it gave me a lot of rage. I was angry at others. Or, perhaps, envious. People who could do things that I couldn't do.
It made me so mad.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: ... But, I think I've calmed down now. I am trying to be more empathetic now. See what others are experiencing.
And try to make peace.

INTERVIEWER: Peace and love is the way.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: Peace and love. (weakly raises a hand with a "V" sign, and then lowers it)

INTERVIEWER: So, what is it like, living with your disability?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: ... It's a struggle. Sometimes, I have a hard time, even getting out of bed.
Technically, I can walk. But only for short periods of time. I get tired easily. Even standing is difficult.

INTERVIEWER: Can you tell me how long you've been struggling with this?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: I've been struggling for much of my life. Sometimes it gets better. Sometimes it gets worse.
I'm just worried that some day, I won't be able to walk at all.
VIRGIL INOCENTE: So far, we haven't been able to find a cure. Sometimes, I wish that I could be my own doctor, and cure myself.
But that's not possible.
VIRGIL INOCENTE: I wish I could have a better body. Like other people's bodies. I see these beautiful girls.
And I wish I could be like them. But all I can do is watch from afar. ...And hope. ...And dream.

 

[Dreamer99]

THE DISAPPEARANCE CASES
Chapter 5.2. Revelations, Part 2
(Final Chapter of Story)

Spoiler: SPOILER

Interview with Virgil Inocente (continued)
VIRGIL INOCENTE: I wish I could have a better body. Like other people's bodies. I see these beautiful girls.
And I wish I could be like them. But all I can do is watch from afar. ...And hope. ...And dream.

INTERVIEWER: Other than your own real life experiences, what would you say is your biggest inspiration for your books?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: I don't know. It's difficult to say. If I had to say, my main inspiration for my books... is my dreams.

INTERVIEWER: What do you mean, your "dreams"?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: I guess, I sleep a lot. And I have dreams sometimes. I guess, it's my form of escape.
Most of my dreams are normal. But, sometimes, I have some weird dreams.

INTERVIEWER: Some people have been saying things like, "turn on, tune in, drop out."

INTERVIEWER: How do you feel about hallucinogens?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: I don't use drugs. I have a wild imagination already. But, some people might need a little "help".

INTERVIEWER: Can you say more about your dreams?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: Sometimes, I have dreams where I'm a great artist. Other times, I have dreams where I'm a genius doctor.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: But, I'm just a poor boy. Or, girl, if you'll grant me that.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: Realistically, though, I think I just want to be a writer.
VIRGIL INOCENTE: ...Hopefully, a writer whose writing people will actually read...

VIRGIL INOCENTE: Sometimes, I feel like I am just a shadow...

INTERVIEWER: Well, I think that you've done much to show other people your light.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: I feel like I'm very misunderstood.

INTERVIEWER: It seems like you have a lot of dreams, both metaphorical and literal.
INTERVIEWER: If I may ask. What's the strangest dream that you've had in a while?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: I don't know. (laughs) Sometimes, I have dreams where I'm a police officer. Or something like that.
It's strange, because I hate the police. But, I guess, it would be interesting to be on the other side of things.
VIRGIL INOCENTE: But, something that we share in common, is that we both have a strong sense of justice.
VIRGIL INOCENTE: My book, really, is about the nature of justice.

INTERVIEWER: For all the people that think that you hate women, I think that they should hear that.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: I don't hate women. I love women. So much, that I'd like to be one.

INTERVIEWER: Have you considered choosing a new name?

VIRGIL INOCENTE: I don't know. ... (laughs) ... Maybe "Virginia". I'll have to get back to you on that one.

INTERVIEWER: Well, thank you so much for speaking with me today for The New Netherlands Times.

INTERVIEWER: I think that you've fulfilled your dream of becoming a famous writer.

VIRGIL INOCENTE: Really? Yay...! (awkwardly smiles) That makes me happy.


VIRGIL INOCENTE is the author of THE BOOK OF DARKNESS.
In this book, the protagonist suffers in a horrible life full of pain.
This troubled protagonist, captures 12 girls, and slaughters another 4 girls, but, eventually, finds redemption.
The book is available from most major booksellers, or by direct order.
Join us at the Royal Bookstore in The Big City, for a talk with Virgil Inocente, and a book signing.
Event will be on Halloween Day, 1969.
PARTICIPANTS MAY WEAR COSTUMES
AND BE
MASKED
OR
UNMASKED.

(End of Story: The Disappearance Cases.)