Akindele, Cadell

Therapy session 184

Interview Transcript Excerpt

Dr Lunetta: The date is wednesday the 17th of february 2055. I’m here today with Cadell who needs to turn that frown upside down. How’s my favourite superhero?

Cadell Akindele: I have a phobia of knives.

Dr Lunetta: Um, okay. Before we discuss any of your problems, do you mind if we have a little chat first? It’s been so long since we last talked.

Cadell Akindele: Yes.

Dr Lunetta: Hm?

Cadell Akindele: Yes. I do mind. Skip the pleasantries please. Skip the pointless questions please. I need to get back out there. We don’t have time.

Dr Lunetta: I’m afraid it will take a while to resolve your psychological barriers. You should be more than aware of this.

Cadell Akindele: Yesterday, a teenager murdered two sisters in a brutal knife attack after making a blood pact with a so-called demon to ‘sacrifice’ women because he thought he could win the lottery jackpot. Also yesterday, Psycho the Superhero was nowhere to be seen. I need to get out there. Now.

Dr Lunetta: Oh my god. I understand your-

Cadell Akindele: I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Just… ask away.

Dr Lunetta: Right… Do you always wear that super suit? Everywhere you go? Are you trying to be a cartoon character?

Cadell Akindele: Funny. Next question.

Dr Lunetta: Outside of relentless vigilantism, what do you get up to? There’s never been any downtime has there?

Cadell Akindele: No, not really. Cleansing crime has always been a 24 hour thing.

Dr Lunetta: Do you think that your obsession to fight crime has disadvantages despite its value to society?

Cadell Akindele: No. It allows me to fulfil my purpose. I see what you’re trying to get at but, remember, I’m not your typical civilian. Obviously, my circumstances are different due to the past. I don’t need a social life. I don’t need any other passions or desires. I don’t need loved ones.

Dr Lunetta: Do you think that mentality is why Maya left you?

Cadell Akindele: (10 second silence) Obviously.

Dr Lunetta: Do you miss her?

Cadell Akindele: To be honest, until you mentioned her name, I forgot she existed.

Dr Lunetta: That doesn’t answer my question.

Cadell Akindele: Elijah wants me to take up a hobby as a comic artist. Can you believe that rubbish? Like I have time for that.

Dr Lunetta: Clearly right now, you do have the time. And you could always illustrate in Dimension 0. If you can use it for sleep, why not draw? I think it would do you well Cadell.

Cadell Akindele: Aight.

Dr Lunetta: Before you mentioned “fulfilling your purpose,” what is that purpose? It’s been a while since you last defined it. Is it still the same?

Cadell Akindele: Of course. I’m going to cleanse this city of its curse. I’ll save as many lives as possible, not for redemption, not for salvation, not to redeem myself, but because it’s what needs to be done. The day I stop chasing after cries for help is the day I leave this Earth. So help me get back out there, doc.

One week later… CRAZED VIGILANTE VANISHES, KNIFE CRIME SKYROCKETS Cadell Akindele, more commonly known by the public as Psycho the Superhero, has ceased all vigilante activity. As a result, violent crimes in London, primarily stabbings, have spiked by over 30% within just seven days. Mr Akindele was last seen during the London Massacre which was committed by dozens of masked assailants who are believed to have no terrorist affiliation. Camera footage of the vigilante flying across the sky and facing the gunmen has been released, though no sightings have been reported since. The death toll peaked at 315 deaths, arguably becoming London’s second biggest tragedy below the Frenzy. Of course, the Frenzy was a calamity where an abnormal red light projected from the sky and triggered dramatic mental and physical alterations in 12% of the London Population, resulting in a mass murder. Twenty three years later, environmental and social impacts still present themselves today with gangs showing a heavy presence in every borough. Despite millions invested into law enforcement by the government, skilled criminals persistently and consistently commit crimes, adapting to most strategies initiated by the police. Without Mr Akindele, is there any chance to quell the raging knife crime epidemic? The superhero has always been a topic of controversy over the years, well known for committing a homicide and being a wanted fugitive. But his absence is already deteriorating the city. He is needed. Where is Psycho the Superhero and what is he doing?

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

With laser focus, Cadell added details to an intricate cityscape on a digital tablet with a pen. He wore a T-shirt and shorts. No super suit.

It’s fascinating how agony can present itself. It can come in many shapes, sizes and variants. Everyone pays attention to the obvious, dramatic displays such as screaming, crying and cursing but, for some reason, many forget it can also be expressed through silence.

Hands busy drawing a comic. Slight perspiration. A wooden, blank stare. You wouldn’t think Cadell was dying inside.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

It’s been 168 hours, 20 minutes, 23 seconds since I last cleansed crime. I need to get out there.

There was no clock in Psycho’s Asylum yet the sound clicked louder. Cadell leaned back, inspecting the page he’d drawn which consisted of five panels.

The comic Elijah had proposed was called Clumsy Wizard, a comedy manga about an overpowered wizard feared as a terrifying and ruthless villain who, in reality, was a clumsy man trying to spread positivity.

Cadell liked the idea. Chapter one’s comic script made him chuckle. The concept wasn’t particularly unique but it didn’t need to be.

Is this what your existence has come down to, boy? Drawing a comic?

Cadell snapped his pen in half. The Voice’s words creeped up on him like a surprise punch to the jaw.

If this is your existence now, why are you bothering staying alive? Now that your purpose is gone, is there any real point to living? You’re a coward.

Cadell stood up from his desk as an orange portal appeared behind him.

“Prolonged exposure with the stimulus and the fear should subside. Peak levels of fear can’t be maintained”

The words weren’t his but Dr Lunetta’s. He recited them before flooding like they were sacred.

Cadell walked through the portal into a large white room filled with knives. They stuck to every surface, a large variety of sizes, types and colours.

He held back the scream this time which was a big improvement. Eyes wide with terror, Cadell staggered across the room, heart pounding rapidly. Terror was an understatement. Never in his life had he wanted to flee from somewhere so badly. Sweat gradually drenched his clothing as seconds passed by.

I can’t breathe.

Thirty seconds later, tears began to well and Cadell’s heart rate only accelerated faster. He slowly reached for a small knife stuck to a wall with shaking hands.

Closer and closer fingers got until, after what felt like an hour, Cadell found himself sobbing on his knees in Psycho’s Asylum.

“I can’t do it,” he weeped. “I can’t...”