Inhuman

Prologue

The scene was disgusting. A man, assumed around 30-years-old, was found dead on the floor outside a Subway restaurant. There was a definite struggle. There were choke marks around the man's neck, ripped clothes, and he had a tactical folding knife with a drop point in his right hand. The trash can outside the restaurant was knocked over and trash was scattered across the concrete. There was a Smarties candy rapper on the man's shoe: crushed. Too bad, could've still been good. Whether or not he antagonized someone, or died trying to defend himself, he didn't die by choking, or tripping and hitting his head on the ground. The man's head was bleeding from where he hit, but that's not how he died. No, he died from frostbite.

Yes, that's right frostbite. While there was an obvious hand imprint around the man's neck from the attacker choking him, the entire palm of the handprint was black. This was the worst case scenario of frostbite. The entire mark was freezing, black, and crusting. It was all the way down to the bone, and into the windpipe. The man's windpipe was frozen black.

Yes, it was frostbite.

The man died at 9:22 pm on a Tuesday night. Traces of the attacker were slim, and unfindable after the trail went beyond 1 mile. No witnesses either. The man's family was notified 3 hours after policemen found the body and filed a report to the department.

Officer Josiah Brewer reported: "Officer McCroy and I were driving along 10th and we saw a man lying on the ground. We thought he was dead drunk or something. We pulled to the side and I got out to see what was going on. I came up to him and realized he was dead."

Officer Daniel McCroy reported: Well we had pulled to the side and Officer Brewer got out of the car. I had set my flashlight in the glove box, so as I was getting it out I head Officer Brewer shout 'Good Lord!' I got the flashlight out and joined him where I saw the body. Poor guy."

Currently, no suspects. However there are DNA samples of the attacker left behind on the choke mark. Officials are currently running tests on the DNA to find a likely person. The traces left behind, besides the unfollowable flee from the scene, are dead skin cells, which is a very difficult track. The estimated time to find a accusable person is unknown.

On the Channel 3 News, Mark Eustauff questions the head of police, Chief Officer Howard Dereeno.

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"Hello Westrise City, I'm Mark Eustauff, and today a man was found dead on 10th Avenue outside a Subway. Officials announce that the man, who we now know is James Lester, died very peculiarly, by frostbite. Joining me today is Head Commissioner Howard Dereeno." Mark Eustauff looks away from the camera and at Dereeno. "How are you tonight Officer Dereeno?"

Dereeno nods and smiles. "Fine, Mark. Thank you."

"You have a very different type of case today, don't you." Began Mark.

"Well it is different but not uncommon."

"Could you explain why finding frostbite around someone's neck is not uncommon?"

"Finding frostbite on someone's neck is uncommon. However this type of murder has happened many times."

"It has?" Mark asked as he lifted his leg and crossed it with the other. He gave an inquisitive face and put his hands together.

"Yes. My police department call these cases Inhuman." Dereeno said. Mark nodded his head, as if reassuring he knew what Dereeno was talking about, but he continued anyways. "Many people in our world, as you know, have incredible capabilities. More often than not, when these people become of age to realize they have a power, it's unreliable and can often basically explode on them."

"I see."

Dereeno continued. "For example, a boy around eight years ago, when he was ten years old, realized he could control fire." He paused. "When he tried to use this ability for the first time, it caused a massive explosion. The fire didn't hurt him, but it killed his mother and hurt his father and sister, while simultaneously suffocating him almost to death. His family was lucky officials made it to the sight, otherwise him and his sister would have died."

Mark smiled "And of course we all know who this is." He looked at the camera. "One of Westrise Cities superheroes, Wyvern."

Dereeno nodded. "Yes, Wyvern."

"And how do you think this case can be included in your Inhuman category?"

"Well," Dereeno tapped his fingers on his thighs. "Fist off, the attacker definitely is Inhuman, so that already puts them in the cases. But, we're still trying to decide if we think this is an accidental coming of age ability realization, a self-defensive act, or an attack."

"What makes you think it was self-defense?" Mark asked.

"We can't be certain they purposefully attack James Lester. Mr. Lester could have been trying to mug this Inhuman and they defended. We also don't know, that if he was defending, did he make the frost on purpose and defend, or was it summoned on accident? And to second that, if he did create the frost to defend, did he make it life threatening on purpose, or accident?"

"Many unknown facts."

"Indeed."

"Here's another question, Officer Dereeno," Mark looked at Dereeno, and seeing no response, he asked his question. "Why is it taking so long to find the killer?"

"The trail the suspect left behind ends around one and a half miles North from the body. Unfortunately, there was only one camera showing the suspect running down the trail. There are no other cameras on 10th, or any other street three blocks around."

"That's not good."

"No it's not."

"And what about on the body?"

"The only evidence left by the suspect on the body is dead skin cells surrounding the frost biten hand print. The cells are collected and being analyzed to find the identity of the suspect, but dead skin cells aren't a reliable form of DNA to analyse."

"Why not?"

Dereeno sighed. "Dead skin cells lose most of their biological characteristics as it becomes the first layer of our skin. If we could have a sample of the suspects skin from the second layer, then it'd be more useful to us."

"When you find this person what will you?"

"They are currently a fugitive. Once we find the suspect we will deliver charges accordingly."

"Will they go to jail?"

"They will be put on trial for running from a crime scene. It will be the court's decision. They will also be charged for manslaughter, or possibly even second or first degree murder depending on the situation."

"Was Wyvern charged for manslaughter?"

Dereeno hesitated. "Yes."

"And now the government is paying him? Even after such a crime."

"Many of the Inhuman manslaughters are accidental. How could Wyvern have known trying his ability would kill people?"

"Are there other superheroes who's committed manslaughter?"

Dereeno didn't answer this time. Mark looked at his eyes for five seconds exactly. After so, he straightened his back, fixed his tie, and looked at the camera. "That was Head Commissioner Howard Dareeno. After the break, we'll be talking about the new Fine-laced Nutrients Bars with Nutritionist and Dietician Pat Resston, your watching Eustauff live on News Channel 3, we'll be right back."

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Five weeks later and information on this attacker is still infamous. Forensic scientists, biologists, chemists and the Health organization are all working together now to successfully analyse the skin cells left on Mr. Lester's body.