Finding out

The school year had already ended; it was now July. I had missed my high school graduation over the past two weeks, so I had to retrieve my high school diploma from Midtown. It was time to bid farewell to high school for a second time.

After picking up my diploma, I returned home with plans for the day. I intended to test out my "door opening" ability. Locking my bedroom door, I repeatedly tried the ability until exhaustion set in. Then, I headed downstairs and settled onto the couch, eventually drifting into sleep. It was a Wednesday morning.

Having mastered unlocking doors, my next goal was to experiment with phasing through objects and obstacles. In my room, I stood before my door and gradually extended my finger through it. A sense of wonder filled me as I continued, eventually passing my entire body through the door. It felt as though phasing had become second nature. I repeated the experiment a few more times before concluding.

I had plans for the following day—to visit my mother's crime scene and survey the area. I intended to do so under the cover of night.

[The following morning]

I woke up with a plan to investigate my mother's crime scene, surveying the vicinity under the veil of night. I showered, dressed swiftly, and donned a gray Hollister hoodie, tan cargo pants, and gray New Balance shoes. As night fell, I prepared to sneak into the site.

Leaving through the front door, I found the streets still bustling even in the dark. The site wasn't too far away, so I decided to walk. Making my way through quiet streets and shortcuts that I knew from my memories, I reached my destination. "I'm finally here."

The construction site was heavily secured with a gated fence and guards. Infiltrating it would be nearly impossible for an ordinary person, but not for me. Assessing the cameras, I found a blind spot and entered through the gate. The site was still an active crime scene. It didn't take me long to locate the area marked by caution tape. Gazing at it, my heart clenched. I felt a profound sympathy for the mother who once inhabited this body. To meet such a fate was horrifying. But I was here to investigate on behalf of the kid who had once been me; I owed him that.

I touched my glabella to activate spirit vision. I immediately sensed multiple apparitions and continued walking. I whispered, "Mom." Again, I muttered, "Mom." Suddenly, a voice from behind me replied, "Son."

Turning, I saw a woman about four meters away. Approaching the silhouette, I inquired, "Mom, which one are you?"

She mumbled, "How can you see and hear me?"

I hesitated, then confessed, "I... I don't know."

From comic books, I knew that ghosts often had unfinished business. To ease my conscience, I resolved to help her find closure.

"My son, I'm so glad to see you. How have you been? Have you been taking care of yourself? Did you finish school?"

"Mom, not now. I'm here to gather information about the circumstances surrounding your death and the deaths of your coworkers. Do you have any information?"

She recollected, "I remember receiving anonymous death threats about constructing on this land. That's all I know."

"What do you remember about the moment of your death?"

"Just before the incident, I saw something fly and hit the latch holding the beams. Then, darkness. The flying object looked like a boomerang. Thank you for being here. Do you know where your coworkers are?"

Once again, a voice emerged from behind me. "Hey, kid." I quickly turned around and greeted, "Hello."

"Do you know the details of your death?" I inquired, eager for a lead.

"Yes, I... it was Wilson Fisk who killed us."

"Are you certain?" Relief washed over me.

"He personally demanded I sell him the rights to this land, but I refused. Despite my usual compliance, this opportunity was too significant to ignore. It could have propelled my company and gained the favor of Rand Enterprises."

"We paid the price for my greed. Please seek justice for us. This is my final request." As the figure faded, I gazed at my mother, she had a content expression.

"My only wish was to see you. I'm fulfilled. I have to go." She attempted to hug me, but her hands passed through. "I love you, my son. I'll watch over you."

And then she disappeared completely. Her unfinished business had been to see her son again. I wondered what she'd think if she knew someone else was now in her son's body.

Armed with the knowledge of what transpired and who was involved, things would become clearer. I surmised that Fisk had hired Boomerang (Fred Myers) to kill my body's mother.

Just then, I sensed someone approaching—the security guard. He shone a light in my direction, commanding me to stop. I sprinted, finding refuge behind a cement truck that obstructed his view, then phased through the gate and ran toward home.