[Siren's Pull] Article, 22/09/11
Teen Still Held on Murder Charge
By Lois Lane
Nearly two weeks ago Kevin Ford, fifteen years old, was charged with murder for the widely-reported death in the June riots. Kevin’s abilities, by his own assertion, decay any and all organic material which comes in direct contact with his skin. Police evidence reports this to be consistent with the cause of death, resulting in the murder charge, though without a statement from the apprehending citizen, it remains unclear how the boy was identified.
Though not as disadvantaged as some whose powers have surfaced since arriving at Siren’s Port, Kevin only developed his talents a year before being pulled by the Core. The Pull interrupted his schooling under instructors trained to help children like him gain control. Since then he has had the opportunity to continue practicing.
One of his instructors, Emma Frost, currently resides in the city as well. She has described discovering talents as being uniquely problematic due to social stigma. On the subject of adolescents developing them in particular, she has stated that “the explosion of hormones makes self-control difficult.”
In Kevin’s case, that unavoidable biological fact only compounded that the ability cannot be turned off. He avoids physical contact with people when possible, and wears his sleeves carefully tucked into his gloves, to prevent them rolling up. This does not, however, preclude the possibility of an accident-and certainly does not factor in crowds of emotional people.
When asked about the dead man, Kevin reported no recollection of his face. “There was a lot o' people, ma'am,” he stated in a Southern accent rarely heard in the city. “I couldn't 'member an individual face. Weren't really lookin' at faces, anyway. Was lookin' at the ground.” As eye-witnesses could verify, the teen’s sleeves and gloves were back in place when he returned to work at the garage.
Given the timing of the death, surrounded by so much chaos, comparing the effects of Kevin’s abilities to the cause of death will likely be the primary forensic evidence to prove his involvement. Only those witnesses who first made statements could provide further insight. It will be up to the Port’s justice system to decide if the event was a murder or a tragic accident with a frightened adolescent.
By Lois Lane
Nearly two weeks ago Kevin Ford, fifteen years old, was charged with murder for the widely-reported death in the June riots. Kevin’s abilities, by his own assertion, decay any and all organic material which comes in direct contact with his skin. Police evidence reports this to be consistent with the cause of death, resulting in the murder charge, though without a statement from the apprehending citizen, it remains unclear how the boy was identified.
Though not as disadvantaged as some whose powers have surfaced since arriving at Siren’s Port, Kevin only developed his talents a year before being pulled by the Core. The Pull interrupted his schooling under instructors trained to help children like him gain control. Since then he has had the opportunity to continue practicing.
One of his instructors, Emma Frost, currently resides in the city as well. She has described discovering talents as being uniquely problematic due to social stigma. On the subject of adolescents developing them in particular, she has stated that “the explosion of hormones makes self-control difficult.”
In Kevin’s case, that unavoidable biological fact only compounded that the ability cannot be turned off. He avoids physical contact with people when possible, and wears his sleeves carefully tucked into his gloves, to prevent them rolling up. This does not, however, preclude the possibility of an accident-and certainly does not factor in crowds of emotional people.
When asked about the dead man, Kevin reported no recollection of his face. “There was a lot o' people, ma'am,” he stated in a Southern accent rarely heard in the city. “I couldn't 'member an individual face. Weren't really lookin' at faces, anyway. Was lookin' at the ground.” As eye-witnesses could verify, the teen’s sleeves and gloves were back in place when he returned to work at the garage.
Given the timing of the death, surrounded by so much chaos, comparing the effects of Kevin’s abilities to the cause of death will likely be the primary forensic evidence to prove his involvement. Only those witnesses who first made statements could provide further insight. It will be up to the Port’s justice system to decide if the event was a murder or a tragic accident with a frightened adolescent.