Virtual Scars

1. Perpetrator Unknown

Inspector Diana Wiesner pores over her notes on the new case. The suicide attempt of a teenage girl always rattles her. Cyberbullying. But this time, it wasn't the victim who tried to throw her life away. It was the bully—or rather, the former bully—who wanted to escape her past actions but wasn't allowed to. Fortunately, the girl, Mira Novak, survived the desperate attempt after swallowing random pills she could find at home, and is now recovering in the hospital. Beside the unconscious girl, her stepfather, Thomas Novak, found the suicide note containing a link. It had been shared on the ATConnect social network by a user logged in under the pseudonym "Birdbrain", who claimed that Mira was using a fake profile to lead teenagers on. Herr Novak filed the report. Perpetrator unknown, online defamation. Mira adamantly insisted she hadn't posted the conversation, but she felt her social network acquaintances doubted her.

Diana recalls the girl’s face and words from their conversation in the hospital ward. Red-haired, brown-eyed, and short-cropped, Mira's delicate features masked a complex character. Diana pulls out her case file entry — lately, she had made it a habit to keep a personal journal of her interrogations.

Vienna, May 7, 2008, 15:30

Case: Novak, Mira, born June 8, 1993 – suicide attempt due to allegations of cyberbullying, currently hospitalized.

Facts: Screenshot posted to a social media site by an unknown perpetrator to Mira's detriment: a roleplay conversation under a pseudonym. Poster claims Mira impersonated someone else, coaxing her partner into provocative, sometimes suggestive roleplay. She denies this.

Report filed by: Foster parent, against an unknown perpetrator.

Note: Mira spent the first years of her life in an orphanage; she does not know her biological parents.

Objective: Uncover origin of post, investigate circumstances.

Findings: Mira is honest, answers questions precisely, if occasionally a bit provocatively. Doesn't deflect, but seems to avoid certain topics.

Spoke briefly about past bullying, stating she only wanted to fulfill a desire to get revenge on the world. Ensnared those she disliked through fake profiles on a social network and posted excerpts of their conversations in online groups, mocking her victims — perhaps three or four times.

Claims one of her friends "snitched" to the faculty, which is why she was expelled from school. But says now she is grateful for it. Finally, regretted what she had done and wanted a clean slate, so she stopped the bullying. Denies being the one who conducted the newly posted conversation.

Conclusion: Reasonable suspicion that someone else posted the conversation, substantiation required.

Diana’s rumination is interrupted by a soft knock. At her reply, a blonde woman in her forties with a calm face enters. Looking modest but with a certain magnetism, visibly accustomed to listening to people: Lisa Schafranek, a psychologist and a witness in one of Diana's past cases, and later Diana's therapist for stress management and PTSD sessions.

"Good Afternoon, Frau Schafranek. I've been expecting you."

"It's good to see you again, Inspector."

"Same here, those therapy sessions did a lot. What have you been up to lately? "

"I only see a few older private patients now," Lisa replies. "I took a position at the mental health clinic, working mainly with teenagers and young adults. It has its rewards, but it's never easy. Tell me, what can I do for you?"

"You've already done a lot for me. This is about Mira Novak. I've already sent you the background details. We want to establish enough reasonable suspicion to move against an unknown perpetrator. We could request the IP data of the computer used by the poster who tried to smear Mira, but that requires a data request warrant, and they don't just hand those out on a whim. We have to prove there is reasonable suspicion."

"I see, so we need to find out if the girl is still a bully?"

"Essentially, yes. She denies it, of course, but then there's Elisabeth Kern, the administrator at Mira's former school, who insists Mira hasn't changed. Of course, she's biased because Mira approached her daughter, Lea, with a fake male profile about a year ago. Right now, there's no solid evidence for either possibility. I understand you've treated Lea before."

"Yes, but not for being bullied — for anxiety issues."

"Then perhaps that's a sign that things have changed," Diana notes. "However, because of that connection, she might find it harder to open up to me, especially if she sees an investigator's shield. I'll speak with Frau Kern, and I'll also talk to Mira again..." Diana pauses, deliberately avoiding the word interrogate. "Frau Schafranek, would you be willing to gently question Lea?"

"Of course," Lisa answers with a smile. "She's reserved, but I think she trusts me enough to open up."

"You know, between you and me, sometimes I don't understand what's so appealing about online roleplaying, even though I'll be forty in no time. Of course, I use the internet, but I wouldn't have the inclination for something like that."

"Anonymity. Control. Releasing frustrations. Extending one's personality," Lisa puts the keywords together. "For some, it has a liberating effect, and they can even learn to handle problems they would find more difficult under real - world circumstances. Provided they don't get addicted in the process... But there are those who abuse anonymity. And they might be in the majority..."

2. Elisabeth

The school office is somewhat cramped and colourless, Plastic blinds, metal cabinets, dossiers all around. Elisabeth Kern, in her mid-forties, remains standing. She cuts an elegant but reserved figure.

"You think Mira expects forgiveness? Come now. Do you know what she did to Lea? She lied to her. Played with her. Called herself Elias, posing as a boy. And my daughter believed her. By the time Lea figured out who it was, Mira simply vanished."

Diana doesn't interrupt. She listens and observes.

"Lea told me herself," the woman continues. "She trusted me. But now even she is confused. That girl... Mira... is a manipulator. Believe me, I know. I've spoken to all her former victims. This isn't her first time. It just backfired on her this time. Whoever put up that post, finally showed everyone who she truly is."

Diana finally speaks up. Tersely, but pointedly.

"Frau Kern, without evidence, allegations are nothing more than floating balloons."

"I agree. But then let Mira prove she didn't write from the exact same profile she used with Lea. That will be difficult, I tell you."

"Right, Frau Kern, but speaking personally, I just don't understand why you hate a fifteen-year-old girl so much."

"You don't know how wicked that girl could be! And insolent, too, when we called her to account. We shouldn't be coddling bullies!"

"Look, Frau Kern, I've dealt with repeat adult offenders. Even after years in prison, they walked straight back to where they started. Cyberbullying and public shaming are indeed severe offenses, I won't dispute that. But 'that girl' realised how twisted her actions had been after a single reprimand and a change of schools. She deserves a chance."

Elisabeth's stern face softens up a tiny bit for the first time.

"Well, maybe she's not hopeless after all. But right now, she looks like she's been messed up big time. I say, Inspector, do not trust her hundred per cent. "

3. Diana and Mira

The hospital room is white and sterile. The patient monitor gives out steady beeps. Mira looks into the distance, absently.

Diana takes a seat next to the girl's bed. She pauses a little before speaking.

"Are you feeling better?" she asks softly.

Mira nods.

"Listen Mira, I need to be absolutely sure where we stand. Were you really Elias?"

The girl doesn't answer immediately.

"Yes. But only for Lea. It flattered me. But I wanted to end it a while ago."

"Why didn't you?"

"Because... she still wanted it. And I... I didn't want to cause her pain."

"Did you contact anyone else? With that same profile?"

Mira shakes her head.

"No. Only her. Lately... there was truly no one else. And I didn't vanish. We kept playing in secret after I confessed that I was Elias. She liked that as well. She just doesn't dare confess it to her mother. Lea likes me, too. I mean, the real me, just the way I am. Well, not like that, but we are definitely kindred spirits."

Diana nods slowly but writes nothing down. Mira speaks again.

"I keep thinking to myself, 'No one will believe you'. Everyone looks at me as if they knew what I did. And besides, I hate myself for the things I used to do. This right here is absolute hell..."

"Are your other virtual alter-egos still alive?"

"Oh, no... I buried those deep, for good."

Before saying goodbye, Diana steps to Mira's bed and adjusts her pillow. The girl is surprised but gives perhaps her first unforced smile the whole time. As she takes leave, an almost maternal feeling washes over the seasoned investigator.

4. Lisa and Lea

Lisa was sitting in front of her laptop screen, double-checking the lines she had just written down.

PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVIEW PROTOCOL

Conducted by: Lisa Schafranek, Clinical Psychologist

Vienna, May 10, 2008

Patient: KERN, Lea, 15 years old, born: March 11, 1993

Background: Prior therapy, follow-up session requested.

Findings:

Today, I conducted an interview with the named patient regarding the suspected deception involving the user profile named "Elias T." As it turns out, the patient had been conversing with her 15-year-old former schoolmate, Mira Novak, through the profile, though she only discovered this later. Lea does not feel like a victim. She is fully aware of who Elias is; she knows it is Mira. In her own words: "When I found out it was Mira, it didn't hurt, it just surprised me a little." Out of fear of her mother, she fabricated the story that Mira had disappeared. She stated that she remains in contact with Mira through roleplay. There are signs of mutual affection, and even emotional attraction. She exhibits no immediate psychological distress.

Conclusion: At present, the relationship is not of a bullying nature. Further observation may be required.

Lisa saves the file and closes it. From a clinical perspective, the conclusions are straightforward, but she cannot shake off the feeling that there is something deeply amiss in this case.

5. The Runaway

On May 14, 2008, a notice appeared on the Vienna Police website reporting the disappearance of fifteen-year-old Lea K., asking the public for assistance in locating her. Three days later, the girl reported to the police station herself, explaining that she had moved in with her father, who had divorced her mother two years prior, of her own volition.

That same day, a message arrived on Mira Novak’s phone from Lea’s number:

"Don't be afraid! I believe you."

6. Timestamps

The following day, the local internet service provider logged the following entry:

ATConnect - Data Provision via Prosecutorial Warrant

Date: Vienna, May 18, 2008

Prepared by: Albert Moser, Network Administrator

Investigation Results: In the ATConnect system, the user account under the name "Elias T.", bearing the unique identifier in the appendix, was accessed over the past 30 days from two public IP addresses by subscribers with valid credentials:

1. Thomas Novak (confirmed as primary subscriber) – 15 times.

2. Educational Institution – Vienna No. III Foundation Grammar School, administrative network – 3 times.

Timestamps: See appendix.

The IP address of the latter subscriber was also used to log into the "Birdbrain" user account multiple times during the periods and time slots specified in the appendix.

Further Investigation: Device ID query initiated.

7. Confrontation

Elisabeth Kern sits down. Her face is paler than before, showing clear marks of a lack of sleep. Diana opens the folder but does not look at the papers inside just yet. Instead, she fixes her gaze directly on the woman.

"Frau Kern, before we look at the final data, I want to ask you something," Diana begins, her voice calm but measured. "Now that a few days have passed, and you’ve had time to process everything... how do you see Mira Novak's situation now? Do you still believe she is the same unrepentant manipulator you described to me earlier?"

"You never know with people like her, Inspector. Even her suicide attempt night have been a classic tactic to gain sympathy."

"So you feel no sympathy for her? Not even after she nearly lost her life?" Diana asks, observing the woman's defensive posture.

"Sympathy?" Elisabeth lets out a sigh. "I sometimes wonder what she might be going through after she ruined others’ peace of mind. She also twisted Lea's emotions for months... If you want to know, Lea has moved to her father, and I am not sure Mira is not behind this all. It is still hard to feel any sympathy for her against this background."

"I see," Diana says thoughtfully, tapping the open folder. "Tell me, Frau Kern, do you know what an IP address is?"

"Yes," the woman replies, her voice suddenly turning cautious as she senses the shift in tone. Diana continues.

"The Elias account was accessed mostly by Mira Novak using her stepfather's home subscription. But according to the network administrator, it was also logged into a few times during school hours from the school network. We verified it: the network IP address used to log into the ATConnect account from here belongs to the router connected to your workstation. And the 'Birdbrain' account was accessed from the exact same place."

Silence. Elisabeth does not move.

"You handled Mira's computer back then after it was confiscated. It remained with you until the police took it away," Diana continues.

Elisabeth nods silently.

"The school was handling the matter, so we had the right as an institution to keep the machine locked away here."

"Yes, but tampering with confidential data was not part of that, was it?"

Deep silence. Then Elisabeth speaks.

"Inspector... I did make that fatal blunder of trying to defame Mira... "

"More like a mixture of bias, temptation and opportunity, Frau Kern, I must say,.. Anyway, Mira saved her login credentials in a separate file. That's how you found them out, isn't it? What I don't understand, though, is who you were conducting the posted conversation with."

Elisabeth lowers her gaze.

"Fine, I guess that's it for me... I wasn't messaging anyone else. I essentially simulated the conversation using a second account I created for myself—that was 'Birdbrain'. I logged in from two different machines, writing from one profile to the other. Then screenshots, a posted conversation, and then deletion."

"I see, but that is still identity theft and misuse of personal data, not to mention defamation. And as I see it, everyone in this story is a victim. Mira is, those she bullied are, too, and I dare say, so are you."

"Especially now that Lea has moved out, too. Perhaps she realised something..."

"I am truly sorry for that, but you put her in an impossible situation as well. It is not my place to judge, but perhaps you went about protecting her the wrong way..."

Elisabeth nods, pale.

"I didn't want... I didn't think it would come to this," she whispers finally.

"What was your intention?"

"For them to see who they were dealing with. For Lea to open her eyes. For Mira... not to get away with it."

"But Mira collapsed. Lea moved out. And you..."

"I know," she says, and for the first time, she truly looks remorseful. For herself, and for Mira.

"For now, I can tell you that your confession can be considered a mitigating circumstance. But that will be decided in court."

Epilogue

Diana signs Elisabeth Kern’s interrogation transcript. The woman was not placed in pre-trial detention; following the seizure of her computer, there is no risk of flight or destruction of evidence — the former being highly unlikely due to her daughter. She will likely remain free during the proceedings.

Diana then appends the closing entry and locks the folder away.

INVESTIGATIVE NOTE (Closing Entry)

Vienna, May 19, 2008

Prepared by: Inspector Diana Wiesner

Offender: Elisabeth Kern – unauthorized access, misuse of personal data, defamation, child endangerment.

Motive: Revenge, a sense of moral justice, protecting her own daughter.

Consequences: Severe psychological trauma inflicted upon Mira Novak.

Case closed: Forwarded to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment.

Afterward, Diana gets into her car and drives to the mental health clinic.

Lisa Schafranek’s warmly decorated office is on the first floor. She is busy sorting documents, but waves with a smile upon seeing Diana.

"I'm almost finished, Inspector. Guess what, after Lea, Mira has been assigned to me as well. I'll be conducting individual therapy with her following her trauma. I spoke with her at the hospital today."

"That's good to hear, after everything she's been through. Best of luck with it."

"More like best of patience, I think. I'm sure quite a few past traumas will surface...."

Lisa stands up a few minutes later.

"Well, I'm all done. Did you manage to close the case?"

"Yes, but it would have been harder without you. First of all, I wanted to thank you for your help."

"It was my pleasure."

"Secondly... I don't know how far ethics permit..."

"If you're up to what I guess you're thinking, then I'm right here. And guaranteed to be real, I assure you."

Diana hesitates slightly, then steps closer to Lisa and — from the side, so as not to seem overly familiar — embraces her gratefully. The other woman returns the gesture in kind. As they let go of each other, thunder cracks twice outside.

"Well, the third thing is that I'm your driver home today. I can't have you getting caught in the rain. That’s an order."

Lisa nods with a smile, drawing herself up.

"Understood, Inspector!"

She grabs the office keys from the desk, where her analysis of the conversation with Mira still lies, with the words "occasional manipulative tendency" underlined twice, suggesting a rough path ahead.