Delsin Rowe may have been imprisoned only a few years ago but his whole life he had never been free. He was born into a skin cage that never broke no matter how he tore it. He acquiesced to the good conduct asked of him. He followed a beaten path with listless ease. For his manner, his career, and his wife, he was praised as an example to follow. He was even told that he was a hero for his work.

Then one day, the happiest day of his life, his perfect world shattered. As he felt cold iron wrap around his wrists wet with blood he finally felt free.

The guard splashed some water on Delsin’s face to bring him back to the present. It was at Delsin’s request since the fancy cuffs that covered his hands meant he could not do it himself. It wasn’t like him to get nostalgic but his life was about to end. A death sentence in all but name. As a mutant, there was no chance of ever leaving Tartarus. He wanted to enjoy being a mutant like in the cartoons he used to watch but the hero put him down without a fight or a prayer.

That was the fate of side characters who exist to show the strength of the main characters. Now, at the last stop before they throw him in a hole, Delsin dragged out what little time he had left in the overworld to admire his rugged good looks in the crusty bathroom mirror. The orange jumpsuit did him no favors but he made up for it with a charming smile. His guard, disgusted, rolled their eyes for the moment it too for Delsin to disappear.

Thrown into the grass and assaulted by sunlight, Delsin was too disorientated to move. He felt soft hands hold his head still.

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“Why did you do that, you might have ruined his face!” said the woman holding him.

“I pulled him through on your signal, you never said it had to be gentle,” said a younger girl. Delsin sat up now and saw the black silhouette standing in front of him. “See? He’s fine.” The woman wrapped her arms around him.

“I’m sorry for how rude she’s being,” the woman cupped his chin to face her, “she’s just having a phase right now.”

“We weren’t even supposed to get him yet, now they’ll know we’re coming!” said the girl who he thought looked like a silhouette because his eyes were adjusting. Now he can see clearly that she was a black mass in the shape of a girl.

“They already know that we’re coming, we just have one less thing to worry about. I can make use of him.”

“Woah, back up, who are you people?” asked Delsin. The woman stood up and joined the silhouette girl.

“This is Lady Teumess, and I am Auntie Chen, the leader of the mutant movement that will change the fate of humanity!” she proclaimed. Delsin slid his hand down his face.

“I think I’ll pass,” he said.

“I’ll pay you to kill people,” she said. Delsin shot up to his feet.

“It’s a done deal. When do I start?”