Two months before classes begin.

One Month before the interviews.

Somewhere on the coast of New Hampshire.

There was a cold, dark room where a single light bulb dangled from the ceiling.  In the middle was a boy, no older than a young adult. His skin was pale, and his body was malnourished. His arms and legs were bound to a bed. His chest was connected to various tubes filled with blue liquid. 

There were two doctors who monitored his condition. The boy was barely conscious the whole time; his eyes filled with dread, his mouth had been shut, and now,  he could only listen. One of the doctors began to speak. 

"Do you know the problem with superheroes, Doctor Savant?"  His voice was deep yet soft and smooth.

"What is this time, Doctor Camphor?" Doctor Savant responds, his voice low and gravelly. "Is it their absurd costumes or their sense of theatrics?"

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Doctor Camphor chuckles. "No doctor, it's their sense of responsibility, their need to save lives. It often gets in the way of true justice."

"Indeed, imagine if heroes executed their enemies. We would be out of  a job."

The pair share a quiet laugh as Doctor Savant injects the boy with more blue liquid. The boy squirms in pain. He cannot shout due to the gag.

"Quinn, I've always wondered, what hurts more? The needle or the powerlessness?"

Doctor Camphor massages Quinn's head, wiping off the excess sweat with the end of his coat.

"It seems your dosage amount was correct, Camphor, five milligrams of Zenithium."

The two doctors watched in delight, as from Quinn's forehead sprouted a goat's horn.

"Congratulations, Quinn, it seems your body is more resilient than the others. We shall resume tests tomorrow. Sleep well, my son."

As the doctors leave the room, the horn on Quinn's head quickly recedes. Quinn tries desperately to break his bonds. He shifts and struggles, but the ropes are too strong, even with his newfound strength.

Quinn only had one thought lingering in his mind. "Someone, anyone, please... save me."