___

Questions filled my head for the next four days, about what Sydney could have meant. I spent most of that time by her bedside, watching soap operas on her hospital television, waiting for her treatment and examinations. Doctors determined that by some miracle, her two broken ribs evaded her organs, leaving her lucky to be alive. Lucky didn’t necessarily mean painless, unfortunately, as Sydney still had many scrapes, bumps, and bruises to accompany her shattered wrist and fractured ribs. Still, despite her pain, she remained happy and positive. More worried about me than anything.

I was checked out of course, but immediately dismissed after no major injuries were found. A small, sore pain in my neck was all I felt, all thanks to my brief strangulation at the hands of Sydney’s mugger, but it never bothered me. What bothered me was Sydney’s suspicious evasion of my questions.

Despite my numerous attempts to get Sydney to open up throughout the next few days, the meaning behind her cryptic comment to Lucius in the ambulance eluded me. I carefully poked and prodded her, steering each conversation towards my asking her what I was ready for. However, every time the question would leave my lips a nurse would pop into the doorframe at the upmost convenient time, offering pain relief or a pillow. It took me a full three days to realize Sydney’s finger would graze over the call button by her hospital bed every time she sensed the conversation was turning to the topic of my interest. That was, until today, which was her release day. There were no more call buttons to help divert my attention.

Sydney signed her discharge papers and was formally dismissed with a small cast, painkillers, and a follow-up date. As we walked outside of the building, the sun hit us both in surprise. Instinctively, my hands went up to help shield me from the exposing light. When my eyes adjusted to the bright rays, I could see the streets buzzing, busier than what I had gotten used to. To make things even stranger, the crowds of walking citizens were swimming in the same colors: Red, white, and blue. Some were adorned in outrageous hats and glasses. Some skimpier than others. All of them, despite their differences, showing union.

My gaze drifted to a man in a suit and tie that matched the color pallet in the streets, waiting for us by the sidewalk. Once my hand shaded my eyes, I could see the familiar face of Bill, waving us down with his enormous grin.

“There they are! The two bravest people I know!”

He chuckled to himself.

Once we approached him, Bill began taking Sydney’s casted hand, gently kissing it.

“And with the battle scars to prove it. I missed you, my love!”

“Bill, honey, you’ve come to visit me every day. What could you miss?”

Sydney smiled, exchanging a skeptical glance with her husband.

“Well, for starters, your wonderful cooking hasn’t been around! And you-”

Bill looked over at me, smiling.

“Your lacking presence has been noted. But I can’t thank you enough for watching over her. I’d be there myself if it weren’t for this economy and my lack of PTO.”

He extended his hand out for me to shake. As I took it, I gave a genuine smile. However, as he spoke, for a brief moment his tone turned from dramatic, to serious.

“And I owe you everything… Thank you, Emily, for helping her in that alley.”

“You don’t have to mention it, Bill. I did what anyone would have done.”

I looked at him, shaking his hand and smiling slightly.

"Well, regardless, you both are here safe thanks to your efforts. I don’t know what I would have done-”

Sydney cut him off with a kiss on the cheek, taking his hand in hers.

“Well, we don’t have to worry about that, dear.”

He looked over at his wife, his eccentric personality returning. I stood there, watching them. You could tell by their glances alone how much they meant to each other, that their passion for each other was unbreakable. Witnessing how they looked at each other was an experience I couldn’t explain, as if I knew now what true, unconditional love looked like. Part of my heart longed for something like they had, but part of me knew it was unlikely. Not with who I was.

Bill’s smile widened, as he held her hand.

“You’re right, my love. Now! I imagine the meals at the hospital left you both with an appetite. How about we grab something from the diner before we head home?”

I nodded my head in approval, as he wasn’t wrong about the hospital food. However, Sydney shook her head, patting her husband on the back.

“Oh honey, as much as I would love some diner grub, Sarah and I have to go see Lucius. I promised him I’d go see him as soon as I got out. He said there was a job that was an ‘all hands on deck’ type. Sounded pretty important.”

“Oh, of course, he’d need you there, they require your genius! Lucius must have been writhing in agony the past few days without you there! And I imagine they’ve been missing your hardworking presence there as well, Emily. Now, we haven’t a moment to lose!”

Bill chuckled to himself, motioning to the car with a dramatic gesture. The three of us began walking over to the beat-up vehicle, with Bill running ahead to open the passenger door for Sydney. As she climbed in, she couldn’t help but chuckle at her husband and his ridiculous antics. Bill opened the door for me as well, which made me crack another smile. I climbed into the old, cracked back seat, situating myself before buckling the duct-taped seatbelt in the back.

Once his perceived gentlemanly duties were fulfilled in his mind, Bill hopped into the driver’s seat. As he started the car, he reached over to hold Sydney’s hand as we drove off into the afternoon. Part of me wanted to take this time to finally ask Sydney what she meant by my being ready. I couldn’t help but let it go for the moment. Bill seemed so relieved to have his wife out of the hospital, barely wanting to let go of her hand. He held on as if letting her go would result in her being lost forever. I didn’t want to ruin that moment for him, nor for Sydney. Instead, I kept my silence, listening to the jazz that played through the quiet radio. Watching all the buildings come into view before disappearing just as fast as they came, letting the colors of unison many citizens wore blend into a blur as we drove into the afternoon.

___

With a little hesitance, Bill dropped us off at the entrance of Wayne Enterprises singing Sydney’s praises even as we walked away. Once he drove off, Sydney turned to me, as we started walking.

“Ah, I have to admit. I missed his theatrics while in the hospital.”

I looked over as she grinned to herself, her cheeks flushing with color. She looked back at me, her bright teeth displaying the joy she felt inside. I wanted to be happy with her, as it was her first day out of the hospital. I couldn’t shake away the urge to ask the burning question, words falling from my tongue as I spoke.

“Sydney, what did you mean that night? What am I ready for?”

“Oh, I-”

She stopped herself, almost in shock. She collected her thoughts before speaking again.

“I am so sorry kiddo, I didn’t want to speak on it at the hospital. And Lucius asked me to keep you in the dark until today.”

“Wait, why? Is that why we are here today?”

“It is. Had to fib to Bill a little, but the real reason we’re here is for you. I told Lucius you were ready because you are. You showed control over your abilities. It means you’re ready to be discharged from our testing, so to speak. Today we’re gonna send in the report to Mayor Gordon to approve.”

The words she spoke caused me to stop suddenly in my tracks, the disbelief beginning to ring in my ears. Sydney saw me stop, turning to face me.

“What’s wrong kiddo?”

I looked up at her, my eyes pleading for her to repeat her words. My ears needed to make sure I didn’t misunderstand her. That I didn’t misinterpret the potential hope she spoke.

“W-What does that mean for me, Sydney?”

“It means, that if Mayor Gordon agrees, you’ll finally be a completely free woman. No more tests, no more supervision. You’ll be completely free to lead a normal life. We’ll still check in of course, and you’ll be welcome to stay with me and Bill as long as you’d like. But… you’ve made it to the end goal. You’ve learned how to control your abilities, and how to prevent fatal injuries with them. Now you’re eligible to have the Mayor sign off on the completion of your trials and tests.”

I couldn’t help but let out an audible laugh, the welcomed shock feeling like a whip to my heart.

“You’re saying I can have a normal life? That I won’t go back to Arkham?”

“That’s exactly what we’re saying, as long as you stay out of trouble from here on out. Since there’s been no fatalities, and your recent stint was self-defense, me and Lucius are confident in signing off on you.”

I could feel a tear well up in my eye. The overwhelming feeling of hope triumphed over all other feelings. All of my daydreams could really happen. I now had the chance to make my life mine. With my breath shaking, I exhaled as the tear made a trail down my cheek. A smile couldn’t help but appear on my face, with my laughing in awe.

“Oh God, Sydney… I-”

My thoughts trailed off, as I stood there trying to collect myself.

“You don’t have to say anything yet, Sarah.”

Sydney laughed with me, pulling me into a hug. Her arms wrapped tightly around my shoulders. With her lengthy height, I barely made it passed her chest as I embraced her. We stood there for a moment, each of us overcome in our own emotions. I, with my overwhelming gratitude and hope. Sydney, however, had pride and excitement in her embrace. When we finally let go, our smiles matched.

“Alright, c’mon kid. Let’s go sign off on this thing.”

I nodded eagerly, falling to the side of Sydney as we walked towards the building doors. The sunlight gleamed on my face, blinding me to what was inside the glass doors. Once we approached them, I realized that the sun wasn’t the only reason for my inability to see inside. Past the glass doors, darkness swam inside the building. I heard Sydney chuckle in a confused manner, trying to scan her badge on the side of the building. Normally, the scan would result in a green light, and a pleasant ding to accompany it. This time, however, resulted in a red light, and a quiet buzz indicating access was denied for Sydney.

Both of us looked at each other as if we were asking the other for the answer. When we realized neither of us had an explanation, Sydney tried to scan again, only to be met with the same red light and buzz.

“Did the power go off, maybe?”

I asked, trying to think of a logical explanation.

“No, I don’t think so. We have a backup generator for that. I’m gonna give Lucius a call.”

As she spoke, she pulled her phone out of her back pocket, dialing the number pad that popped into view when she woke the device up. She looked over at me and smiled, however her eyes conveyed a different message. She was nervous, but her smile was to try and reassure me. I could see right through it, and we both knew that something was awry.

I could hear the faint beep while the phone was pressed to her ear, followed by the familiar voice of Lucius reciting his voicemail. It wasn’t uncommon for him not to answer right away, but I watched as her smile disappeared and knew it was serious. Sydney then went to try the doors, to no avail. She looked hopeless for a moment, panic washing over her. She then went to push the call button beside the scanner. We waited for the minute it took to ring, but an automated message played after a lack of responses

“We’re sorry, but we are unable to come to your aid at this time. Please try again in a couple of moments, and we will do our best to assist you. Wayne Enterprises thanks you for your patience.”

Both of us knew at that moment that something was wrong. Usually, around this hour Wayne Industries is bumbling with people. I heard Sydney mutter to herself.

“Even with the holidays, Lucius should still be here… And the lights wouldn’t shut off until later this evening…”

I looked over at her, confused.

“Today’s a holiday?”

“Yes, Fourth of July. Do you know what that is?”

“Yeah… Yeah, I just never saw it celebrated.”

I trailed off, trying to remember if there was ever a time my mom took me out to view the fireworks famously associated with the day I learned about. There wasn’t one. I only remembered viewing the bright, explosions of color in the skies through my old window. Other than that, I knew nothing about the traditions of this holiday.

“Well, typically everyone would have the day off. But Lucius and a few others still chose to work, and they have every year. Lucius said he’d be here today… I’m starting to get a little worried, Sarah.”

An idea began to swim in my head. Just as it came, Sydney spoke up again.

“I’m gonna try and call Lucius again, you hang ti-”

“Wait, what if I go in? I can use my abilities to go through the doors. I can check it out while you try calling Lucius?”

Sydney looked puzzled at first before she finally arrived at the same thought as me. Locked doors pose an obstacle for normal people unless they have access to the tools to make their way through. My abilities, however, granted me a way to enter the building without resulting in broken glass. The ability to change from a solid body, into almost air itself. Something Lucius likened to a phase, changing from one state to the next. In this case, instead of over time, it was rapid. The amount of focus it took was painful, though, putting pressure on my head like someone trying to crush my skull with their hands. It wouldn’t take long, however, to go through the locked doors.

I looked at Sydney, waiting for her decision. After a pause, she nodded but began to take off her watch, handing it to me. As she tapped it, a screen popped up.

“Okay, we’ll do that. But you take my smartwatch. I’ll call Lucius a couple of times, but if he doesn’t answer, I’ll call you through this. And listen-”

She held my hand gently after putting her watch on me and tightening it so it wouldn’t fall off my wrist.

“You be careful, okay? You call me the minute there seems to be something off, and you run outta there. I’ll call the police, and we can wait here safely. Understand? Something doesn’t feel right, and I don’t want you getting hurt.”

With concern still splashed on her face, she smiled slightly. I nodded, confirming her condition, before turning to face the door.

“Don’t worry, Sydney. I’ll be safe. Are you gonna be okay out here?”

“I’ll be fine. Let’s check this out, kiddo.”

With that, she began to walk to the side of the building, the sound of her smartphone dialing fading away into the distance. The sound of distant cheers and city noises returned, indicating I was alone with only the glass doors in my way.

I closed my eyes, letting my focus shift to my slowed breaths. With the sound echoing in my ears, I called to the voice inside me. Reaching out to it with my mental arms outstretched. With a faint, gentle whisper entering my mind, I stepped towards the glass doors.

When I opened my eyes, black smoke began filling my sight. Continuing to walk up to the doors, I felt my mind strain, not stopping as I began to go through the glass entrances. Past the first set of doors, then past the second. After making my way through the final obstacle, I let myself relax. Once the pain subsided, and the smoke faded away, I pressed on. Making my way through the dark, silent lobby.

The eerie atmosphere left me uneasy, knots beginning to form in my stomach. I was never a fan of the dark, having it be a borderline torture tool in my childhood. Now, I was willingly going into it, wrestling with my growing fear just like a few nights before. I passed by darkened objects that took my adjusting eyes a moment to make them out. Chairs that normally would be illuminated in the bright mechanical lights of the building were now barely visible. I turned my body to face a corridor, leading up to a case of stairs and an elevator. The windows were my only source of light, helping me make out the path ahead.

I continued on, passing the many doors and other hallways that branched out from the corridor. The deeper I went, the darker the corridor got. Windows began to cease and disappear as I walked on. I felt the chill of the air in the building, causing goosebumps around my body. Still, I fought through all of my sensitivities, because I needed to investigate. For Lucius’ sake. All of my doubt, all of my fear needed to be pushed down. Concern and courage were the only things I allowed myself to prioritize.

When I finally reached the elevator, I tried pressing the button. The realization dawned on me that the power really was down, as the elevator button refused to glow when pressed. Luckily, the staircase of the building resided itself beside the powered-down elevator. I braced myself, ready to climb.

The steps were steep, almost causing me to trip with each step. I continued despite it, looking around the corners as I entered the stairwell. Darkness completely engulfed the area, causing me to try and use the smartwatch as my only minuscule light source. Carefully, I completed the first flight of stairs. That’s when I heard a sharp ring followed by a vibration to my wrist, almost falling back after the sudden noise scared me. Once I realized it was only Sydney calling the smartwatch I balanced myself, exhaling as I relaxed my shoulders. I swiped up on it to answer, continuing my ascension up the stairs.

“Hey, Sydney. Any luck?”

“No… now I’m really worried. Lucius usually answers with a text if he can’t come to the phone. Something’s up Sarah.”

Just as the uneasiness grew inside of me, a faint crash broke through the silent building. Quiet enough to almost go unnoticed, but not by me.

“I heard something Sydney. I’m gonna go investigate.”

“Wait! Sarah, if you think it’s dangerous-”

“I don’t know if it is, but if Lucius had an accident, or if he’s stuck somewhere, we need to help.”

“Sarah, I think we should wait… Something feels off about this whole thing.”

I tightened my fist after Sydney spoke those words. No, I thought. I couldn’t wait. I began to pick up my pace, jogging up the flight of stairs. My legs burned from the strain of climbing so many steep steps, but I pushed through.

“Sydney, if Lucius has an emergency, I need to go up and try to help. I can’t let anything happen to him. To either of you.”

Sydney stayed silent on the other end, the rustle of the city in the background of the call. I began to slow down as I approached the door to the eighth level.

Here’s the Lab, I thought.

I tried the door, to no avail. Usually, it required Sydney’s keycard, but since she was outside I realized I needed to phase again to get through. Slowly, I exhaled, willing my body to change. Walking through the closed door, the smoke subsided once I crossed the threshold. I used the light from Sydney’s smartwatch to peer into the room. Despite the dark outlines, I could see all of the equipment in their rightful places.

All except for one station, with its beakers now shattered across the floor. Letting a small gasp of surprise leave my lips, I quickly ran up to it, looking at the different liquids on the ground. Mixes of purple and orange dancing in swirls. Using the light from the smartwatch, I illuminated the ground where the broken glass lay. Amongst a small amount of blood, a drag pattern revealed itself in the dark, the purple and orange fluid beginning a trail. My eyes followed the ground until the uneven, sharp trail revealed a struggle to the elevator. My light flashed on the buttons, spotting a small bloody mark on the up button.

That’s when my mind pieced together a puzzle. From the looks of it, someone was here, waiting. When a possible ambush occurred, breaking the glass beakers when the assailant slammed someone against its surface. Everything spilled to the ground, including the unknown victim of the assault, who from all clues cut himself on the glass. Once subdued, the assailant drug a struggling victim to the elevator.

It finally dawned on me. The only person who was supposed to be here in the lab was Lucius, and now he wasn’t answering.

I quickly jogged over the door, phasing through it before lifting the smartwatch to my face to talk.

“Sydney, call the police. I think Lucius is hurt!”

I said, slightly panicked. From the looks of everything, the power was cut after Lucius was dragged away. Which means trouble could still be lingering in the building.

My suspicions were proved when a sharp, angry voice let out a yell a few floors above me. With me being up higher and closer, I could make out what was said as it echoed throughout the stairwell.

“WHERE IS IT, FOX?”

A loud crash followed, and I heard a scream on Sydney’s end.

“Oh god! Someone just broke a window higher up in the building- No! Lucius!”

I began to run up the stairs, trying to locate the sound of the crash.

“Sydney, what’s going on? What happened?”

The clear panic in her voice overdid mine as if I could hear her own heart pounding in her chest.

“Someone’s holding Lucius out of the window!”

Running faster up the different flights of stairs, my adrenaline started kicking in as I processed what Sydney said. Someone was about to kill Lucius, and I couldn’t let that happen. I needed to get to him, and fast. My eyes kept darting toward each door I passed, indicating which floor I was on.

“Sydney! Quick! What floor is he on?”

“I-I don’t know Sar-”

“Count them!”

After a brief pause, Sydney shouted the answer to me. It would have been deafening if my adrenaline didn’t cause my ears to ring.

“Twenty-Six! He’s on Twenty-Six!”

Just as she spoke, I almost passed by the exact door I needed. Without thinking, I looked into the glass slit that allowed me to peer in. The darkness inside was interrupted by the blinding light of the sun, covering what I realized was a conference room in a blanket of illumination. My eyes darted to the cause, which was the shattered tinted window of the building. At the edge stood a very muscular man in a tan leather trenchcoat, with black boots planted firmly on the blue flooring. In his hands, he gripped Lucius’ neck, holding him menacingly over the edge. One move and Lucius could plummet twenty-six stories.

I needed to act fast. If I went in there announced, the man could simply drop him. I needed to try and sneak up on him. If I could grab him and try to pull him back, there was a chance Lucius would come with the burly man.

“Sarah, what are you doing? You need to come back!”

I covered the watch in desperation, trying to muffle the sound. When I was sure my cover was not blown, I quickly hung up. I took the watch off, tossing it aside. I couldn’t risk her calling again and making noise. I needed to execute this without fail. I had one shot, and if I failed it meant Lucius would die.

Breathing in, I approached the door with caution. Every breath, every step had to be silent. Exhaling softly, I pushed past the locked door to the twenty-sixth floor, letting the black smoke phase me past my obstacle. I didn’t change back once I passed through. I needed the strength of my abilities if I was going to stand a chance against this guy. Black smoke still whipped around me silently as I carefully approached the man, each step lighter than the next.

With the sunlight shining into the dark room, I could see the man a little clearer. The back of his head was covered in sleek black hair, with bright brown roots peeking through to reveal an old dye job. Deep red scars were barely visible on his neck, only being exposed by the light. His trenchcoat draped down past his calves, lightly flowing in the small breeze the broken window invited in. Black gloves wrapped tightly around the hands that clutched Lucius’ throat. As I got closer, I could make out their conversation, the unknown assailant’s aggressive voice echoing in the room.

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“Bruce took EVERYTHING from me! Left me with nothing! Even after he blew himself up, he took every option I had left to claim what was mine! Instead, he gave it all to YOU. So you’re going to give me what’s mine, Fox!”

I could see Lucius struggle against his assailant’s grip, trying his best to hold onto the man’s muscular arm. While his feet dangled, Lucius choked out his words.

“Can’t… Kill… Me! You… Need… Me.”

“On the contrary Fox, all I need are your fingerprints and retinas. All things that I can extract from your cold, dead body…”

The man spoke with sinister tones as he removed one hand from Lucius’ throat. His free hand slowly lowered towards his back. It reached for something silver poking out from his tan trenchcoat. He pulled out the object, before pointing it at Lucius. Once the light shone on the silver object it exposed itself as a blade that took the shape of a scalpel.

Alarms rang through my head as I approached. I was close enough to reach out to the man, but I had to time it right. If I failed to pull him back, it meant all was lost. My careful footsteps stopped once I was directly behind the assailant. Beginning to extend my arm out, familiar black smoke kept swirling around my body. Just before I could grab ahold of the man, he spoke again.

“Guess I’ll see you down below. To collect what I need.”

My eyes widened as my instincts told me what he was about to do next.

I reached out and grabbed the man by his trenchcoat, desperately tossing him aside. My heart dropped as I did so, seeing the man’s hands release Lucius from his grip at the same moment I threw him aside.

“LUCIUS!”

I couldn’t help but scream out as I dove towards the edge, losing focus as my shadows dissipated.

My body collided roughly with the ground as my torso hung over the building, the black smoke disappearing once I lost focus. Despite the fear of falling ten stories, I pushed it all aside as I reached my hand out to a falling Lucius. It felt like time slowed, the cold air of a high altitude now caressing my face with menacing a breeze. The strands of my hair tangled around the broken glass of the shattered window, my arm reaching past a planted shard that dug into the side of my bicep. My surroundings and my perception were heightened as I pleaded with myself to get to him in time.

I felt the jolt of my heart jumping to life when I felt Lucius’ arm brush my hand. Quickly I acted without any hesitation, as if my hands were beartraps catching what was desired. I clasped onto him, managing to stop his fall by grasping onto his wrist tightly. A grunt escaped my lips as the newfound weight caused me to exert all my strength. I grabbed onto Lucius with the other hand, but still, it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t strong enough on my own.

Lucius looked up at me, before looking down. His desperation overtook him as he glanced back up at me. My eyes exchanged a glance with him as if to tell him to hold on. My eyes then closed, as I pleaded inside of myself to change again. The whispers returned, swimming in my head. I could feel my abilities’ strength rush back into me, like ice in my veins. As I opened my eyes again I pulled with all of my might. Lucius became lighter, and my muscles no longer screamed in the struggle. I was able to get on my knees, pulling Lucius back into the building, feeling as if I had retrieved a log from a raging river.

Once he was safe, I lay back on the carpeted floor while catching my breath. Lucius rolled away from the edge, backing up from it. For a brief moment then, I felt peace.

I did it, I thought.

Peace was only seconds long before Lucius screamed to me.

“Sarah, look out!”

My eyes peered to the side, seeing the man in the tan trench coat run over to me. When the light from outside flashed on his face, I could see him. Gastly scars covered his sneering face, bright red to indicate they healed quite traumatically. If it weren’t for his disfigurement, he could have been handsome.

The scarred man ran over to me, seething in anger. Just as he reached me, my body quickly rolled to avoid the man’s heavy black boot colliding with my head. I managed to hop up to my feet, facing the assailant. The low vibrations in his menacing voice made the room shake as he spoke.

“Who the hell are you?”

I went over to stand in front of Lucius, trying to create an obstacle for the assailant. He pointed his scalpel at me, sneering in my direction. I raised my hands as if to try and tame the wild beast of this man’s anger.

“Look, whatever is going on, we can figur-”

I tried to speak, but was harshly cut off.

“You don’t know the first thing of what’s going on! Now, unless you want to be cut down, I suggest you move. Me and Mr. Fox have unfinished… business, so to speak.”

His warning chilled me to my core, but I couldn’t bring myself to move. If I did, Lucius would be in danger.

“You’re right, I don’t know what’s going on. But I know you’re not getting to him. We can talk this through.”

I tried to reason with him. For a moment, I thought he might listen when I saw him put his scalpel away. My hopes were dashed, however, when the man pulled out a gun from his trenchcoat. A gasp left my lips, with the weapon now being pointed directly at my eyes.

“Move. Now. Or die!”

The man exclaimed, moving in closer to me.

I couldn’t help but stare down the barrel of the gun, inching towards my face with each second. Sweat began to form on my forehead, racing down my face as I grew pale.

“No, Elliot! Just take me, leave her-”

“Shut up, Fox!”

The man yelled again. In a split second, his gaze shifted from me to Lucius. I knew I finally had an opening. I felt my heart beat as adrenaline started racing through me. Strength came to me again, as I called inside again.

Don’t fail me now, I thought.

Black smoke followed my hand movements, as I managed to smack the man’s extended hand. I heard him call out in surprise, as the gun went flying out of his firm grip. Without hesitation, I took a chance and pushed him back while he was distracted. The man’s feet stumbled back, but he was able to shake off the surprise faster than I anticipated. He leaped towards me, surprise turning to rage.

A large, gloved hand socked me in my jaw, as I wasn’t able to move fast enough to prevent the blow. Due to the shock of the blow I turned back, losing focus. The man’s strength was enough to almost make me fall back, but I managed to keep my balance while crying out in pain. The man swung again, landing a punch to my stomach. This time, the impact sent me flying back onto one of the tables, making the objects that resided on the wooden surface slide off violently. Pencils, papers, and centerpieces flew off as I collided with each one.

The pain was shooting up my body from my stomach, causing me to curl up for a second to try and comfort the sting. From the corner of my eye, I could see the figure of the assailant begin to rush towards me, now holding a silver scalpel that gleamed in the sunlight. My eyes widened as I realized he was only a second away from slicing my throat.

In a panic, I did the only thing I could do. The assailant reached the edge of the table, and my leg went up, kicking the man square in the face. My foot made contact with his nose, and blood flew from his scarred face. I used my other leg to kick him in the chest, creating some distance between us as he flew back. I could hear him yell out in agony, his rage growing with every second that passed. A sinister voice screamed out at me as I rolled off of the table, colliding with the ground.

“You little bitch!”

The man held his nose, cursing at me while he glared menacingly.

I quickly stood up, grabbing a pencil holder as I did so. Once he collected himself, the man began rushing towards me. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, and thinking quickly on my feet I threw the pencil holder at the attacker. The metal cylinder collided with his eye, causing him to stop for a brief moment. He continued to approach me, however, determined to cut me down. Thinking on my feet, I decided to turn the room against him, rushing back while grabbing different heavy objects from the floor. Vases and pencil holders flew at my assailant, with him managing to dodge only a few of them. The last object I threw made contact with his face, and that’s when I spotted the gun a few feet to our right. The only thing in my way was the table and a man who could recover any second.

It was now or never, I thought.

While the man screamed in pain, I began to sprint towards the table again. Once close, I leaped up onto the table's surface, attempting to slide over it to get to the other side. To my dismay, the man caught on to what I was doing, reaching his cruel arm out to try and grab me. Seconds became of the essence, and I begged them to be on my side, hoping he was too late.

He didn’t miss. He managed to grab my hair before I made it out clean. With an aggressive motion, he swiftly pulled me back to him. I cried out from the shooting pain in my head. His other arm swung down on me, scalpel in hand. Screaming out in fear, I moved in time to avoid the scalpel from stabbing me in the eye. Before I knew it, he was already recoiling his arm back to make another attempt.

“Trust in me. Will yourself to move.”

A familiar voice echoed in my head, telling me how to escape. I put all of my energy into myself, willing myself to change again. Energy surged through me, with black smoke seeming to appear again as I closed my eyes.

Behind him, I thought.

Just as the man swung his scalpel down, I disappeared. In a cloud of smoke, I was behind the man. When he turned around in shock, I clenched my fist and swung at him. I was surprised at my strength yet again, as my first punch managed to land on his cheek. He stumbled back, and that gave me time to swing again.

“What are you?”

The man screamed at me, as I managed to land another blow, causing him to go further back, dropping his scalpel in the process.

The man managed to block my third punch, grabbing my hand and twisting it downward. Pain shot through my wrist as he did so, but I kept my focus. Smoke continued to dance around as I used my other hand to grab his throat. His hand clenched onto mine, as he tried to wrestle my grip away. We stood there for what seemed like minutes, fighting for control over the other. With all my might I tried to squeeze his air supply to subdue him, but his strength was a match to my own. We tossed, and tousled around, grunting as we both fought. Neither of us gave up control, however.

I then got an idea, a way to finally subdue him. With my eyes closed, I willed myself to move behind him. Once I reappeared, he turned around in time to have my head swing forward. Though painful, my headbutt seemed to do the trick, as it finally sent him to the ground beside the broken window. I stumbled back for a moment but managed to steady myself while holding my forehead feeling the pulsating pain in my skull.

Just then, I heard a familiar voice speak up.

“It’s over, Thomas! Get up!”

I looked up to see Lucius, and I smiled hopefully at the sight. There, with his arm extended, Lucius held the gun I had tried to grab earlier. The man whom Lucius called Thomas slowly stood up. His reaction surprised both of us. Instead of reluctance, Thomas just began laughing.

“Please, Fox. You won’t kill me! You don’t have the guts.”

“Mr. Elliot, stand down! It’s over…”

“It isn’t over…”

Thomas began to walk slowly over to Lucius, stalking towards him.

“Elliot- Elliot stop!”

Lucius cried out, his finger on the trigger.

“Until I SAY SO!”

Thomas ran at Lucius, charging like a bull.

“STOP!”

Lucius stood frozen. I winced, thinking a life was about to be lost. To my dismay, Lucius didn't pull the trigger.

I screamed out in a panic when Thomas grabbed the gun out of Lucius’ hands, instead punching him to the ground. Lucius’ eyes rolled to the back of his head, indicating his loss of consciousness

“LUCIUS!”

I cried out. Just as I did, Thomas turned around to face me.

“You! You couldn't have just left, could you? You’re ruining everything!”

He spat out at me angrily.

“Leave him alone!”

I got ready to fight again, sensing that it wasn’t over.

I realized something as I spoke. I was inches from the broken window, my feet standing on the shattered glass. Looking back at Thomas, I tried to reason with him.

“What do you even want? Why are you doing this?”

I spoke. I readied myself, approaching the man slowly.

“Bruce Wayne took EVERYTHING from me! First, he stole my birthright! Then, he ruined my plans for revenge. Went and blew himself up, giving everything to this scoundrel!”

“Look, I have no idea what you-”

“Of course you don’t! You’re meddling in things your putrid, basic existence can’t even understand! You have no idea the people I’ve maimed, murdered, butchered. Their faces, cut from their very bodies! Crafted onto me in perfection. I sliced away my own identity for this! All so I could look like him… And then he goes and dies! Then I get locked away. For two years, I planned my revenge! And you… You’re wasting it!”

I swallowed my fear after hearing him talk about murder. I knew this guy was dangerous, and knew he was capable of killing. Hearing him talk about how he’s killed and cut out people’s faces was gut-wrenching. Suddenly, I knew he had a gruesome fate in store for Lucius, and I couldn’t let that happen.

I needed him to come to me, to get him away from Lucius. The only way I knew how was to try and provoke the beast.

“So what? You’re upset because life isn't going your way? Is that it?”

“You stupid girl. You don’t know who you’re messing with!”

“I think I do. You’re someone who thinks he's entitled to whatever Lucius has. Something he worked hard for.”

“THE FORTUNE HE HAS WASN’T HIS TO BEGIN WITH! IT WAS MINE! It was the perfect plan! Kill my parents, and inherit the fortune. But those wretched Waynes stole MY inheritance! Then, after they’ve perished they give it to Fox! I want what I’m owed!”

I couldn’t help but scoff at his words.

“You know how you sound?”

I asked him, preparing myself for what was to come.

“Careful!” He spat out.

A small sliver of me was genuinely upset with him. The majority of my life I spent locked away, unable to have a life. This man, from what it sounded like, came from a rich family. Even without their fortune, he had the chance to live an amazing life but squandered it. All for greed. It made me upset, knowing this man ruined what sounded like a dream to me.

“You sound like a waste. You wasted your own life, instead of sitting back and realizing how good you had it. And somehow, you want more! Since you can't have it, you blame everyone else!”

“No, the Wayne’s did you stupid girl! You-”

“No, YOU did. The worst part is, you can’t even take responsibility for it! You know what, I’m glad Lucius has whatever you want. Because I know he’ll appreciate it more than you ever could.”

The man paused, glaring silently at me. The silence continued for a few seconds before the sounds of the man pulling out another scalpel from his jacket filled the air.

“I’m tired of hearing you talk. I think I want your tongue as a souvenir, instead.”

Thomas leaped towards me, his haste catching me off guard. In a brief moment of panic, I disappeared out of his path, reappearing behind him which left the open window in his path. The man wasn’t able to slow down in time, and in his haste to try and stop, he stumbled over his own feet, beginning to plummet out the window.

No! I thought.

My next action wasn’t planned. It wasn’t thought of, and no conscious part of my being deliberated on whether this was right or wrong. Instead, it was a pure reaction from within. My body was on autopilot as I jumped forward. I didn’t think of his murderous past, nor his attempts on Lucius or me. All I could think about was a man about to die, and I had to stop it.

I jumped towards the edge, gripping onto the window frame as I leaned outside the broken window yet again. The blue sky started to fade ever so slightly, as Thomas’ figure began to fall towards the street, now buzzing with witnesses. Second, raced by, and I felt my fingers latch onto Thomas’ shirt. His screams and yelps of terror subsided. I could see the fear of death in his eyes. Smoke whipped around me as I called forth my abilities, aiding me in his rescue. He grabbed onto my hand, his eyes meeting mine. In his blue irises, he pleaded to me not to be let go of. The wind swirled past the both of us, his tan jacket flapping around swiftly as the white clouds scooted by, moment by moment. Thomas’ feet made their way to the edge of the building, and we both stood there in relief. The scars on his face relaxed from a panic, and in an instant, my heart could rest from mine. He was safe from the fate his anger would have dragged him towards. With all of my might, I pulled him back, throwing him back onto the tenth floor. I stepped off of the edge, letting my abilities subside. I kneeled, breathing heavily from the suspense of almost losing another life to the broken window. Thomas groaned, pushing himself up after being tossed onto the floor.

A loud shout made me gasp, as I looked up towards the stairwell door.

“POLICE DEPARTMENT!”

With a few swift bangs, the door came tumbling down after it was broken. Men in blue uniforms with their guns came barging through, pointing them all at me and Thomas.

“God damn it!” Thomas growled.

“PUT YOUR HANDS UP, ALL OF YOU!” An officer shouted.

I complied, softly putting my hands up while on one knee. Thomas grit his teeth, slowly standing up and raising his hands in defeat. He looked towards me and sneered, his lips forming a malicious expression.

“You’ll pay… For ruining everything!”

The officers rushed towards him, taking him by his arms and pushing him against the wall, beginning the handcuffing process. At that moment, I knew we were finally in the clear, and that Lucius was safe at last.

___

After some more questioning, the police finally got the story straight, and I was cleared. The man who attacked us was named Thomas Elliot, and he was a recently escaped serial killer from Black Gate. That was all they would tell me, as they had more matters to attend to. Lucius finally awoke shortly after police arrived, and he was checked out by the ambulances outside. I was about to walk towards them when I heard a voice yell out behind me.

“Sarah! Young lady don’t you ever scare me like that again!”

I turned around to see Sydney jogging towards me, her face washed over with concern. I couldn’t even speak before she pulled me in the tightest embrace I think I’ve ever experienced.

“S-Sydney I am so sorry. I had to. He was going to-”

I hugged her back, not letting go until she was ready.

“I understand, but you could have been killed in there!”

She pulled away, looking me dead in the eyes. She made a sigh as she tilted my head.

“Kiddo your other bruises haven’t even healed you, how do you have more?”

I smiled, pointing to Thomas, who was now being brought out in handcuffs.

“Ask him.”

She gasped, watching the man being escorted away.

“Oh God… That’s the Identi-”

“Identity Thief, yeah. He was after Lucius.”

I looked back at Sydney, who met my gaze with more concern.

“What did he want?”

“Money. He said that Lucius inherited money that was inherited by some family, which was originally from his family… I think?”

I tried to organize the confusing details in simplistic terms. Sydney seemed to understand.

“You mean the Wayne’s?”

“Yeah. That was their name. Who are they?”

“Well, they own all the businesses Lucius oversees. From Wayne Enterprises to Wayne Corp. They started it all before he became CEO. One of the most influential families in Gotham, kiddo… Well, they were… So were the Elliot’s. The two families were close. It came out a couple of years ago that the serial killer stealing people’s faces was none other than Thomas Elliot. According to the trial, he had tried to kill his family years back to get the inheritance. When Thomas Wayne managed to save Marla Elliot’s life, he was cut from the will. After the Wayne's died, he became obsessed with getting back at Bruce, the last Wayne remaining. Murdered a bunch of people to get their faces, then cut his own off. Made himself look exactly like Bruce Wayne.”

“Oh God… Wait, where is he now, then? They have to warn him about th-”

I was cut off before I could finish.

“Oh kiddo, he uh…. Passed. That’s why Lucius is in charge now. Bruce died three years ago. It’s why Lucius became a target today. Lucius inherited everything Bruce Wayne had. But, thanks to you, he’s safe and sound.”

Sydney smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder as if to thank me. I smiled slightly at her, the sunset coming into view. I looked past her to watch the colors melt together. The cool blue night below and the dying red day above colliding, the sun drowning in the horizon. Suddenly, a loud bang caused me to almost fall back while I ducked for cover. I began stumbling on my feet as I looked at Sydney in fear.

Her expression didn’t match my concern. Instead, her face lit up, smiling while looking at the sky. A flash of red and pink now illuminated the sky, reflecting in her eyes. When I glanced back to see what she was staring at, my muscles untensed and my fists began to unclench. A burst of beautiful sparks appeared in the skyline, slowly dissipating as they came crashing down. Another bang shot through the deafening city, silencing its song. A spark trailed upward from the buildings, before exploding in blue shimmers. My eyes widened in awe, as I realized what was happening.

Fireworks, I thought.

It had been many years since I’d seen the familiar trademark of the bursts of light. I would watch them from my bedroom window as a little girl each year. My mother never took me out to see them up close, despite my little pleas. In Alpena, all I would hear each year were the loud booms they emitted.

Now I was as close as I could be. I looked up to the sky, star-struck and entranced by the colors. Sydney came up to me, placing another hand on my shoulder, speaking softly to not ruin the moment for me.

“I’m gonna go check up on Lucius, kiddo. You enjoy the show.”

I placed a hand on her shoulder to acknowledge her, but I couldn’t break my gaze. Music began blaring from city speakers, and more people gathered to watch the bursts of light. Sydney walked away, and I was left alone it seemed. However, the feeling wasn’t cold, despite the wind picking up slightly. Instead, wonder and hope filled my body, warming me from my heart onward. I managed to wander over to a bench close by, breaking my gaze to look around. Families gathered, some with their children. They all were pointing to the sky, pointing out the different fireworks to one another. At this moment, I watched them all interact, my focus shifting from person to person. From an elderly couple in a longing embrace to the families that lined the streets with their endless joy. All my life I was used to violence, cruelness, and hate. Here, none of that could be seen. I saw a new light in Gotham that I hadn’t before. I knew from then on I wanted every day to be like this, I wanted that light to shine through. Despite all the wrong in this city, I was proud to be a part of her. To see union like I haven’t before. My eyes glanced back up at the sky, smiling brightly as I drank this moment in, letting the different bursts of colors immerse me.

___

It felt like an eternity before I felt a hand brush on my shoulder. The unfamiliar hand caused me to look up in surprise. My mind only calmed when I saw the familiar eyes of Lucius Fox looking down at me. His head was bruised in the place Thomas Elliot had struck a blow, a small cut sitting in the center of it. However, suture tape made sure to close the gap, patching him up. He smiled, as he motioned to the seat next to me. I eagerly scooted over, making room for him gladly. He pushed his glasses up on his face, before taking a seat beside me. He let out a longing sigh, staring up at the sky.

“Enjoying the view, are we Ms. O’Harren?”

I looked over at him and nodded, smiling slightly at him.

“Lucius… I’m so sorry about-”

“Saving my life? Now, why would that be anything to be sorry about?”

“I just mean your head… and your window… and the other stuff,”

I said, trying to think of all of the events that transpired in those moments of fight or flight.

“Ah, all things that can be healed, or replaced. What can’t be replaced is human life. Not only did you save mine, you risked yours to do so. Many who faced Mr. Elliot haven't been able to tell their tales.”

I sighed, leaning back slightly.

“I get it if you want to lecture me, Mr. Fox. But I couldn’t just let him hurt you. You-”

“On the contrary, lecturing is Mrs. Delgato’s area of expertise. I, on the other hand, want to commemorate your bravery. You’ve got something special, Ms. O’Harren.”

I looked at him puzzled.

“I got lucky, is all. The only reason I’m special is because of my abilities. If I didn’t have them, we’d probably both be dead.”

“Yes, the luck of the draw. Some are born with abnormalities, others not. You have a gift, despite how you view it, and you’ve displayed some extraordinary progress in learning to control it. Today, however, you did more than that. You used them to defend another.”

“Well if I wouldn’t have-”

“I know, we’d both be dead. Look, I know it has been a long day for both of us, but if you wouldn’t mind indulging me, I’d like to show you something once the officials clear the scene.”

He looked at me, smiling as he waited for my reply.

I nodded, giving a smile back as we both looked to the sky again. Silence filled the air between us as we both watched on. Suddenly, it was broken again moments later.

“Independence Day. The day meant to celebrate freedom. Seems fitting for today. Today we were going to submit the paperwork for your discharge.”

“Has something changed, sir?”

I asked, looking over to him in concern.

“Yes, and no. Don’t worry, you’ll still be discharged Ms. O’Harren… Oh, look!”

Both of us glanced over to see a man approach us. A police officer, from the looks of him. He came over to Lucius, abruptly handing him a clipboard. The officer spoke with deep voice, calm and collected

“Alright, Mr. Fox. If you could sign this to confirm your statement, we’ll be wrapping up shortly. We also managed to restore power to the building.”

“Ah, thank you, Aaron. Let me just-”

Lucius paused, looking down as he began to sign

The officer paused once he delivered the clipboard, peering over at me in confusion.

“Wait, is this your intern that held off The Identity Thief?”

He pointed at me while looking at Lucius.

Lucius nodded, and shrugged, pushing up his glasses as he shrugged.

“Ms. Emily Wetherell, yes. She’s tougher than she seems, isn’t she Commissioner Cash?”

Lucius looked up once the document was signed, handing the clipboard back to the officer.

The man looked over at me, his dark eyes staring into mine as if trying to place me. I sat there, uncomfortably shifting as I maintained eye contact.

“I’ll say, Fox. I’d give her a promotion. Maybe some new security for your office. Seems like you need to up it.”

“What an idea. I’ll think about it.”

Lucius smiled, nodding at the officer.

After a final glance at me, the officer turned and left. A few more minutes passed before the police cars began to leave one right after another. I looked up at the building to see grim yellow tape covering the broken window on the tenth floor.

Lucius stood up, looking back at me as he did so.

“Well, guess it is up to me to clean up the mess. I wouldn’t want to call anyone else and disturb their holiday. Would you like to help, Ms. O’Harren?”

I nodded, standing up as well. I took one last look at the fireworks before following Lucius towards the building.

___

It was a relief to see the lights on in Wayne Enterprises once we entered. After today, I would have a newfound appreciation for the mechanical lighting in this building. We made a brief stop at the janitorial closet, and wheeled away one of the cleaning carts to the elevator, climbing inside once the metal doors allowed our entry. Shattered glass trailed the floor inside, so while Lucius pressed the button to the eighth floor I bent down to start picking up the shards.

“You know, Gotham wasn’t always this violent.”

Lucius stood back, waiting for the elevator to take us up.

“Really? I wouldn’t have been able to guess. Must have been locked away during the good times.”

I remarked, remaining focused on collecting the shards from the ground.

“Well, there was a reason for that. We had someone looking out for Gotham.”

“What do you mean? Like the police, or the mayor?”

“No, no one is quite as official or political. But someone who held the same power, if not more. The only motive they had, the only thing they cared about, was helping people.”

The elevator dinged as the eighth floor opened to us. Lucius waited for me to get out, before following behind.

“Well, that’s something we both want,”

I said, throwing the shards of glass away in the trash shoot. I grabbed a broom from the cleaning cart, beginning to sweep up the broken glass from the beakers that smashed during Lucius’ initial assault.

“That's actually why I wanted to bring you here. See, that person is gone from Gotham. Without that presence, that protection, Gotham has become more dangerous than any of us could have imagined.”

“So why can’t the police do anything? Surely there’s something they can do?”

I continued to sweep while Lucius walked towards his computer.

“The police can only do so much. That’s why Gotham requires more extreme help. People who aren’t in this for money, power, or notoriety. People who, simply, want to help.”

I was about to speak but abruptly stopped when Lucius logged into the computer. After typing into a foreign input bar I hadn’t seen him use, the sudden whir of machines startled me. The room began to unravel at the seams, changing from the familiarity of the Lab to something else. The walls began shifting as if made out of metal plates that were flipping over each other, going from a bright white to black. The testing chamber vanished, disappearing into the ground. What popped up instead was a giant computer system, with what seemed to be surveillance cameras and different mechanical functions at someone’s fingertips. I looked over to the glass walls, seeing multiple gadgets and devices line the walls. Some of the tables vanished, instead reappearing with glass cases containing what looked to be types of armor. Overall, the lab became overrun with what looked to be a spy's playground, as if I had stepped into a sci-fi book.

I dropped the broom I held in my hands as my head whipped over to Lucius, expecting an answer from him. All he did was look over to me and smile. My glances went from gadget to gadget, from suit to suit. Until a familiar symbol caught my eye. On a shelf labeled ‘repairs,’ what looked to be a gun with a claw attached to it possessed a blue bird, with its wings spread. My mind traveled back to that fateful night in the hospital room, where the man in blue visited me before vanishing out of the window.

“Wait… That’s the symbol… That’s him! The man who called a favor into you! He works for you?”

Lucius let out an amused laugh before shaking his head.

“On the contrary, Nightwing works for no one. Instead, I sort of work for him. In a partnership so to speak. He handles things in Bludhaven.”

Confusion washed my face yet again.

“Nightwing? Lucius, who is he? And what is all of this?”

My fingers trailed down a glass cylinder that contained another suit. Made for an extremely well-fit man, the hefty suit was all black, with a shimmery crest in the center, in the shape of a flying creature.

“Nightwing is a vigilante. He operates on his own, without the constraints of the law. Trained by the best to fight, and protect. And he’s not the only one. We’re all a team, a secretive one at that. Trying to make Gotham a better place.”

“Wait, so what do you all even do?”

I walked over to Lucius, who was now standing by the massive monitors that replaced the testing chamber.

“We investigate and put a stop to crime. All over this city, people with ill intentions are always on the move. One man started a journey fifteen years ago to stand up to those who wish Gotham harm. Now, a select few carry that fight on. And I hope that you, Sarah, can carry it on too.”

“Carry the fight? What do you mean, Lucius?”

I looked at him, not sure I understood what the man was asking of me.

“You have abilities like no other, Sarah. Not only have you learned to control those abilities, but you’ve used them twice now to save lives. To defend those who cannot defend themselves. With more training, you could be a great asset to the cause. The cause to protect Gotham City and her citizens.”

“Lucius… I… I don’t know if I can. You saw me today, I barely made it out alive.”

“Yes, we both did. But if you learned how to fight. To use your abilities to your advantage, your strength would be unmatched.”

I felt a pit in my stomach open, afraid of what was coming next.

“What if it’s too dangerous Lucius? I’ve killed people before, what if I can’t contain it? What if I lose control again?”

“We wouldn’t be sending you out there without some more training. You’d be prepared.”

“I-... I don’t know Lucius…”

I sighed, turning away from the monitors. I walked away, hugging myself as I closed my eyes. It was all too much. I sighed, taking in small breaths to calm my nerves. A still quietness filled the room, giving ripples to the sinking feeling in my stomach. Finally, a calm Lucius spoke up again.

“The choice is yours, Sarah. We can forget this conversation ever happened. Get your discharge papers signed by Gordon, and you can lead a normal life. No one would fault you for doing so. It’s a dangerous, perilous path to follow. But you’ve seen it out there today… I know you have. Those people on the streets gathered here today to celebrate life in Gotham. That is what we are trying to protect. What we are trying to make. A better life for Gotham’s people. We are trying to give hope. You could be that, Ms. O’Harren. You could be Gotham’s hope.”

I exhaled, letting my mind fill with the memories of earlier. Of the man who tried to kill Lucius. The fear I felt, almost losing my life to his blade trying to defend him. I thought back to the families and civilians I saw watching fireworks. The feeling of their peace, their happiness. They felt safe, and they were united. I weighed the two feelings. Fear was familiar. Strong, crippling, and debilitating in its cold sting. I’ve known it all my life, rotting away in it. However, the first signs of hope were given to me on the night of the hospital visit. The vigilante who came by, who I now knew as Nightwing, laid the first bricks to my freedom from fear. Then again tonight when Sydney told me I was finally free. Now, I had the chance to give that feeling of hope to others. To protect what I witnessed tonight from Gotham’s people.

I felt my heart beating from within me. Awakening a feeling I hadn’t felt before. I could feel in my bones that I was facing my destiny. I had been cursed with these abilities, haunted by them for as long as I could remember. If I could use them for good, it would be my redemption. I felt as if I was born for this, in that very moment. Everything I had been through had been leading to this moment. To fight for others was a calling in my blood.

Turning to Lucius, I looked him in the eyes. He seemed defeated, unsure of what I would say.

“I’ll do it,”

I spoke quietly.

Just then, Lucius’ eyes lit up. He smiled warmly, crow's feet cracking the skin by his eyes. He extended his hand out, gleaming with pride. Walking over, I was hesitant at first, but eventually gripped his hand in mine. We shook firmly, looking at each other with undeterred glances. At that moment, the next stones were set onto my path, paving the way to a new direction in life.

“I knew I was right to count on you, Sarah."