___

My eyes fluttered open when the morning light hit the bedroom window. I looked over at the stationed alarm clock on my nightstand, which conveyed to me that it was seven o’clock. The bright morning sifted through the plain, dusty curtains, blinding my eyes as I squinted them open. I slowly threw off the quilted comforter that I was tucked under, making my way off of the small bed I had just slept in. When I first slept in that bed two months ago, I immediately sunk right into the mattress. In solitary, we only had a metal cot. I could only imagine what damage it had done to my spine, but the moment I lay in Sydney’s spare bed, I felt like Heaven had become a reality.

I stood up on the hardwood floor of the small, chipped-away room, slipping on a pair of fluffy slip-ons. The room Sydney kept as a spare was barely bigger than a broom closet, with the window attached to the slant of the roof up by the wall. As I stretched my arms out to wake the rest of my body, I peered outside, looking at the weather. The clouds were a light grey, lining the sky with foreshadows of gentle summer rain. The sun still gleamed out from behind them, victorious despite the clouds’ attempt to conceal it.

I opened the door, walking out quietly. Right outside my door was Sydney’s small two-bedroom kitchen, with barely enough space for just one person to cook in. Yet, despite it all, Sydney loved to be in there.

While I worked on controlling my abilities, Sydney told me I could stay with her for as long as I needed. During my stay, Sydney would teach me all sorts of things I missed out on in life. How to cook, how to clean, how to properly fix a leaky sink in her eyes. All of the things she considered boring, like bills and bookkeeping she taught me, and I loved it all, even the things Sydney despised. I felt like I was finally learning to live a normal life. A life I once believed I’d never had.

The trials and tests Lucius set out for me were going extremely well, in his words. Despite being poked and prodded by every needle under the sun, the sessions where I was guided by Lucius and Sydney were beneficial in every word. I learned that I could control when I changed, now able to change at will. Lucius and Sydney also helped me discover what I could do when changed. If I focused enough, I could change into a transparent form. Not just visually, but physically. Though I can only do it for seconds at a time, it’s like I’m untouchable. Lucius once threw an apple at my head while phased to prove a point. I learned from that point on never to doubt him, even though some of his methods could be a little unorthodox and caught me off guard.

I learned how to control the claws that the other form contained, though Sydney was responsible for teaching me this one. She likened them to feline paws, extending claws when they flexed their muscles. With that analogy, and some practice in the chamber, I learned how to extend and retract mine as well. Now, I could stay passive in my other form.

Life finally seemed easy and happy. Every day I’d wake up, more and more hopeful for a future that never seemed brighter. At seven o’clock sharp, I’d awake to breakfast. Then, at eight o’clock, Sydney would take me down to Wayne Enterprises. I’d shadow her work, becoming her unofficial assistant. Occasionally chatting with Sydney’s acquaintances until Lucius, even after a busy day of meetings and CEO responsibilities, came in around four-thirty in the afternoon. After about an hour of taking different samples from me and observing my abilities, we would all head home, where Sydney would try and teach me different things.

As I walked into the kitchen, a familiar man greeted me warmly. He turned away from the small stove, which had small cubes of potatoes sizzling in a pan on top of it.

“Hey there, kiddo! How’s it going?”

“I’m doing great Bill, thank you.”

I smiled, exchanging a grateful tone.

Bill was Sydney’s excentric husband, a high school drama teacher, who I had also come to bond with during my stay at their house. Despite him being deceived about who I really was. Sydney came up with an elaborate ruse when Lucius asked her to open her home to me. She told her husband that I was a former foster kid lacking the life skills necessary to survive, in a program that helps rehabilitate them after aging out of the system. It seemed farfetched yet plausible, but the ruse worked perfectly. Not only did Sydney’s coworkers believe in the story, but Bill happily believed that his wife was doing a sort of charity work to help me. Which I guess wasn’t short of the truth in the slightest.

“Ah, that’s great to hear, Emily!”

Bill happily spoke, stirring the pan of fried potatoes, trying to perfectly crisp them.

I finally got used to being called that, though it did take some time. For those who weren’t in on the truth of my presence, I was known as Emily Wetherell. Lucius, though I didn’t question how, managed to get some documents that granted me a changed identity. Even though my records were sealed from public view, my real name was still all over them. So, with another favor called in, Lucius processed the documents and gave me all the items I would need to sell my existence as Emily Wetherell.

“What’re you making, Bill? It smells good!”

I managed to ask, sitting down at the small round table that was halfway in the living room.

“Just a little something the queen of the castle requested! She knows cooking can be a bit of a… challenge for me. But! Potatoes? That I can do! Now, though I appreciate your kind words, Emily. You might want to save them until after you’ve tasted them!”

“Well, you know me, Bill. I’m always hungry. Besides, I like your cooking too.”

I smiled, lightly chuckling at his dramatic self-criticism.

“Ah, well. Thank you, Emily! But, alas! I am still no match for the cooking queen!”

Bill thrust his spatula pitifully in the air, his pale arm flexed in defeat.

“Bill, you are being such a drama teacher right now.”

Sydney’s voice echoed from across the small hall from her bedroom. I heard her heels walk down the small hallway after a few seconds.

“I can’t help that I take my work home with me, sweetheart!”

Bill called out to her, and when Sydney came into the kitchen, she laughed.

“I think you’ve got it twisted, my love. You walk and talk drama. Maybe I should be calling you the queen instead.”

Sydney laughed as she ruffled her husband’s bright red hair. The two shared a quick kiss before Sydney walked over to me.

“How’d you sleep, Emily?”

“Good! Just like every night, I slept like a rock.”

“I wish this one would-”

She pointed to Bill, smirking.

“He hasn’t stopped snoring since we moved in together many years ago!”

“Ah, you know me! The more I snore, the better I sleep.”

He smiled, dividing the fried potatoes onto three plates with tortillas adorned with a layer of cheese.

“Yeah, but what about my sleep?”

She smiled, sitting down across from me. Sydney put one of the fabric napkins on the table onto her lap, covering her brown corporate skirt. Her arms reached over to grab the salt, the fabric on her white blouse flowing loosely around her. Bill walked over, masterfully carrying all three plates in his hand. Setting each down in front of us, he finally joined us at the small wooden table.

“Well, sweetheart, I make up for it by making breakfast.”

He reached over to grab her hand, kissing it softly before picking up his breakfast burrito and chewing. Sydney bit into hers as well, as if she were inspecting it. I knew what this meant.

I raised my hand, sticking my thumb in the air. I turned it towards the middle, smiling at Bill. Bill put his hands together as if making silent prayers while Sydney kept chewing, inspecting the flavor as she did so. This was part of their morning routine since they married. Bill would cook, and Sydney would determine if he passed. When I came to stay, they made me a part of that routine by making me their ‘pollice verso,’ in Bill's words. If Sydney liked what he made, I would give a thumbs up, but if he fell short, it was a thumbs down.

I waited for the sign and got it when Sydney started to slowly nod her head. I switched my thumb up, giving Bill the sign of approval.

“Aha! Finally! Two in a row! I’d like to thank my mother, the studio-”

“I hope there’s ‘wife’ in there somewhere, Mister.”

Sydney cut him off, taking another bite while she playfully glared at him.

“Ah yes, my beautiful, intelligent wife. Whom I would not be here without if it weren’t for her former career as a chef.”

“-And you know it, baby.”

Sydney smiled, before continuing to eat.

I bit into my burrito not long after. I knew I liked Bill’s cooking, but Sydney was on point today. The flavors of melty cheese and seasoned potatoes melted in my mouth. Needless to say, I savored it, using it as the first step to a good day.

If only the day had turned out like that breakfast burrito.

___

After breakfast, and after Bill and Sydney’s long kiss goodbye, Sydney and I drove off to Wayne Enterprises. We got through the day, with Sydney working on a project due to release soon. I mostly helped with handing her the correct tools, though I was still learning the names of each. When the rest of the crew left, Sydney and I made our way to the elevator, going up to level eight. That floor was named The Lab, as it operated as a research facility within the building, as well as both bio-testing and tech-testing. However, level eight was typically cleared by the time we’d all arrived.

Sydney and I stepped out of the elevator, and there we met Lucius by a gaggle of machines, looking over a clipboard. He looked up when he saw us approaching.

“Ah, good! You’re both here. I wanted to go over the discoveries I found with you both.”

“Good to see you, Lucius. How’s the board?”

Sydney walked over to greet Lucius, shaking his hand.

“Ah, just as pretentious as ever. However, one doesn’t get used to the kissing up in those meetings. However, I figured this news would be better to hear.”

Lucius waved the clipboard slightly, before handing it to Sydney.

“I’ll save you the trouble of trying to decipher all the science mumbo-jumbo, Sarah. These are your test results on all the labs we ran on you. As far as your biology is concerned, there is-”

“-Nothing? How can that be?”

Sydney asked puzzled, as she flipped through the different charts and readings on the clipboard. I walked over to glance at it, looking back at Lucius.

“What do you mean, nothing? Lucius?”

The different numbers were foreign in meaning to me, but what did make sense was the word ‘normal’ circled after every test.

“The tests found nothing abnormal in your system. Nothing to indicate that your abilities are biologically sourced. As far as we are concerned, you contain normal readings and are in great health.”

Lucius walked over to us, adjusting his glasses slightly.

“S-So what does that mean? For my abilities?” I asked.

Part of me was disappointed. Even though I knew deep down what I had wasn’t normal, I was hoping that it would be likened to a disease. One that could be cured.

“It means that they are, somewhat supernatural. Nothing tied to you physically at least.”

“So… I’m stuck with it? Forever?”

I asked, looking down, and sighing as I did so. It wasn't the answer I was hoping for, but maybe it was better to accept it. At the very least, I could control it now. Just when I was ready to accept defeat, Lucius spoke up with his optimistic, gentle tone.

“Not necessarily. It just means it’ll take some extra work to figure out what this is.”

Lucius motioned towards the chamber, looking at me with challenging eyes.

“That is if you are up for the task?”

I couldn’t help by smile slightly. Sydney patted me on the back, offering her support. I began to walk towards the glass walls of the lab, looking at Lucius with his contagious optimism swimming in my eyes.

“Always, Lucius.”

___

When Sydney and I got home, we both were more than tired after the day. However, we tried to make the most of the free time we had in the evenings. After all, it was ‘life lessons with Sydney’ time, and this lesson was cooking. Bill was absent for the month during the evenings due to the rehearsals for a high school play, so now I was the one to face the wrath of the dreaded cooking queen.

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Sydney laid out all the ingredients we’d need. Tomatoes, an assortment of seasonings and spices, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, basil leaves, and some homemade pasta Sydney had leftover from another one of her dinners she cooked. It was spaghetti night, and she took it seriously. Half of her family was Italian, she said, and she wanted to show me how it’s done the right way.

She carefully told me how to put certain ingredients in the blender, making the perfect sauce. Then she instructed me to bring the pot of water to a boil. Just as I was about to put in the pasta she had made previously, she stopped me.

“Wait! I forgot the ground beef for the meatballs!”

Sydney almost yelled, causing me to jump out of my skin.

“Oh! That’s okay, we can just -”

I couldn’t even finish my sentence before I got the infamous Sydney look of disappointment.

“Oh, Sarah. Please don’t tell me you were going to say we can eat this without them.”

“Uh… no?”

I said, trying to fix the situation. Part of me was expecting a thumbs down to appear from thin air.

“Good! Look, the store isn’t too far, and I can walk. I’ll grab us some ground beef. Do you think you can be on pasta duty? I should be here by the time you drain them.”

“Oh! Do you maybe want me to go with you?” I asked.

I was eager to go out into the city again. I’ve been out and about a few times with Sarah, but I yearned for more.

“Oh, I wish you could kiddo. But it’s after six. Lucius had strict rules from the mayor, and I would die on a mountain following that man’s orders.”

Sydney smiled, going to grab her coat. She pulled a light brown coat of fleece from the broken lamp that became their makeshift coat hanger. As she put it on, I found myself questioning her last statement.

“What do you mean by you’d die following the Mayor’s orders?”

“Oh no, not the mayor. Haven't met him face-to-face yet. I mean Lucius! After all that man did for me and my husband, I owe him everything.”

I found myself puzzled. I pressed on, with innocent curiosity.

“What did he do for you guys?” I asked.

Suddenly, I saw an expression wash over Sydney’s face that hadn’t been seen before. Pure signs of sadness filled her eyes as she put on her shoes. Sydney had never shown any negative emotion, and seeing it for the first time made me regret asking. Whatever it was, it wasn’t a memory she wanted to revisit. Just then, she took a breath and smiled, looking over in my direction.

“I’ll tell you about it, one day. But at the moment time’s ticking for those meatballs. I’ll be back soon, Sarah.”

Sydney smiled wryly at me, but before leaving she stuck a stern finger at me.

“Make sure that pasta is cooked all the way!”

With that last note, she closed the door. I could hear her footsteps go down the stairs that led up to their small apartment. Within seconds, the sound disappeared, and I was left to myself. I sighed, accepting my unenviable position of pasta-watch.

___

For thirty minutes, I waited with my eyes looking out of the window. Occasionally, I broke my gaze with the moon to stir the pot of pasta, slowly cooking on the stove. The sky was clearer that night, with stars shining through faint smog. The moon was the brightest of all, taking over the sky with its blinding white light and beauty. It reminded me of my childhood, of a time before everything went wrong. When the voice in my head was a comfort, not something to fear. Even though I have control over the darkness inside, I still found myself cautious of its voice. Back when I was a kid, I would remember how it would whisper to me, making me feel secure. Almost cared for.

“Things will get better.”

I gasped as I heard it again. In my head, echoing around like a soft bird fluttering its wings ever so slightly. I walked over to the window, staring out of the glass pane into the deep, black night. The stars flickered in the night as if to support the voice’s confidence in better days.

Maybe things aren’t so bad, I thought. If I couldn’t be free of what was inside me, I at least knew now I could harness it, and contain it. I didn’t have to switch. And now, I could lead a good, normal life.

The familiar sound of bubbles came from the pot of boiling pasta behind me on the stove. I turned around to go tend to them, stirring them slowly. Sydney told me that when they were soft, it would be time to drain the pasta in the colander in the sink. After completing the task, I flicked off the stove, the clicking noises of the knob echoing throughout the apartment. When the silence returned, another sound from outside came to break its fragile veil.

“SOMEBODY! HELP ME!”

The piercing screams made me drop the colander on the floor, unaware of the circumstances causing the sound. Adrenaline began to flood me, as the screams continued. The voice sounded familiar, and the panic made me rush to the window. Chills crept through my skin when I saw what was outside.

Down in the street leading up to the apartments stood three figures. Two of them wearing black clothing and carrying what appeared to be different blunt objects. They both were in the process of shoving a woman to the ground. As a brown bag of groceries spilled out beside her the two men began to kick her consecutively and without mercy. The woman tried to curl up, trying to protect herself from the assault as she screamed out in pain. I recognized the voice of the woman, but what solidified her identity was the light brown coat she wore as she lay on the ground.

It was Sydney, and she was being attacked.

I began to panic. Seeing her out there made me bolt to the door. I stopped just before exiting.

What about curfew? I thought. Mayor Gordon had strict conditions for me, and the biggest one was that I was not to be out after six P.M. What if this screws up my chances? I could always stay, not jeopardize my freedom. Call the police, and stay inside safe.

I shook my head, ripping open the door before I could think any longer.

Curfew be damned, I thought. Sydney could die by the time the police arrived, and after all of her kindness and support, it was an easy choice. I’d rather risk my freedom than let Sydney get hurt.

I ran out the door, jumping down each of the steps of the apartment before sharply turning towards the road behind the building. The eerie night atmosphere caused a shiver to go up my spine, but I pushed the fear out of me. I wasn't a kid anymore, and there was too much at stake to let fear dictate me. I ran as fast as I could, my feet pounding against the broken asphalt that defined the poorer streets of Gotham. The cold air burned like fire in my lungs. I could see Sydney coming into view, and with that, I ran even faster. Pushing myself despite the shooting pain from my muscles radiating throughout my body.

I needed to hurry, I thought.

As I came up on the two attackers I yelled out to them, the anger in my voice like a crack of lightning.

“Hey! Leave her alone!”

Just as they turned around I ran into one of them managing to use the momentum of my sprint to push him to the ground without much trouble. The man I pushed yelled out in frustration as I heard his body collide with the asphalt. Just as I turned to face the second attacker, an object collided with the side of my cheek, causing me to stumble backward. I felt blood my nose spill out, my face stinging from the pain of the assault.

When I regained my balance. Just in time to see the man swing his weapon, which I now recognized as a crowbar. I tried to move, but I wasn’t fast enough. The curved weapon swung across my chest, making me crash against the metal pole that carried a street sign atop it. I was able to jump down onto the ground before the man could hit me again. The second man recovered, jumping up and coming to his partner’s aid.

“What’ve we got her, Ed? Someone playing hero?”

The man looked over at his partner, trying to massage his shoulder after his fall.

“I think that’s exactly what we’ve got, Seb! You think she’s got money?”

The other man never broke eye contact with me, staring me down with malice in his bright blue eyes

“Nah, she looks low-class.”

I managed to sit up, trying to back away from them with my hands scraping against the rough, rocky ground. The two men just continued to close the gap, inching towards me like wildcats ready to slaughter.

“It’s a shame, such a pretty face shouldn’t have to be banged up.”

“No, fuck that Ed! The damn broad laid her hands on me, it’s fair game!”

“Yeah, I get it, Seb. But I gotta better idea…”:

Just then, the man with the crowbar pounced, coming at me before I could stand. Just before his hands could grab me, I let out a yell as I kicked my foot out as hard as I could. It managed to send him to the ground on his rear, far enough to where I could get up. I tried to make a run for Sydney, still lying on the ground, crying out in pain. Just as I reached out desperately for her, the man on the ground grabbed my foot, making me fall face-first onto the rough asphalt.

I cried out, as pain shot through my face yet again. I felt the burning sensations of the scrapes now surfacing. Before I could think, I felt the same hands that grabbed my feet roughly flip me over. I grunted in pain, thrashing around wildly trying to get the man’s hands off of my feet. The second man still standing had picked up a baseball bat, most likely the weapon he dropped, and swung it down on my abdomen. The minute the sharp impact collided, I keeled over and cried out again.

“No! Leave her alone! Please!”

I heard Sydney’s voice behind me, shrieking out and pleading while on the ground.

The man on the ground got up, getting on top of me. I felt his cold, callused hands wrap around my neck, beginning to constrict the air going to my lungs. I struggled, trying desperately to get him off as I gasped out.

“You know what happens to heroes in Gotham, dame? They always end up dead in the end.”

The man with the baseball bat put the weapon on his shoulder, watching his partner choke the life out of me.

I could feel my lungs burn, screaming for oxygen. I struggled, kicked, and dug my nails into the man. His grip would not yield, however, and would only make him squeeze tighter. My desperate gasps and groans were all I had escaping my lips. Even with every ounce of strength I had in me, I couldn’t get my attacker off of me.

I’m not strong enough, I thought. I couldn’t save myself.

I wasn’t ready to accept death yet. I couldn’t die knowing that their next victim might be Sydney. I felt the flags of desperation wave in my body and mind. The colors of the world began to blur as my vision went darker from the denial of air. Everything within me burned out, screamed.

I wasn’t ready to die yet…

“Trust in me. Let me help you.”

The voice called, beckoned. My mind wanted to be nervous, but only desperation lingered. I didn’t have time to think about the consequences of letting the monster out. It was my only choice. To save Sydney, and myself.

Please, I thought. Help me.

In a matter of seconds, I felt the strength of my abilities come to me, flowing into me like a rushing river current. As I remained under the man strangling me, I could feel his grip loosen as he started to see trails of black shadows emitting from me. From inside my body, the voice inside started to silently guide me, telling me to move myself with my mind. Almost like it was showing me. I closed my eyes, and focused, listening to its silent guidance... I thought about where I wanted to go in my mind's eyes. In an instance, I appeared where I imagined, almost as if out of thin air.

I heard the men scream out as I appeared behind them, black smoke twirling around me in forboding flickers. The two men looked at each other, unsure of what to make of what was now in front of them. The fear in their eyes then turned to false courage as they looked back at me.

“L-Let’s get it!”

The man with the baseball bat yelled out, attempting to take a swing at me.

Using what I had learned from Lucius in the test chamber, I changed. The baseball bat swung through me, almost coming back and hitting the man himself. Spooked, he swung again, only this time I used all of my strength to catch it. With one swift motion, I thrust the weapon from his hands, throwing it harshly against the metal street post.

He backed up, making a yelp as he did so. I lunged for him but got knocked back by the sudden blunt force impact of the other man’s crowbar. I managed to stay on my feet but turned to face him now. He swung again, only this time I let myself disappear, reappearing behind him. Just as he turned around, I used all my might to punch him down. Sure enough, down he went, yelling out in pain as he did so. I walked over to him on the ground. I saw his hands come up, trying to defend himself. I didn’t spare him, however, kicking his head. The attacker’s eyes rolled back, closing as the impact stole his consciousness.

The last one standing made a whimper, desperately trying to find a way to escape. Just as he went to run, I let myself appear in front of him. He screamed out, trying to run in the opposite direction of me. I ran after him, gaining into a sprint. When he thought he could get far enough away, I appeared in front of him again. I grabbed him roughly by the shirt, hoisting him up into the air.

“O-Oh, God! Please don’t kill me!”

I felt a wave of rage wash over me, a similar feeling to all the other situations I have been in before. I felt the claws of this form extend out, as I raised them. The man screamed, bleating out his prayers to live.

“Kill.”

Wait! I thought.

I froze in my place, letting myself come out of the strange trance I was in. I couldn’t kill him, and I wouldn’t kill him. I’m not going to let this darkness win again, because I was better than this. I demanded control again, pushing out the sharp hiss of the poisonous voice and rage.

“Not this time,” I whispered.

I retracted my claws, instead punching the man I held up. The man fell, colliding with the asphalt once again as he fell unconscious.

Once the still, quiet night returned, I felt myself shift back. The power I once felt retreating away into the night. I caught my breath, letting my lungs relax. Just then, I thought about Sydney, who was still lying hurt a few feet away. My feet swerved in her direction, and I ran with all my might. I felt the blood run down my face like a stream, tickling my skin as I ran.

I kneeled beside her, lifting her head slightly.

“Oh God, Sydney are you hurt?”

I heard her slightly cough, the wind knocked out of her.

“I-I’m alright, kiddo. You got it worse than me.”

“What hurts? What did they do?”

I asked desperately, with a hint of despise in my voice.

“I think I might have a broken rib… But that’s fixable.”

I held her gently, trying to make her comfortable.

“I-I gotta call nine-one-one! I’ll be back!”

I didn’t want to leave her behind, but I knew she needed medical attention. I was about to set her down, but Sydney pulled out her smartphone from her pocket.

“Here, use this. It’s better than our landline. That thing is a bigger drama queen than Bill.”

She tried to smile but winced in pain as she let out a small chuckle.

I smiled at her, gently touching her forehead before grabbing the phone from her and dialing in the three magic numbers.

___

The ambulances arrived within minutes, as well as authorities. For a moment, they separated us. They wanted individual statements while they took our statements and checked us out. I was lucky, only suffering from abrasions and a bruised abdomen. Sydney, however, needed to go to the hospital for suspected rib breaks and a fractured wrist.

As the police questioned me, they seemed more fixated on the fact that I took down two men on my own. I couldn’t exactly tell them about what I could do without sounding mentally incompetent, so I just shrugged it off. I told them they weren’t as coordinated as they thought. Once the police confirmed that the two men were the aggressors, they were whisked away in flashing blue and red cars. As one of them was being put into the police vehicle, he yelled out to me.

“Freak! You goddamn freak!”

I couldn’t help but smile slightly at his words. I was proud of myself.

I may be a freak, I thought, but I’m a freak who managed to save Sydney.

I rode with Sydney to the hospital, calling Bill to meet us there once his rehearsals were done. He, in typical Bill fashion, made a scene on the phone. Freaking out, I heard him tell his cast that rehearsal was shutting down. He then told me he’d be there in five minutes, and that traffic wouldn’t stop him. I looked over at Sydney, who was being tended to by an EMT.

“Well, I hope these guys get an extra bed ready at the hospital. I don’t think I’ve heard him that frantic since-”

She stopped herself, silently sighing before smiling again.

“I haven’t seen him like that in a while.”

I reached out for Sydney’s hand, and she grabbed mine with her rich brown knuckles holding mine tightly.

“Sydney… I- I’m so sorry for breaking curfew. I just didn’t want you to get hurt. I don’t mean to cause more problems for you or Lucius…”

I looked down, sighing heavily.

Sydney only smiled, squeezing my hand, wincing as the nurse wrapped her hand up in white gauze.

“Kiddo, if you wouldn’t have, who knows where I’d be. I’m sure everyone will understand the circumstances.”

Sydney paused, looking me in the eyes. Her eyes radiated immense gratitude, welling up in her eyes.

“Thank you… For everything. I thought I was got.”

“You don’t even have to mention it Sydney. Speaking of. Who were those guys? What did they want with you?”

I placed my other hand over hers, holding it gently.

“I was coming back from the grocery store, and walking down that road the two came out. They told me they wanted money. I tried to give what I had to them, but they just threw it back in my face. Told me it wasn’t enough…”

She sighed, shaking her head. She looked up at the ceiling of the ambulance, entranced by the inner lights as she went deeper into thought.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gotham this bad. Not since three years ago.”

I tilted my head. I was about to ask her what that meant, but the violent buzzing of Sydney’s phone beside me broke my train of thought. I picked it up, half expecting Bill to be calling about his arrival at the hospital before us. Instead, I saw Lucius’ name pop up. I alerted Sydney to it, and she eagerly took it with her free hand. She flipped up to answer the phone, greeting her boss warmly.

“Hey, Lucius! How are y- Yes, I am okay. Heading to the hosp- No, I don’t think I’ll need surgery. I’m gonna make it out alright- Thank you, Lucius. Actually, I’m glad you called… It was her Lucius. She’s the reason I’m in one piece… No! No, there was no casual- Yes, that’s what I’m saying! She’s ready Lucius!”

Sydney smiled gleefully as she spoke to her boss as if telling him about an accomplishment. I tried to listen in, but the phone speaker was pressed firmly against Sydney’s ear, muffling Lucius’ voice on the other side. Sydney looked over at me, calmly and warmly smiling at me. She looked at me, pride glowing in her face, swelling up in her voice as she spoke. I couldn’t but be puzzled, yet, I listened to her words to Lucius, smiling back at her with curiosity.

“She’s ready.”