Butterflies

Chapter 18

The recreation room would be the place Violet spent most of her days the following week. Conjuring weapons and fighting off pretend opposition, which usually had to be security guards. Discovering her powers meant she could better control them. She could feel them pulling closer to her, letting herself be consumed again. While Violet believed that Doctor White was helping her escape without even knowing, it was truly her that was in the dark.

Doctor White watched over her with a smirk, sat in his chair. He noted down each discovery as they happened, from Violet changing an objects appearance to manipulating bullets and changing their direction. But he discovered something else. Her confidence was growing, she was no longer vulnerable, no longer susceptible to his use of words. At first she was scared, mourning Butcher and coming to terms with being trapped again. Now she was growing more and more self assured, and less easy to read. Sarcasm after sarcasm, Homelander warned him about that. If he wanted Vought to be able to control her, he couldn't let her not be insecure.

He'd keep her in the dark, keep her wondering who was alive and who wasn't. Dropping in hints about what happened to Butcher, just so she would fumble and ask for him. And every answer was the same. He died in the explosion, the one he set off. But part of her wondered the truth of it, how she could pass by unharmed but he had to be dead. There were no scars of any burning, just the ones of her hands from Homelander, a taunting reminder of her place.

That's when Violet felt her neck. He wasn't dead. He survived as well. As she searched her memory to find nothing, there was no logical reason for him to be dead. He was a cockroach, a stain, one she adored... he wouldn't go down so easily. Homelander must have saved both of them, for reasons Violet didn't understand. Butcher was very much alive somewhere and Violet had to find him. She had to escape if it was the last thing she did.

Doctor White threw his glasses down onto the desk, running a hand through his hair. He was warned of the challenge of rehabilitating a woman so persistent in her ways. She was a grown woman how could he blame her. Young people were the easiest for Doctor White, the easiest to manipulate to villains and heroes dependant on Vought. A woman who's already seen the world, seen what Vought has done, that was more difficult.

His only way of controlling her was her loss of the man she cared for. Presenting the idea she had lost everyone, so there is no hope for her life. It was beginning to work, but it was now falling short. When Homelander told him about saving Billy Butcher, Doctor White was just as confused as anyone. Why not kill the fugitive when you had the chance? But Homelander always had his reasoning, and Doctor White was too afraid to oppose that.

Slouching in his chair, he thought of his next move, when the doors swung open and a woman walked inside. She was dressed in a full black and red cat suit, her jet black hair swept back to show the smug look on her face. Quickly shooting up in his chair, Doctor White smiled at her.

"What can I do for you boss?" He wondered.

"How's it going with Homelander's sister?" She asked.

"Oh, um slow," he stuttered.

"What does that mean?" She questioned, moving past him to read his notes.

Doctor White jolted back like an afraid mouse, shivering just to be close to her. The woman read the file and sighed.

"There is nothing wrong here."

"She isn't interested, she isn't weak..."

"And we spoke about what keeps her weak," she explained chucking the file down.

"Well..."

"Well you better come up with something. Make her join us."

"Yes ma'am," Doctor White nodded.