totally meta

chapter 28

Henry made his way through the halls of Seven Labs, his mind focused on his next task. He had helped Marcus, the fire meta-human, find control, and that success had given him a sense of purpose. Now it was time to see if he could help someone else—a meta-human who had a more complicated past.

The meta-human he was visiting today had metal skin. But from the files he had read, Henry knew that her condition wasn't permanent. Her skin only transformed when she felt angry or threatened, making her a dangerous force when she wasn't in control. She had been locked in a titanium cell for months after her attempt to attack Lilien, blaming the famous scientist for the accident that had turned her into a meta-human.

As Henry reached her cell, he saw her sitting inside, calm and composed. Her skin was normal—no sign of the metallic sheen that covered her when she felt threatened. That alone was interesting to Henry, as it showed that she wasn't constantly in fight-or-flight mode anymore. She had learned to manage her emotions, at least to some degree.

"Hey," Henry called out softly, standing in front of the thick glass barrier that separated them. "Mind if I come in and talk for a bit?"

The woman, whose name he remembered was Erica, looked up from a notebook she had been scribbling in. Her expression was neutral, but she nodded. "Sure. Not like I'm going anywhere."

A small smile tugged at Henry's lips as he stepped into the room. He stayed near the door, not wanting to crowd her, but also not wanting to give the impression he was afraid of her. He wasn't. If anything, he was intrigued by her control over her powers.

"I read your file," Henry began. "It says you've been trying to control your powers. That's impressive, considering everything that happened when we um... Fought."

Erica shrugged, though there was a flicker of pride in her eyes. "It's not like I had much of a choice. Either I learn to control it, or I spend the rest of my life locked up in this cell. The old me would've fought it, but... I don't want to be that person anymore."

Henry nodded, sensing that there was more to her story. "You tried to go after Lilien, right? Thought she was responsible for what happened to you."

Erica's eyes darkened for a moment, the anger surfacing briefly before she took a deep breath and calmed herself. "Yeah. I thought she was the reason my life got flipped upside down. I blamed her for everything. But the truth is... I was just looking for someone to blame. It wasn't her fault. It wasn't anyone's fault, really."

Henry listened, understanding the anger she had felt. He had been in situations where he could have easily blamed someone else for his circumstances, but holding onto that anger never solved anything. "What changed? What made you want to control it instead of getting revenge?"

Erica hesitated for a moment, then let out a small laugh. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me," Henry said with a grin.

Erica leaned back against the wall, her arms crossed. "It's going to sound ridiculous, but... there's this show I started watching. It's an adult cartoon, of all things. Takes place in hell. The whole show is about redemption, about how even the worst of the worst deserve a chance to change if they really want to. It's kind of dark and twisted, but it made me think. If those characters, who've done horrible things, can find a way to change... why can't I?"

Henry's grin softened into a thoughtful smile. "That doesn't sound ridiculous at all. Sometimes the strangest things can inspire us to be better."

Erica nodded, a genuine smile forming on her lips. "It gave me hope, you know? That I don't have to be defined by what happened or the mistakes I made. I can be something more. And I've spent a lot of time thinking, writing in this journal, trying to figure out who I want to be now."

Henry glanced at the notebook in her hands. "That's why I came to talk to you. I know your intentions weren't always good, but I believe that everyone deserves a chance to change their ways. You don't have to be stuck in this place forever, Erica. If you keep working on controlling your powers, and if you genuinely want to be better, I think there's a chance you could be released some day really soon."

Erica's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope, the first real hope she had probably felt in a long time. "You think so? You really think I could be out of here?"

Henry nodded. "Yeah. It won't be easy, and you'll be under close supervision at first, but if you keep showing progress and a genuine desire to be a better person, I don't see why not."

Erica's smile widened, and for the first time, she seemed to relax fully. "Thank you, Henry. That means more to me than you know. The whole point of this faith I've come to is about giving people the chance to change. It's about redemption, and I want to believe in that."

Henry stood up, giving her a nod. "Then keep believing in it. You've already come a long way, Erica. I'm sure you can go even further."

As he turned to leave, Erica called after him, her voice softer now. "Do you think people out there will ever accept me? Even if I do change?"

Henry paused, looking over his shoulder. "People are complicated, but I believe in second chances. If you keep doing the right thing, eventually, others will see that too."

Erica smiled and went back to writing in her journal, a peaceful expression on her face. Henry left the cell, feeling like he had made a difference, however small.

As he walked through the halls of Seven Labs, Henry couldn't help but feel that there was more to this than just helping a few meta-humans control their powers. It was about giving them hope, about showing them that they didn't have to be defined by their powers or their past. Everyone deserved the chance to change, and Henry was determined to be a part of that journey—no matter how difficult it might be.