Fascinating Villains

{53} - Defeated

Cheryl grins at me, nearly skipping inside the subway wagon when the mechanical doors screech open.

"Hey!" I let go of the vertical pole I was holding onto for the last five stops, moving aside to allow my friend to lean against it. 

The presumably uncomfortable pressure of the metallic cylinder against her spine is cushioned by her fluffy fur coat.

"Hi! Where are we going?" she inquires, not without an excited giggle.

She requested for us to spend some time together today, after my shift at the hospital, but I have an errand to complete. The young woman quickly offered to tag along, which was an offer I could not refuse.

"You'll see. We only have two stations left."

I add, teasing her. /Or you can read my mind, if you haven't already. But that would spoil the surprise./

My friend's painted lips stretch into a beaming smile.

"You know me, I love surprises!"

I nod, returning her grin as I distractedly glance at the light-up panel which announces the stations visually. I have a habit of keeping a close eye on my trajectory's progression in public transport. Especially in Gotham City, it is wiser to be attentive to...

A sudden halt in the train's movement makes me lose my footing.

Fortunately, I do not crash into the young woman. Instead, I slip forward and abruptly grab the pole above her head. She has barely swayed against the metallic beam, so I find myself leaning intrusively into her personal space; my lips are nearly brushing her cheek. I am mostly relieved I did not injure her feet by slamming my heavy winter boots onto her sleek high heel ones. 

The performer lifts her left hand in the minimal gap between our bodies. The proximity of her immaculate nails makes my stomach lurch.

I forcefully stumble away from her as the subway creaks and begins moving once more. My muscles are taut beyond what is necessary to stay upright. I stare in horror at her fingertips, under the illusion that they are growing and inching towards me, lighting up with scalding flames...

A cry of agony and uneven sobs of sheer pain ripple through my mind, echoing. I can hear my heartbeat, its thumping is slow and loud enough to make my ears buzz. Meanwhile, the edges of my vision are fading away, increasingly clouded by apparitions of blood.

Cheryl timely snaps her fingers in my face.

"Deep breaths," she orders me, anchoring her eyes securely into mine.

I gasp out, "Sorry."

I follow her advice, keeping my focus on her... Beautiful face.

The wagon's doors squeak and open, accompanied by the usual bell sound.

"That's our stop." The sentence falls out steadily and coherently, indicating that my brain is back in function.

My friend smiles at me, seemingly lost in thought, and follows me out without a word.

During our walk in the cold, I attempt to obtain some telepathic guidance from my vigilante partner.

"There's something that's been on my mind lately."

/I am practicing as much as I can, but the thoughts of others have been very... Tenacious. No matter how I progress, they remain so... /

My hesitation is a direct product of how unbearable the perceptions of my patients are becoming. Before I even met Cheryl, I sometimes worried that if I felt too much empathy towards the victims I was sent to aid, then my emotions would thwart my coworkers and I's efforts at providing unbiased and professional emergency services. That these seemingly resolved issues are resurfacing is concerning to me. My powers should never stand in the way of my activities as a paramedic.