Hello, My Name Is...

A Villain is Born

"December 20, 2019.

It's almost Christmas! Aro and Puns started calling The Genius 'Dumbass'. They're weird. They keep getting worried because of the side-effects of the memory wipe. I've gotten used to the headaches, and the occasional spell of dizziness... But sometimes I tend to black out for a few seconds. I hate it. So do the guys since they're stuck catching me when we're in public. I've gotten a few sympathetic looks, probably also victims of the wipe who've struggled with it.

Anyway, Christmas. A friend of mine invited the guys and me to her place. Faith is awesome, she's always made sure that I was safe after my parents died and when the guys couldn't visit me during my recovery of the wipe she would come over with some tea and books. She always knew how to cheer me up.

Some of my friends bought me a new journal since The Genius confiscated mine. They also got me a new pen, as it came with the leather-bound journal, it's black to match the book, and has a quote written on it, 'Music is a prayer,' the journal has the same quote on its cover and each page has a quote about music or literature or even just art in general. It's so cool!

I wish I knew why The Genius looks so familiar, or even just why he does this. It makes no sense! I got arrested a few more times this summer, that was... fun; I guess the side-effects got worse? Either way, my friends refuse to leave me alone. Which I hate, but when I need 'alone' time they just send Bestie, I can basically tolerate her the longest, no, scratch that, I love her and I'm comfortable around her even when I need alone time, it almost feels like I'm having alone time. I love her."

Putting her journal down she sighed, reliving the memories of the day it started, the noise, the panic, she shrugged off the anxiety rising in her chest, forcing it down along with the tears. Then it went back to "normal", the world kept spinning and everyone got used to life again, but she saw the effects of this new reality. Tombstones destroyed or simply defaced if that could describe it; walking past a school she saw children calling some of their classmates horrible names, she cried silently, knowing that those names would be the children's new identities for the rest of their school lives.

Then her first arrest, she forgot the cause, but when she got back her favourite journal was gone. Her friends replaced it, but it had secrets and rants that were very personal for her. Her time in prison was draining, and the wipe left her feeling almost empty. Almost. She panicked, unsure of reality. She lay on the floor pitifully, The Genius towering over her. After a short exchange she passed out and woke up at home.

These memories twirled around her as she cried over her journal, the ink bleeding down the paper as her tears rolled through the words written on the pages of her book of secrets.

A hand on her shoulder brought her out of her bubble as Shy looked up to a very disappointed Genius. As he opened his mouth to scold her she got up, cutting him off, "Okay, okay, I know the drill, let's just get this over with," she sighed, wiping her tears to hide her vulnerability. As she looked down at her journal Shy realised what she had written. But before she could process the words on the tearstained pages, the tome was ripped from her hands and she was taken to The Genius's home. His rusty hair ruffled by the breeze. Once they arrived, Shy turned to see grey eyes seemingly piercing through her walls. Some emotion was there, one she had never seen, she didn't know what it was, what this look meant.

As they walked in silence, The Genius studied his prisoner. Her pink ringlets, her pale freckles, the way her golden eyes glimmered in the sunlight, it was the same person, but changed, the soft colours splashed on dresses were traded in for greys and blacks. He couldn't think of what to do. He knew Shy hated him, simply by the words in her journals, her glares whenever she was arrested, and even just how she spoke about him. He ruined something lovely simply by following advice. If only he could tell her. But that would be against everything he stood for. So, he put the mask on, hiding his emotions for the thousandth time that month, and continued the act, while Shy desperately did the same, choking down the panic and pain.

* * *

"Why am I here," Shy asked, sitting at The Genius' desk, "I thought we'd already gone through the whole 'explaining the imprisoning process', so what do you want?" She was exasperated.

"I know that," he glared at her, an attempt at intimidation, "however," he turned away, walking calmly through the office, "I have an offer."

"What 'offer'?" her voice cold as the ice on the windowsill.

"Well, you'll be in here during Christmas,"

"Don't remind me," she grumbled.

"Let me finish," impatience seeped through his voice, "now, the thing is, I can get fairly lonely during the holiday season. So, I was wondering if you'd spend Christmas with me, you wouldn't have to spend your sentence in a cold prison cell," his voice calmed by the end of the sentence.

"No." she said flatly.

"What?" he growled, approaching her threateningly.

"I said no," standing up she looked him in the eye, never once revealing her fear of him.

"You know I have complete control over you, right?" he towered over her once again., "technically speaking, you actually have no say over the matter, however, out of the goodness of my heart-"

"You have a heart?"

He flinched, she didn't notice, his mask slipped momentarily, they were once friends, and now she spoke those words in earnest.

"I liberated people from labels."

"You killed people," stone-faced.

"I already told you, hospital patients are a useless part of society! They are useless!"

Now she flinched, memories, a call, and afterwards, numbness. The Genius didn't notice, couldn't notice, his mind was spiraling, doubts flooded his mind.

"They're still people," Shy interrupted his thoughts.

"No matter. Now, will you spend your prison time with me, or in a cold, dark cell?"

"No," she sighed, just wanting to get all this over with.

Shy was taken to her cell, The Genius looked at the journal. Oh, how he hated hurting her. He just wanted a change, and that change wouldn't have happened if he hadn't erased the memories. He looked at her journal, it was the third time her journal was confiscated that year. Listening through the surveillance system, he turned to the screen when he was met with silence, his heart broke as he watched the prisoner cry herself to sleep. That wasn't supposed to happen, this wasn't the plan, but he had to continue, he had gone too far to try and turn back. He paged one of his maids.

"You called for me, Sir?" the woman whispered.

The Genius turned to her, he had promised to only ask for her when there was an emergency. He saw his usually cool and collected assistant tremble in knowledge of the events that had transpired just a moment ago.

"Yes," he grinned, though it wasn't a warm one, "begin phase three. I want all the new laws in place, and I need all security heightened."

"But Sir-"

"NOW!" he barked.

As she left, The Genius reflected on what was happening. This wasn't originally planned, and when it was decided, he wanted to let it happen slowly, in steps. He simply wanted to change the world for good, but now the situation was spiraling out of control.

He has become the villain.

"I'm the bad guy," he whimpered to the silent office, before joining his prisoner in silent weeping.