Inverted Paradox

A trip down memory lane

After the doom patrol I had nowhere to go.

I felt lost.

Drifting away.

But he was there.

I thought I could trust him. He said he would help me.

But I should've known.

I was desperate.

Confused.

Alone.

He turned on me in a second.

I remember the pain all too well.

He enjoyed it.

He enjoyed hurting me. My cries of pain brought him nothing but pleasure.

I can still feel the cold blades running through my skin. The warm blood gushing out.

His laughter. It was sick. He was sick. I hoped he wouldn't want me back.

The next time I saw him he wanted Robin.

I thought he was done with me.

One day when I was left bleeding on the floor Slade came up to me and whispered that he was the reason my parents died.

They said it was an accident.

All those years I knew I was to blame, but it was him all along.

All Slade wanted was to use me.

The memories all came flooding back.

Chained up against the wall I sat there, knowing all too well what was to come. It always did. No matter how much I begged for him to stop.

He never killed me, but I wish he would've.

He came in, a long knife in his hand. It glinted in the half light. I knew he had just sharpened it.

I shut my eyes tightly, hoping that when I opened them this would all be a bad dream.

"Are you so much of a baby that you can't handle a little bit of pain?" He said, his voice loud.

"Oh please. You're calling me a baby? You're not even brave enough to unchain me and make this a fair fight."

He just stared at me.

"What's the matter Slade? Afraid of me?"

"You? Never."

"Prove it."

He actually did it. He was stupid enough to unchain me.

"Big mistake."

I transformed. Nothing happened.

"What did you do to me?"

He held up a syringe, empty now.

That's when I realized.

He wouldn't stop hurting me until I passed out. Always claiming it was no fun when I wasn't awake to feel it. That must've been when he did it.

"Not so tough now, are you?" He barked.

I lunged at him. He dodged easily, scrapping my arm with the blade.

It was long, but not deep. I've been through worce.

"Pathetic." He spat.

"I'll show you pathetic!"

I kicked him as hard as I could in the shins.

All that pain. All that anger. He caused it. If he thinks he's getting away with that he's got another thing coming.

Why you little-"

He fell to the floor.

I ran for the door. That was the only thing important right now.

I had to get out.

He grabbed my leg and yanked me down.

With his other hand he cut deep into my skin, branding me.

I screamed. The pain was too much.

"You'll never get far kid. I'll always find you."

I used all my strength to push him off and bolted.

The last thing I heard was cackling.

His laughter haunts me to this day.

Now I stood looking at the place where it all began.

I had no choice but to walk in.

"Finally. I was beginning to think you wouldn't show."