POV Simon Hurt
Simon held Lucan's files in his hands, flipping them over with interest, and comparing them with the previous records they had on him. He adjusted his glasses while staring at his profile and couldn't help but find it strange.
He was recorded to have suffered blunt force trauma to the head recently, inexplicably having no more than a light bruise, which from the amount of blood suggested otherwise and losing his memories in the process which in and of itself was not an issue.
"What happened to all his other problems though?", Dr Simon rapped his finger on his desk in contemplation. Lucan was not a very healthy child, in fact, he wasn't mentally sound either, he had found the little quirk rather interesting.
He frowned, while looking at the records, closing them and leaning back in his chair 'He's basically a normal child now' Lucan, by all accounts was no longer a sick or mentally ill child, he doesn't even have any deformities or impairments 'Is there something I'm missing here?'
He recalled the first time he had met him and showed him the way out, he had no idea that a human's files could contrast so much. Mentally, it was understandable but something had changed physically.
He looked at his timepiece and sighed "Well, it doesn't matter for now". He threw on his doctor's coat and exited the door heading straight for the poorly illuminated hall in the deeper sections of the orphanage.
The investigation into the changes that have occurred to Lucan Grey will be conducted at a later date, regardless of whether this development proves beneficial or detrimental over time.
***
The pathway was dark, unlike the other parts of the orphanage that often had one or two drawings, there were none of such things, all the lights here were dulled or simply not on, which would make navigating this place as a regular person quite challenging.
Dr Simon had frequented this place often however and as such could navigate with his eyes closed if he ever felt the need to do so, he walked past a bald man with round-rimmed spectacles holding a stack of papers.
"Is your shift over?" The man shook his head and adjusted the documents in his hands, after securing them properly he nodded at them with satisfaction before answering
"No, just getting ready to transfer, my work here is done at the moment". The man looked a bit disheartened which prompted Simon to give him a small pat on the shoulder followed by a friendly smile. "You… are a rather interesting one too".
"'I hope your research goes well". With that, he left the man behind and walked through a metal door after taking a turn eastward, the building was quite large even for a hospital.
This room was a stark contrast with the surroundings. Clean, bleached and pure blinding white was the room's colour, Simon wasn't very fond of the colour, but he wasn't exactly an interior fashion designer; it served its purpose well enough.
The moment he walked inside, his face twisted in disgust for a brief moment, before returning to normal, the room reeked of piss and dried blood could be seen on the walls and floor with two fresh corpses lying on the ground.
They were the source of both of the former while simultaneously being the latter, Simon looked them over curiously, from what he could tell they had no visible wounds other than the ones they clearly inflicted on themselves. 'Death without being touched'
He lifted his gaze to the corner of the room where a crimson-haired child was trembling like a leaf caught in a storm, her hair colour changing rapidly and the room seemed to sway with her every breath 'oh? Am I already caught in it?"
He approached her, a distance that should have been no more than five steps had gradually turned into a thousand-mile journey as no matter how much he moved he didn't cover any ground. 'This is interesting, I feel like I'm moving but this is clearly not possible, since she can't possibly be so far away in such a small room'.
Dr Simon always marveled at how her abilities worked, she's not actually affecting reality, just affecting perspective, sending signals to make the brain misfire, not register objects or sensations.
Coupled with the fact that she can actually make projections into reality would only sell the effect more, like being sliced in two without getting a single cut or even being torn apart, you simply believe you have been killed, and your own brain finishes you off.
An ability that was more than perfect, with such a wide range of applications, it was no surprise she was being carefully nurtured like this, truly an unpolished diamond with limitless potential.
Dr Simon continued to praise himself and admire the wonderful results of his dedication, taking deep breaths and closing his eyes between steps, he finally made it to her, breaking through her endless distance loop, she was in tears and crying while he just offered her a friendly smile. "You did well, Polly. This is excellent work in fact"
The girl didn't seem to find his calm and gentle tone to be quite convincing, and just continued to mutter under her breath "I-I didn't…I couldn't control it.. I'm sorry, please, Lucan I…". Dr Simon sighed as he observed her continue to repeat herself.
She curled her body into a fetal position, her eyes wide in horror begging forgiveness from the bodies of the two she had just killed, though she had not
"This won't do, now now, it's time for rest" he pulled out a small tape recorder and pressed on one of the buttons [Lights out, red child], her sobbing stopped and the clarity in her eyes dimmed as she sat there on the floor completely motionless.
Dr Simon rubbed his chin for a few seconds before shaking his head "It would be best if you forget this, little Polly, you are still quite precious and it would break that man's heart if you became unusable".
She mechanically followed him out of the room as people in hazmat suits walked in after them and began to scrub the bodies and clean out the room making it almost as clean as it was before, white and pristine without an ounce of extra colour.
With the girl placed back to sleep Simon would now proceed to inspect the progress of his other prospects, and while many had been similar to Polly quite a few of them seemed quite numb to the process.
This had elevated Simon's mood quite a bit as he almost whistled while he walked, ever since he had taken charge of this place after the death of Thomas Wayne it had been a perfect seeding ground to fulfil both his and the interests of others.
With all the support of their sponsors, they would be able to keep this place running for a few more years, by then he should have enough time to find a new base for himself, that was assuming he didn't encounter any problems before that, he doubted such a thing could occur.
They had run various experiments before this and many of them far more dangerous, all this was in comparison was just a bit of brainwashing, she would think of the experience as nothing more than a dream 'Or perhaps she'll think her powers affect her too'.
Dr Simon chuckled at the thought, it was rare to find someone so impressionable in the dark skies of Gotham, she had a breakdown every time the trigger was used but the degree always differed slightly but one thing remained constant "Lucan, according to what that pale things said, they were always together after they got here, that is before we isolated her, perhaps she would have past a point of no return if he had truly died of his head injury that day'.
"Well No use in speculation" He waved the thought off and decided to go outside, with the departure of the man with round spectacles, he had a few calls to make to his humble sponsors regarding the progress of their little experiment.
***
In his office, Dr Simon had concluded his report about Subject Crimson and had been told to contact them in about three years and they would come to collect her and provide him with the clues he had been so feverishly searching for.
"We have recalled the professor, and he has reassigned himself to Belle Reve and he will reduce his activities for a time" The voice on the other end spoke in a detached manner, as though it had no interest in the current events. "The necessary materials will be provided, so I look forward to how well you exercise your patience".
It was condescending, but Dr Simon just smiled and quietly nodded as the contact was terminated, letting out a sharp exhale He leaned back in his chair with his eyes on the ceiling "Three years is a bit long, however, I've waited over a hundred years, this won't take too long,"
When he had taken over this hospital he had thought of it as somewhere to bide his time until he could find the materials he was looking for. 'Now they're bringing them to me, and not for free I might add'
Taking care of troubled children wasn't exactly his specialty but they say experience is often the best teacher and Dr Simon had nothing if not experience.
He looked up at his ceiling, the smile slowly fading from his face, replaced by an expression of mild irritation "Now about this new vigilante everyone has been talking about".
He had naturally heard the talk about the new vigilante, while most would have dismissed it, Simon wasn't pleased with the new development. Once upon a time in the distant past, while searching for the clues he needed, his plans had been thwarted by a caped crusader whom of which eerily resembled the man they were describing.
Author's Note:
If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at [email protected]/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support.