Nothing could make me feel better, after that. Nothing could make me smile. Every second that passed by my rage festered, and I wanted to get revenge. I wanted to rip Theo apart and make him eat his own organs. I had never felt this level of emotion in my life, not when my family abandoned me, not when the hospital broke my spirit, not when I'd have an episode.

I didn't know how to handle it. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I could barely make it through a day without trying to fight somebody or escape. Finally, The Director seemed to find me to be more trouble than I was worth. He reopened Carly's file, he examined her work and the proof she'd accumulated over the years. Then, he came to a conclusion.

She was right. A whole decade of work, finally paying off. If only she could have been around to see it.

The Director organized for me to be released back into the civilian world, no longer deemed clinically insane. I was timed to leave a month from the revelation while they got their affairs in order, and I almost made it through while also making Carly proud.

I couldn't handle my anger, though. It was driving me insane, more insane than this place could ever even hope to make me. I needed Theo to pay, I wanted blood, I wanted to break his skull open with a sledgehammer. I could only resist this temptation so long, and the night before I was set to be released, I finally snapped.

I knew that place inside and out.

This was partially due to Carly, taking me to make food at night with her in the cafeteria, it's where I learned to cook. We'd walk around in the middle of the night, she'd hold me when I was upset, she'd bring me snacks and we'd eat them in the abandoned corridors. I knew how to get around.

I snuck out in the middle of the night. I avoided night security and cameras expertly, fully aware of the routines and shift changes and blind spots. I was operating on heartbreak and rage, and I wanted to paint everything red. Despite this, I kept a clear head... well, until I broke into Theo's room.

I hadn't even brought a weapon. I had no plan. I intended on ripping the motherfucker apart right where he lies. However, a cylindrical piece of his metal bed was coming off, and there was a nail sticking out of it.

I blacked out. I have no idea what the gory details were, because I don't have much of a memory of that night. All I know is that the hospital suspected an animal may have somehow broke in, he was such a mess. Obviously that story didn't stick, since there was no evidence of a break in, but they were lost.

They'd never have proof on me. Honestly, if someone asked me, I'd probably have admitted to it. Fuck it. Sure, yeah, I killed him, and I'd do it again. I'd do worse.

However, nobody asked. I did what I did, took a midnight shower, and moved on with my night. With my life.

The Director knew, I could see it in his eyes, but he did nothing. He knew I'd just be deemed insane by any court, and he'd be stuck with me once again. I doubt there was more to his secrecy, since it's not like we ever got along. I didn't get along with anyone but Carly.

No investigation was done. Nobody cared, and by mid afternoon when I left the next day, everyone had moved on. His death was completely insignificant, but the life he took wasn't. He didn't deserve to live. The only downside was that I knew Carly would disapprove of what I'd done. That still bothers me, but I'll never regret it.

I was given an opportunity people only dream of. I was pulled from the deepest trenches of human depravity, from eternal damnation in that place, forced to live out my entire life locked up. I was taken away from that. I was super, I was normal, I had an ability people loved. One people were jealous of.

I was given two options. I could either mix back into society on my own, and see how long I last with no education or job experience. Or, I could be a hero. The choice was obvious.

I took the hero path. I was thrown right into training, where I learned to utilize my ability. I was trained to control it better, though control might be a strong word. I was more developing the ability to manage it than anything.

Just like that, people loved me. I was no longer hated and shunned, no longer the lowest class of citizen. People cared, people smiled at me, and even my birth family tried to get in contact with me. They hadn't seen me since I was six years old and much happier. Unfortunately for them, growing up in a loveless hellscape had changed me, and not for the better. I told them to never contact me again, as well as... some other things. They've complied so far.

I was super, which was basically the highest class of citizen. It was quite a change, and even more of an adjustment. Before I knew it I was 24 years old and the sidekick to one of the biggest and most notable heroes of my time: Lavina.

People went from yelling my name in frustration and anger to cheering it. Their scolding tones and judgement turned into admiration. I didn't know how to handle it, despite the fact I was essentially living the dream. A best case scenario.

This new life couldn't change who I was at my core: rotten. Spiteful, angry, hateful, and not quite sane. I didn't even want to be a hero, I hated people too much. I was too full of rage and had essentially lost my ability to feel happiness from all those years of torture. I was broken, though quite capable. Losing Carly caused something in me to snap, on top of all of that, and I couldn't feel love anymore. I couldn't feel anything.

I wanted it all to burn.

I didn't have that option, though, which made the job more difficult. It's hard to be a good person, a role model, a hero while also harboring such a massive detest for humanity. It was my only option if I wanted a successful life, though. What other future awaited me, with all my records being from asylums? With everyone from my past wanting the worst for me? I didn't have any education, even though Carly did try to give me as much schooling as she could under the circumstances. Nothing on paper, though. I had nothing else going for me.

The hero path was my best bet at proving all those motherfuckers who said I had no future wrong. My best shot at living any sort of successful life. So, I took it, and this is where I got my hero name:

Hatter.