Harold Wilkins was a sick man. His disease turned men into monsters.
His sickness had taken everything from him. It had taken his wife. It had taken his family. It had taken away his self-respect, any sense of belonging anywhere. It had taken away the trust of others, never to be bestowed again. It had taken six whole years of his freedom. It had taken...everything.
When he'd got out of prison, he'd tried to be good. He'd relocated to a new town, got himself a new job, tried to start a new life. But all that treatment, all the punishment bestowed onto him by others - and by himself - it wasn't enough. The sickness was too strong. It was terminal, in his bones. But at least he knew now, that this was wrong, that he was sick. The last time, he lied to himself, told himself there was nothing wrong with love. And they were so young, so innocent, so pure. He didn't want to hurt them, he...he just had so much love to give, and those little girls were just so...beautiful.
"You're so beautiful, Cindy."
Cindy Smothers, 8 years old. Her parents would probably have reported her missing by now. It wouldn't be long before they came here looking for her. They didn't have much time left together. She sat at the kitchen table, covered with piles of old newspaper. Harold watched her as he stood by the sink, thnking about how wrong this was, how sick he was.
"I...I'm, sick, Cindy."
No reply.
"Do you...do you think you can make the pain go away for me?"
Suddenly, the whole wall behind him blasted apart. Before Harold could even react, a blur hit him across the face. His nose was not so much broken as pulverised, as he collapsed to the floor, moaning in agony. Black Adam towered over him, his eyes burning with wrath.
"Six years. An animal, who would do the things you did...to a child! Six...years. America's crippled justice system may be willing to let you walk free again, but I..."
Black Adam spun round, spotting Cindy for the first time. This visit had been planned in advance, with one of his followers in Metropolis reporting back to him with this uncaged beast's new place of residence. He'd planned to send a message that no monstrous act was too small to escape his notice, to give out a punishment for sins past...but he hadn't been prepared for this.
"You're doing it...again? AGAIN!?"
"Aaaaah, I...I'm sorry...I..."
"Did you touch her?"
"I...I..."
"DID YOU TOUCH HER!?"
"I have love to give, I...I just don't know where to put it..."
Harold Wilkins burst into tears. Black Adam's lips curled in disgust at the pathetic, self-pitying display. But his expression softened as he turned towards the little girl. He approached the table, kneeling down in front of the chair.
"Are you a superhero?" the girl asked.
"Yes."
"Like Superman?"
"Yes, like Superman. What is your name, little one?"
"Cindy."
"That is a lovely name, Cindy. Now, Cindy, can you listen to me? Do not look at him, he cannot hurt you now. Look at me. I want you to come with me, right now. Okay?"
Cindy nodded. Black Adam took her by the hands, hoisting her feet up on top of his, and slowly hovered out of the hole in the wall, out of the crummy apartment complex and down onto the sidewalk below.
"Now, Cindy, I want you to wait here for me. Do you know any songs?"
"I know some Christina Aguilera songs..."
"Well, sing one of them for me. I will be listening, so do not stop, no matter what you hear? Okay?"
"Okay."
Black Adam smiled, patting the little girl on the head, then turned her around so she was facing outwards towards the street. As she started singing, Black Adam turned back to the apartment above, flying back upwards and into the hole. Cindy kept on singing, even when she heard some muffled screams of agony from upstairs. Even when she heard the horrible gurgling sound. She just blanked it out. Kept on singing.
And then, Black Adam was with her again. His smile was thinner now, despite his best efforts. He hoped she wouldn't see the specks of blood on his gloves.
"You sang very well, Cindy. Now, tell me where you live, Cindy. I will take you home."
"Can we fly?"
"Yes. We can fly..."
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