vladspellbinder

[vladspellbinder]

I learn forward on the edge of the uncomfortable chair, reading the closed captions on the muted TV across the room. The steady beepbeepbeep of a heart monitor the only sound to be heard beyond two people breathing.

There was a large hurricane off the west coast, rapidly approaching land. So many other heroes, and even some villains, had tried to stop it. Even Doctor Destructor had taken a shot at the thing, but it was obvious it wasn't natural as nothing worked.

At least nothing made it worse.

No one has come forward as responsible yet so it was an open question who out of all the people that could control the weather did this. Or even if it was a person. Though it was rare The Heroic Hamster proved that non-sapient animals could have super powers just as easily as humans could.

There was still a chance the hurricane could change course

That I wouldn't be needed.

But it wasn't looking good. I was always the last option, always had to be the last option. I could save people, but not lives. While no life would be lost if I used my power so many lives would be destroyed if that hurricane made landfall.

There was still time. I'd pray, but every deity that was going to intervene already tried and failed.

"It's not going to stop, is it?" The voice was barely more than a whisper, but so loud in the silence. She didn't have any trouble breathing, but all the coughing she's done the past few days have it made hard for her to talk.

"No. I don't think it will." I don't sigh. I can't show weakness or hesitation. Not that I don't want to but ever since I got this power whenever I'm keyed in to use it I just go numb. All the power wonks think it's so that I can make the kill. I wish I just stayed numb all the time but Doctor Hashai keeps convincing me that's not a heathy mindset.

My companion takes a deep breath in and very carefully lets it out slowly so she doesn't trigger another coughing fit. I don't take my eyes off the TV but I can hear the smile from the tone of her voice.

"Then you need to save all those people." I nod, standing and looking down at her. An eight year old girl shouldn't be so frail, she should be out running, playing with friends. But I am very well aware that things are not fair. Even with all of the super medicine we have some things still can't be cured.

"You're a very brave girl Cindy." Just because I can't feel anything doesn't mean I've forgotten how to act like I can. She keeps smiling at me, and it should hurt more than not at all.

I reach out and twist the little nob on her I.V., introducing a powerful sedative to the mix running through her veins.

"Tell mommy and daddy I love then for me please? And I'm sorry I couldn't get better." I wish they could be here for this, but my power didn't work like that. Only one person behind the lever after all.

"You're not to blame at all Cindy, but I'll tell them." She gives a slow nod, her eyes closed and head listing to the side. "You're the real hero in this room." I don't think she heard that part, already asleep.

I wish that could be it, just an overdose and off to an eternal sleep. But we found out the hard way that poisoning was a step too removed. Only four thousand five hundred and fifty-seven people had to die to teach us that lesson. No, I had to be a bit more involved in the matter.

The knife comes free from the sheathe without a sound and I'm skilled enough with it now that it going in is barely more than a whisper and just like that one innocent dead to save countless others.

Officially and legally I just performed an assisted suicide on a terminally ill patient.

Officially.

While I clean the blade I add her name to my mental list. Nineteen names for nineteen people I'll never allow myself to forget. No matter how many more names I have to add to my list I'll not allow myself to forget a single one.

For now though I've got two living people I have to pass a message to and then a teleporter to catch to the west coast.

Cindy asked me to save all those people after all, and I don't want to let her down.

Out of all the superpowers out there, you consider yours the most sadistic; you can save any number of innocent people from death in the face of danger, but to gain that ability, you must kill an innocent person. Named after the infamous moral thought experiment, you are… Trolley Man.