“So, what do you think?" Hazel asked.

Cadell heard the words loud and clear but they held no meaning. He pretended to be brain dead as he sat on a swivel chair, staring at graffiti on the floor of Psycho’s Asylum. The words, I will cleanse the city, engraved the surface in bold white. The phrase was supposed to be a symbol of commitment, dedication and obsession but now it was a reminder of what he couldn’t do properly any more.

A sharp pain erupted from Cadell’s shin. He looked up slightly, frowned, then gazed back at the floor. Relative to the perpetual headache and the scorch marks peppered around his body, Hazel’s kick was only a drop of pain in a sea of agony.

Hazel grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him repeatedly. “Stop brooding, you big baby.” Cadell’s body lifelessly flopped forwards and backwards like a broken toy. “Cheer up. You’re stronger than this.”

The shaking continued, proceeded by more shin kicks, proceeded by a few slaps.

“This isn’t the Psycho I know,” Hazel sighed.

Hearing his superhero name somehow brought Cadell back to life as he finally acknowledged Hazel’s existence. Elijah out did himself; the Manic super suit was stunning. The body suit was leaf green, sprinkled with smiley faces reminiscent to the Psycho mask. The Manic mask was essentially the purple portal in physical form, consisting of intricately drawn purple swirls. It was creepy, like a faceless demon.

Cadell stuck his bottom lip out while giving a thumbs up. “It’s good. Are all the features-”

“Yes!” Hazel interjected. “And let’s test the thing now.” Cadell could practically hear her grin hidden underneath her mask.

“What are you talking about?”

“The thing. Don’t play dumb. You know. You obviously can’t see my face but I’m winking dramatically by the way.”

Cadell stood up. “There’s no need. It will work. You’re ready.”

“Aww, thank you so much! Two compliments in one conversation by the big chief Psycho.”

“The superhero,” Cadell corrected

“Hm?”

“Psycho the Superhero. That’s the full title. It’s one thing. Without the last part you just get… you know.”

“What, Psycho?”

“Yeah, that.”

“But aren’t you called that as well?”

“Yeah but…” Cadell didn’t finish his sentence. He already wanted to end the conversation.

“Anyway,” Hazel began stretching her arms. “Let’s take down a crime syndicate, partner.”

“No,” Cadell whispered.

Hazel’s head tilted to one side. “What?”

Cadell couldn’t believe what he was saying. For the first time, he was reluctant to go out there.

A sudden thought hit him. It was a deep sinking feeling that had him fighting back tears.

Is this it? Am I done?

“I don’t think I can…” Cadell paused, swallowing down his pride. “This phobia is so strong. I can’t do this.” He proceeded to tell Hazel about his overwhelming defeat with the Hustlers.

"So you’re on medication now as a precaution?”

“Yeah."

“I see, I see. There, there.” Hazel patted Cadell’s back but the sympathy didn’t seem sincere. “Can I give you my thoughts? There’s a short one and a long one. You can choose which one’s first.”

“Okay, short version.”

“Actually, no, I’ll do the long version first.”

“I hate you.”

Hazel shrugged. “When I was a child, whenever it rained heavy at night, my mum would wake me and my dad up, turn off all the lights and turn the sofa to face the windows. We would all sit there with hot chocolate and listen to the storm while waiting to see the lightning. We lived on a hill and could see for miles. Over a decade passes and I hear from my dad that my mum hated them and was terrified but by waking us up and pretending she loved them she found she could cope.”

Cadell frowned, trying to figure out what the message in the story was. “What’s the short version?”

Hazel took off her mask just to glare at him. “Stop being a coward and trust me! I’ll have your back. You’ll face your fear and conquer it.”