Charlotte stepped into the office of Mr. Reagen, her psychiatrist. He was an older man. Most of his hair fading while wrinkles became a more defined feature. The girl had been seeing him for quite some time. He was the only one that Charlotte could talk to. The only person Charlotte would talk to. He seemed to be an understanding man and didn’t harshly judge her for the things she did. He listened and understood.
The day was particularly gloomy--just the way Charlotte liked it. A thunderstorm was threatening the town and Charlotte welcomed the weather with open arms.
“Good afternoon, Charlotte.” Mr. Reagen greeted at the girl as she entered the room and placed herself in the familiar chair. “I trust you have been doing better? Taking your meds?” Charlotte’s eyebrows pinched together and the man instantly knew the answer. “I see. You know that the medication is for your benefit.” He stayed silent a moment before continuing, changing the topic. “So what has the past week done for you.” Charlotte looked at Mr. Reagen in the eye with a piercing glare and held it for a moment.
“I figured it out.” She started, an excited look coming across her face.
“Figured out what?” Mr. Reagen asked and Charlotte's expression faltered, slightly.
“I killed someone. Again.” Charlotte paused to studied the doctor to see his reactions. He definitely looked disappointed. He put his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose and stood up from his chair.
“Charlotte. You can’t keep doing this. We’ve discussed this, in detail, why it’s wrong.” The man walked to his window and stared out at the heavy rain. “How did you do it?” Charlotte took her pistol, a standard 9mm Beretta equipped with a suppressor, from her bag and laid it on the desk.
“It was a man with abilities…” Charlotte continued and her psychiatrist looked in her direction, his interest peaked. “He was telekinetic. I’ve been following him for a couple days. I needed to test something. You’re the one who told me it was a possibility in the first place!”
“But I never said it was okay to commit murder!” Mr. Reagen said in a raised voice but quickly regained his composure before her motioned Charlotte to continue.
“He saw what I looked like. And I don’t know if he was going to report me or not. They all say they won’t but they don’t mean it.” Mr. Reagen walked back to his seat and examined the gun as he sat down.
“So, did it work?” Charlotte's face lit up like it had before.
“I fired at him first just to confirm his powers. Naturally, the bullet stopped before it hit him. He seemed more shocked than anything. Then I made it so his powers didn’t work anymore. Then I shot him again. The bullet didn’t stop this time.” The man stroked his chin.
“It seems like there’s more than just a couple of bullets missing.”
“I executed him. I always have to make sure they never get back up.” Mr. Reagen nodded.
“So it works. But sooner or later there will be others with abilities that will catch wind of who you are and what you’ve done. When they come after you I won’t be able to protect you. No where will be safe. Luckily, you’re attack patterns are unpredictable so the police are having a hard time tracking you. And your abilities do a good job at covering your tracks. This...Shadow power you have.” He handed the pistol back to Charlotte and she placed it back in her bag.
“Now the important question, Charlotte.” Mr. Reagen continued. “Killing this man, in his own home, in cold blood. How did that make you feel? How did you feel as you pulled the trigger? As life left this man’s eyes?” Charlotte, once again, looked her psychiatrist in the eyes.
“I felt...Satisfied. I needed answers and he provided them. His death was a necessity.” Mr. Reagen nodded his head as if expecting that answer and wrote some notes down on the notepad sitting in front of him. He then checked his watch.
“I see that we are out of time, Charlotte. What’s happened has happened. I still suggest you take your meds despite whatever reason makes you decide not to. And do try to keep the body count to a minimal. Until next time.” Mr. Reagen stood from his chair and once again walked to the large window and stared outside as Charlotte let herself out.
