Prologue
It was an almost unbearably clean room with a strong sense of looming menace – colourless walls barricaded comfort from entering; expensive technology became ugly and sever, almost mocking; and the tall north facing window that showed the vast countryside might as well had bars, the air was so suffocating – and yet this was a doctor's office where the suffering made pilgrimages in search for a cure.
Could a saviour really drive you into deeper despair?
Our elegy begins in this office, one of our protagonists waiting in the endless corridor outside the weighty door. She had an appointment with Doctor Niall who stood in deep conversation with his nurse and confidante Nurse Myers.
They made an odd pairing, the nurse and the doctor, despite their similar profession. Nurse Myers was tall, dark and muscular; Doctor Niall was short, pale and skeleton-like; but they had one kindred goal. A grotesque goal, but still a goal and justification for their own lives: to create a hybrid race.
Cartoon villainy had broken free from its drawings so that this hidden goal could take the lives of innocent children, leaving the survivors freaks filled with hatred and self-loathing. They had been denied normal lives because of scientists need to play god, the one thing that their enemy religion owns. Even knowing what they had created, the youth they had destroyed, most involved in the experiments didn't even feel the need to atone for their crimes. Doctor Niall and Nurse Myers certainly didn't, in fact they continued their relentless plotting.
"Doctor the child is waiting outside," Nurse Myers informed Doctor Niall. "Do you want me to bring her in?"
Doctor Niall walked to the door and gazed out of the window, studying the young girl who sat swinging her legs on a chair, ignorant to her fate that lay like a dragon behind the door.
"In a minute Nurse. First tell me about her."
Nurse Myers opened her clipboard and started to read off the various papers.
"Her name is Autumn Winter-"
"An unfortunate name."
"Quite. She is 5 years old and the only witness to a crime concerning the senator-"
"The reason her name was put forward I presume," Doctor Niall said, sitting in his chair.
"The senator does promise to help fund our research if we make her disappear."
"I see and what about her parents?"
"Her father is on death row and her mother is a heroin driven prostitute. Miss. Winter has been in care throughout her life."
"Any other family?"
"None…oh a grandmother, but she's senile and close to death. Doctor, no-one will miss her."
A ghost of a smile flitted across the doctor's face, but he restrained it not wanting to get his hopes up.
"What about her medical?"
"We've done tests and apart from a cough, she's in excellent condition; quite rare considering she's lived on the streets. Miss. Winter is tough and not afraid to fight. I believe she is the perfect candidate."
"Does she know why she's here?"
"She just believes that we're here to look after her."
"Hmmm," Doctor Niall pondered. "She does seem perfect. Good job Nurse Myers. Bring her in."
Nurse Myers smiled, closed her papers and opened the door, calling out to the girl.
Soon the girls stood in the doorway, happily sucking her lollipop. She was a pretty little thing with long auburn hair and a pleasant face. There was an aura of forgotten innocence in her and although only 5, her eyes were sensual and fierce. She was undernourished, but still a great strength wafted off of her, and she didn't look at all daunted when the iron door closed, plunging her into the upcoming medical horror.
Doctor Niall stood to greet her.
"Hello Autumn," he welcomed. "How are you?"
The girl shrugged. "Ok. Who are you?"
Her voice was soft but demanding, and there was a hellish edge to her words.
"My name's Doctor Robert Niall. Would you like to sit?"
She skipped over to the chair and curled up into it, removing the lollipop from her mouth and replacing it with her thumb; she never stopped looking at him.
'So young, so tainted,' Doctor Niall thought, 'so wonderful.'
Smiling to himself Doctor Niall sat.
"Now then Autumn-"
"How do you know my name?" Autumn interrupted.
"I know everything about you," Doctor Niall answered friendly.
Autumn raised an eyebrow sceptically. "Everything?"
"Yes, everything."
"Prove it."
Doctor Niall was taken aback at such a tone, as was Nurse Myers, but he was only too happy to oblige.
"Your name is Autumn Winter; you are 5 years old; your birthday is October 25th; your father is called Alec Winter; your mother is called Emilie Benjamin; your favourite food is strawberry ice-cream; and you're terrified of turkeys. Anything else you want to know?"
Autumn looked stunned. "You do know a lot."
"Now Autumn," Doctor Niall continued, "do you know why you're here?"
"Nurse Myers says that you're going to look after me."
"That's correct. You won't ever go hungry again as look as we look after you."
"Really, really?"
"Really, really. All we ask is that you take part in our experiment."
Autumn's eyebrows knitted together in confusion at the alien word. She tipped her head to one side. "One does 'experiment' mean?"
"Nurse Myers, would you care to explain?"
"Certainly doctor," Nurse Myers said. "It is a test that one participates in so that the results may be studied. Once the results have been studied, their meaning can have a significant effect on the lives of others and how they live."
Autumn was still confused, but didn't want to ask again so feigned understanding.
It sounded a bit like a game…she liked games…and if there was food involved…maybe even love….
She would definitely play their game!
"I'll do it."
Both of the medics smiled.
"Excellent, but you don't know what's involved yet Autumn," Doctor Niall said.
"I don't care," the girl scoffed. "I'm not scared of anything."
"Even so I feel I must explain. Now Autumn have you ever heard of superheroes?"
"Of course. Like Superman and Catwoman right?"
"Right. Now we will be changing you into a superhero that works for us," Doctor Niall exaggerated. "You will be strong, be able to fly and even have claws and sharp teeth. A wolf like Wolverine."
"Wolverine!" Autumn cried, jumping up and down on the chair. "Oh he's my favourite. X-Men is my favourite thing ever. Me and Daddy used to watch it before…well you know. Daddy used to be Wolverine and I was Storm. Will I be able to control the weather too? If I'm like Wolverine do I have to wear that silly, yellow outfit like he does? Can I really be a superhero?"
"Yes Autumn you can, but we call them something different here. We call them Erasers."
"Erasers? That's stupid."
"Maybe but it's their name, and it'll be your name too if you accept."
Autumn pondered this for a moment, her sweet face deep in concentration.
"You will protect me won't you?" she asked, becoming the insecure 5 year old she really was.
"Yes Autumn. We'd protect you as if you were our daughter. Think of me as your new daddy and Nurse Myers as your new mommy."
Nurse Myers narrowed her eyes at such a comment, but it was that comment, that lie, which persuaded Autumn to agree to the experiment, although they would have transformed her with or without her permission.
That was the day that Autumn Winter died.
That was the day that the Eraser Felix was born.