Chapter Four
A hand waved a lit cigarette, spilling ash as smoke gently wound its way from its orange tip.
"Do you know what obsession feels like? Its like a craving that doesn't go away.."
The cigarette was ground against an ashtray that had been screwed onto the metal interrogation table.
"A craving, it might go away for a time, it might be partially quenched by indulging in it, gut in the long term the needs, the urges, always return stronger then ever, until you are droolingm, until you find yourself doing something and you have no idea why, until you find yourself waist deep in a fresh grave, your mouth wet with blood, and your fingers stained with grave dirt, When all you started out with was a normal, happy family."
Another cigarette was taken out and held in between two slim, tobacco stained fingers, a red lighter sparked to life, a yellow-orange flame bringing the tip of the cigarette to life.
The woman sitting on the opposite end of the table nodded companionably, a smile fixed to her vaguely asian features, her voice was calm, its tones smooth as she finally spoke.
"So. Is that why you used your power on Taylor Hebert?"
A uncharacteristic smirk spread across the mousey brunettes lips, turning what what a unremarkable face into something that sent shivers down the other woman spine.
"Oh, is that what I did? I thought I saved a girl who's power interacted strangely with mine, turning her into what she is now."
Panacea, the foremost healer on the planet leaned forward across the table, while Jessica Yamada suppressed the urge to scoot her chair back from the parahuman in front of her.
"And if you think otherwise, I ask you to prove it."