Chapter four: The Coaxing
The world around her felt like it was closing in, suffocating her as her breath came in quick, uneven gasps. The walls seemed to shift and warp with each passing second, and she could hear her heartbeat thundering in her ears. Panic had taken hold of her in an unrelenting grip, her instincts pushing her further into a spiraling chaos that she couldn't escape. Her senses, once sharp and precise, were now her worst enemy, overwhelming her with every new sensation. The metallic scent of the room, the sterile environment, the rapid beat of her heart—it was too much.
She could hear the voices again, but this time, they felt like distant echoes, as if they were coming from far away. She couldn't focus on them, not with the storm of her emotions swirling around her. Her hands trembled as she instinctively curled in on herself, pulling her knees to her chest as if trying to make herself as small as possible. Her back arched, and her body tensed as she instinctively tried to protect herself from something, anything. She couldn't even understand what was happening to her, let alone explain it to them. They wouldn't understand. They couldn't.
The voices grew louder, and the pressure on her chest intensified. No. Not again. The familiar wave of helplessness rushed over her, and the feeling of being trapped in her own skin was unbearable. Her claws dug into her knees, the pain of it grounding her in a moment of clarity. She needed to get out. She needed to escape.
But then, there was a voice that cut through the panic, a voice that was soft and steady. It was Wonder Woman's, but there was something else there this time. A calm that seemed to penetrate through the whirlwind of fear. "You're okay. You're not alone." The words didn't immediately help, but they registered. Wonder Woman's presence was reassuring, a steady force in the chaos. She wasn't an enemy. She wasn't here to hurt her.
Then another voice joined in, familiar but with a different tone—a voice that carried a mix of playful teasing and genuine understanding.
"You know," Catwoman said, stepping forward from the shadows, "I've seen this before." She knelt beside the girl, her movements slow and deliberate, as if carefully considering every motion. "You're like a cat in a corner, aren't you? Trying to make yourself as small as possible. But you're not going to find safety in hiding, you know."
The girl stiffened at the words, her ears flicking as she instinctively bared her teeth. Catwoman noticed, but didn't flinch. She didn't even seem surprised.
"Easy," Catwoman continued, her voice low and coaxing. "I get it. I really do. When everything's too much, you want to curl up and pretend like the world can't see you. But the truth is, it can. And they don't want to hurt you." "I can't..." The girl's voice was barely a whisper, choked with emotion. "I can't... control it."
"I know," Wonder Woman responded gently, kneeling next to her, offering a comforting presence. "But we can help you. It's okay. You don't have to do this alone."
The girl's breathing was still ragged, her chest heaving with the effort to stay calm. The panic was still there, gnawing at the edges of her thoughts. But Wonder Woman's hand was warm on her shoulder, grounding her, keeping her tethered to something safe. Catwoman, on the other side, gave her a knowing look, her gaze steady and unhurried.
"Listen to me," Catwoman said, her voice almost soothing. "I know what it's like to want to lash out. To want to fight everything that feels like a threat. But sometimes, the real strength is knowing when to stop. When to trust that the world isn't out to get you."
Superman's voice entered the room then, calm and steady, yet there was an undercurrent of concern. "She's right," he said, stepping into view. "We're not here to trap you or hurt you. We're here to help." The girl flinched slightly at the sound of his voice, but she didn't pull away. Her claws were still dug into her knees, but they were no longer digging as deeply. Her body, still tense, began to relax ever so slightly. "Look," Catwoman said, her voice soft, almost playful. "I know you're feeling like the world's too loud right now. Too overwhelming. It's like everything's out to get you. But we're just... here. Here to listen." The girl's eyes, still wide and filled with fear, met Catwoman's. There was something in the older woman's gaze—something empathetic, understanding, that made her pause. Catwoman wasn't judging her. She wasn't treating her like some freak or monster. She was treating her like a person, just like Wonder Woman had. "It's okay," Wonder Woman said again, her hand still on the girl's shoulder. "You're safe here."
A long silence stretched between them, the girl's ragged breathing the only sound filling the room. Slowly, cautiously, she relaxed her posture just a little. She wasn't sure if she could fully trust them, but for the first time since waking up, she didn't feel completely alone. "My name is Sylvia," the girl said softly, her voice quiet but steady as she slowly began to uncoil from her defensive position, her knees no longer pressed tightly against her chest. "Sylvia Creed."
Her shoulders slumped, exhaustion and a deep weariness settling in as the adrenaline began to fade, leaving her feeling drained. "I... I don't know what happened back there," she murmured, glancing up at the three heroes standing around her. "I've always tried to control it... but when I lost it, I just... I didn't know what to do. The fear, the anger... it just... took over." "It's okay," Wonder Woman said again, her voice soothing and kind. "We understand more than you think. What did you feel, Sylvia?"
Sylvia's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but she didn't pull away. She swallowed hard, her throat dry. "I—I felt like everything was closing in on me. Like there was nowhere to run, no way to escape. I don't even know what set it off. I just... I snapped." Catwoman's eyes softened, her expression becoming more serious. "Sounds like a lot of emotions mixed up at once. It happens. I've been there. It's hard to control when you're overwhelmed. But the key is learning what triggers it—and knowing you don't have to go through it alone." Superman nodded, his tone gentle. "We're here to help you work through it, Sylvia. We want to understand what's going on inside you. What's really happening." Sylvia hesitated for a moment, still processing their words. But after a long pause, she finally spoke. "I don't know if I can... but... I want to try. I don't want to keep hurting people." Wonder Woman smiled softly. "You're already taking the first step. And that's enough." The conversation continued, with the heroes coaxing Sylvia to open up about her emotions, her struggles with control, and what she was truly feeling. As the words flowed, the atmosphere in the room shifted from tension to understanding, and for the first time in a long while, Sylvia felt like maybe—just maybe—there was hope for her after all.