text: I never wanted this power in the first place. I tried hiding it when it developed but people soon noticed and my secret was out. This sort of power is in high demand and I was quickly snapped up as a sidekick by Phantasm, a high ranking superhero. I’m a healer. I can numb people’s pain and fix injuries but as with all superpowers, there’s a price. I experience the pain I take from others and inherit the wounds I heal. Phantasm knows that it hurts me but he’s just another typical bigwig superhero and couldn’t care less. Whenever I bring it up, he starts ranting about how everything we do is for ‘the greater good’ and berates me for being so selfish. I accompany him into battle, take the pain inflicted by his enemies and accumulate injuries whilst he stays unscathed. After he’s won and justice has prevailed, I usually end up in hospital. Sometimes if I’m lucky and the fight has put him in a good mood, he’ll take me there himself. I’ll slump in the backseat of his car and bleed onto the plastic sheet put there to prevent me making a mess, whilst he talks my ear off about how the world is a better place because of our courage. That’s if I’m lucky, though. Most of the time he just goes straight to the nearest bar to party and leaves me to make my own agonising way to the nearest hospital. I hate him. Sometimes I fantasise about walking away while he’s injured and leaving him to suffer, but I know I can’t. He’s a high ranking superhero, and if it weren’t for him the world would be in complete chaos. If I abandon him, whatever happens afterwards will be my fault. We’re heading into a fight now. Ursa, a notorious supervillain, is threatening to destroy the Super’s Society headquarters. Of course Phantasm is first on the scene. The Super’s Society pay his wages, after all, and he knows if it weren’t for them he’d be jobless. We arrive, Phantasm confronts Ursa, and I prepare myself. I scream as Ursa lands a hit on him. I’m used to taking punches, but Ursa has inhuman strength and the second-hand blow sends me flying into a wall. The battle continues and I curl into a ball as I take strike after strike for Phantasm. Dread seeps through me as Ursa manages to pin him against the wall. Even though he’s not feeling any of this pain right now, it’s clear that he’s exhausted. My stomach lurches as I realise that he might actually lose this fight. Ursa turns to face me and grins, revealing her characteristic jagged teeth. “Hey,” she growls. “I’ve seen you with this guy before. You his sidekick or something? What do you do?” Phantasm struggles and she backhands him. My head snaps sideways and Ursa starts to laugh. “Knew it. You take his pain, don’t you? I feel bad for hitting him so hard now. This dirtbag is the one that should suffer, not you.” I remain silent, trembling from a combination of fear and pain. I can tell from bitter experience that I’ve broken several bones and from the way this fight is going, I’m expecting to break more. This isn’t good. In this sort of situation, my mind always ends up jumping to the worst case scenario. No matter how often I’ve agonised it, I still haven’t managed to answer the question that plagues me whenever a battle starts going badly. What happens if Phantasm dies? I could save him. I’m sure of it, and I’m just as certain that doing so would mean my own death. Why should I sacrifice myself for a man who treats me like dirt? But if he dies, the villains will win. He’s one of the best, and a loss like that would be disastrous. Could I live with myself? “Tell me, how much does Phantasm mean to you?” Ursa asks. I don’t answer. “Would you die for him?” She presses her claws against his throat. “Because you will if you keep protecting him.” I freeze. I don’t want to die. Especially not for him. “You’re basically his slave,” Ursa continues. “It’s cruel. I bet he doesn’t care what happens to you as long as he gets his money.” My feelings must have shown on my face, since she chuckled and shook her head. “It’s not just you, either. So many so-called Superheroes have sidekicks that don’t want to be there. The entire Society is corrupt. I used to be a Superhero, but they denounced me when I started calling them out. Now it’s my mission to end this abuse. Nobody should be forced to be a hero. Or a sidekick.” “You’re right,” I say hoarsely. I don’t like siding with a supervillain, but I can’t deny what she’s saying. “So let me kill this guy. You can come with me afterwards and everyone will just think you died in battle. I won’t ever force you to take pain away from me, or anyone.” I freeze. It’s so tempting. She slaps Phantasm again. He screams, and stares at me in shock. Ursa’s smile grows. “Do something,” he splutters. “She slapped me. It hurt.” “No.” I say. Ursa reaches towards him with her claws. I swallow, feeling a painful lump in my throat. I’ve made my decision. “Wait.” I step forwards. It’s time for me to use the other part of my power. The part I kept secret. I grab Ursa’s wrist and lock eyes with Phantasm. “Now it’s your turn.” I press Ursa’s hand against my chest and slowly lean into her claws. Blood seeps out of Phantasm’s chest and I smile as he begins to shriek with terror. It’s painless- for me, at least. As Phantasm wails, I turn to Ursa. “Let’s go.” I’m glad I’m not a sidekick anymore. ‘Supervillain’ suits me just fine.