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The mayor and his deputy mayor are shot, and the crowds surrounding them are attacked during a festival in Meridian meant to help the poor and needy. Polina Yelizaveta and Raziel Emundato push back against their attackers and go on the hunt for those responsible for this attack. They discover that the culprits are known as the Neglected, a group made up of people who were let down and abandoned by the society that was supposed to help them in their time of need. Because of this, some mercy and empathy are required, along with the firm but fair hand of justice.

The Mercy in Punishment: Chapter 4 – Measured Mercy

Chapter 4 – Measured Mercy

Before conducting our questioning of Penelope, I decide that Raziel should take a breather, during which we notice that the news and people online aren’t talking positively about the Neglected anymore, and don’t seem to know why they were. I look at the time and the night sky and begin to feel the weight of not taking a break, eating, and resting for the past few hours.

“It reminds me of the all-nighters I pulled as a normal officer,” I say to Raziel in the breakroom. “Even after getting a bit of a boost from Timeo, I still feel exhausted from all we did today.”

“I remember the days I would spend without getting rest or just a few hours of shut-eye before getting back to work, as both a cop and vigilante to obtain justice, so I understand the feeling,” he says.

“I’m not complaining about it. Just talking about it makes it easier to bear. What isn’t easy is thinking about what we should do about the woman who orchestrated all this. She’s responsible for the deaths of Jeph, Tim, a lot of innocent people, and the guards who tried defending them.”

“God will give you the answer when the time is right. You’ve dealt justly with the rest of the Neglected so far, so I trust that you’ll make the right decision.”

“I hope so. Thank you.”

Raziel nods, and we go see Penelope in the same questioning room that we talked to Zahara in. She sits calmly on a couch in a ladylike manner with her legs crossed. Raziel leans up against the wall while I take a seat across from her.

“You seem happier than I imagine you would. What’s on your mind?” I ask.

“Nothing. It just feels relieving to be honest with myself for what feels like the first time in forever,” Penelope says.

“I’m glad that you feel that way and are being honest. It’s good for your soul.”

“It is, and it’s good for you as well. I was influencing the media and everyone in the city to talk positively about the Neglected and what we did. I’m sure it’s relieving to have the public on your side.”

“So, that was you doing that, huh?” Raziel says. “Here I was thinking the media was acting stupid again.”

“They indeed do, but the woman I talked to wanted to be sure that they talked positively about us, so we could get more people's support from people not under our influence. I’m sure you’d like to know more about her.”

“We do. What do you know of her?” I ask.

“I know a lot about her, but not her name. She was once a Catholic nun who was abducted and corrupted by the sixth family through rape, dark rituals, and other forms of torture. She acted as a brood mother for the sixth family until you saved her. After, she tried to go back to the life she was taken from, but found it very difficult as the dark rituals and her giving into them left a hard to get rid of mark on her soul. I see you’re assigning blame to yourself, Polina. Don’t.”

“I’m trying not to.”

“It was her choice to go back to her old ways, and when she saw that she was perversely sinful without the sixth family’s influence, she blamed the people who tried to help her rather than herself.”

“So, that’s how she put us in the situation we’re in.”

“Yes. She used her spiritual powers to find desperate people like Zahara and me and influenced us in our weakness to act on our emotions and temptations to get what we thought we deserved.”

“Do you know where she might be and if she has any backup plans?” Raziel asks.

“She’s been right under your noses this whole time, in the Coronamento Corporation rehabilitation facility in the center of the city. I don’t know of any backup plans, but I’d expect her to prey on those people to build another army to strike against you.”

“We’d better hurry then. Thanks for your help. You’re free to go after you sign some papers,” I say as I quickly get up.

Before I exit the room, Penelope asks, “Is that it?”

“It is, and unless you want to help by signing the offer you’ll be given, you’ll be free to go back to build your community.”

Penelope looks pleasantly surprised. Raziel and I tell the police and Dominion what we know and head to the rehabilitation facility. When we enter it, we find that none of the lockdown procedures for dangerous patients are being followed, probably due to the woman we’re after’s influence. There is a normal number of visitors and workers around here, and nothing seems out of the ordinary.

“Watch out!” Raziel says.

Both he and I move, just as a hail of gunfire rains down on us. We get shot in the head, but our helmets are thankfully durable enough not to be pierced or destroyed by the shots. The surrounding visitors and innocent workers panic and run for cover.

“Thank you for saving us, my angel,” Raziel says. “Now, ensure that none escape.”

A fire engulfs the building, covering all exits and windows, shielding the innocent, and taking hold of some of the people attacking us to enact God’s judgment of death or mercy on them. The foes we’re facing are a mix of people with guns and those with powers. Using my powers, I find that some are convinced by the woman to fight for her, while others are fighting against us against their will. Regardless of the reason, I try to break the woman’s hold over them, especially on those who are sympathetic to her cause.

“You’re helping someone who isn’t acting in her right mind! She needed more help than she got, but that doesn’t mean she should hurt others for what she considers justice,” I say.

I manage to get many of the security guards and ex-criminals, and reformed villains back to their normal state of mind. They help me against those who continue to fight against us, and help lead me to where the woman we’re after is. Going to the lower, underground floors, where the holding cells are for the most dangerous criminals and villains, we find dozens upon dozens of people who are under the woman’s influence, and are also met by the building’s robotic security forces, who also attack us. Calling for backup as we’re overwhelmed, I’m surprised by sniper fire that destroys many of the robots and takes out our human foes. Looking around to see who helped us, I’m surprised to see Zahara sniping from one of the vents in the wall.

She waves at me and says on my comms, “I’m still a cop and soldier through and through. Come on, Polina. We have a city to protect.”

“Thank you!” I say.

Pushing forward with Zahara’s sniper support, the odds begin to shift in our favor. Eventually, more help arrives from the police and Dominion, and victory appears within reach. That is, until an ear-piercing scream drops everyone to their knees and plunges us into darkness. Everything becomes darker and more claustrophobic until I can see nothing but what’s directly in front of me. A woman in a black dress and veil approaches. She has tiny horns protruding from every part of her body, and she must be the one I’ve been searching for. Her eyes are black as the void around me, and her mouth is drooling some black liquid.

Knowing her name now through her mind, I say, “Lily.”

“Don’t even try to get me to change my mind. I won’t do it. I don’t deserve mercy or want it. I want pleasures and riches to make up for the pain I’ve gone through,” Lily says in a distorted voice that feels like fingers in my ears that poke through my brain.

“You keep denying it, but you know in your studies as a nun that no one is beyond salvation, until the moment after their death. You know this isn’t satisfying to you, and you’ll only be more miserable in the end.”

“So what? I don’t care anymore. Even if I try to repent and try again, I’ll only fall into sin again.”

“We all fall to sin again and again. Still, God continues to allow us to live, repent, and try again. Give up, and I’ll make sure you’re given twice the help you were given before.”

“No, no, I don’t want to be helped! No, instead, I want nothing but pleasure and what God has denied me. Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten the value of charity. As such, I will gift you with what was done to me.”

Several nude people approach from the darkness around me. They try restraining me and taking off my armor. The powers Lily is using are making it hard to fight them off.

“Please, Lily!”

“Beg God for help, not me. Oh, I’m sorry. He won’t hear your prayers, like how He didn’t hear mine.”

I do exactly that and pray to God for strength and help, and soon get it. The darkness around me evaporates as if someone flicked on a light in a dark room, and I feel myself more in control of my mind. After fighting off the nude people around me, I turn around and see Penelope.

“I figured you’d need my help,” she says.

“I am beyond thankful for it,” I say.

Penelope and I use our mental people and words to talk down Lily.

“Despite what you tried to do to me, I forgive you, Lily,” I say. “It’s not too late to give up and try again.”

“The virtuous woman God made you to be still exists within you and will never be snuffed out, no matter how much sin you’ve committed. It’ll be okay,” Penelope says.

Lily falls to the ground and starts to cry. Her black eyes turn to normal green ones as she says, “My life will be miserable from here on out, and it is going to be miserable no matter what. Is this how a merciful savior treats the wounded and weak?!”

“Sometimes, that’s what mercy is,” Zahara says as she approaches from behind us. “A slap in the face, wake-up call can be the best act of charity someone can receive. I should know after receiving one.”

“I may have lost everything that I built up and tortured for over the years, but it was worth it to see the error of my ways,” Penelope adds.

“Shut up! I don’t deserve a second chance.”

“That’s not true,” I say. “Look at yourself. You’re still alive and breathing, and surrounded by helping hands. If that doesn’t mean that God still wants to save you, then I don’t know what mercy looks like.”

Lily finally stops trying to use her powers, gives up, and cries. Penelope, Zahara, and I embrace her as the people under Lily’s control regain their senses. Once all the prisoners are back in their cells, we promise to offer Lily and everyone else more help than we did before, and most of them are grateful to accept it. Penelope, Zahara, Raziel, and I leave the rehabilitation facility while everyone else stays to clean up the mess, care for the dead, and tend to the wounded.

Zahara breathes a sigh of relief and says, “It feels good and right to be a law enforcer again.”

“I can get used to it, being a hero, if more situations end like this,” Penelope says.

“I’m sorry to say, but they don’t always do,” I say.

“Really?” Zahara says, annoyed.

“It’s true,” Raziel says. “Sometimes they end with most of the culprits dead and unrepentant. Other times, more innocent people die than guilty, and souls end up being completely lost to the evil that infected their souls.”

“That’s a downer to hear,” Penelope says.

“That’s why we try to be as merciful as we can to the degree necessary in the situation we face. Today ended well because of all of you,” I say. “I think it’s time we started our own subsidiary of the Dominion. Don’t you think so, Raziel?”

“I do, especially with our two new members here.”

“We’re going to be the heads of it alongside you? Why?” Zahara says.

“Hehe, are you really surprised after all she’s done for us?” Penelope asks.

“I guess I shouldn’t be.”

“Without your help, things would’ve ended terribly, and with it, we can forge a brighter future for Meridian and ensure that those needing second chances get the help they deserve, even if it comes through a harsh wake-up call at our hands.”

“I’m in,” Zahara says.

“I am, as well,” Penelope says.

“I’ll always be by your side, so you don’t need to hear a confirmation from me,” Raziel says.

“It’s settled then. Let’s go celebrate with breakfast. Raziel has to treat since he’s the only man in the group.”

“I wasn’t going to mind, but now that you said that, I do.”

We all laugh and walk toward a favorite spot I know in the city that serves breakfast at six in the morning. I watch the sunrise and feel a renewed sense of hope. With this feeling, I say a small prayer of thanks to God for what He’s allowed today, and for the promise of an even brighter future for me, my new friends, and the people we will meet who need our help. May we be the help they need, and I hope they accept the hand of mercy that reaches out to them, even if they refuse it at first.

 

The End

The Mercy in Punishment: Chapter 3 – Desperation Taken Advantage Of

Chapter 3 – Desperation Taken Advantage Of

Back at the Dominion office, I take off my damaged armor and wear my casual officer uniform. After taking a moment to collect my thoughts, I enter the questioning room with Raziel to ask Zahara more questions. The room is casual with no divider and looks no different than a typical break room with a couch, chairs, a table, and carpet floors, but it does have guards outside the room.

“Where’s everyone else you converted?” Zahara asks as she takes a seat.

Taking a seat, I say, “In a waiting room of their own, where they aren’t restrained and being talked to, one by one, to see if they’re true to their repentance, before they’ll be interviewed for a possible job here or simply given what they were owed. I’m sure you understand that we can’t just slap people on the wrist who tried to kill us.”

“I get it. I’m just glad we weren’t brought here in cuffs and put in cold and dirty cells.”

“We wouldn’t want to do that for the people already kicked on the ground. Instead, that treatment was given to those who resisted. They won’t get a second chance and will be put in a jail cell for however long the courts decide. Anyway, the woman who contacted you. Can you tell us more about her?”

“As I said, the woman who suggested that I act on my thoughts was hiding her appearance. She was hiding under a hoodie because I thought she was hiding the blemishes that I saw peaking out from her skin and whatever was jutting out from her body, limbs, and head.”

“How did she convince you to act? Did she have a similar impact on your mind in the same way that Polina did with her powers?” Raziel asks.

“Yeah, she did, now that I think back on it.”

“It looks like we might be dealing with an ex-member of the sixth family,” Raziel says to me.

“Sixth family?”

“The sixth family is one of the unknown founding families of Meridian,” I explain. “They influenced the people of the city through their demonic rituals and powers in the undercity, where past structures of the city exist. Its members are being rehabilitated by the Dominion and Coronamento Corporation. What makes you think it’s one of them, Raziel?”

“What kind of person would otherwise be capable of this with objects jutting out of almost every part of their deformed body?”

“Hmm. You’re right. It would also make sense since some of the people helped by us are turning on us, and members of the sixth family would have the most trouble turning from their past lives. What else did the woman talk to you about?”

“Roping in others that I knew who needed help so we could be bolder in our planning and help even more people in the process. With her simple suggestion, I thought that we could be inspirational through force so that the debts to the poor and needy could be paid in full with interest.”

“Was there anyone else who is leading the Neglected, or is it just the one woman?” Raziel asks.

“There was one with a swirling spiral for a left eye and a purple left eye, who the woman who influenced me also gave marching orders to, but since I was so preoccupied with my own planning, I don’t know much about her other than her name being Penelope and general appearance, such as her light blonde hair, spiral on her right hand, and love of purple dresses. She looks like someone from the suburban and rural areas of Meridian.”

“We’ll look her up and bring her in as well.”

“I think we learned everything we need to know,” I say.

“Really?” Zahara says.

“I don’t have anything else I need to ask. Raziel?”

“Nope.”

As we walk out, Zahara gets up and asks, “Is that really it? What’s the catch?”

“There is no catch,” I say. “I’m going to find Penelope, and hopefully she’ll be the last person I need to bring in to take down the mastermind behind this whole mess. As for you, some people will come in and have you sign for a prosthetic replacement for the arm I cut off, give you what’s owed to you, and offer a job here at the Dominion, if you want it, and if you don’t, you can walk away, and put this all behind you.”

“Are you serious? It’s just as simple as that?”

“It is.”

Zahara looks at me as if she’s waiting for me to say that I was joking or lying, but when no punchline comes, she seems relieved and surprised, and starts thinking. Raziel and I walk out of the room and search the database for Penelope. Her name and the details about her make it easy for her to find, and what we do find lines up with the stories of the rest of the Neglected, giving an interesting story.

Reading aloud the file on her, I summarize, “Penelope is a simple farmer and artist who lives in the rural area of Meridian. Since that part of Meridian isn’t given as much attention as the city and the wealthy suburbs, the people out there struggle to get by, so she took a job as a superhuman for the government. The Coronamento Corporation experimented on her to give her the psychological powers she would use to interrogate people the government considered enemies, both outside and inside the country.

“She could’ve been who you were hearing at the festival, instead of our primary target from the sixth family,” Raziel points out.

“It would make sense that she was. Given the planning for this all, I doubt the mastermind would put themselves anywhere near the danger of being discovered, especially since she used so many others in her plan.”

Not seeing anything else worth noting on the record on her, Raziel and I drive down to Penelope’s address. It takes us a good hour and a half to drive down to the deep rural area of Meridian. The farms and houses are far from the shops and odd restaurants, dinners, and gas stations, making this place feel very isolated and different from the city, which is claustrophobic in comparison. When we arrive at Penelope’s farm, I see a series of buildings around the area with dozens of cars parked around them, but not a single soul in sight. Expecting trouble, Raziel and I draw our weapons.

“Already resorting to violence, are you?” I hear a familiar feminine voice say. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised after what happened with Zahara.”

Time seemingly slows, and everything gets muted, just like at the festival. It seems to only affect me as Raziel looks at me, concerned, and I try to talk about what’s happening to me, but can’t. Catching on anyway, Raziel nods and runs ahead into the series of buildings.

“Penelope? Is that you?” I ask.

“I’m surprised you know my name, Polina.”

“Zahara told us.”

“I’m even more surprised about that. We didn’t really talk to one another.”

“You both had roles to play in another woman’s plan. If you tell us what you know, we won’t bother you here or prosecute you for your crimes. We’ll also right any wrongs done to you, like we did with Zahara and the others who surrendered and helped us.”

“Do you think I would believe someone like you who uses violence to get her way, not to mention Raziel, who burned the city with his fire?”

“That was supernatural fire that did no real damage to anyone who didn’t deserve it.”

“So says you. On the other hand, I’ve done nothing but build up this retreat from the world for the poor, my neighbors, and the sick. Did you pay attention to the houses and businesses you passed by? Many of them are rebuilt because the people here lost them due to the lack of being able to make it out of here. I used all the money I made being a torturer for the government to help others first.”

“That’s why it was surprising to me that you’d help people who killed and endangered the lives of so many innocent and good people.”

“No one was innocent over there. Not the people who ran the charities or those who supported them.”

“How can you say that?”

“Because if there’s one thing I can thank the government for, it’s showing me that no one is innocent through my powers and what they had me do to people. Even you aren’t innocent and must be dealt with.” People start coming out of the building, and out of nowhere, from a distance, with guns in their hands. “Unlike you, I can take control of others with my powers and use them as go-betweens to influence the minds of others. You’re not going to get a read on me, and your friend won’t find me in the maze below you.”

I feel exhausted from making simple movements with my body. Even lifting my pistol and sword feels like lifting a car. Thinking on my feet, I try to read the minds of the people coming after me.

“I might not be able to read your mind through these people, but I can see that they all have their doubts about helping you, some of whom don’t want to help you at all.”

“Please, I know them better than you. There’s nothing you can see with your powers that I don’t.”

“You’re willfully blind. They know what you’ve done for them and are trying to accomplish, and are disgusted.”

“They understand that I have no choice! To get by, I had to torture and kill people. If I didn’t, we’d lose everything we hold dear.”

“There’s more to life than getting by, and the ends never justify the means. Your loved ones know it, and you know it.”

“Shut up!”

The people around me slowly raise their guns and look like they’re about to fire at me, until I notice flames rising from newly formed cracks in the ground. Looking back up, I see that the people’s hands are shaking, and some are struggling to speak. Eventually, an explosion of flame rises from the ground, the people fall to the ground, and I see Raziel flying up from the explosion with Penelope in his hands.

Raziel flies to me with Penelope, explaining that, “I found her because friends and my angel. Hold her here while I get everyone else out of the tunnels.”

I cuff Penelope and use my psychological powers to suppress hers. The people around here gather around us as they see that the flames aren’t harming them, even as they burn down all the buildings, from the playgrounds to the many statues, gardens, and walls.

“No! You’re destroying everything! How could you do this?!” Penelope says as she begins to cry and flails her legs and cuffed arms at me.

“Penelope,” one of her loved ones says, “It’s okay. It was all built on dirty, blood money anyway. We’ve rebuilt our lives before. We can do it again, as long as we’re with one another.”

These simple words make Penelope stop and drop the act of pretending to be righteous despite her deeds. She profusely apologizes to them as they all embrace her, and they tell her it’s okay and they still love her. Once Raziel gets everyone out, the ground starts to crack more, so we get everyone out before it all collapses in on itself. We call people from the Dominion to help get Penelope’s people to a temporary home, and after they come, Raziel and I personally bring Penelope back to the Dominion’s office. Along the way, we see that the many buildings out here are also burning to the ground or have already turned to ash.

“I’m sorry this had to happen, Penelope,” Raziel says.

“It’s…okay,” she forces herself to say. “As they said, it was all built on blood money, and we can rebuild if we have each other. If anything, in a strange way, I have to thank you…so thank you for bringing me to my senses.”

“We’ll help your friends and family rebuild their homes and businesses, Penelope. It’ll be free of charge.”

“Hmm. The woman who talked to me was wrong about you. I’m sure you want to know more about her. I talked to her more than Zahara did.”

“We’ll talk about more when we get back to our office. Afterward, we’ll let you go.”

“Just like that? No strings attached?”

“None at all.”

“Huh. That woman was really wrong about you then if you’re going to do that.”

“We will, since you’re cooperating with us. There’s no reason to kick you while you’re down, despite what you’ve done.”

“…thank you.”

The Mercy in Punishment: Chapter 2 – Fighting Against the Downtrodden

Chapter 2 – Fighting Against the Downtrodden

I get all of the Dominion and police I know to look into the attackers and get to work myself when I enter the Dominion’s office with Raziel, aiding me in my research. Hours and hours of research tell me a lot of what I know. The members of the Neglected are all people who are noted as being poor, handicapped in some way, and received help from charities, rehabilitation centers, and welfare. They all had jobs serving others in health, charities, law enforcement, military, hero associations, and some were ex-criminals and villains who turned a new leaf, only to be seemingly let down. I can’t help but feel guilty for what happened to them since the Dominion tries to help all these kinds of people, and we’ve clearly not done as good a job as we like to advertise.

Keeping my mind on the task at hand, I scour the records for a sniper and someone who uses psychological powers. In my search, the most likely suspect for a sniper I have is who’s associated with the Neglected is a woman named Zahara. She’s an ex-cop, ex-military, who gave life and literal limbs in service for the country she protected, but when she got tired of the life and tried to get back to normality, she was found wanting for service for veterans, and the bills maintaining her new body were too much to handle. Looking at the time, I see that it’s late afternoon and the sun is starting to set in the sky. There’s no time to rest, so I’m about to get up to tell Raziel who we’re going after, but he comes to me first and brings my attention to the news.

I turn to it on my computer and watch the local media outlets talk positively about the Neglected. That they’re just suffering souls lashing out against a system that kicked them while they were down. I also see that they’ve taken over an area of the city, known for its poor residents, and declared it independent from the rest of the country, which they say failed it.

Zahara is then featured, says the same as the others have, and then says, “We take what is ours and what we built up. What we fought and worked for day and night to maintain and protect. Do we not have the right to it? If you disagree with us, such as the members of the Dominion, then you can come and try to rob us again.”

Turning off the video, I get up and say to Raziel, “If she wants us to be the villains, then let’s do it.”

“Agreed,” Raziel says as he follows me out of the building.

We drive a Dominion-affiliated police car down to the area Zahara and the Neglected have taken over and get ready for a fight by putting on our helmets and unsheathing our weapons. The area around the neighborhood is surrounded by police, a crowd of people with picket signs calling for the Neglected to get what they want, picket signs for those opposing them, and media personalities of all kinds covering the situation. Raziel and I push our way through all the groups and approach the Neglected, who are holding guns and wielding their powers like a threat towards us.

“You two are the only ones who are going to take us on? Do you have a death wish?” one of the Neglected asks.

“We could say the same thing about you,” Raziel shoots back. “Where are your borders?”

“Huh?”

“An independent neighborhood needs borders. Here, let me make them for you.”

Raziel uses his flames to create a barrier of fire that surrounds the Neglected’s territory, starting the fight. Using my psychological powers, I question each person’s motives and use the last vestiges of their God given conscience against them.

“I know you’re all hurting and sacrificed so much for the sake of others, but getting little to nothing in return,” I say in their minds. “If you give yourselves up and turn on those who are manipulating you, I promise that you’ll get your due reward with no punishment at all.”

Some listen to me, remembering their families and friends, their religion, and that they’re simply acting on emotion. Then some are selfish and choose to want more than what they are due, and those who are desperate, who think they are too far gone and have to go through with their plan, or else suffer death or a worse fate in prison. I continue to use my power on them to convince them to change their minds, all the while knocking out some and killing others. At the same time, Raziel is using his hand scythe to cut off cybernetic and prosthetic limbs to pacify our attackers. The supernatural flames surrounding the neighborhood begin to rain down on people, burning some to ash and somehow leaving others alive and unconscious.

“Come out, Zahara! You wanted this fight, and you got it!” I yell out.

The converted Neglected on my side throw themselves into the battle in front of me, taking shots meant for me as penance for their actions, and sometimes dying in the process. After this, I’ll have to find a way to memorialize their sacrifice eternally. For now, I focus on the fight in front of me, going where the converted say Zahara should be. With others fighting by my side to even the odds, I concentrate on using my psychological powers to throw off the aim, change the hearts of, or incapacitate the Neglected who are still fighting against us. Eventually, the numbers and the fight swing in my favor, and I now have over twenty converts on my side. This brief respite is taken away as sniper fire begins picking off the converted.

“Cover me! I need to get to Zahara!” I say.

Doing as I say, the converted Neglected shoots back at Zahara, while I go from building to building and car to car with the shields on my arms extended, trying to locate exactly where Zahara is. From what I see, she’s firing from cover, probably knowing that I need to see her so my powers can affect her. Seeing the source of the shots, which are coming from a three-story apartment building, I keep moving forward in a clear direction and rush into the building, with my armor and arm shields taking shot after shot that nearly hit my head and body.

“Come out, Zahara!” I say. “There’s nowhere you can run or hide!”

A shot originating from the upper floors that goes through the floors, hits my helmet, and breaks the part it hits, leaving my face bloodied. I run up the stairs, my arm shields covering my face and body as I take more sniper fire through the walls, until I reach the top floor, bust down the doors, and tackle Zahara through the windows just as my arm shields break, sending us through the window, and plummeting down the street. My armor saves me again as I’m only mildly hurt from the fall, which I shrug off, get back up, and hold my sword and pistol ready to fight. Meanwhile, Zahara’s cybernetics have saved her from suffering any major damage as she quickly rolls away from me and starts firing at me with her pistol and sniper.

With my eyes on her now, I see that she’s a bit different than the picture I saw in her file. She still has a mechanical sniper for a left arm, but her hair is now black and pink, her eyes are pink crosshairs, three pink lines around her eyes, and she’s dressed in a black and pink bodysuit with a utility belt around her waist where she holds her ammo. I fire my pistol back at her while running for cover and not taking my eyes off her as I use my psychological powers on her.

“It’s over, Zahara! Lay down your weapons!” I say.

“It’s not over until I die or get what I deserve!” she responds.

“I know you think what you’re doing is right, but you’re wrong! You’re doing more harm than good.”

“So what? Do you know what I’ve been through? Use those powers of yours to find out.”

I rush Zahara and use my sword to cut off her sniper arm. She tries not to let this stop her as she tries shooting me with her pistol, so I knock it out of her hand and put the blade of my sword to her throat.

“I see what you’ve been through and share in your pain. I see how you threw yourself into danger without a second thought as a cop and soldier for the sake of your country and loved ones, and struggled to pay your bills, but I also see the evil influence that’s forcing you to do what you otherwise wouldn’t. Why would an honorable cop and soldier shoot the mayor of the city she risked her life to protect?”

“You don’t know half of what I feel and have been through!”

“Do I? I’m doing the same thing you otherwise would if you were in your right mind.”

Zahara takes a knife out of her belt and sticks it into my armor. Thankfully, it doesn’t pierce all the way through, allowing me to further take her down and restrain her on the floor without trouble.

“Some cop and hero you are, letting your guard down when your enemy isn’t down for the count,” Zahara says. “It figures that you’d use force against the forgotten who are fighting a system that abandoned us, rather than try to help us. I thought you were supposed to be the merciful, good cop?”

I say, “This is mercy. I’m focusing on changing your heart and getting sloppy because of it. I know that the true you is still within your heart. That the woman who wanted to protect others and step up when no one else would is still in there.”

“This is stepping up! I’m still putting my life on the line for others!”

“You’re doing it for yourself first, and using the excuse of doing for others to justify the tragedy you’ve caused, and you know it! All you care about now is getting even without a care for the people you hurt along the way.”

“Shut up!” Zahara says as she struggles in my grasp. “I lost so much for the sake of others, friends, limbs, and a normal life. All my superiors cared for was that I acted as a weapon for them. They couldn't care less about what happened to me after I did what they wanted.”

“I care about what happens to people like you, Zahara. I’m willing to give you a second chance if you help me.” I release Zahara, put away my sword and pistol, and hold out my hand. “Help me find out who influenced you to do this, and I promise that you will get what you deserve.”

Zahara looks at my hand and then at my eyes.

“What I deserve is to die or be put in prison for what I did.”

“If you help me, I’ll make sure that won’t happen. Your efforts in helping me and what has been done to your neighborhood today will act as payment for your crimes.”

“Even if I can help you, I don’t know much. The woman who convinced me to act on my thoughts hid her appearance, and her voice was…distorted.”

“Anything you can do will help me. So, do we have a deal?”

Zahara looks away for a second at her neighbors, who are sitting in their homes, scared for their lives, and of her, and then shakes my hand.

“Sure, but if you go back on your deal, then I’ll go back to what I was doing. I don’t know what you were doing with your powers, but it looks like they worked.”

“I only used them to bring you to your senses. Afterward, I simply used words and what I knew to convince you.”

“Heh. I guess we’re not so different after all, then.”

“No, we aren’t,” I say with relief and a smile.

The fires surrounding the neighborhood instantly die down. Raziel finds Zahara and me, relieved that I didn’t have to resort to killing or knocking her out to get her to cooperate. Paramedics take away the injured and the dead, police arrest the Neglected who resisted, and the Dominion takes the converted Neglected to our office for questioning and to make arrangements to give them what they deserve, including Zahara. Honestly, I expected things to turn out much worse. Thank God it didn’t.

The Mercy in Punishment: Chapter 1 – Super Charity Worker

Chapter 1 – Super Charity Worker

I put on my mask, a face covering that includes my old mask that’s half white and black with angel wings at the end, make sure my armor is operating correctly again, and take a deep breath as I stand on the edge of a building. Stepping off, I let myself free-fall for a few seconds, then activate my wings and jetpacks. I glide past a cheering crowd, fly up, put on a show by performing tricks in the sky, and then safely land on a stage with Mayor Jeph and Deputy Mayor Tim.

Mayor Jeph on the mic says, “Everyone! Give Polina Yelizaveta a round of applause!”

The crowd cheers, and I humbly bow.

“Would you like to say a few words?”

“No, thank you. I wouldn’t want to keep everyone here from the festivities any longer,” I say.

“Come on. You’re one of our city’s greatest protectors. You deserve some time in the spotlight.”

The crowd cheers, agrees, and chants my name.

With no choice but to take the mic, I simply say, “I’ll only say a few things. I’m not that good of a public speaker. When L’Obscurité and Timeo Severe left Meridian in my hands and allies, I knew I couldn’t be like either of them. So, instead, I chose to be the me that God made me to be, that being a merciful protector, preferring to help the poor and downtrodden, including efforts to reform criminals and villains, many of whom are simply forcing their pain on others. Today, I humbly ask that you help me accomplish this goal of helping everyone by giving generously with time, talent, or donation, and together, we can bring our city to even greater heights. Thank you.”

I bow, and the crowd cheers and claps. Handing the mic back over to Jeph, I step off the staff and head to the private back area, where some of the security is. Looking at my reflection on the back side of my helmet, I make sure my red hair isn’t messed up from the flight, and nothing is on my face. My red eyes stare back at me, and I make sure that I keep a soft and welcoming smile on it, so that no one is afraid of approaching me. Raziel Emundato, my fellow apprentice of Timeo, walks in, taking off his hood and helmet with orange, red, and yellow eyes on it.

“That was some show, Polina,” Raziel says.

With his helmet off, he has a young, kind appearance, despite his orange, yellow, and red eyes. His blonde hair is light, and his orange, yellow, and crimson armor is like that of a modern medieval knight, with an accompanying cape and pauldrons, one that has his cross symbol on it and the other with the inscription, “Ego Te Absolvo”. On his back is his crimson scythe, which can light up with fire at a moment’s notice.

“It was nothing special from the usual that I do every time,” I say. “Why don’t you join in for once?”

“My guardian angel says not to use my power for show, and I’m hardly able to activate them on my own, so I’m not going to attempt it.”

“Right, right. How is it out there?”

“Lively and filled with joy. People are generously giving, and those in need of jobs are given on-the-spot interviews and work.”

“What about the Castigators?”

“You mean mainly Kane, Idelle, and Zandro? They sent their regards to me and said they can’t make it because they’re causing trouble somewhere in the country.”

“Pfft. I believe it. What I can’t believe is that he has multiple groups of Castigators across the country now.”

“God blesses the faithful with abundance.”

“Yeah, but Kane? I’m not trying to say he doesn’t deserve it, but still. What we’re doing here hasn’t given us the right to be a subsidiary of the Dominion like the Castigators, yet.”

“Yet, is the keyword. Even if we don’t grow as big as them, we still do good work here in Meridian. I wouldn’t mind keeping the peace here for the rest of my life, do you?”

“No, I wouldn’t mind it either.”

“Let’s go see the people. The mood out there will get even better with you around.”

I agree and walk around with Raziel, meeting fans, talking to people, and signing autographs. As apprentices of the dark hero, L’Obscurité, or Timeo Severe, as his closest friends and family know him, we have received a lot of attention from the people of Meridian for years of hard work, turning this city from one of the most dangerous in the world to one of the safest. Because of the overwhelming attention we get, we go to different groups along the street to draw their attention to their services, depending on the people I can see. My powers allow me to see why a person deserves mercy, no matter how far gone their soul may be from God. As such, I guide those in need of a specific service to the right provider.

For example, those who need to relax and are pushing themselves to be here are directed to the games, food, and drinks of the festival, and sometimes to the priests or psychiatrists for spiritual or worldly advice. I also bring their attention to the many jobs on offer, specifically bringing their attention to the Dominion of Mercy and Justice, the hero association Raziel and I work for, and our closest ally, the Coronamento Corporation. The line for the on-the-spot interview is so long that the people in the crowd ask if the job is worth it and if they should prefer getting the job that also provides them with powers or the one that doesn’t require them.

The questions are difficult to individually answer, so I instead tell them my story and how I chose my job. “I became a cop because I was inspired by Chief Raymond Ellory and his family’s history of bringing order to this city and taking care of it. Afterward, I was touched by L’Obscurité’s powers while on the job and got the powers I have now unintentionally through him. Because of that, I worked as both a cop and a hero at the same time. My family always said to pray before making any decision, even if that means praying in a split second, so ask God and yourself if you’re supposed to take this job or not. If not, I won’t be offended, but if you feel a call to protect others, then I suggest either joining the Dominion, becoming a cop, or whatever hero association you feel called to.”

Some people take a second to decide before either walking to other places or getting in line for the job at either the Coronamento Corporation or Dominion. Those remaining in the crowd seem to be more interested in talking to us and asking Raziel about his story. He isn’t sure about it, so I have to push him to do it.

“It’ll be fine. I have your back,” I say to him.

Raziel reluctantly accepts and breathes in and out before sharing his story. “I lost my family in a fire. After, I found a new family in a Catholic orphanage, but lost that to a group of criminals. I tried becoming a cop and then a zealous vigilante to get justice for them, but I only ended up hurting others and being touched by L’Obscurité’s dark powers. From there, my guardian angel spoke clearly to me of God’s purpose for me and the flames and scythe I now wield. I have nothing more to add to Polina’s advice, other than what I’ve learned in life: appreciate everything you have and everyone around you. It is all a gift from God that can be taken away at a moment’s notice, and even when that happens, remember that there’s more to this life than the here and now, and that God always loves you.”

The crowd and those who heard Raziel’s story, who stopped to hear it, are silent for a moment. They then clap and disperse.

“See? I’m not that good at telling stories.”

“They clapped for you, and I think you told your story well. I’m hardly much of a storyteller, too, and since I’m usually put on the spot to tell my story, I can sometimes get things mixed up, unintentionally wrong, and forget important details. Speaking of telling stories, the mayor will be hosting a spotlight for the business owners and charities here to tell theirs. Let’s listen to them. Maybe we’ll get some pointers, so we can tell our stories better next time.”

“Sure.”

Raziel and I go back to the stage and stand around it as security. While looking out for trouble, I listen to the stories of the people behind me. I hear stories of people from those who are rich and poor, their inspirations for starting their business, why they continue to help others, and their pitch to ask others to help them. Among the many speakers are ex-criminals and redeemed villains that I, along with others in the Dominion, helped rehabilitate. They speak of our help and how they wish to make amends and be better people, either through the same programs they went through or the businesses and charities that they’ve started.

It's rejuvenating to hear the stories of the redeemed, as it acts as a reminder that I’m helping to make a difference in the world, that no effort has been in vain, and that I’m saving souls from sin and damnation. A gunshot then rings out, ending the fun and festivities in an instant. Mayor Jeph is shot in the head, as well as Deputy Mayor Tim, as he just registers what’s happening. Everything seems muted and in slow motion now. The police and members of the Dominion yell at the panicking crowds and try to find the shooter. I try to help them, but I feel like I’m wading through sand and that my voice can’t escape my throat.

Raziel looks at me, his eyes wide, as if he's saying something in a panic, his words muted by the chaos around us and whatever is affecting me. The only thing I can clearly hear is the sound of more shots hitting people, ranging from the speakers from the charities and businesses to heroes and police, and random civilians. Seeing where the shots are coming from, I point to Raziel the direction, and he sprouts wings of fire and flies off to stop the shooter. It’s then that things go from bad to worse as cybernetic men start appearing from out of the crowd, under the ground, out of the buildings, and the top of rooftops to fight the heroes and police without a care for injuring and killing civilians in the process. Meanwhile, I still feel like I’m moving in slow motion and struggling to say anything as I seemingly lag behind everyone.

“You feeling helpless, don’t you?” I hear a young girl’s voice say in my head.

“Who are you and why are you doing this?” I ask.

“Who I am, you’ll learn soon enough. As for why, I know you can find the answer for yourself. Just look at the people attacking you.”

“I see…I see that they’ve all been wronged by the people who were meant to help them. Many of them are ex-soldiers, cops, heroes, vigilantes, redeemed villains, reformed criminals, and social workers. I’m sorry that they never got paid what they were owed, were taken advantage of, and were forgotten, but that doesn’t excuse their actions.”

“We’re not asking for sympathy. We want justice, not in the same way the Castigators obtain justice, but the way we want it by taking it for ourselves and punishing everyone involved from top to bottom.” I try looking in the crowd for the source of the voice while using my psychological power to calm down our attackers. “I know what you’re thinking. It’s no use looking for me because I’m watching you from afar. We don’t want to kill you. Not yet, at least. This is simply a message, and we want you to hear us. The Neglected will be ignored no longer.”

The flow of time returns to normal, and nothing is muted anymore. Using my psychological power, I ask our attackers if this is really what they want to do—if hurting innocent people and taking justice into their own hands is the right choice. Many struggle against me, others are slowed down, and some are unbothered by my words. Their responses force me to further exert my mental powers to either make the attackers unconscious or cause them to bleed internally, compromise their heart or brain. I also use my sword, which emerges from my armor, and a pistol by my side to injure or kill, depending on who I’m facing.

The chaos ends shortly after, but it feels like it went on for hours because of what happened when time slowed in my mind. Using my earpiece, I call Raziel to see if he’s fine and got the sniper.

He soon flies over to me and says, “The sniper got away. Instead of them, I found dozens of cybernetic people and robots with the pictures of people on them.”

I explain to Raziel what happened to me, and add that, “We’re dealing with people who are jaded and possibly being manipulated by others to do horrible things they wouldn’t otherwise do.”

“We’d best take care of them now so that no one else gets roped into their cause and events like this don’t happen again.”

“You’re right. Let’s get to it.”

Before heading out, Raziel and I go to the bodies of Jeph and Tim, who are both being taken care of by paramedics, say sorry, and offer a short prayer for them and everyone else who was hurt or killed in this tragedy. With our goodbyes said, we nod towards one another and get to work finding out everything we can about the Neglected and everyone associated with them.