Chapter 2: Enemies of the People

“It has been nearly five years since that punk kid forced me into hiding, humiliating me by making others believe he bested me, but I made a promise to myself a long time ago that I would never be made to look like a fool ever.” Dr. Lecram pacing back and forth, his fist clenching every time he mutters the name Izle

“So what does all of this have to do with me walking again?” Donovan asks

Dr. Lecram then pulls out a small vile filled with a light purple fluid inside

“While I made a promise to myself to never be made a fool of again, I’m smart enough to know that if I attempted to go after Izle on my own again now with him having a team of his own that I would once again be made the fool. So, I began to watch you, saw what you were capable of, saw what was taken from you, and I knew that if I could help you become whole again that together we could destroy Izle and his friends once and for all.” 

“Defeat them how, though?”

Dr. Lecram hands Donovan the vile

“drink”

Donovan hesitantly puts the vial to his lips and quickly drinks all of it. Before he can even pull it away from his mouth, he begins to scream in agony; his veins start to bulge as if they could burst, his entire body shaking until finally, Donovan passes out from the pain.

6 hours later

Donovan slowly opens his eyes to see Dr. Lecram standing over him

“What the hell was that?!”

“Give me your hand” Dr. Lecram reaches out his hand to Donovan

Donovan grasps Dr. Lecrams hand and stands, his feet shaking but still standing nonetheless 

“H.. ho.. how?” Donovan stutters, “How is this possible?” 

“It’s a long, complicated story. It would only bore you.”

Donovan lets go of Dr. Lecram and walk towards the hospital window

“We’re coming for you, Izle. I will obliterate everything and everyone you’ve ever loved.”

Four Months Later

“Are we going to allow one week of reckoning dictate what the next thousand years of our future will look like? I can't speak for all of you, but  I know I won’t. This is my home. I was born and raised here. I grew up with most of you. You all know the kind of person I am. I’m scared, scared that more disease-spreading maniacs or something worse will come back and finish us off once and for all. I used not to be scared. I felt safe and free.” 

The people in the crowds shaking their heads in agreement, Donovan can see he’s getting through to them.

“That was until a young boy by the name of Izle came along and brought all of these monsters to our town, the monsters may have been the ones who brought the chaos and destruction, but he’s the one who gave them the invite. Think about what life was like before Izle got his powers, who Dr. Lecram was before Izle, and we had never even heard of Scourge until Izle. He thinks himself a superhero, but he’s a magnet for death, destruction, and suffering. Now he has two more people aiding him in his endeavors to end this town once and for all. But not today, not tomorrow, not ever, this is my town, and as your mayor, I promise to bring Spokane back to its previous glory,”

the crowd jeering with applause

“What the shit!” Zada snapped

“I thought you said he would never be able to walk again?” Denson asks

“Well, he obviously can, and he is pissed,” Izle responds. “I don’t understand though, how could he try to turn the people against us? We saved them.”

“Umm, Iz, you might want to take a look at this,” Denson points to the t.v.

civilians holding up picket signs reading

‘No to Izle’

‘Cop killer’

‘You failed us.’

“they don't see it that way.”

“We’ve got to put a stop to all of this,” Zada insisted

“Stop to it, how? We can’t force the people not to feel the way they do," Denson retorts 

“But, we can do something,” Izle says as he paces back and forth, scratching his head while in thought.

“and that would be?” Zada asks

Izle looks at both Zada and Denson.

“show them the truth,” Izle says, “or at least show them the good we have done for this city and how truly corrupt Donovan is”

“ and how are we supposed to do that exactly?” Zada asks

the three sit in silence for a few moments

“We continue to do what we’ve always done, we protect the people from evil people like Donovan, the people may love him now, but a snake eventually sheds its skin.”  urged Izle 

Back at Dr. Lecrams and Donovans hideout

“I saw you on the news. The people already love you. There isn't a shred of doubt in my mind that you will become the next Mayor of this glorious town.”

“Lecram, what all was in tha.. that vile you..” Donovan begins to pass out until his body slams to the floor.

Dr. Lecram slowly walks over to Donovan's body and kneels down

“I was afraid there would be side effects. We’re going to need some extra help, at least until you’re able to master your strength and soon your newfound powers.”

Donovan begins to open his eyes slowly; not fully passed out, he could still hear what Dr. Lecram was saying to him

“What kind of help? From who?”

just from here.”