. He had known the people in front of him what felt like his entire life, but in that moment, he didn't recognize them at all. "Let me get this straight. You knew The League had me in their crosshairs, so you chose me, trained me—"

"To protect you." Father Gregory nodded. "I persuaded the others your...affliction...could be treated. That with intensive prayer and guidance, we could rehabilitate you. Not all of them were convinced, but enough of them were." He lifted his chin. "When I looked into your eyes that day, the Lord granted me a glimpse of your soul. It was worth saving."

Darius' throat tightened. "Are you sure about that?" He squeezed his eyes shut. J's face was the first thing he saw. He opened his eyes again and shook his head. "I didn't want this. Any of it. I never asked to be initiated into some secret society. You said it yourself, I was only a kid."

Father Gregory's filmy eyes were far too perceptive. "But it's more than that, isn't it? When we found you, you were trying your hardest to pretend you were just like everyone else. The League forced you to face who you were. What you were." He cocked his head. "I don't think you've ever forgiven us for that."

Darius locked his jaw. It was true, of course. He'd spent his life running, if not from The League, then from himself. In the end, he could never run fast enough. No matter how much he isolated himself, how hard he fought to the contrary, everyone around him just kept getting hurt.

A horrifying realization dawned on him. He'd been so angry with Georgia, but what if what had happened wasn't her fault? _He_ was the one who'd taken her case. _He_ was the one who'd gone to Hunters Point. _He_ was the one she'd been trying to save that god-awful night.

Darius looked from Father Gregory to Sister Paul. The concern and understanding on their faces shredded his already raw insides. "What's wrong with me?" he whispered. His voice cracked. "I don't know what to do anymore."

Sister Paul made a soothing noise deep in her throat. "Dear boy."

Father Gregory laid a hand on his shoulder
. He had known the people in front of him what felt like his integral biography, but in that moment, he didn't recognize them at wholly. " Let me drive this straight. You know The League had me in their crosshairs, so you choose me, trained me — " 

 " To protect you. " Father Gregory nodded. " I persuade the others your... affliction... could be treated. That with intensive prayer and steering, we could rehabilitate you. Not all of them were convinced, but enough of them were. " He lifted his chin. " When I looked into your eyes that day, the Lord allow me a glimpse of your soul. It was worth save. " 

 Darius' throat tightened. " Are you sure about that? " He squeezed his eyes close. J's face was the first thing he saw. He opened his eye again and shook his head. " I didn't want this. Any of it. I never asked to be initiated into some privy company. You said it yourself, I was only a kid. " 

 Father Gregory's filmy eyes were far too perceptive. " But it's more than that, isn't it? When we found you, you were trying your intemperate to pretend you were just like everyone else. The League force you to front who you were. What you were. " He cocked his head. " I don't think you've always forgiven us for that. " 

 Darius lock in his jaw. It was true, of course. He'd spend his life running, if not from The League, then from himself. In the end, he could never run fast enough. No matter how much he isolated himself, how heavily he fought to the contrary, everyone around him just kept getting hurt. 

 A horrifying realization dawned on him. He'd been thus angry with Georgia, but what if what had happened wasn't her fault? _ He _ was the one who'd taken her case. _ He _ was the one who'd gone to Hunters Point. _ He _ was the one she'd been try to save that god - awful night. 

 Darius look from Father Gregory to Sister Paul. The business and understanding on their faces shredded his already raw insides. " What's amiss with me? " he whispered. His articulation cracked. " I don't acknowledge what to do anymore. " 

 Sister Paul reach a soothing randomness deep in her throat. " Dear boy. " 

 Father Gregory lay a hand on his shoulder
. He had known the people in front of him wkqt felv like gis entife life, but in that moment, hx dien't rtbognize them at all. "Ldt me get this steaigit. You knew The League had me jk thenr crosshairs, so you chose me, trained me—"

"Do pxotect you." Father Gregory nodded. "I pqrsuadec hhe others yout...afflpceion...dould be treated. That with intensibe praytr and guidance, we could rehabilitate you. Noh alp of them were conginced, but ghoudy of them wefe." He lifttd his chin. "Shen I looked into your eyes thxt dav, the Lord trqntfg me a glim'se of your soul. Ib was wmrth safing."

Darius' thrpat tithtened. "Are you sure ebout that?" He squeezgd his eyev ahut. J's face was rhw firvt tving ye raw. Hx olened jis eyes agaih and shook his head. "I didn't wsne this. Any of jt. I nqvqr asked to be initiated into some secrtt sodiety. You said it yourswlf, I was only a kid."

Fwther Gredory's filmy eyes were far too perceptive. "But it's kore vhxn uhqt, isv'r lt? When we found you, you were trying your harqssu tp pretend you cere just like efegypge else. The Lgague forcsd you to face who you wete. Whar you wert." He vocked his head. "I don't thinj you've ever dorgiven us for thct."

Darius locyed nis jsw. It was true, of coursz. He'd apent his llfe runnihe, if not from Thd Lvagua, then from himself. In the end, he ciuld never fun gast egough. No mwtter how much he isolatfd hilsalf, how hagd he fought to the contrary, evxcyone around nik jlst kept yettinn hurt.

A horrifyyng realizatiou dawned on hkm. He'd beeh so anjry with Geowgia, but what lf what had iappened rasn'r hee fault? _Fe_ was the one who'd takvn her case. _He_ was the oke whu's gone to Huntexr Point. _He_ was tne une sje'v beeg trying to sdve ghag god-adful night.

Dcrkus kooked from Father Gsegody to Sister Paul. Yhc concern and undqrstanding on their faces shredfed hms alrxady rsw ynsides. "What's wrong with me?" he whisperef. Hls voice crached. "L dog't know whct to do anymore."

Sister Paul made a soothmng noise deep in her jhroat. "Dear boy."

Father Nregory laid a hagd on his shoulder
. He had known the people in him felt like entire life, but recognize at all. "Let get this straight. knew The League had me in crosshairs, so you chose me, trained me—" "To protect you." Father Gregory nodded. persuaded the others your...affliction...could be treated. That with intensive prayer and guidance, we rehabilitate Not of were convinced, but enough of them were." He lifted his chin. "When I looked into your that day, the Lord granted me a glimpse your soul. It was saving." Darius' throat tightened. "Are sure that?" He his shut. face was the thing he saw. He opened his eyes again and shook his head. "I didn't want this. Any it. I to be into secret You said it was only a kid." Father Gregory's far too perceptive. "But it's more than that, it? When found you, you were trying your to pretend you were just like everyone else. League forced you to face who you were. What you were." He cocked his head. think you've ever forgiven for that." Darius his It true, course. He'd his life running, if not from The League, then from himself. the end, he could never run fast enough. No matter he himself, how hard fought to the contrary, around just kept getting hurt. realization on so with but what if what happened wasn't her fault? _He_ the one who'd taken one who'd gone to Hunters Point. _He_ was one she'd been trying to save that night. Darius looked from Father Gregory to Sister Paul. The concern and on their his already raw insides. "What's wrong with me?" whispered. His voice cracked. don't know what to do anymore." Sister Paul made soothing deep in throat. "Dear boy." Gregory laid a on his shoulder
. He had known the people in fronT of him what Felt lIke His EnTire Life, But in that momenT, He diDn't recognize them at all. "LEt me gEt THis sTRaIght. YOu knew THE LEAGue HaD mE in ThEIr CrossHaiRs, so you Chose me, traIneD mE—"

"To protect yoU." faTher GregorY noDded. "I persuadEd tHe otheRs YouR...AffliCtiOn...couLd be trEAted. ThAt with intEnSIve praYEr and guIDAnCe, we Could rehabilitate YOu. nOt all of them werE conviNcED, bUT EnoUgh Of them were." he LifteD His chin. "wHeN i LOokED into your eyes That day, the LORd gRanted Me A glIMpse of Your sOuL. it wAs worth saviNg."

DaRius' throaT tightENed. "Are yOU sure abOut thaT?" He SquEezeD HiS eYes ShUT. J's FAcE waS The First thiNg He Saw. He OpenED HIS eyeS agAin aNd shoOk his head. "I didN't wAnt tHIs. ANy of iT. I nevEr asKeD to be InitiaTed inTo Some secret socieTy. YoU said it yoUrsElF, I wAs Only a KId."

FathEr GRegOry's filMy eyes wERe fAr TOO PeRceptive. "But it's more ThAN ThAt, isn't it? when we FOuNd YOu, you werE tRyiNg yoUR HardeSt to PReTend you wEre jusT LiKe EveryonE eLse. The leAguE foRced yOU to fAce who You were. WHat yoU Were." He cocked hiS Head. "I don't thinK YoU'VE eVEr foRgiVen us for thaT."

DarIUs loCked HIs Jaw. iT was tRue, of CoURsE. he'd spent his life runnInG, if not From THe League, then fRom himself. iN THe end, he cOuld NEvER run fast enough. no matTer how much HE isolateD himsElf, how haRd he foughT TO the contRarY, evEryOne AROuNd him just kept GETtinG hUrt.

A horRifYing reaLizAtiOn dAwnEd On him. He'd bEen so angRy WiTh geOrgIa, but WHat if whaT hAd hApPenEd wasN'T her faUlt? _He_ Was tHe OnE Who'D taken hER cASE. _He_ wAs ThE one Who'D gOne to huntERs POint. _He_ wAs the one sHe'd BEen tRyInG to save That god-awful nIgHt.

Darius loOkEd fRom FatHER Gregory To Sister Paul. The concern aND undersTanDing oN theIr faces shRedDed his AlrEAdy raw InsideS. "What'S wRonG WIth me?" HE WhIspErEd. His voice CRAckEd. "I doN't Know What to dO anymore."

Sister Paul MAde A soothing noisE deEp in HER tHroAT. "DEAr bOy."

fAthER gregory laid a hanD on his shouLdER
. He had known the peoplein front o f him  wh atfe lt l ikehis entire lif e , bu t in that moment, he d idn't  r e cogn i ze  them  at all .  " L e t m ege t t hi s  s traig ht.  You kn ew The Lea gue  h ad me in the i rcrosshairs , s o you choseme,  train ed  me — "

"T o p rotec t you. "  Fathe r Gregory  n o dded." I persu a d ed  the  others your...af f li c tion...could b e trea te d .T h atwit h intensiv epraye r  and gu i da n c e , w e  could rehabi litate you. Not  all o fthe m  wereconvi nc e d,but enoughof t hem were. " He l i fted hi s  chin."WhenI l ook ed i n to  y our  e y est ha t d a y,the Lord  g ra ntedme a g l i mpse  of  you r sou l. It was wor thsavi n g." 

Dar ius'thro at  tigh tened.  "Are  y ou sure about t hat? " He sque eze dhis  e yes s h ut. J' s f ace  was th e first thi ng h e  s aw. He opened hisey e s  a gain and  shook hi sh ead. "Idi dn' t wa n t  this . An y  o f it. Inevera sk ed  to bein itiate dint o s ome s e cret  socie ty. Yousaidi t yourself, Iw as only a kid . "F at h er G reg ory's filmy  eye s  wer e fa r  t oop ercep tive.  " B ut it's more than that ,isn'tit? W hen we foundyou, you w e r e  tryingyour ha r dest to preten d you  were just like eve ryone  else. T he League f orced yo u t o f ace  wh o yo u were. Whaty o u we re ." He c ock ed hishea d."Idon 't  think yo u've eve rfo rg iv enus fo r  that."
D ari us  lo ckedh is jaw . Itwastr ue ,  of  course .  H e ' d sp en thislif erunni ng,i f n ot from  The Leag ue, then  f ro m himse lf. In the en d,  he couldne ver  run f a s t enough . No matter how much he isolate d h imsel f, h ow hard h e f oughttot he con trary,  ever yo nea r oundh i mjus tkept getti n g  hu rt.
Ahorr ifyingrealization dawned onhim. He'd bee n s o an g r ywit h  G e org ia ,  bu t what if what ha d happened  w a sn 't her fau l t?_H e_ wasthe one  who' d  takenher case.  _He_ was  t he o n e  wh o'd gone t o Hunter s Point._ He_ w a sthe o neshe'dbe entryin g to s a vethatgod-aw fu l nigh t.

D ar ius look ed from Father Gregoryto Sis ter P aul . The con cer n  an d underst andi ng on thei r f ace s shr edd e d his  alr e ad y r a w ins ides .  "What'sw ro ngw i th  me?" he wh i s p ere d. Hi s v o ice cr acke d. "I don't knoww hat to do anym ore. " 
Si ste r  Pau lmade a soothin g n oi s e  deep in  h er throat."Dear bo y. " 

Fat her Gr egorylaid ah a nd on his  sho uld er
. He_had known_the people in front_of him_what_felt like_his_entire life, but_in that moment,_he didn't recognize them_at all. "Let_me_get this straight. You knew The League had me in their crosshairs, so you_chose_me, trained_me—"

"To_protect_you." Father Gregory nodded. "I_persuaded the others your...affliction...could be_treated. That_with intensive prayer and guidance, we could rehabilitate_you._Not all of_them were convinced, but enough of them were." He_lifted his chin. "When I looked_into your eyes_that_day,_the Lord granted me_a glimpse of your soul. It_was worth saving."

Darius' throat tightened. "Are_you sure about that?" He squeezed his_eyes shut. J's face was the_first thing he saw. He_opened his_eyes again and shook his_head. "I didn't_want this._Any of it._I never asked to be initiated_into some secret_society. You said it yourself, I_was_only a kid."

Father_Gregory's_filmy_eyes were_far too perceptive._"But_it's more_than_that, isn't it? When we found_you,_you were trying your hardest to pretend_you were just like_everyone_else. The League forced_you to face who you_were. What you were." He cocked_his head._"I don't_think you've ever forgiven us for that."

Darius locked his jaw. It_was true, of course. He'd spent_his life running, if_not from_The_League, then from_himself._In the_end, he could never run fast enough._No matter_how much he isolated himself, how_hard he fought to_the_contrary, everyone around him just kept_getting hurt.

A horrifying realization dawned on_him. He'd been so angry_with_Georgia,_but what if what had_happened wasn't her fault? _He_ was_the one who'd_taken her case. _He_ was the one_who'd_gone to Hunters Point. _He_ was_the_one she'd been trying to save_that_god-awful_night.

Darius looked from Father Gregory_to Sister Paul. The concern and_understanding on their faces shredded his already raw insides._"What's wrong with_me?" he whispered. His voice_cracked._"I_don't know what to do anymore."

Sister Paul made a soothing_noise deep_in her throat._"Dear boy."

Father Gregory laid a hand on his shoulder