DC: Zoom

"You know, Mom… I really miss you and Dad."

Charlotte gently placed a bouquet of flowers on their gravestone before lying down beside it, staring up at the sky.

"I never expected Jason to become a murderer, you know?" She let out a small, bitter chuckle. "And yet… I don't hate him for it. So please, don't hate him either. Don't hate me."

Her fingers traced the edge of the stone. "Nothing else matters to me anymore. It's just me and him now. I used to be happy when you were here, but now… all I feel is pain. And I don't want others to suffer the way we did when we lost you."

Her silver eyes darkened as she whispered, "The police, the government… Dad was right. They're useless. They let the scum of the world thrive—murderers, rapists, people who hurt others just because they can. I don't care if they kill each other. But when innocent people get caught in the crossfire, like you and Dad were…"

Her jaw clenched. "They were only supposed to steal information that day. They weren't supposed to kill anyone. But they did. And they took you away from us."

She closed her eyes, a deep, shaky breath escaping her lips. "I'm sorry,I found the man responsible. And I made him pay."

The pain in her chest tightened. "I didn't want to pull the trigger… but I did."

"So, I guess that makes me a murderer too, huh?" Charlotte tilted her head toward the gravestone, a hollow laugh escaping her lips. Tears welled in her eyes, slipping down her cheeks, but she didn't wipe them away.

Then, she fell silent.

After a moment, she took a deep breath, straightened her posture, and turned away. Her brother stood a short distance away, leaning against a tree, waiting for her to finish.

Her eyes glowed a fierce crimson as she turned to her brother. "Let's go," she muttered.

Without another word, they walked toward the car, their footsteps quiet against the cold ground.

Present: 

"Yeah, well, I'm not like most teenagers," she said, puffing out her cheeks.

Jason smirked. "You seem in a better mood." A part of him had been worried—worried she was slipping too deep into the darkness. But maybe, just maybe, there was still hope for her.

She shrugged. "I mean… When Mom and Dad died, I felt nothing but sadness for a long time. It's still there, but at least I have you. And besides, you took care of those scumbags. What you're doing—it's way more effective." She paused, then added, "Also, I want to sell guns."

Jason raised an eyebrow, but before he could respond, she tossed a folder at him.

"What's this?" he asked, catching it.

"A list of people we should get to work under us," she said simply.

Jason glanced at the top of the page. "Leonard Snart… a robber, huh?"

"Yep," Charlotte said, leaning over his shoulder. "He'd be a great addition to our future plans." She rushed past him, peering out the window.

"So, how do you want me to approach him?" Jason asked.

"Offer him a get-out-of-jail-free card," she said with a smirk. "Andrés told me the guy lives for heists. If he doesn't have to worry about escaping prison, he'll probably go crazy with excitement."

Jason closed the file with a nod. "Sounds doable. Now, time for you to go to school."

Charlotte groaned. "What? No, don't make me go!"

"Sorry," Jason said, smirking. "But as your older brother, I say you have to finish high school. Maybe even find yourself a boyfriend."

"Ugh, gross," she scoffed.

"Girlfriend?" he teased.

"What?! I'm not a lesbian! Or—I don't think I am? That's not the point, Jason!" She crossed her arms. "I'm not dating. Unless, of course, they're into killers," she added with a wicked grin.

Jason remembered the first time his sister killed someone. At first, she was shaken—but then, a grin slowly spread across her face. It was the first real smile he had seen from her in a long time. In that moment, something inside her changed… awakened.

He guessed they were more alike than he wanted to admit—both messed up in the head.

"Now go, you're running late," Jason shushed her away.

Charlotte groaned in protest but headed out the door.

With a sigh, Jason finally allowed himself to relax, sinking into his bed. Sleep came fast, but his dreams were anything but peaceful.

Brother, I found them—the ones who did it.

His sister's voice echoed in his mind.

Give me the address. I'll handle it, he had said.

No. I want to do it.

What? I can't let you—

I have to.

The scene shifted. His sister stood over a trembling man, a gun shaking in her grasp. The man sobbed, pleading.

"Please… I swear, I told them not to kill anyone…"

Jason watched her, his gaze fixed on the subtle shake of her hands, the rapid rise and fall of her chest. For a brief moment, he thought she wouldn't be able to pull the trigger. His steps faltered, ready to intervene—but then, the sharp crack of the gunshot echoed through the air.

The man collapsed, lifeless.

Charlotte stood there, frozen, eyes wide with disbelief. Her fingers still gripped the weapon, the weight of what she had just done settling in. Jason's heart softened, his instinct to comfort pushing him forward. He reached out, fingers just a breath away from her shoulder.

But before he could touch her, a surge of dark energy exploded from her body. He staggered back, instinctively raising his hands to shield himself as the air around them hummed with power. Jagged wings, formed from crackling darkness, unfurled behind her, casting eerie shadows on the ground.

Jason could only stare, stunned by the force radiating from her.

The dream faded, and Jason slowly blinked his eyes open. It was time to get to work.