Evesight
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
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The Nightmare Girl
Growing up, most kids have nicknames. Beanpole. Braceface. Four-eyes. Normal nicknames. Heidi Errington was oh-so-unlovingly nicknamed "The Nightmare Girl." She'd had them as far back as she could remember. There was no nightmares about monsters or scary things she saw on the TV, though. These nightmares consisted of things no child should know about.
Heidi spent a good portion of her youth mute and in various hospitals around the state, traumatized and refusing to speak of what she saw. Hours and hours of therapy, and an array of anti-psychotics and sleeping pills only seemed to worsen the problem... when they actually got her to take them.
It took twelve years... twelve whole years of therapy before Heidi started learning to cope. Some speculate she just became numb, but it was clear the effort was there on her part to try to begin living a normal life.
Heidi struggled through highschool. Socially, anyway. She was always that weird, quiet one who looked like she was on something. Dark circles under her eyes, staring off into space, popping back a handful of pills at lunchtime in the never-ending slow but steady plow through the day to day. Another five years went by before her terrifying revelation. This particular morning, she sat at the kitchen table, poking at cold eggs and untouched pieces of toast. She was pulled out of the only pleasant place in her mind as the channel was switched to the news from her precious cartoons. Her chosen aid in trying to be blissfully ignorant for part of the day. Naturally, she didn't have it in her to protest, and she pushed her plate away, taking up the unoccupied spot on the table with a weary head.
Something hit her, then, as a particular story graced the screen. It was like being struck with lightning made of ice and being kicked in the stomach all at the same time. Her ears began to ring almost to the point that it was painful, heart hammering against the inside of her ribcage so hard it felt like it was trying to escape.
The scene on the television was eerily familiar, altered only by police tape and the white sheet covering the body of the slain young woman. Perrin Cochere. A few moments later, the killer's face flashed in her mind. Manic and glossy-eyed. His hand with the knife, carving into her like she was nothing more than common livestock.
This was the turning point. This is where her life truly started, where she gained purpose.
Heidi dedicated several years to helping the PPD in solving various crimes, both big and small. She stayed out of the limelight where she could, occasionally making a small article in the paper or giving a statement to the press. Over the years, she'd made a few friends in the genuine hero business, and began loitering at a popular hangout. It was only a week after her initial visit that she was approached by a familiar face, that of a rather prominent hero by the name of High-Point. It was after only a brief conversation with him that he offered her a position in The Gray Watch. She hastily but apprehensively agreed. A small part of her always ached to get out from behind the desk and on the frontlines, if only for curiosity's sake. She's tested the waters, and this unsure but willing new heroine is relying on her newfound allies to help her stay afloat.
