Looking back, it was pretty naive to think that a badge would solve all my problems.

I was eleven when the world stopped for 5 seconds. And then it lurched back, going upon its ponderous journey. My parents didn't believe me, of course, because doing that would mean that I was special in some way. We couldn't have such nonsense spread around the community!

I was thirteen when a bully who threatened me was on the pavement, with nobody the wiser as to how that had happened. And if I hid my wrists for a week after, nobody noticed.

I was starting to wonder if I had the power of invisibility as well.

My seventeenth birthday was the day I became an orphan. Another latex wearing asshole had decided that this was the day to trash a car dealership. My new car burned with my parents inside them.

I put away the decorations myself, turns out 5 seconds can't bring back the dead. But it sure as hell is a long while to send someone to death's doors.

At some point the long coat I wore to shield myself from the weather became a symbol. Ha, take that, mom.

Turns out 5 seconds isn't enough time to mourn, either.

It was two weeks ago that I received an official invitation to join the League. While I had assumed I would receive one, I never did know if it would be from the heroes or the villains.

I had been true on both counts.

The entity called erathmus regarded me, curiousity writhing on his face with the thousand moving spindles.

"I sense nothing in him," came his voice from somewhere. "What a waste of character," he spoke.

5 seconds cannot bring back the dead. But 5 seconds is more than enough to send them a gift. It was the season of Christmas after all.