“Do you know how to make someone become a dangerously violent person?” Doc stops pacing. “It’s basically a recipe. You hold them down and treat them like shit. Destroy their self-esteem, strip away all their pride, all their self-respect. Then you give them a chance to solve a problem with violence, and when they do, you immediately reward them.” Doc takes a breath. “Does that sound like anyone you know?” My gut turns to lead. I bite the words out by syllables: “I am not a blackcape.” “Not today. But if you don’t take what I’m saying seriously, you’ll be one sooner than you think.
