“When I was eighteen, I saw a friend of my mother’s going through the lowest point in her life. She was a stripper as well, albeit back when someone else owned the joint.”

“She suffered from panic attacks backstage after every performance, no thanks to the deranged patrons that frequented every night. The owner subdued them by giving her hard drugs like heroin and meth, which had disastrous consequences.”

“While he intended the substances to be used once in a while, she quickly started taking them after every dance. This ruined her appearance and her ability to perform, and she was soon fired as a result.”

“The poison he used to keep her calm became the reason she sunk into darkness in the first place.”

“Not long after that, I took her to a rehab center in the hopes of seeing her recover. It wasn’t just any rehab center either; it housed the greatest psychiatrists, counselors, and therapists Arcadia had to offer.”

“I thought she’d walk out a cured woman. I forced the proverbial needle out of her vein and showed her the path to start her life over.”

“Instead, she got caught having sex with another addict, forcing her back to the Slums.”

“Furious, I left her to her demons. If she wanted to ruin her life after I tried to save her from doing so, then she could be my guest.”

“It’s like the old saying goes; you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.”

“Did your old man ever teach you that, Destructo? Did Klaus have to beat it into your thick skull for him? Or do I have to give you that lesson myself?”

“You’re going through the same predicament I was with my mom’s friend. You saw someone that desperately needed help, and being a doe eyed idealist, you tried to save her from the poison the Ringmaster forced onto her.”

“Your intentions might be good, but you don’t seem to realize that the poison, his false promises of safety, that led to her predicament is the very thing that’s keeping her calm. You pulling out the proverbial needle from her vein won’t make things better because you want them to.”

“You can lead her back to her dad, her rehabilitation center, but you can’t expect her to run back to him with open arms. You can’t lead the horse to water and make it drink.”

“That decision ultimately lies with the horse.”

“From what I’m seeing of Michaela, she’s a lost cause. If she feels safer with that murderous psychopath, then let her stay with him.”

“You need to accept that some people don’t want to be saved. My mom’s friend didn’t, and I didn’t try to force her to get better when she didn’t want to after the first time.”

“That mentality is how I’m going to crush Gemini and become the King of the Night.”

“Yours is how you and Michaela will suffer in eternal darkness. Learn to let her go, or die along with her.”