Halfway Heroes

by Dustin Martin

Lydia didn’t see Jando until breakfast. She found him waxing strong with tales of his “bravery” to a group of girls, who looked enraptured by his stories. He especially played up his role when Lydia joined him, noting that he “had Lydia’s back.” She considered telling everyone the truth, but decided to let Jando have his moment. Lydia figured he had earned that much. She thanked him for the flowers.

  “Knew you’d like them,” he said. “Sorry to hear about your dad.”

  “Thanks,” she said. She quietly chewed her food.

  He changed the topic. “So, I hear your mom came up here again.”

  “That’s right,” Lydia said, digging into her food. “But I think she saw enough of you on her last visit.”

  “Oh, don’t be like that,” he said. He thrust his chest out, holding his hand over his heart. “Why, Jando Oliveira is a gentleman you can bring home to your mother.”

  “Except that he’s all hands,” she said.

  He sighed and held his palms open before her. He adopted a resigned visage as he stared at his hands. “I don’t know what to do. I punish them severely every day, but they keep reaching for more. Maybe you can help me? Perhaps you sitting on them would straighten them out?”

  Lydia snorted between bites. “Oh, yes. Also, I’m sure any grabbing I’d feel would be them clutching for life.”

  “Exactly,” he said, laughing with her as Debra joined them. When she asked what was so hilarious, they shook their heads.

  Since she didn’t have to attend school that day, Lydia spent time before her self-defense class showing Debra around the Cave. As Arthur had promised, there was an increased presence of security guards patrolling the area. Lydia caught several watching her specifically.

  When self-defense class rolled around, Lydia trained harder than she ever had before. Every projectile she dodged was an attack by Finster. Every dummy she punched, she punched Finster. And when she cleanly eviscerated one dummy, the fluff erupting from its neck stump? Her thoughts were in a dark place.

  The class ended too quickly for her liking. She was left with pent-up anger. But she was due to attend counseling with her mother. Lydia showed Debra to Gary’s office. He welcomed them warmly. He briefly introduced himself and explained to Debra his unique ability. To Lydia, her mother didn’t seem too surprised. Lydia smiled wryly. Perhaps it was inevitable that people did become jaded to a lifestyle surrounded by BEPs.

  Gary began the session innocently, asking how they were, how they were handling Lydia being far from home, as well as basic, harmless questions in general. Then he delved into the reason they’d come. “Would either of you like to talk about Arnold?” he asked.

  Debra glanced at Lydia. When her daughter made no sign to talk, she clasped her hands. “I don’t really know what to say.”

  “Just say whatever you feel like.” Gary smiled sympathetically.

  Debra took a while before she said, “It’s a shock. I didn’t expect to lose him.”

  Gary stayed silent, lending an attentive ear. “He was a good man. A very good

  man. It seems like only yesterday I was kissing him good-bye as I went to work.”

  Gary looked to Lydia for her input. She remained silent. As her mother swam in sorrow, Lydia bubbled in hate. She had said everything she needed to about her father to her mother. Only vengeance was on Lydia’s mind, which wiped away the pain of being separated from Arnold. She fantasized about Finster and the rest, lying broken and bloodied before her as she refused to deliver the killing blow. They would suffer. Suffer immensely until she was satisfied. Finster the worst of all.

  “Do you have anything to add, Lydia?” Gary asked. His eye twitched. He rubbed his beard, gazing elsewhere, then back at Lydia.

  “Not really,” she said. Her thoughts surfaced to a higher plane for a second. “I miss him every day.” Then she plunged back down, deeper into the calculating abyss. She poured gallons of rage into the pit of her despair, filling it to the brim.

  “I see,” Gary said. He massaged his temple. “Let’s continue where you were, Mrs. Penner.”

  “I suppose it’s Ms. Penner now,” Debra said.

  Maybe Lydia could tie Finster to the hood of a car? Scare him out of his wits as it drove along a long stretch of highway. Or leave him alone somewhere dank, empty, and abandoned. She would come down to that place each day for a daily beating. Keep him like that for a year or so. Lydia found the ideas, and each subsequent one, very appealing. Yet none matched the crime Finster had committed. She wanted more. More agonizing pain that never ended for him.

  “L-Lydia, how are you—” Gary bent over, holding his head. “Ohhh. ..”

  “Are you alright?” Debra asked.

  “Fine,” he said. He growled menacingly. “If you don’t mind, we’ll have to cut this short.” He stood up, shuddering and pacing around his desk. “It would be best if you go. Now. Right now.”

  Lydia caught on before her mother did. She dragged Debra away as Gary kicked his chair. He threw his arms around, knocking over the contents of his desk. As they shut the door, Lydia heard a frustrated grunt.

  A security guard pushed Lydia and Debra aside. “Please leave,” she said.

  “Poor man,” Debra said, as she and her mother walked down the hall. “I hope he’s okay.”

  Lydia agreed, but was surprised her anger had been that intense. Even so, she dwelled on her revenge plans for the rest of the day. She only rose above them when talking with her friends or with her mother.