Tall, Dark Streak of Lightning (The Dark Lightning Trilogy)

by J. M. Richards

  He hesitated, then flipped the paper over so I could see the headline of the story he’d been reading: “Dark Lightning Fails to Capture Hallway Stalker.”

  I sighed in disgust. “Nice. I suppose they downplay the whole part where you saved me.”

  “What?” He looked at me sharply and I realized my slip too late.

  “I mean, you didn’t save me,” I sputtered quickly. “DL saved me. You helped afterward. That’s what I meant to say....I suppose they left out the part where Dark Lightning saved me.” I forced a chuckle. “Silly me.”

  “Speaking of Dark Lightning…how did Jill take the news when she heard they arrested Tony Gale for fraud?”

  I shook my head. “She was livid, of course. And she apologized to me.”

  “To you? Why?”

  I shrugged. “I guess because she knew I’d never really believed it was him.”

  He shook his head. “You really didn’t, did you? Nothing gets by you, I guess.” And he shot me the Probing Look, which I avoided by pointing to the article he still held.

  “Can’t believe they’re actually blaming DL for not catching the Hallway Stalker when the entire police force of the city hasn’t been able to, either.”

  He nodded slowly. “Well, there’s a brief mention of how the Hallway Stalker was attacking someone when he was interrupted by Dark Lightning, but the article definitely focuses more on the whole Hallway-Stalker-escaping-and-DL-not-catching-him thing.” He leaned back on an arm. “I mean, you said DL’s super fast, right? So how did the guy get away?”

  I let out a long, unhappy breath and sat beside him. “Campus Security came to ask me a bunch of questions after it was all over. They did a thorough search of the campus, especially around the dorm, and discovered an entrance to a network of drainage tunnels in the back, behind the hedges. They’re pretty sure that’s what the Hallway Stalker used to get away—they found fresh shoe prints, the lock was open, and there was no scheduled maintenance.” I tried to shrug, but it turned into a shudder. “It looks like that’s how he was able to disappear so quickly.”

  Davin scowled. “Tunnels? Really?”

  “They connect the whole school. Which means, of course, that now Security is updating the locks and everything.”

  “Damn. Well, I guess even good ol’ Dark Lightning couldn’t have known about that.”

  “No, he couldn’t have,” I agreed emphatically. His expression didn’t change; he just kept staring at the headline. “Can I read it?”

  He handed the paper to me, and I got the impression he was watching my face as I read. When I finished, I handed it back to him with a grimace. “I don’t understand why they make him sound so bad. He saved me; isn’t that enough?”

  Davin was quiet a few moments. He drew a breath and replied, “I suppose they just don’t understand him.”

  “I guess.” I wasn’t convinced. “That doesn’t seem like much of an excuse, though. They’re practically out to ruin his character, and for what? To sell more papers?”

  “Well, it’s their business. I mean, you’re right. If that reporter was really being fair and unbiased, he would have at least talked to you. Interviewed you. I mean, not only did DL save you, you’re the girl who gave him his name. If I were a reporter, I’d have led with that. And it seems like his rescuees always get their fifteen minutes of fame, so why not you?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t care about that. I’m not real big on being in the spotlight. I’m more upset about how they’re spinning this story.” I sighed again; I was finding it difficult to maintain a conversation about Dark Lightning in the abstract when I was very aware that his alter ego was sitting right in front of me. “It just kills me that...Dark Lightning...works so hard, and no one seems to appreciate him.”

  “It really does bug you, doesn’t it?” Davin remarked quietly.

  I looked at him. “Yeah, it really does.”

  “More than the fact that you were left out of the article almost entirely.”

  “Much more. Except that, if they had talked to me, I would have told them how awesome Dark Lightning is.”

  And Davin got that wistful, earnest look on his face. “You really believe in him, don’t you?”

  If I hadn’t known better, I would have almost thought he sounded jealous. Then again, perhaps it was honest jealousy, because he didn’t realize I cared about him as Davin Kowalski as much as I did about him as Dark Lightning. I was tempted, right then and there, to come clean with him and tell him that I knew. But I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. I didn’t want to freak him out, and I really, really didn’t want him to lie to me and tell me I was mistaken.

  And call me vain, but I was wildly hoping that someday he would confide in me. Ever since our conversation in the chapel that one stormy night, I’d daydreamed of a time when Davin would say to me, “Okay, Anna. I’m ready to tell you the truth about who I am.” If I told him I knew about his secret life as a superhero, I would never know if he had finally learned to trust me enough to tell me the truth himself. So I decided right then and there to keep my discovery a secret.

  “Of course I believe in him,” I replied to his question. I arched an eyebrow, and baited him with a return question. “Don’t you?”

  He looked down at the article again, avoiding my gaze. “Well...I didn’t know what to think at first. But, I think...now that he’s proven himself by saving you...well, I guess he is a hero after all. I mean, he came to your rescue, Anna. I guess I have to like the guy by default.”

  I looked at him in quizzical exasperation. “Default?”

  “Right. I mean, anyone who saves my best friend can’t be all bad.”

  His words, though off-hand in tone, were a jolt to my heart. I looked over at him. “Did you just call me your best friend?”

  He shrugged, not meeting my gaze and looking faintly embarrassed. “Yeah, I guess I did.”

  I leaned back against the tree, digesting that. “And you meant it?”

  “Anna, you’ve been there for me time and time again. Who else bothers? Who else even notices when I need help?—Not that you’re just my friend because of what you can do for me. I mean, you know me, maybe better than anyone. And you’re still hanging out with me, so...yeah. I mean, I know you have Jill and Laurel who are much better friends to you than I am, but I—”

  “Davin!” I interrupted his self-depreciating speech. “You’re my best friend, too. Jill and Laurel...they’re my girls and I’d be lost without them, but....” I wanted to say, but you saved my life. Or, but I’m in love with you. I tried to come up with a way to finish my thought that wouldn’t spill all my secret feelings. “You were the first person to really let me be myself,” I told him. He finally looked up at me again and I could feel my heart pounding.

  “I thought that was what you were showing me how to do,” he said.

  I smiled. “Maybe we’re showing each other.” As we sat in silence a moment, I realized something was nagging at me. It wasn’t enough to praise DL to Davin; I needed to let him know I believed in him, too. But first, I had to be honest with him. “I have a confession to make,” I said. He looked over at me. “What’s that?”

  I drew a deep breath. “You know how you have this tendency to run off without explanation and return later all banged up?”

  He raised an eyebrow, the guarded look back in his eyes. “I’m aware of that habit of mine, yes.” He sounded wary.

  “Well, do you also remember how I told you I tend to overanalyze everything?”

  “Yeah.”

  “For a while, when I was first getting to know you, I tried really hard to figure out what your big secret was.” Davin didn’t say anything, but the muscles in his jaw tightened. “And…” I forced myself to keep going, “one of my earlier—brief—theories was that you might have been…kind of a bad guy.”

  A thoughtful frown creased his forehead. “Really?”

  “Yeah. I don’t know. You were just so shady and mysterious and troubled, and you alw
ays complained about DL, and I don’t know. It only made sense for a very short time. I’m telling you that now because I want you to know I’ve completely changed my mind.”

  I could see Davin thinking that over. “So, for a while, you basically thought I was a criminal, like…” he motioned to the paper, “like the Hallway Stalker.”

  “Yep,” I confirmed, feeling more sheepish than ever.

  He didn’t seem to be mad, though; merely thoughtful. “So…what made you change your mind?”

  “That night in the chapel, when you were hurt, and I mentioned the latest attack, you got so mad.”

  “I remember. I was wondering why you brought it up.” He nodded thoughtfully. “But I could have been faking.”

  I shook my head. “You weren’t. That’s the thing. When I only knew you a little bit, it was easy for me to think you were someone who would be simple to figure out. When I realized how complicated you are, I was worried about you. But now, after everything we’ve been through, I can see what you try to hide from the world: you’re a good guy, Davin.”

  “Not as good as I could be,” he murmured.

  I shrugged. “It’s good enough for me.” And then I slipped my arm through his, the way I’d longed to for ages.

  For a split second, he looked startled, but then he reached for my hand, interlocking his fingers with mine the way we had as we’d walked to the cafeteria from the hospital. He lightly brushed his thumb over my knuckles. “Thanks,” he said softly. “For everything.”

  “You’re welcome,” I replied. “And, um, ditto.” The rest of what I wanted to say was buzzing in my brain. The words repeated themselves over and over: Davin, I know you’re Dark Lightning. Davin, I know. I swallowed, my pulse throbbing. Did I dare say it after all? My confidence wavered.

  Across the lawn in front of us, student after student began heading into the Carnegie building. Our moment, and my chance to tell him, was over. I reluctantly withdrew my hand, and Davin sighed. “Crap. I think it’s time for my Bio final.” He glanced at his watch. “Yep.” He stood and held out his hand to me.

  I hesitated, but he helped me up easily and I guessed that was one of the perks of being a superhero—muscular strength.

  “So,” he said, glancing from the door back to me, “I guess I probably won’t see you until the fall, huh?”

  The realization deflated me even more. “I guess not.”

  “We’ll keep in touch,” he assured me.

  “We’d better,” I countered, “being best friends and all.”

  “Okay, then,” he chuckled. “I guess that settles it.”

  As he stood grinning at me, I felt another urge to tell him the truth once again. Instead, I threw my arms around him and gave him a hug. I could feel his surprise and wariness, just as I had when I’d hugged him as Dark Lightning. But then he relaxed and hugged me back. “Okay,” I sighed, abruptly letting go, “I don’t want to make you late for your exam. Good luck. Oh, and Davin?”

  He turned back to me. “Yeah?”

  “Have...have a great summer. And be safe,” I blurted.

  He nodded. “You, too.” He waved as he headed inside.

  I watched him go with a heart heavy from mixed emotions. Oh, Davin. You just had to go and be a superhero, didn’t you? I’d known from the start that there was something different about him, something potentially special and important. And I’d been right, but being right didn’t make my life any easier.

  As I headed to my room to finish packing, I realized something heartbreaking with utter clarity, something I’d been denying almost as long as I’d been denying that Davin was Dark Lightning:

  I was in love with Davin Kowalski.

  This did not make me happy, as it might have made other girls happy. Being in love with your best friend is problematic enough in normal relationships. But my friendship with Davin was not normal.

  I was not just in love with my best friend: I was in love with a superhero. If I knew anything, I knew how superhero love stories went. They didn’t often have happy endings, for one thing. The few that did usually only found happiness after a tremendous amount of struggles. I had to ask myself: am I willing to go through that?

  As much as I cared about him, I wasn’t a slave to fate. I could choose to ignore my feelings, strong as they were. It would be painful, but no more so than letting myself pine for my friend. Certainly not as painful as knowing I’d probably always come second to his calling.

  I walked to my room, down the very same hallway I’d been attacked and rescued. I still flinched every time I heard a door slam. On my bed, next to my half-packed suitcase was the framed picture of me and Davin; next that was the scrapbook I’d kept of Dark Lightning. It seemed no matter where I turned there were reminders of the two most important men in my life. I loved them both, and perhaps even more so for being halves of the same person.

  In the end, it wasn’t so hard to believe. I knew it, as sure as I’d ever known anything. With that certainty came the same conclusion, no matter how many times I ran through it in my head: knowing the truth—about Davin being Dark Lightning—changed everything. And perhaps that was part of the reason I’d doubted and questioned myself for so long. Convincing myself was hard enough, but with that obstacle gone, there was an even bigger challenge:

  Now that I knew, what was I going to do about it?

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I’ve noticed that practically every author starts off acknowledgements by saying the book couldn’t have happened without a whole lot of people. This book is no different, in case you were wondering. I wrote the first draft nearly ten years ago, and it would never have gotten past that if not for my family, friends and the feedback I received.

  There have been so many people who have read through this over the years, helping me through each draft and incarnation. So many, in fact, that I’m likely to forget a few! But to these willing volunteers I give my deepest thanks:

  Jennifer Curry, Randi Shetley, Jennifer Slavin, Clarissa Park, James Dames (also inadvertently inspired the trench coat), Bekah Laslow, Grace DeWitt (aka SuperGrace, my hero!), Apryl Zacheck, Sara Wheat, Jon Hetzel, Lauren Johnson, JeriLee Reneau, Caitlin Hetzel, Josh and Katie Gretz, Andy and Jackie Prepelka, Tom and Carol Richards, and Kyle Richards.

  Some of you were instrumental in helping with the more technical side of grammar and plot revisions so that things made sense; you helped me look at my work critically and pushed me to write my best. Others of you were tireless cheerleaders, and patiently indulged me in my talk of fictional characters. You all may not have felt like your actions were anything out of the ordinary, but to me your actions were heroic.

  Additional thanks to some of my tumblr friends who encouraged and supported my writing efforts, including Jenna, Ga, Steele, Marta, Maria, Yvonne, Sarah, and Stacey.

  I’d also like to add a special thank you to Renata Rich, who in many ways inspired Anna’s background and appearance. As you can see, the little bit of Portuguese you taught me in college wasn’t completely lost on me! Furthermore, thank you to my friends who unwittingly let me pilfer and plunder your names: Amy Kowalski Gallowa, Jill O’Dell, Kim Smith Cross (my real life roomie), Laurel from Discipleship Focus, Laura Hanschu Wishall, Ginger Langford, Jackie Prepelka and Sara Lee Wheat. Condolences to the friends and family of Davin Hendrickson; I’m sure he had no idea I borrowed his name but I hope I use it well.

  Design credit to font creators Segments Design (aka Last Soundtrack) for The Quiet Scream (used in chapter titles and for the word “lightning” on the cover), an anonymous designer who created the Komika Axis font which I use for most headings, and Kimberly Geswein for Complete in Him (Davin’s handwriting) and Never Let Go (Jill’s handwriting). Creative credit for cover design suggestion goes to TR Richards, including the use of his Pittsburgh skyline photo (thanks, Dad!). (All other photos © J. M. Richards.)

  Speaking of my father, the concept of a superhero novel probably would never have occurred to me if I hadn’t
been educated about them from such a young age. My dad instilled and passed down to me a love of comic books (and equally geeky things); it was encouraged by my brother and our mild obsession with after school cartoons. But in case anyone was wondering, I come by my love of superheroes, Marvel & Spider-Man in particular honestly and genetically.

  Brianne, this whole trilogy is dedicated to you. You were one of the first to read it, and made me feel that it was a real book. You believed in me unfailingly, encouraged me relentlessly, and had faith in this story through every transformation from the very first draft almost a decade ago. For that I will be forever grateful.

  I also thank YOU, dear reader, for taking a chance on this book. I hope you enjoy it, and I apologize for any typos.

  Lastly, I thank God for giving me a love of story, and a desire to tell my own tales of love, friendship, sacrifice, and redemption. I know that all of them borrow their power from what C. S. Lewis called The Great Story.

  Tall, Dark Streak of Lightning: the playlist

  I’ve noticed a trend in authors including songs that inspired them while they were writing. I’ve appreciated reading their lists, because it helped me realize I was not the only one whose writing was influenced by music. Sometimes a song helps me get inside the mind of a character, and sometimes it helps me envision a scene.

  Since I started writing this story almost a decade ago, some of the songs that inspired me are a bit dated (some of them were already old when I was using them). Originally when I began writing, it was one story with three parts instead of a trilogy, so some songs that informed and influenced me the most go with other sections of the story. But here are several songs that that I played a lot of, especially when writing and revising Tall, Dark Streak of Lightning.(Warning: Spoilers for this novel are contained in each description.)

   Be My Only (FM Radio): The newest addition to the playlist. Even though this novel is mainly about the blossoming friendship between Davin and Anna, there are hints of deeper feelings and a shared sense of connection. I love that this song is a duet, and that all three verses could apply to either of them.