by David Barton
“It comes to us when we want it. It’s made up from out light powers. Just like the outfit.” Her eyes scanned mine and back up to my face. “Looks like you’re still a little confused since you’re wearing everything but your mask.”
“I guess.” I ran a hand through my hair. It felt nice not to be wearing the mask. Then my eyes locked back on hers. “You were amazing.”
“Thanks.” Her voice sounded sweeter in my ear after what we’d just been through.
“I’m glad you’re okay.” I sighed happily.
“Me to.” There was a small pause where we just hugged each other but then the peace was broken by her voice. “Oh no.”
I pulled away a little more. “What’s wrong?”
“Look.” Her worried look was aimed over my shoulder. I turned and saw the man who had been my father for years, lying on the floor surrounded by a pool of blood.
I walked over to him and for some reason felt an overwhelming urge to cry and scream. I knew he wasn’t really my father but that memory was still in my head. Only now it was matched with the fact I knew he was my friend. Part of the team I came to this world with. I knelt down next to him, lifting his jacket up I saw the wound. There was so much blood.
“Put pressure on it.” Felicity knelt down and put her own jacket behind his head. I did as I was told and pushed my hands against the wound. Blood seeping between my fingers.
“He can heal. He can heal himself can’t he?”
“He can only heal others. Not himself.”
“What?” I looked down at the man dying. His eyes lazily looked up at me. He pulled a smile, almost laughing. “What’s so funny?”
“It takes me getting shot to bring out the bond we were supposed to have all this time.”
I smiled. “I guess we weren’t very compatible as a father and son.”
“It was only because you lost your memory and I couldn’t fix it. It was all my fault. The mission was jeopardised because I couldn’t fix you.”
Felicity piped in. “But he’s started remembering things. It will work now you have somewhere to start.”
“Maybe.”
“You have to try. Please, for me.”
He looked at her as a tear dropped from her eye. “Okay, I’ll try.” He lifted his arm, hissing pain through gritted teeth. “Don’t try and fight it this time. Just let the light flood your mind.”
“Okay.” His fingertips touched my temple and he closed his eyes. I felt a little tingle where his skin was touching mine then that blue light flooded my vision and my mind again. The little white balls from before weren’t there. Instead there were cubes. As each one came close to me they popped on like screens, showing a clip of myself.
They started from when I was young. They were nothing like anything I’d seen before. I couldn’t understand most of them. Then they started coming quicker, hitting my body as I floated there in the blue light.
As each one came to me I felt fuller, my mind becoming whole again. It felt like I was becoming myself after a long holiday away. Then the last box in this dream world came to me, slowing down until it floated in front of me.
The box slowly spun as the scene unfolded. It was one from the last few years, the first we came into this world. The four of us were sitting around a dining table. The wooden top covered with Christmas food. The turkey was huge. The place was decorated and we were all wearing those silly paper crowns you get from crackers.
We looked like an ordinary family sitting down for Christmas dinner. It seemed so strange to see me like that after everything I had found out about myself and the people around the table.
A soft voice came into the scene. “I’ve always held onto this memory for myself. I love how we all are. No matter how I acted, I always wanted a son like you.” Then the cube came to me and filled me up, completing my mind and the process. I remembered everything from this world and my home world.
The blue light faded and the man in my arms came back into view. Only this time he wasn’t looking back. His eyes were shut with a single wet trail down from his eye. My eyes filled and suddenly tears fell down my cheeks.
My emotions were all muddled and I had no idea how to keep them under control. I pulled him up to my chest and hugged him. He might not be my father for real but in that memory he had felt like one. We never knew about family back home but that one memory was something I would cherish.
Felicity’s hand pulled on my shoulder. “We have to get out of here.”
“Why?”
“The explosives. We found them whilst we were looking for you.”
The timer of the bombs ticked in my head only the numbers were all jumbled. I had no idea how long we hand left. My hands gripped the leather jacket and I lifted the body up as I stood. There was no pain in my leg anymore. The man in my arms must have healed me as well as restoring my memories. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
“Yes. I’ll clear the way. Try and keep up.”
I laughed. “I’m the one with super speed here.”
“You’re not the only one.” Then she sped off, a single blurry line of speed disappeared around the corner. I couldn’t help but smile. Then I went after her. Pushing my body to the limit which wasn’t as fast as Felicity.
I held onto the body, following the sweet scent Felicity left behind until I saw the open doorway where she was standing, waving me through. I thought I was home and clear when I felt the facility shake. The sound of the bombs exploding filled my ears. Worry setting in deep inside my stomach.
The sound kept rocking into my ears until I felt the heat, moving quickly through the facility until my back felt like it was on fire. My legs pumped, hitting the floor and leaving dents in my wake. I could feel the flames licking around behind me.
I shut my eyes as I burst through the open doorway, putting on the brakes my boots skidded over the gravel. Finally coming to a halt I turn slowly. Felicity was lying on the floor but she was moving.
I quickly jogged over, a little out of breath from pushing myself so hard. “You okay?”
She looked up with a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Couldn’t keep up?”
I laughed as she did the same. “I let you win.”
“Typical male.”
“Typical lighter you mean.”
Her smile became even bigger as she jumped to her feet. “You remember?”
“Everything.”
“Everything?” Her eyebrows did a little dance.
“Yes, I remember all those times as well.” The memories I’ve shared with her came to the front of my mind. Even the most recent time when I had no idea what was really going on. The feeling of overwhelming love came with all these thoughts. “His final gift to me.”
“He’ll come back with us. Be reborn.”
I looked down into her sweet eyes. My mind ran through the thought of going back. That’s when it gave me a kick to the crotch. “Yeah about that. I don’t think I’m going back.”
“Wait, what? You have to come back.”
“What’s going on?” I quickly turn to see the woman who was my mother coming over to us.
“I’m not going back.”
She smiled, “You have your memories back, that’s fantastic.” Then it dawned on her what I’d just said. “What do you mean? You have to come back. You’ll know what they will do if you don’t come back.”
“I know but I have to stay.”
Felicity stepped closer to me, placing her hand on my cheek. “You have to come back. Considering everything that has happened, we have to return. The mission has been compromised and we’ve lost one of our own. We can return, together.”
“I know but the mission isn’t over yet and the city needs a lot more help. It still needs a hero.”
“But why does that have to be you? They can send someone else when the link is stable again.”
“Because I want it to be me. I lost myself to my human half for years but now I see, it’s not a curse or a disadvantage. My eyes are now
open to things we never felt before. I need to stay behind. I want to stay behind.”
“You want to stay behind, without me?”
“No, hell no. I don’t want to split from you. I would ask you to stay with me but I’m not going to allow you to put yourself in danger. I won’t do that. You have to go back. Tell them what we did and that I’ve stayed behind to keep an eye on things.”
“That won’t be enough. They’ll send someone after you.”
“They can’t until the rift is stable after your return. When they come for me I’ll return but until then I will help this city. You can keep an eye on me from above. I love you so much.” I turn and place the man on the floor. Standing up I pull Felicity into a kiss. Something that hadn’t felt this good until now. Until the time came for us to go separate ways.
We stopped, pulling only an inch from each other. “I will see you again and we will share our light.”
“Sure. Definitely.” I kissed her again before standing back. “You three should get going. They could be watching and send someone down. Then we’d all be stuck here for longer.”
They both of them looked down at the body on the floor. My mother spoke, “He will be reborn and pushed back into us all. He was a good man at first. That is how we should remember him. Remember him before he lost his way.”
“Agreed.” I smiled at her. “I guess this is goodbye then.” I walked over to the woman I had known as my mother for years. The memories still there in my head, making the link between us beyond professional. “The light side of me knows that we don’t share a family relationship back home but in I felt what it was like to have such a caring mother and that was you. I will always remember that feeling.”
“I admit I let myself feel those same things. It’ll be strange when I get back up there.”
“I know.” I pecked her on the forehead. I walked back over to Felicity. She had tears slowly falling over her cute cheeks. “I’m not going to say too much because I’ll start crying myself.”
“I know. I think we should just leave it. Don’t say goodbye. We’ll see each other again and we’ll start from where we left off.”
“Deal.” I kissed her as well but this one was more lust and love. My mind thinking about her lips. The way her body presses against me as she stands on tip-toes. Her fingers lightly tracing over my shoulders. It all felt like paradise to me and something I would hold onto.
I moved away as our kiss slowly stopped. My whole body feeling a little colder from the distance between us. “Until we see each other again.”
She just smiled and nodded as more tears trickled down to her chin where they fell and hit the dirt. I stifled back a cry and forced my tears not to fall. I got one last smile from both of them before they shut their eyes and called for the tunnel. It was the only way between our world and this one.
I saw a smile on Felicity’s face before the light descended upon them. The big pillar of light lit up the area around us. It would have seemed blinding to a human. Now that I had my memories back, what would have blinded me was now welcoming. Something that would bring me comfort.
Then the circle of light appeared, expanding out from their feet and the body on the floor. I spoke a word of goodbye but I knew they wouldn’t hear it. It was more for me.
Then they moved into the light. Glowing bright. Becoming one with the light before they slipped down into the circle. Moving between worlds and heading back home. The shine of the light stuck around for a few seconds before slowly dimming leaving the world around me that little bit darker. The bodies would be taken back home to extract all information of our involvement. Then put back, simple memories in place so the time that had passed still felt normal.
I stayed there, thinking about the three of them and the last few years. Things got so messed up when I got knocked on the head. It was hard to believe it. A long sigh left my body before I even looked around to see where I was.
It was some kind of parking lot. When I looked back at the entrance that now steamed from the fire within. The building it sat behind was a simple hardware store. Hiding things in plain site was clearly one of their expertise. I walked out of the car park, found the nearest fire escape and returned to my new world.
The world above the city where I could travel as fast as my feet could carry me. I wasn’t bogged down by traffic or with worry that someone would spot me. I was free to go where I wanted and the one place I wanted to go right now was back to my apartment. Have a lie down and go to sleep. To recharge after such a stressful day.
Finding everything out all in one night had taken its toll on me, especially emotionally. When my feet hit the rooftop opposite mine I looked at the window. I was so used to sneaking through there. My eyes drop to the front entrance on street level. Maybe it would make a nice change to go in the normal way.
I was about to step off the roof and drop but I felt the warmth of the coming morning on my hand. I looked over to my right. Seeing the sun starting to peek over the top of the buildings. Last time I came this close to the morning I started to feel funny. My body had seemed like it was rejecting the chance to be out in the day.
This time it was completely different. I felt at peace like the warmth of the sun was heating my mind up. Then I felt a presence with me. It was the reporter. I started to worry but then he smiled.
He walked towards me and extended out a hand. I took it, gently shaking it. Then he moved into me, my body changing in the real world. Becoming smaller and less bulky. Right up to the point where I was no longer wearing the dark clothes. Instead wearing a casual outfit of jeans and a t-shirt.
Switching over this time was just like a hand shake. A change of command on the controls but it was still me. It felt so strange but somehow it worked. I wasn’t about to try and change it.
“What are you?” A sudden voice made me jump.
I turn and see Elizabeth. “Hey.” I remember what I look like. “I can explain.”
“Please do because I’m freaking out. I just saw you shrink and change into that reporter weasel.”
“Weasel is a little harsh.”
“Explain.”
“I’m both the hero you’ve been speaking with and the reporter. I don’t really feel like explaining tonight because I only just found out who I really am a hour ago. It’s been a very tough night and I just want to go to sleep.”
“Oh. So what are you?”
I smile at her persistence. “Look, all you have to know is that I’m the same person who spoke to you on that rooftop near the docks. I’ll be here for you either like this or the person you met before. But I really need some sleep.”
“Um…okay.” She still seemed wary but I think she believed me. “I thought you might be around here again. Had something to tell you.”
“Yeah? What’s up?”
“Nothing is up. Actually, it’s something good. I went to speak to the family of the sister I thought I had. It was a dead-end or so I thought. I’m onto a very promising lead and I just wanted to say I might be out of the city for a while tracking it down.”
“That’s great. I’m really happy for you.” A tear came down my face.
“Are you crying?”
“Yeah, suppression of emotions but it’s about something else. A very, very long night.”
“Oh, talk about it another time.”
“Please.”
“Cool. Well, I guess I’ll let you get some sleep and I’ll be off.”
“Come here and give me a hug first. I haven’t known you for long but it’s like having a little sister.”
She jogged forwards and jumped into my arms, squeezing me tightly. “I’ll miss our weird little chats.”
“Me to.” I pull my arms from around her waist. “Will see you sometime in the future then.”
“Sure. You can buy me a drink and we can chat about all this.”
“Count on it.” She gave me a quick little squeeze before running off into the night. Looks like we both had a multiple person
ality problem. Mine was sorted and it looked like she was on her way to sorting hers out. I smiled and dropped down the fire escape. I wouldn’t survive a drop like that as the reporter so I took my time and was very careful.
I walked into the building and into my apartment using the keys out of my pocket. Heading straight for the bed I stripped off and fell down, falling asleep as my head hit the pillow. In the darkness a dream came to me. It was one of Felicity. About the flirtation between us and the kissing. Everything I had felt for her as the reporter made sense now. It was our link all this time that drew me to her.
The dream played out as my mind slipped into sleep mode, recharging.
14/07/2014 PM
All week I just walked around the city. The hero didn’t come out and there was no need for him. Until I found a note slipped under my door. I opened it and it read, I need to talk to you, show you something. I want to save the city and you can be a big part of it. Come to Prison Island tonight.
I was sceptical at first about going but I decided to do it. He knew what I was capable of so he wouldn’t try anything that could end in him being injured. I arrived at the ferry station which ran the trips to and from the island for tourists during the day.
I didn’t expect to see anyone here during the night but there was a man standing outside the locked gate. He looked a bit shifty wearing nothing but black clothing. I walked over to him looking like an average man, smiling. “Get lost.” His voice came out deep.
“I’ve been told to meet someone here.”
“Get lost.” His stare was still, not moving from me.
“You don’t understand.”
He replied with a few more words this time, “Get lost or I will hurt you.”
I looked at his hair tied back in a ponytail and his thin moustache. I would have guessed he was from elsewhere if he hadn’t already spoken. Judging by the size of him he liked to frequent fast food restaurants as oppose to the gym.