1- Denial
Lian was one of those finicky babies who never slept soundly through the night ever. What seemed like every hour on the hour she'd wake them up with her loud, high-pitched wailing. And this night, the one night she decides to sleep soundly, is the night someone decides to visit at one AM.
They ignore the first knock, figuring it was just the wind, there couldn't possibly be anyone at their door this late at night. Then it happens again, and again, and again, and they try to ignore it until it becomes clear whoever is knocking won't go away until someone answers. Jade eventually mumbles something to Roy about answering the door, and Roy begrudgingly gets out from under the sheets, and stumbles over to the door.
He's greeted at the door by the dour looking face of his former teammate and friend Wally West, "It's one in the morning West, what the Hell do you want?"
"We need to talk." He says sternly.
"Can this wait until a decent hour of the day?"
"I wish it could, but it can't. It's important."
He sighs, "This better not be another intervention. You can come in, but make this quick. And don't be too loud, or you'll wake up Lian."
"Too late for that," Jade walks into the front room, baby in her arms. She stares at the semi-familiar face of her visitor. "Why is my sister's boyfriend here at one in the morning?"
"I dunno. All he's told me is that he has someting important to say." Roy replies, shrugging.
She narrows her eyes at Wally, "Well, are you going to tell us this important thing or what?"
"I think its best you sit down."
They exchange curious glances, and slowly lower themselves into the green sofa.
"There's no easy way of saying this," he starts, "Artemis was with The Team at the Earth-Mars communication satellite launch tonight."
"Wait, didn't you and my sister quit the team to go party or something?" Jade asks.
He frowns, "We quit the team to further our education at one of the nation's top universities, not to party."
Roy scoffs, "Same difference, isn't it?"
"So she's back on the team then?" Jade smirks, "Ooh, this is going to be fun."
"What about you West?" Roy asks, "Are you back in the game? I saw you on the news a month or so ago."
"It was a one-time thing, for both of us." He says through gritted teeth.
Jade frowns, "Mmm… too bad. I guess I'll just have to drop by sometime and pay my sister a visit."
"Don't get any ideas." Roy grumbles.
"Will you two quit snarking and listen to me?"
"Ok, Ok. Jeez." Roy says, "Tell us about Artemis and the satellite launch."
"She was supposed to make sure it launched safely-"
"Yeah, that went real well." Jade interrupted. She'd seen on the news that the satellite had blown up midair. The reporters blamed it on a technical malfunction, but her years with the shadows made her suspect there was more to the story.
"Can I finish?" Wally asks, agitated.
"Please." Roy says, "And do it quickly, I'd like to get back to bed soon."
"She was protecting the coast. Black Manta's men stormed the beach, and- and"
"And what?" Roy asks, bored.
"She was stabbed in the ribcage by Kaldur."
Roy winces, "That had to hurt."
"Please, I've probably cut her up worse. So how long until she recovers?"
"She's not going to recover."
"Huh?" Jade asks, confused.
"Roy, err… Jade, I'm sorry, but Artemis is dead."
Right on cue, Lian starts to cry.
"Shh… it's ok." Jade whispers in Lian's ear, and rocks her back and forth.
"Wally," Roy starts, "I know like to be the funny guy, but if this is some kind of joke or prank or whatever-"
"Do you really think I'd joke about this?"
"Were you there to see her killed?" Jade asks.
"No, but-"
"You must have heard wrong then. My sister's tough as nails, she couldn't possibly do something as dumb as die from a stab wound."
"I didn't hear wrong. She's dead."
"Please," She scoffs, "I'm sure I would have one of the Shadows by now if this were true."
"I don't know why the Shadows haven't contacted you, but it's true."
"I've known Kaldur for years." Roy starts, "Yes, he's working for his father, but I highly doubt he'd kill Artemis."
"I thought I knew him too Roy, but he's really turned."
"Well, I know him a lot better than you do. It doesn't matter whose side he's on, he would never, and I mean never, kill anyone, especially someone who used to be his friend. It can't be true. It just can't be."
"I'm sorry, I wish it wasn't. But it is, it really is."
I don't know if you're familiar with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's book On Death and Dying, but that's where the Five Stages of Grief and the idea for this story came from. The chapters will all be short vignettes like this one, and hopefully (cross your fingers here people) real life won't get in the way and I'll finish before the hiatus ends.
Reviews are appreciated :)