~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 2~~~~~Mom's Story~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Star City
August 13. 2128 hrs
"Tell me a story?" Alli begs, as mom gets up to leave the room.
"What would I tell you?" Mom asks Alli with a look of bewilderment on her face.
"Tell me an action story with superheroes and bad guys." I giggle. Only my six year old sister would want a bed time story like that.
"Okay, let's see. Well, where should I start?" Mom asks.
"You have to start with once upon a time; and add kid flash." Alli obsesses over superheroes, especially their side kicks and Kid Flash. I, myself, can't blame her though; I sort of had- okay, okay, have a crush on Gotham City's very own Boy Wonder. I mean have you seen his pictures in the papers.
Mom chuckles, "Okay." She clears her throat and begins, "Once upon a time, a group of bad guys, known as the shadows, kidnapped a scientist. They told the genius doctor to make a weapon for them. At first she said 'no'. Then they threatened to kill her if she didn't." "So she did. This weapon was nothing more than science, but it was dangerous. It was made of teeny tiny robotic bugs." Alli's face contorted in disgust.
"I hate bugs!" She exclaims.
"These little bot-bugs would, basically, 'eat' through anything. That means concrete, metal, flesh and even bones."
"They sound scary." Alli says quietly, gripping her teddy closer to her.
"However, their purpose was not only to destroy anything in their way, but also to steal information."
I roll over to hear the story better. Sure it's really cheesy. Maybe, because it's a six-year-old's bedtime story. Still, and you can't deny it, the way mom's telling the story. It's like it's true. Like it happened. Like she was there. It's interesting, captivating even. But there's more to it. I know mom isn't telling Alli, probably because she is way too little to know. I wonder if I'm old enough. If she will tell me.
"When the 'bugs' would 'eat' computers, and such technology, they would download all the information from the computer into their brains. That way when the bugs got back to the shadows, they would give the bad guys all the information they had collected."
"As soon as the doctor was finished building the weapon, a young hero saved her. One guy; with a bow, attitude problems, and a cheap boat." The tone of her voice changes. It sounds just as it does when someone irritates her. When she talks about other people ,her voice gets the same tone. Bitterness and disgust, as though they aren't as smart as her or they're just slowing her down.
She never gets this tone with me or Allison, but anytime she talks about dad; you can hear it loud and clear. So why is she talking like this now? Alli's brow furrows in confusion, about the boat part, and I stifle a giggle at her expression.
"His name was Red Arrow," Mom went on, "And he rescued the scientist and took her to a high school. A freaking unsafe, unguarded high school. Where he left her alone and unprotected! He didn't come back for her, but the next day a group of teenagers', teenagers'!, came to 'protect' her. Kid Flash, Martian girl, Archery something, Superguy, Robin, and Aqualad, I think it was, came to watch the scientist."
My stomach pitted when mom said 'Robin.' I had just been thinking about him before she started the story.
"They argued amongst themselves some. Especially Kid Flash with the blonde girl in green get-up. They were quite annoying. Then an assassin came to kill the scientist. She almost drowned Kid Flash." Alli's face flashes with worry.
"Mommy? Kid Flash can't die, he's the hero. He got saved, Right?"
"Yes honey. I said he almost died. Martian girl saved him though. He was very glad of it."
I imagine a green girl giving him mouth to mouth resuscitation. That just grosses me out.
"Soon after that the team quickly devised a plan to keep the doctor safe while she made a computer virus to stop the bot-bugs. In the end the scientist and the team stopped the 'bugs' and saved the world. "
"And me and Kid Flash got married and lived happily ever after. The end!" Alli finishes. Me and mom laugh at her.
"I'm sure that's how it goes." Mom bends down kissing Alli on the cheek. Then me on the forehead; before turning off the lamp between our beds, and leaving the room.
"Alli." I whisper.
"Yes."
"Say your prayers'." My sister groans, but recites her prayers; out loud. I repeat mine in my head. When she finishes I sing her my lullaby and she falls right to sleep.
Star City
August 14. 0346 hrs
I'm in a purple suit with pink gloves and boots. I'm next to Robin, fighting thuggish guys'. I'm using my secrets; not hiding them. It's an amazing feeling, using them. Adrenaline coursing through me, washing over the shame. Forgetting the 'freak'. Using them for good, to help people.
The fighting is over, I'm on my knees on the ground. Exhaustion taking place of tingling adrenaline. Robin falls on his knees next to me. We're both panting, hard. Now he's leaning in to- to kiss me!
Our lips are only seconds apart and getting closer. My heart's pounding and my mind is full of a flurry of feelings and mixed emotions. My ears are getting hot and I'm sweating more than I was from just the fighting.
"Emmy! Emmy! Emmy!" Ali shakes me; violently. "I had a nightmare!" Alli says to me.
"You can sleep with me, if you want." She jumps under the covers with me. Then I curl my arms around my little sister's body as Alli snuggles closer to my chest.
"I love you Emmy." She sighs sleepily.
"I love you too, Alli." I say, yawning.
