The words "in remission" were the sweetest words that Lucy had ever heard. She burst into tears as Prism smiled from the corner of the room. Jackson, thin and tired, his hair gone, wanted to be sure.
"No more needles?" he asked. "No more cancer?"
The doctor placed her hand on Jackson's shoulder. "No more cancer, Jackson. You're okay now."
Jackson brightened and turned to beam at Prism, who inclined his head, his silvery-gold eyes gleaming with joy. They walked out of the hospital, the sun shining sweetly on the little boy, who walked with a spring in his step. He seemed infinitely lighter now, Prism thought. He was glad for the good outcome. So many cases turned out very differently, as he knew from long experience. Lucy got in the car, Jackson climbing into the backseat. Prism leaned down before she shut the door.
"How about we take advantage of this lovely weather?" he asked.
"What do you have in mind?" Lucy replied.
"How about a picnic at the forest park? I can go and pick enough for all of us, and I'll fly over to meet you."
"In your ship?" Jackson asked. "Because you promised I could go to the moon with you if I got better."
Prism smiled. "I want you to get strong again. Then we'll go to the moon. For now, I'm going to fly like Superman."
"You can fly?" Lucy and Jackson asked at the same time.
With a wicked grin, Prism allowed himself to become weightless, and he flew up high in the air and did a somersault. Jackson whooped and clapped, and Lucy laughed.
"Is there anything you can't do?"
Prism thought about the myriad of wounds across his torso and arms, new and old alike, half-healed and as fresh as several days ago, and then he thought of Lunar and Jack. "There's plenty I can't do," he said, landing gently on the ground. "But I can pack a picnic basket and meet you at the park in twenty minutes."
"Deal," Lucy said.
Prism waved and launched himself into the air, doing a neat circle then dashed off toward Lucy's house. Within five minutes, he was there, and he picked up the hidden key and walked in without a care in the world. Ten minutes later, he hefted up a picnic basket, full of sandwiches and cookies and a container of sweet tea, and he let himself out, hid the key again, and flew off toward the park.
When he got there, he saw that it was empty except for Lucy's car. Jackson was playing pretend and sword fighting somebody, probably Shadow Man, Prism thought. He landed and greeted Lucy, who stood up quickly with a worried expression on her face. Prism slowed. He knew what that meant. Whenever she looked like that, it had to do with Jamie.
"I take it that I won't be joining in on the picnic," he said carefully.
"I told Jamie the good news. His boss let him off in celebration. He's going to be free for a few days. He'll be here in thirty minutes."
Prism pursed his lips, hovering between leaving immediately and playing with Jackson until Jamie got there. The latter finally won out.
"I'll stay until he's here. Jackson doesn't need me to skip out on him now," Prism said.
Lucy pursed her lips. "Will you be okay?"
Prism hesitated. Though she knew his tendency toward harming himself when he saw Jamie, she was wise enough not to ask to see his wounds all the time. She hadn't seen them in two months, and he didn't want her to see them now. But he didn't want to lie to her. He was sick of lies. They had taken over his life, and now he was avoiding Lunar and the other Guardians to alleviate his guilt. It wasn't working, and he was lonely. Lunar was getting worried, too. He'd asked to speak with him today, and it was with great relief that he honestly said he had a child to visit and help. That was one thing Lunar would accept. But it meant that he couldn't hide for much longer.
After a lengthy pause, Prism rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know. But I'm not leaving Jackson."
Lucy looked torn between accepting his answer and arguing. But she finally nodded, and Prism went to go and sword fight with Jackson. He thrust and parried and showed the boy how to be aware of his feet and body as he moved. Meanwhile, Lucy set out the meal on a picnic table, dreading the moment her husband arrived. She loved Jamie, and the cancer had brought them together in some amazing ways. But she was worried about Prism. The expression of wariness and guilt had clued her in that he'd been having his panic attacks too regularly. And she suspected that he hadn't yet told his friends about them. But she couldn't demand that he obey her. He was his own person, and he had to make that decision.
All too soon, Jamie's blue car pulled into the parking lot, and Lucy hurried over to hug him. She kissed him, and he was so elated that he picked her up and swung her around until she was laughing. Jackson ran over and he let Lucy go and picked him up, lifting him even higher than Lucy. Jackson squealed and laughed as he was spun around until he was too dizzy to stand. Jamie steadied him until he could walk straight then crowed.
"Cancer free! In remission!" he yelled. "I'm so happy, Lucy! And I'm proud of you, Jackson."
"It's such good news," Lucy agreed. "Now, I packed a picnic. Let's eat."
Jackson frowned up at his mother. "You didn't pack it. Prism did."
Lucy shook her head, but she didn't say anything. She didn't want Jamie to be suspicious about Prism. She'd given Jackson's drawing to Prism the night he'd come over to hear her story so that Jamie wouldn't see it. She'd talked around the appearance of more dishes than usual when he'd come home to find the sink full. She'd done everything in her power to convince Jamie that Prism was an imaginary friend. It couldn't last, but she was terrified both for Prism's sanity and Jamie's well-being if Jamie found out about him.
Jackson dropped the subject and went over and sat down at the table. Prism waved to Lucy, who nodded, and he turned to leave.
"Aren't you going to eat with us?" Jackson called.
Prism stiffened and shook his head.
"Why not?"
Prism shrugged. "I have to go see other kids."
"But you never get to meet my dad. You're always with Mom and me. Don't you like Dad?"
Prism's chest was tight as he glanced at Jamie.
"He can't see me like your mother can. And I don't think he ever will."
"But you helped Mom to see you. Can't you do the same for Dad?" Jackson asked, sliding off the bench and walking over.
Prism stood rigid, trying to keep his breathing steady as Jamie looked suspiciously around the area he was standing.
"Who are you talking to?" Jamie asked.
"Prism," Jackson said.
Jamie's lips tightened. He tapped the table then turned to Lucy. "Who is Prism?"
Lucy shrugged, wary.
"Him. He's Prism," Jackson said, pointing at Prism. Jamie saw nothing. "You really can't see him, Dad? But you can see all the Guardians."
"There's no Prism in the Guardians," Jamie said, but he was unsure. He remembered Jack casually mentioning that a couple more Guardians had been added since his own induction.
"Yeah there is. Prism is the Guardian of Courage. He was instated with Nightlight by Lunar a couple of years ago."
The words were more formal than Jackson usually spoke, and a chill went up Jamie's spine. Jackson was repeating words that he'd heard from somewhere else. And Jamie was pretty sure it hadn't been Jack.
"Which spirit is he?" Jamie asked, standing up and walking forward.
Prism was having trouble breathing as he backed up rapidly, his heart hammering in his chest.
"The Guardian of Courage," Jackson said. He beamed and looked at Prism. "Can you see him now, Dad? Or do you need to remember him like Mom did?"
Jamie studied the place where his son was looking, but he saw nothing. He was beginning to understand why Lucy was uneasy whenever the Guardians were around. He didn't like not knowing who exactly he was looking for or where he was supposed to look. Who was this spirit and why didn't he know him? He had met all the spirits over the years, from the Leprechaun to the Groundhog, and all the different seasons. He knew them. He believed in them. But who was Prism?
"Prism?" he tasted the name, trying to believe, but he couldn't see anything.
"You can't see him?" Jackson asked, wilting.
"No. I can't."
"Do you know him by his other name?" Jackson asked.
"What other name?"
Jackson was about to answer when Lucy interrupted. "Why don't you and Prism go look for blackberries?" she asked. "I need to talk to your father."
Jamie frowned at her, but Jackson went off with Prism, beaming and talking about how great it was going to be for the whole family to spend time together. Prism was trying to keep his breathing steady, and he barely listened as he grew lightheaded. Lucy saw his terrified eyes look back at them, and a tremor raced down his spine.
"Who is Prism, Lucy?" Jamie demanded.
Lucy swallowed. "You do know him, Jamie."
Jamie shook his head. "No, I don't. I would be able to see him if I did. I believe in all the spirits. It's one of my abnormalities."
Letting out a breath, Lucy placed her hand over his. "You do know him. You met him as a child. I knew him when I was a child, too. That's why I could see his outline."
"How long?" Jamie demanded. "When did you meet him?"
"He came with the Guardians on the day they all came to meet Jackson," Lucy said. "After the toy disappeared, I went upstairs. And I saw his outline at the top. You didn't see him, and neither did Jackson. Jackson didn't believe in him, and you know him by another name."
"Who is he, Lucy?" Jamie demanded.
Lucy sighed. "I know how you met the Guardians, Jamie. I know how you met Jack and the others."
A terrible suspicion washed over Jamie, and he stood up, his face ashen. "Who is he, Lucy?" he demanded, his voice higher than usual.
"You knew him as Pitch Black, but you don't understand the full story. If you'll let me—" she began.
But Jamie wasn't listening. He swore, his eyes flashing with fire. "You're telling me that you know my story, yet you let our son spend time with Pitch Black?! How could you, Lucy?" He turned to scan the area, but all he saw was Jackson. "Where is he?"
Lucy had expected him to see an outline, so she was confused. "You can't see him?"
Jamie turned and snapped at her, but Lucy's attention was on Prism, who was looking white and crystalline. His head jerked suddenly.
"Jackson!"
He took off running after the boy, who was scrambling after a rabbit. The rabbit dashed across the highway, and Jackson tripped over his own feet, sprawling onto the asphalt. The roar of an engine was all Lucy could hear, and she screamed as a large truck came into view. Jamie turned and yowled, his feet moving before he was thinking. But he wouldn't make it. Lucy flew after her husband, still screaming at the driver.
The brakes slammed as Jackson looked up, and he gave a cry. Then Prism launched himself in front of the truck and threw up his hands. Multicolored sparks exploded around the collision site as he infused the truck with magic to make it stop. The power rushed out in a wave, and the front of the truck crumpled as it slammed into Prism. He flew back, landing hard and skidding across the pavement as the driver's door burst open and the driver was thrown out, unconscious but without a scratch on him.
The deafening sound of metal folding in on itself settled, and the click of the engine died. A ringing silence filled the air as the young family stood stock still, shocked and terrified by the near miss of death. Then Lucy began to run again.
"Prism!"
