Megalopyge


The night grew quieter and quieter in Echo Creek. As time passed into later hours, the streets got emptier and the suburbia, darker. One of these houses was still awake however, the home of Jackie Lynn Thomas and her mother. In one of the rooms, on the second floor, was the skater girl's room. The walls were white with some posters of famous skaters and some movies. Across the door to the room, against the wall, was a full-sized bed with very puffy black sheets. Against this wall was a window that gave view to the next door house. Next to the bedroom door was a wide oak dresser that held a small television and a mirror. There was a black futon couch against the right wall and computer to the left of that near the widow.

Star was lying unconscious on the bed with Jackie sitting next to her, overlooking her condition. She looked slightly scarred but noticed the parts of her clothes that were ripped and should've had deep gashes had completely healthy skin under them.

"She's been healing really quick ever since she took out the shadow." Janna said with her arms crossed, approaching Jackie from behind. "She was bleeding pretty bad from her wrist, to the point where I had to slice my tank and wrap it up." Jackie checked Star's wrist upon listening to this. It was free from the wrap or any damage. "All better now, though." Janna said to this.

"Well.. If she's not hurt.." Jackie said. "..all we can really do is wait." Marco, who was leaning against the wall at the end of the bed, looked at his two friends. He nods and pushes off the wall.

"I'll leave it to you two then." He says, surprising Jackie.

"Wait!" She says as she stands up off the bed. "What happened? How'd you guys run into her?" Marco and Janna exchange similar looks, being at an impasse.

"Yeah!" Brittney, who stepped into Marco's vision of the other two, added with her usual impatience. "This is all just.. weird!" Marco sighs and Janna rolls her eyes.

"Janna and Jackie will explain", he says, "but I have to go. My parents will start to suspect something if I take too long." He looks at Jackie and gives a polite smile. "So.. how do I get out of here unnoticed?" He asks with a chuckle. Jackie looks at Janna and exhales, accepting the boy's departure.

"Mom's definitely gonna notice you leave if you use the front door now." Jackie informed with a smile. "So.. you should probably leave from there." Marco gave Jackie a confused look as she pointed behind him. It was clear she meant the window. The room they were in was on the second floor as well. "There's some bushes at the bottom.. heh.." She tried sugar coating, with some guilt. Marco quietly groans with a pained face before faintly laughing.

"The ones with a bunch of spiders in them?" Janna smirked.

"..Yep." Jackie answered in a short burst. Marco gets a shiver but goes to the window nonetheless. He opens it and sticks his head out to look down, before catching himself smiling at the misfortune. There definitely was bushes. Sadly, the streetlights gave them a glint that highlighted many spider webs.

"Great.." Marco whines. Janna giggles and approaches him.

"You got this, Diaz." She encourages him with a soft punch to his shoulder. Marco looks at her with an appreciative face before sitting on the window sill and lifting one of his legs to the outside. "Hey." Janna gets his attention and puts her hand on his chest. "Get home safe." Marco gives her a confident grin.

"You too." He tells her softly. "Get a ride or people like me who don't understand personal space will bother you."

"I will!" Janna laughs as Marco lets both his legs dangle off the widow. "Bye.." She says softly.

"..Bye.." Marco responds before falling out into the bushes below. Janna watches as he quickly exits them and brushes himself all over, even spitting a bit. When he was done, he looks up at the window and sees Janna smiling at him. Marco waves before continuing down the street on his way home. Janna waves back with a loving expression and enters back in the room before closing the window.

"So.." Jackie looks at her with sly grin, having watched the whole thing. "Something happen?" She asks, already knowing the answer. Janna chuckles and fluffs the hair on her nape.

"Yup." Janna says shyly.

"Glad you didn't waste the opportunity." Jackie tells her proudly before sitting back down on the bed. "Something seems different about him, don't you think?"

"Yeah, I noticed." Janna agreed, looking back out the window as she lightly bit her bottom lip.

"Heh. Better watch your back when I'm around him." Jackie teased.

"Shut up.." Janna told her with a tired smile.

"I knew you two losers were dating." Brittney teased with her arms crossed. "Don't your other two boys get jealous? Or does Dorko give them his sloppy seconds?" She had a devilish smile like she got legitimate pleasure from her scorn. Janna just stared at her with a stoic face and exhaled.

"You gonna tell me why there's a RealDoll in your room, Jackie?" She didn't even take her eyes off Brittney. "Pretty trashy lookin' one too. Looks all worn and used."

"Aw! You get so touchy when your gang bang is brought up!" Brittney said with an exaggerated adoring face.

"Brittney and I have known each other since we were kids." Jackie informed, making Janna grimace in disgust. "I invited her over because Claudia really likes her. But let's talk about finding a place for Star tonight."

"Gross." Janna looked at the cheerleader with a sickened expression, not wanting to let her have the last laugh. "You let somebody who takes turns milking their dad with their mom touch that poor girl?"

"Fuck you." She hissed at Janna with a slight lean forward. "Why are you even here? Go cut yourself or shove a crucifix in your pussy or whatever you like to do, you emo bitch."

"I'd rather fuck myself with a crucifix than have my dad do it for me!" Janna retaliated aggressively.

"Janna, the stuff with her dad is just a rumor!" Jackie defended with pleading eyes.

"It is!" Brittney added, offended. "And I bet this bitch started it!" She said gesturing at Janna.

"Ha! I wish!" Janna laughed with malice. "Besides, I don't fucking care if it's a rumor." Her body language got more and more agitated. "You deserve it following you throughout the rest of High School, you slimy cunt!"

"Guys, stop!" Jackie yelled and stood up and Brittney stepped closer to Janna with growing hostility.

"I'm gonna slap the shit out of you!" She threatened Janna. "And Dorko's not here to protect you this time!"

"Do it, then!" Janna welcomed. "But as soon as you touch me, I'm gonna punch that brick of make up off your face!"

"Both of you, shut the fuck up!!" Jackie roared as she yanked on both their tops. "You're arguing like selfish assholes when we should be finding a place for Star to stay tonight!" Brittney and Janna are astonished at Jackie's bluntness. Neither of them have seen her that mad before. She lets go of the bickering girls. "This is exactly why I never told you about Brittney, Janna. I knew you two were gonna just argue and fight." Jackie looked at Brittney. "I don't know why you hate Janna so much", Jackie said before looking at the other girl, "and I know you like to use the rumor as ammo, Janna, but can you two just fucking drop this nonsense for a goddamn bit?! If not for my sake, then Star's!" The other two looked in different directions from each other and Jackie, feeling the guilt and embarrassment take over.

"Alright.." Janna agreed softly.

"Okay. God.." Brittney as well. Jackie took a deep breath and put her hands on her hips.

"Okay, good.." She sighed and looked down. "Good.. Now, let's uh—.. Let's.. Gah. I forgot what I wanted to talk about after all that yelling." Jackie put her wrist on her temple in frustration.

"A place for me to stay tonight." Star recollected for her.

"Right, Star, thank you." Jackie said to her with gratitude. "..." She, along with the other two, turned at Star in surprise. She was sitting up with a wide smile on her face.

"Hiiii." She greeted with slow-moving jazz hands but with a hint of woe in her voice.

"Star!" Jackie hugged her tightly, which Star returned immediately. "I'm so happy you're okay."

"Yeah.." Star agreed. "I am.."

"Good to have you conscious again, dude." Janna told her with a grin as she approached and put her hand on the girl's back. Star laughed before she and Jackie break their hug. She looked down, a noticeable melancholy still in her demeanor.

"Marco saved me, huh?" Star asked solemnly. Jackie looked at Janna for an answer, still not knowing what's happened tonight. Janna crossed her arms before nodding.

"Yeah.." She said. "Yeah, he did. I don't know how but his.. arm changed when he saved you. It looked like it did when he got attacked by the first shadow." Jackie's brow furrowed, taken aback by this description. Brittney had no idea what they were talking about, having a face twisted in confusion.

"That's right.." Star recalled. "I remember that. He somehow used the injury I thought I healed to his advantage." She wrapped her hand around her chin, being in intense thought. "Hmm.." She nodded making a face of discovery.

"What, you have an idea of how he did it?" Janna asked, waiting for the answer.

"No, I just remember how hot he looked." Star answered seriously, getting a frown from Janna. Jackie couldn't help but laugh a bit.

"Wait, wait!" Brittney broke the three's conversation with her desperation. They all look at her, Star had wide eyes. "What the hell is happening?!"

"Oh, no, Marco, your arm made you transform into a sexy girl!" Star cried with her hands grasping at her head. This made Brittney blush along with her bewilderment.

"That's not Marco.." Jackie told Star with a whisper.

"Oh.." Star gave a sigh of relief. "Good.. Where is he then?"

"His parents got back from their trip. So he went home to avoid getting them worried." Janna told her.

"Yup", Jackie said, "you just missed him."

"Crud." Star reacted with a frown.

"Someone tell me!" Brittney complained, feeling much too left out. The other three looked at her in a short silence. During this, a brief sound of something rubbing up against Jackie's door was heard. This made the rooms owner sigh and approach the door. Everyone else just watched her, not sure what was happening. Jackie stopped at her door momentarily before swiftly pulling it open and yanking her little sister into the room.

"Ah! No! No!" Jackie held Claudia's arms behind her, back, making her struggle.

"This makes our deal off, you little brat!" Jackie growled as she held her captive.

"You never said I can't listen! Just not to tell Mom!" Claudia explained with a whine.

"I said to stay down there and to keep this a secret!" Jackie countered, destroying the little girl's spark. "Now you're not getting the game!"

"Temptation's a dangerous thing, kid." Janna said with a smirk. Claudia broke free from Jackie's grasp and ran to Brittney, hugging her tightly like a fawn in the protection of its mother. It surprised Janna just how much the girl trusted Brittney.

"No fair!" Claudia complained to her older sister.

"It is fair." Jackie contradicted. "Now get out."

"No! I wanna stay!" Claudia insisted.

"Go, Claudia." Jackie commanded.

"No!" The kid cried. "I wanted to be with you and Britty but that girl is getting all your attention!" She pointed at Star. The bed-ridden girl looked sympathetic before giving Jackie a meek smile. Brittney rubbed the top off Claudia's head.

"Just let her stay, Jackie, come on." Brittney pressed. Jackie looked around at all her friends. Star smiled at her with a shrug, Janna just looked at her with a raised brow, and Brittney's eyes looked pleading. Jackie closed her eyes and begrudgingly accepted her sister's request.

"Okay, okay.." She said with her hands up. "Brittney, just.. have a seat. This is gonna take a while to explain."


Marco walked down his home's street with his mind preoccupied. The neighborhood's citizens were all in their houses. A soft wind caressed Marco's skin, gradually disheveling his hair. Thoughts of the past two days clouded his mind. So much has happened in the short time. A lot of it felt like a dream. Like something only his subconscious would manifest. However, it was real, no matter how outrageous it all was.

He looked down at his arm, pondering about the scene in the park. What he did to protect Star and Janna gave him feelings of a great fear. Like as if he wasn't in control but he knows he was. The intense slash he gave the monster felt too involved. The way his lungs encumbered his heavy breath, the way it made his entire body shake, the way his arm moved so fast that it felt like it'd pop out of the socket. Besides the feelings of panic and shock, he felt something else, something he wasn't used to feeling; power. Raw strength. His heart skipped a beat when he reached that thought. A high thrill filled his veins.

After crossing an empty four-way intersection, he stopped near a large street light. He turned his head at the metal beam and took a deep breath. Slowly, he positioned himself into the best fighting stance he could make. Pulling his right hand back near his waist, he took a long steady breath in then out. In an instant he launched a punch at the monolith. His eyes widen when the large dent in the structure becomes apparent.

He removes his fist from the damage in a jittery motion. He almost fell back on his butt from the appall. Looking down at his arm, he saw that it was in the shadowy form again. His body trembled. The power was right there, easily controllable and convenient.

"Ha.." A brief and timid chortle escaped from Marco's vocal chords. He clenched his dark hand as it began to alter. He examined it as the many spikes all over his arm withered flat, the sharpness of his fingers rounded out, and the darkness that enveloped it faded away. His arm was back to normal, as if it never changed. Marco didn't feel the large smile on his face before he continued down his path home.

Finally reaching the driveway of his home, Marco could see that his parents were definitely home. It had been sometime since he'd seen the family car. Before pressing onward, he took his attire in mind. His right sleeve was ripped at the shoulder. His mother would definitely ask about that. A short moment of thought elapsed before he grabbed his other sleeve and ripped it off with his right hand. Being satisfied with the idea and once again, his strength, he pocketed his torn sleeve and headed for the front door. Reaching into his back pocket, he takes out his house keys and unlocks the hinged obstacle. Upon entering, he sees his mother sitting on the couch with both her legs and arms crossed.

"Mom!" Marco greets warmly before closing the door and locking it.

"There you are.." Angie does the same as they approach each other and embrace. "You left your guys' tea on the table." She informed her son as they detach.

"Oh." Marco makes a slightly guilty face. "Sorry, we kinda.. got rushed." He said with a chuckle. "Have you washed them? Let me do that!" He began to make his way toward the kitchen.

"I washed them. It's okay." Angie stopped him. "Listen, I need to talk to you. Sit down." Marco looked at the couch and took a seat near one of the ends. Noticing his phone on the coffee table, he grabbed it and pocketed it. His mother sat near him. She noticed that his blue, usual undershirt was torn at both sleeves. She clicks her tongue in displeasure. "Why'd you go and do that?" She asked vexed, touching the left torn area.

"It's one of my work-out shirts." Marco explained. "It's all I had left. I have to do my laundry. Heh.." Angie looked into his eyes for validity. Brushing past it, she gives a light sigh before sitting back against the couch.

"About your tío Ignacio,.." She said. Marco felt a little shame when he heard the name. He had completely forgotten about him in the madness of the past days. Marco only ever met him once so they weren't close by any means but he knows he should've at least kept him in his thoughts.

"Oh! Did he recover?" Marco hoped. "Is that why you guys came back so early?" His mother's eyes reflected a visible dispirit.

"No.." She said softly. "The opposite, actually." Marco frowned and felt his gaze aim downward. "He died this morning."

"How's Dad?" Marco asked, worried. His mother gave him a soft smile.

"You know how your father's relationship was with his brother." She told him. "In the end though, they were able to make amends. Your tío was able to go with a clear conscience." Marco nodded his head, satisfied with the answer. "They spent their whole life fighting like enemies but were able to say goodbye as allies before it was too late."

"Good." Marco smiled. "Is he asleep? I wanna talk to him."

"He should be by now." She informed. "Just let him sleep. Tomorrow morning, I'm making a big breakfast!" Angie stood up, heading to the kitchen. "You gonna sleep too?"

"Not yet, it's still early." Marco said as he stood up as well. "I'm just gonna be in my room." Right before he could set a foot on the staircase, his mother stopped him.

"Wait, wait, wait." She commanded. "I almost forgot."

"What's up?"

"Did you.. have, like.. a party or something?" She asked him, getting a confused reaction.

"Nuh—.. No." Marco chuckled. "W-Why do you think that?" Angie moved her body out of the way of the crater on the floor and pointed at it.

"What's this about?" She asked, with some sternness in her voice. It was the hole Star left when she tried punching Marco the other night. He had completely forgot about it.

"Oh—.. Ohhh.. Sorry, Mom." He scratched the back of his head and gulped. "I-I was exercising here and dropped a 25 there.."

"Really?" She didn't really believe him.

"Yeah.." Marco persisted slightly furrowinh his brows. Angie took a deep breath.

"Míjo, you know you're not a very good liar." She said to him with a smirk. "That thing about your shirt too. You have plenty of exercise shirts. Besides you do your laundry too often to run out of them."

"Mom, I'm not lying." Marco said, his voice getting less nervous. His mother gave him stare of concern.

"...Is something going on?" She asked.

"No!" Marco was beginning to get frustrated. "Why don't you believe me?"

"Because I know you." She insisted. "You can tell me the truth, you're not in trouble."

"I said I'm not lying!"

...

Marco had never shouted at her before. They both look at each other with shocked faces. Angie put a clenched fist on her chest as her look of fright pierced Marco's heart.

"Okay.." She said, trying to calm the boy. "I'm sorry." Marco's heart beat at a high rate, realizing what he's done.

"No! No!" He said to his scared mother. "Mom, I'm sorry! I didn't.." He rubbed his hands up the back of his head, beginning to stress. "I don't know why I yelled like that. I-I'm sorry.." Angie looked him over. It was as if her son was gone for a moment but just reappeared soon after.

"...You must be tired." She smiled with a swallow. "I bet you didn't eat too well today." Marco delayed his next response, wanting to make sure she was okay.

"Ha.. Yeah, you're probably right." He agreed with a soft smile.

"Don't worry, you'll feel super energized after tomorrow's breakfast. Now go to bed." Angie turned away and walked into the kitchen.

"Goodnight.." Marco told her, standing still in thought momentarily before going upstairs. Angie rested her arms on the kitchen counter and looked down in apprehension. She couldn't stop picturing the moment Marco yelled at her. Not just because he had never yelled at her before but because he felt like a different person at that moment. It didn't look like his mannerisms, it didn't sound like his voice. Worst of all, she could have sworn that his eyes looked completely different.


Time passed as Jackie explained Star's situation to Brittney. The whole time, the stubborn cheerleader refused to believe her but was quickly turned once Star showed off her magic. She was slowly pacing around the room, her mind being overloaded with information. Claudia was immediately intrigued by Star's powers and sat next to her in bed.

"What we have to do now is find a place for Star to stay tonight." Jackie told the group as she sat on the night stand near her bed. Brittney was still in complete awe. She just couldn't believe it but didn't have it in her to argue about it anymore. "Is it safe to assume you won't get attacked until tomorrow night, Star?" She asked her.

"Yeah, it is." She replied. "In the memories I have now, I know that dark magic and light magic are super attracted to each other."

"Oh, right.." Janna recalled, sitting at the end of the bed. "You got some of your memory back after your last fight."

"Mhm.." Star nodded with a sad look in her eyes. "From what my memory serves me, I'm thirteen now."

"But.." Brittney shyly butt in. "You're actually older, right?" She asked, still on a shaky understanding of all this.

"Mhm." Star smiled. "I wonder how old I am.." She looked down at her body. "Probably, like, 20." This made Janna chuckle.

"You wish." This got a frown from Star.

"So.. If you're thirteen." Jackie said. "That means we have five more years of magic knowledge to our advantage now." She smiled, liking their odds. "Can you explain more about light and dark being attracted to each other, Star?"

"Oh! Yup!" Star sat up straight. "Once I turned eleven, my mom started teaching me about dark magic, a very powerful force of magic that can easily take over the host if not handled with care. Even the most pure-seeming people can be transformed to a vessel of nothing but their darkest thoughts."

"So light magic is good and dark magic is bad?" Claudia looked up at her idol.

"Mmm.." Star thought. "That's what I thought too at first.." She leaned back with her hands on the bed behind her. "But the more I studied it, the more it didn't seem like that." This made the girls curious. "Lots of good people used Dark Magic to help others. Even people in my bloodline. My mom was even going to teach me to use it."

"So.. it really depends on how the host of the magic balances it." Janna assumed.

"That's right!" Star complimented. "Those who master harnessing both dark and light at an equilibrium become godlike in power. That's.." Her face slumped to a sad one. "..what my mom wanted from me.." The group became quiet at this, pitying Star. "Anyway,.. dark magic is attracted to light magic because.. well, you can't really have one without the other."

"What do you mean?" Jackie asked.

"To conjure light magic," Star began, with her index finger pointed upward, "you have to focus on the positive energy within in you. Things that make you go 'Haha!' or 'Awww.'" Janna and Jackie look at each other with a raised eyebrow. "And for dark, negative energy. You can't feel positivity if you don't know what the negativity is."

"And vice versa.." Jackie added before crossing her arms. "So that's how they seem to find you no matter what.."

"But!" Star said loudly with an energetic tone, startling the rest. "I was taught recently how to sense the nearest source of dark magic!"

"Really?" Janna asked. "So you can like, see one coming and prepare for it?"

"Yup!" Star replied. "Like, now.." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. A few moments passed before she spoke, her eyes still gently closed. "There's one out there.. Too far to be a threat." She shut them tighter, like she was struggling with something. "Too weak too.. it's tough to get an exact distance.."

"So then," Jackie said, "are the shadows just dark magic incarnate?" Star sighed, not being totally sure.

"I don't know how, exactly.." She stated. "But this dark magic may be using my taken memories as a host and feeding off the negative energy they put out."

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Brittney cut in, her fists clenched in frustration. "I can't freaking keep up! I barely know what any of this means!" The other three teenagers look at each other with stone faces before cracking smiles.

"Yeah, you've got a good point." Jackie tells her as she stands up with her arms crossed. "Brittney's probably really overwhelmed with all this and it's getting late. Let's continue this later."

"Where?" Janna intercepted. "We still haven't decided what we're gonna do with Star."

"Can she sleepover?!" Claudia asked with a big smile. Star giving one to Jackie as well. "Please, please!"

"No, Mom would definitely notice Star with how loud you two are." Jackie denied with spitefulness, flipping her sister's and Star's smiles.

"If I have to, I'll just sleep out in town like I planned." Star suggested. "I found a good roof!"

"There's no point in that." Jackie said worryingly. "Now that you can prepare for an attack, there's no reason that you can't stay in a cozy house." She rose her forearms in a shrug.

"What cozy house do you expect her to stay in though?" Janna questioned, being skeptical. Jackie smiled confidently at this.

"Only the coziest house in Echo Creek." The older sister girl turned to the person with the largest home in the room. "Wouldn't you agree, Brittney?" The girl's eyes glisten with confusion at this and her mouth drops open. Janna had a similar reaction while Star puckered her lips in surprise.

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Anyone order some dialogue with a glaze of exposition?! ( • 3 •)

No? Okay..

Thanks for reading, mah dudes! The more this story progresses, the more I like writing it.

KEEP READING

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BYYYYYEEE