Erma © Outcast Comix/Brandon J. Santiago
Spider-Man © Marvel Comics/Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
Sometime later, Sidney and Percy were sitting in a booth at a Subway restaurant.
They were in the human forms (obviously), and were both sharing two halves
of a single, five dollar foot long ham and cheese melt sandwich.
"Sooo..Percy." spoke Sidney, wanting to start a conversation.
Percy looked at Sidney. "yes?"
"do you, umm..have a favorite TV show?" asked Sidney.
"I mean, I know you like that one with the 'mutant turtles', but I wondered if you liked anything else."
Percy sat back. "well..I'm also a fan of the Blue Beetle."
"the what?" said Sidney, puzzled.
"It's a comic book superhero." explained Percy. "Dad was also a fan.
so, after he..died, I sometimes read the old books and the new ones to feel closer to him."
Percy sighed sadly. "you could say the Blue Beetle is sorta like my role model."
Sidney looked at Percy with soft eyes.
"anyway..wa-what do you like, Sidney?" asked Percy, forcing a smile.
"do YOU have any favorite shows that you want to talk about?"
Sidney blushed. "oh, um..I don't-I mean, I don't think it's anything you would be interested in."
Percy shrugged. "I still wanna know. don't worry, I won't laugh at you..I Promise."
Sidney exhaled sharply. "well..okay. I..really like..(*mutters*)"
"huh?" spoke Percy. "..I'm sorry, I didn't catch that."
Sidney's light brown skin turned red. "I said I..I like..warrior unicorn princess."
"warr-OH!, you mean that cartoon about the anthropomorphic unicorn with the sword."
Sidney tapped her fingers together..feeling embarrassed. "ye-yeah..that."
Percy leaned in closer to Sidney. *don't tell anyone..but, I watch that show sometimes, too.*
"ha-hah.." responded Sidney, fake laughing.
"no, I'm serious." said Percy. "Remember the multi-episode story arc with Emperor Sombra, and the Crystal Heart."
Sidney's jaw nearly dropped. "you-you're not kidding?..you ACTUALLY watch WUP!?"
Percy blushed bright red, feeling awkward. "I..like the action scenes. and, the story is good, too."
"just..don't tell anyone at school that I watch a Quote/Unquote "Girls Cartoon." continued Percy.
"I can't help but feel that Terry kid will tease me about it endlessly."
Sidney made a gesture that imitated her lips being zipped closed. "your secret is safe."
Percy smiled. "I know."
Sidney then breathed a sigh of relief. "I can't believe you like the same show as me.
I thought I was lucky when Erma liked it too, but now I feel really-"
"there's that name again..Erma." spoke Percy. "Who is Erma?"
Sidney looked at Percy. "my OTHER best friend..she also goes to school in Blairwood,
BUT she is at a family reunion in Japan, and won't be back for quite a long time."
Sidney sighed sadly. "I..miss her."
Percy looked at Sidney. "Seems like everyone does..I'm sorry."
Sidney wiped a tear from her eye. "It's fine..She'll be back, I know it.
And, when she does..I'll introduce you to her. and, we can ALL be friends!"
Percy smiled. "I'll look forward to that."
((*RING-RRIIIIINNGG!*))
Sidney reached into her pocket, and pulled out a flip-phone.
"ye-yeah, dad?" spoke Sidney.
(("SIDNEY..where are you?")) spoke Delapore's firm, yet soft voice. (("Are you okay?"))
"I'm FINE, dad. I'm with Percy..we were eating lunch, and-"
(("You should come home, honey..it is nearly nightfall.")) said Delapore.
"oh..okay, dad." said Sidney, sadly.
(("Sidney..")) spoke Delapore.
"yeah, dad?"
(("I..spoke with the council of elders")) began Delapore, breathing deeply.
(("If it is okay with his parents, your friend can come visit."))
Sidney gasped. "R-REALLY, DAD?!"
(("They were not easy to convince..but, I managed to appeal to their better natures.
If your friend behaves himself, and can keep a secret, then he is allowed entry into our city."))
"trust me, dad..he CAN keep a secret." spoke Sidney. "and, he has a good heart..just like mom."
Percy blushed, feeling flattered at Sidney's praises.
(("Be home within the hour..")) spoke Delapore. (("I love you, sweetheart."))
"I love you too, dad..and, Thank You." said Sidney.
As Sidney closed her phone, she looked to Percy. "Dad says you can come visit..IF it's okay with your mom."
"Really?" spoke Percy, feeling unsure.
"Yeah!, he smoothed things over with the colony. It's FINE." said Sidney.
Percy shrugged. "well..okay. I should probably call my mom anyway."
Percy then reached for his own phone, and speed-dialed his mother's number.
the boy listened to the long dial tone..he heard his mother's voice.
..only, it was a pre-recorded message.
(("Miss Muffet Bakery. I am sorry, but we are unavailable to take your order.."))
"Mom's voicemail. Hmm..she must be out delivering an order someplace." mused Percy.
(("..leave your order at the end of the beep, and we'll deliver it ASAP." ((*BEEEEP!*))
"Uhh, H-Hey, Mom..It's ME." spoke Percy. "I'm just calling to let you know that I might be home late.
I'm going to spend some time at Sidney's home. h-her dad said it was okay. Love you."
As Percy sent the voice message and pocketed his phone, Sidney looked at him.
"I'm not sure about this." spoke Sidney. "technically, your mom never gave you permission."
"I'm certain she wouldn't object." said Percy. "and, I won't be gone for THAT long."
Sidney looked unconvinced. "I don't know..I wouldn't want to get you into trouble."
"It'll be FINE, Sidney." repeated Percy. "To tell you the truth, Mom kinda worries too much.
Maybe it's just her spider nature, but she acts like everything is out to get us."
Sidney looked down. "dad is the same way."
Percy began to take what remained of their sandwiches, and wrapped them up individually.
"Let's get going." spoke Percy, as she stood up and put on his backpack.
"The sooner I see your home, and meet your dad..the sooner 'I' can go home to my mom."
Sidney nodded as she too stood up, and put on her backpack. "oh-okay..let's go home."
The two then left the booth, and walked out of the restaurant and into the city.
As they walked down the sidewalk, Percy occasionally looked at Sidney (quickly averting his gaze whenever she looked at him.)
At twelve years old, Percy was approaching the age where he was starting to 'like' girls.
and, there was indeed something about Sidney that made him feel things that he hadn't before.
(then again, up until recently, his mother was the only female companion he had ever had in his life.)
There was just something about Sidney that he was drawn to.
was it the color of her eyes?, the warmth of her smile?, the softness of her voice?
Who could say?..but, Percy liked her.
Sidney was ALSO twelve. and, unknown to Percy..she was also looking at him.
Sidney had never 'liked' boys before (not even the Rat Boys that lived alongside her underground)
yet, something about Percy just caught her eye..and, made her look at him differently.
Like Erma's crush, Conner. Percy was soft spoken, and shy.
but, he was also brave. willing to put himself in danger for someone like her.
Only her father would ever do something like that for her..so, Percy earned her admiration.
After ten minutes had passed, Sidney and Percy were nearing the old subway
that would lead them to the hidden colony of the rat people.
BUT, as they walked...Percy suddenly stopped short.
Sidney looked to her friend. "Percy?..what's wrong?"
Percy groaned softly, gripping his head. the boy had felt a strong, 'tingling' feeling in his brain.
..like something scratching the inside of his skull.
"something..Something BAD is nearby." spoke Percy.
"what?" spoke Sidney, puzzled.
Percy looked to Sidney. "It's my..my Spider Senses. It's like an alarm that goes off in my head
whenever anything dangerous is nearby." explained Percy.
Sidney grimaced, feeling dread...but, then she stopped and sniffed the air.
"What is it?" spoke Percy.
"I..I smell something. something..BAD." spoke Sidney.
"It's not ME, is it?" inquired Sidney.
"NO, not THAT kind of bad." explained Sidney. "I have my own special senses, remember."
"oh."
Sidney inhaled deeply. "I..I smell..something 'Dirty' (*whiff, sniff*) ugh!, it makes me want to gag."
Percy felt his brain tingle again..it was stronger this time.
"the danger is getting closer..I feel it might be following us." said Percy.
Sidney inhaled again..and, gasped. "it is..we are being followed."
Sidney was tempted to turn around, and look behind her..but, Percy stopped her.
*NO.* whispered Percy. *if we are being followed..then, we shouldn't let them know that we know.*
Sidney breathed heavily. *I..I want to run.*
*running is the last thing we should do.* said Percy. *we walk.*
Percy took Sidney's hand, and grasped it tightly. the two then resumed walking at a steady pace.
Sidney squeezed Percy's hand, breathing heavily. her fight-or-flight instincts going into overdrive.
*shhh..just follow my lead.* whispered Percy. *TRUST ME.*
Sidney nodded silently. she felt scared..but, she trusted her friend.
he saved her life once already..surely he wouldn't let any harm befall her NOW.
*just keep walking..not too fast.* spoke Percy.
Sidney repressed the urge to sprint away, and tried to walk slowly.
..but, the scent of their unknown stalkers grew ever stronger.
*now, laugh like I just said something funny.* said Percy.
though confused, Sidney did as she was told and forced herself to laugh.
After a full minute, Percy spoke again: *okay, we're gonna turn to this alley.*
*but, it's a-*
*trust me.* repeated Percy.
Sidney nodded..and, walked with Percy as they walked into the dead end alley.
Not long after..three teenagers in grungy clothes ducked into the same alley.
"Hey!..what gives!?" spoke one of the teenagers. "Where are those two brats!?"
"I..I don't know. They couldn't had just disappeared." said another teenager.
Unknown to the three teens..Percy and Sidney were high above their heads.
Sidney had her arms around Percy as he clung to the wall of a building.
"Look in the dumpsters!" exclaimed a teenager. "they're probably hiding..heh, think they're so smart."
as they searched around, one of the teenagers groaned.
"whatever is in their backpacks had BETTER be worth the trouble."
Percy looked to Sidney, and gestured her to stay silent.
Sidney nodded..and, Percy then made silent gestures with his hands.
He wiggled his fingers, and then pointed to a heavily shadowed part of the wall.
Sidney took this as meaning he wanted her to crawl over their, and hide.
So, Sidney did just that. using her clawed fingers, she sprinted over to the shadows.
She then watched in confusion as Percy put on a red ski mask with bottle cap goggles for eyes.
Again, Percy gestured for silence..as he used his web shooters to zip across the alley.
Sidney watched as Percy's body moved like a predator, now stalking their own stalkers...
[End of Part Five]