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Yours,

Alex

Chapter 6-More answers… less knowledge

'So let me see if I got this,', Phoebe interrupted Superman, provoking a slight hue of boredom, 'Max is one of the many Chosen Ones, of which some accomplished their mission, some did not and some joined Darkness?', Phoebe said, pointing her eyes Superman, being visibly mistrustful.

'Yes!', Superman replied and led Phoebe, Hank and Barb toward the large metal door that served as entrance into the Superheroes' Council. Then, briskly turning to the worried three Thundermans added: 'You see, as every Chosen One has to choose between Light and Darkness, some chose the latter, and of course, it was crucial to determine Max to choose the Light side, or anyway that's what we believe we did…'

'But what might happen if he would have chosen Darkness?', Phoebe asked, purely curious.

'Superman sighed and frowned:

'The last Chosen One that joined Darkness was Dark Mayhem, on his real name Klaus Donnenmann and he…', here Superman took a deep breath, ignoring Phoebe's open mouth, as in shock. 'In those times', he continued, 'every superhero was united into a single organization: The League. Well, Dark Mayhem felt betrayed after a superhero tried to steal his powers-poor fellow!-and joined the Dark side, receiving a devastating power: The Green Fire.'

'The Green Fire?', asked Phoebe and Superman made haste to respond:

'It is an ancient gift that spreads like a disease and kills everything that is beautiful and kind… Eventually the League fought Dark Mayhem, but was not able to destroy him completely- he lost his gift, and became a ghost, although…'

'Although, I,', Hank said, 'the one who let the Superheroes' attack paid a horrible price, as fighting Darkness requires lots of energy, I lost too much vital power- my supernatural abilities could be supported no more, and started to fade away.', Hank said half proudly and half sorrowfully.

'And that's why your father has retired so early.', Barb added, gently patting her husband's arm.

'And the League was permanently broken.', Superman added, quite gloomily.

For a couple of moments there was complete silence as Phoebe was trying to assimilate the new bits of information.

'And Max doesn't know all these facts because…?', Phoebe asked, looking as if she was ready to tear Superman into pieces.

'We tried not to threaten his self-confidence and I- we would appreciate if you remained silent, we don't want to today's events repeat.'

'Wait! You think it is my fault!, I had nothing to do with it, I don't even now how he managed to find out about that damned prophecy!', she said, now screaming. 'Why would I even do it?'

'Well, you can be a little jealous sometimes, you know.', Barb said, trying to sound as comforting as she was able to be.

'HOW DARE YOU?! I would never tell him something that might hurt him!'

'But you have been jealous, dearie, like when he became school President…', Barb pointed, wondering why was she still talking and expecting the worst response from her daughter, and she wasn't disappointed.

Luckily, a young blonde woman dressed in the Superheroes' Hospital showed up, and, smiling amiably, she asked:

'Hello! I believe you're Max's parents?', the woman asked, adding quickly that their son was conscious and in a state that allowed visiting. 'So if you desire to visit him…', the woman said, arranging her teal-coloured uniform.

'Sure, we'd love to!', Barb exclaimed thinking of what Max might say at the moment of seeing the three of them.

Contemplating for the last time the tall grey glass building that hosted the Superheroes' Council, Barb started to follow the blonde woman to the hospital, closely followed by Phoebe and Hank.

A week later…

'NORA, I'M HOME!', Billy screamed as usual, closing the door and throwing his backpack away on the floor.

Billy crossed the colourful sitting room, going past Max and Phoebe, who were texting frenetically, bumping in Max and finally reaching the spot where Nora was watching the whole scene narrowly from the kitchen.

'What're you doin'?', Billy asked , talking fast and with excitement.

'Look at the two of them…', Nora murmured thoughtfully, fully contemplating the situation. 'Since that fight, they haven't been talking to each other…'

'Do you think they're up to something?', Billy asked, whispering, but still getting Nora's attention.

'Why would you think that?', she asked in response, looking at Billy questionably.

'I don't know it's just weird… Not arguing, not even talking… OH, I KNOW! Maybe they forgot how to talk!', Billy exclaimed loudly, as the realization struck him.

Nora, on the other hand, just sighed, remembering who she was talking too- her brother!

'Alright, I think we should… you know… investigate a little…', she said, trying to look as if she was careless towards this situation. Luckily, Billy, did not realize that he was doing exactly what his sister wanted him to do.

'INVESTIGATING!', he cried out, attracting Max and Phoebe's baffled glares for a while, until they returned to typing on their iPhones.

'We'll talk later.', Nora said returning to observing the twins.

'So how was school?', Barb asked, but jumped as something in her pocket vibrated. 'What is-', she started to say, pulling her smartphone out of her pocket. 'Tell Phoebe that her hair is awful!', Barb read aloud and started to scold Max about it, but she had to stop as a second message arrived and Barb started to read it out loud: 'Tell Max he stinks!'

'Well at least their communicating.', said Billy, highly amused.

'Yes, through text messaging and they're not even texting each other!', Nora replied, still contemplating the amusing situation.

'Alright stop it!' Barb snapped and the twins glared at her , stopping texting. 'If you're going to stop, I am going to take your phones away! Is that understood?', she said, calming down a little.

'OK, I'm sorry, Max!', Phoebe said, looking genuinely sorry.

'Yeah, I'm sorry too.', Max said casually and then added, hissing between gritted teeth, as Barb went upstairs: 'That I met you!'.

'As he said this, Max headed toward his lair, leaving a shocked Phoebe alone with her pessimistic thoughts.

"God! He sounds so hateful! I have to fix things quickly!", she told herself trying to be strong. 'Tonight…', she muttered.

Later that day…

It was late at night and everyone was sleeping... or not everyone?

Phoebe climbed down the stairs as quiet as possible, trying not to wake up the whole house, then she looked kindly toward the dark sitting room, expression changed into concern as she was approaching the entrance of Max's room. She knew that what she was going to do is not the best idea, but it was time for a change and she had to start it. Phoebe lifted the hatch and then, closing her eyes, slid down on the slider.

'WHAT THE-', Max snapped as Phoebe landed directly on him.

'Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up!', Phoebe said, managing to get off Max and sit on an edge of his bed. 'I mean I did want to wake you up, but not this roughly.'

Max looked at his sister questionable and knew that something important was troubling her. 'What is it, Phoebe?'

'Well, I just-, no, it doesn't matter it was just-', Phoebe mumbled and stood up, but was tugged back on the bed by an invisible hand.

'Max!', she cried out in surprise.

'Sorry, Pheebs, but something is troubling you and I want to know what.'

She looked in his eyes and saw that he was honest.

'You know, you and me did not have the best brotherly relationship and I was thinking of trying to argue less, and well… learn how to understand each other…'

'You know,', Max interrupted her, 'that's exactly what I was thinking and yes, I also want to have a better relationship with you. Anyway I messed up with Billy...'

'Don't say rubbish, Max! You and Billy have a really nice relationship as I and Nora do. And anyway, don't expect too much, after all you're 15 and Billy is 10!'

Max nodded.

'And I wanted to ask you something more, a favor actually.', Phoebe added, showing the puppy-eyes.

Max looked at her and smiled, his eyes remaining serious.

'I was wondering if I can sleep with you, like we did when we were young and every time I had had a nightmare, you comforted me... I really miss those times...'

Max couldn't believe his ears- she still remembered those times!?

'Well, alright, this night only, OK!?'

Phoebe quickly nodded happily.

Some minutes later, as none of them was able to sleep, Phoebe decided to break the ice:

'Max, are you awake?', she whispered, earning an 'mmh' from her brother. 'Is there something you're hiding from me?'

Max quickly turned his face to her, smiling, their eyes connecting.

'I'm a super villain, Pheebs and I have lots of secrets.'

She rolled her eyes and said:

'I don't get it, why this super villain stuff, I mean you are a good person, anyway.'

Max's smile disappeared instantly, being replaced by a sad expression.

'I just don't want to be in second.'

This time it was Phoebe's turn to smile.

'But Max, we're twins, we have the same powers and I think, that if you tried more, you would be as good as I am.', she said, knowing that the lat part didn't sound too well. 'I can help you if you want!', she added quickly.

Max smiled again. 'Alright, I'll give it a try.'

There was another moment of silence that was quickly interrupted by Phoebe.

'Max?'

'What is it now?', he answered.

'I'm waiting for a confession, you know!'

Max looked at her in bewilderment and Phoebe quickly added:

'A confession from your travels in Europe…'

He still did not answer.

'Oh come on, Max, it's not like I don't know you and Dark mayhem met once before. In a European prizon!', Phoebe snapped, startling Max who first thought of denying, but it had no point.

'How did you know?', he asked sadly and defeated.

'I hacked into the US database and your name figured on the list of US citizens detained in Europe. The French Province to be more exact.'

'Dammit!', Max cried out, not believing his own stupidity-why didn't he erase those files. He tugged through his hair and then looked imploringly at his sister.

'Please tell no one, will you?'

She looked deep in his eyes and then said:

'Of course I won't! It's your secret, not mine and they will know whenever you want. But please be careful next time, OK?

Max nodded and then was silence- the two teenagers fell asleep.

In the meanwhile...

'So hiw can we help?', Tara asked casually, tugging her straight hair.

'Max Thunderman killed my brother, the Green Ghoul and I want revenge!', Dark Mayhem said, spitting his words in sign disgust.

'So, again, how can we help?', Tara said, trying to maintain her attentin .

'If Max Thunderman can kill something already dead, then nothing can stop him... Expecting a broke heart, of course...', Dark Mayhem said, his voice transforming into a purr.

'We are not going to make our daughter run into an actress!', Mr. Campbell said, his voice increasing volume.

'And anyway, how did Max offend you, so you revenge so hardly on him?', added Tara.

'THAT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESSES!', Dark Mayhem snapped, 'And we all know how you became so rich, idiot donkeys!', he added and without leaving them time to answer, he disappeared.

But in a at corner other large living room of the Campbell mansion, hiding into darkness and listening to the dirty plot.

Next day...

'Cole...', Phoebe muttered in her sleep, placing her head on Max's chest. In that very moment his eyes snapped open.

'What the', Max started to say and then, shaking his day violently exclaimed: 'Get off!'. In the next moment, Phoebe was awake.

'Mhh, what happened?', she asked in morning voice.

'You were kinda embracing me, murmuring Cole's name.'' Max replied, hardly hiding his laughter.

'It's not funny!', Phoebe exclaimed, rather embarrassed.

'Yes it is!', Max said, giggling. 'And that's why too teenagers of opposite sex are not to sleep in the same bed...'

Phoebe opened her mouth to say something and closed it again, playfully punching Max in the shoulder. 'Max!', she exclaimed.

When the two teenagers calmed down, Phoebe said:

'Any plans for this Saturday?'

'No, not really.', Max answered. 'Why? Do you have something certain on your mind?'

'What about some training?'

As Phoebe said this, Max covered his ears with his pillow.

'You didn't let me finish!', she added. 'I was thinking of training in a sp ecial designated area, at the Arena...'

Max quickly uncovered his ears and raised his head, looking at his sister in surprise.

'In Metroburg?!', he asked, not believing his ears. 'We're not allowed to-'

'Do you really think that I don't know that?', Phoebe snapped. 'I was just thinking of something interesting. And Nora can come with us, you know...', she added, smiling at her cunningness.

Max considered his options and soon realized that had nothing interesting to do today. And anyway, what might get wrong?

'Alright, stop imploring me.', he said.

Phoebe rolled her eyes in the back of her head and getting off Max's bed she said, before going upstairs:

'Oh and grab your Thundersuit. You're gonna need it!'.

'Phoebe's breaking rules?!', Dr. Colosso said, who his just overheard the whole conversation. 'I'm starting to think that she's more evil then you ar , Max.', he said.

Max didn't answer, thinking that Dr. Colosso was right and Phoebe was more evil than him. But did he really want to be evil? Max sighed and snapping of his dizzying thoughts started to search for his Thundersuit, through his pill of clothes thrown in his wardrobe...