Later that afternoon
Wednesday
South Cottage Grove
Apartment 202
I knocked on the door.
"It's open!" Came Chloe's voice, so I pushed the door open, closing it behind me.
"Keep your fingers crossed, Steph!" I warned.
"Why?"
"You really don't wanna know!"
"Hi, Steph!" Chloe called out as we entered the living room. "Hi, Mindy!"
"You're wearing clothes – that's a change!" I grimaced.
"Ignore her, Steph – Josh is in the kitchen."
..._...
Once Stephanie had gone through to the kitchen, I sat down with Chloe.
"How is she?" Chloe asked with genuine concern.
"Struggling, but under the circumstances I think she's doing well. She asked to see Josh – I think the British connection helps," I explained.
"What are you going to do with her?"
"We don't know – she has no home; she only has Miranda and I'm not sure about Miranda either."
"You trust Miranda?"
"Not really – especially after past experiences; but we have no choice. We need to find out what happened to Stephanie, so we can try to help her."
"Where will she stay?"
"Funny story – well, your Mother seems to think that as Stephanie and I share similar, err mental instabilities, she err thinks Stephanie should stay with me, at least at first," Mindy replied. "Plus I have the skills to physically control her if necessary. She is, we hope, bonding with Josh so he can help with her mental side a bit."
"I really feel for her – she is such a sweet girl when she isn't being, well, you..."
"I know..."
I stopped talking as I heard a little scream from the kitchen.
"Oh Josh, that is so good; I need more, give it to me..."
"I'm coming, I'm coming!"
I looked at Mindy and her mouth fell open.
"They couldn't be..." Mindy began.
We jumped up and peered into the kitchen.
Stephanie was sitting at the kitchen counter, stuffing something into her mouth.
"It's so good!" She squealed with her mouth full.
She turned as we entered, swallowing.
"He's got Marmite; I love Marmite – it's been years!" She said happily.
"The ultimate comfort food," Josh explained smugly. "Marmite on toast – she's on her fifth piece!"
"She eats that shit? Kinda explains things!" Chloe muttered.
"I love it – you've got to try it, Mindy, Chloe – it's heaven!" Stephanie replied grinning broadly for the first time.
"I admit I've never tried it..." I admitted.
"Don't Mindy; it's like eating gun grease!" Chloe warned.
"I like the taste of gun grease; I'll have you know..."
"What a surprise!" Chloe growled. "Don't blame me if you puke..."
Stephanie passed over a small piece of toast with butter and some black tar-like stuff on it. I tentatively licked it. Not so bad... The smell was intriguing... Strange taste – salty, interesting, sharp...
"Not bad!" I said, finally.
"Always knew you were fucking strange!" Chloe growled with a laugh.
That night
Glenview
"Nice place, Mindy!"
"Thanks... Before we go in, I need to talk to you. My kids have no knowledge of who Dave and I, or the others for that matter, really are. You let out our little secret and I – will – rip – you – apart, nine-years-old, or not..."
"I believe you."
"I can see that you do – so I want you to be on your best behaviour, understand – I know it won't be easy for you, but I will be there for you whenever you need me; the same with Dave."
"Thank you, Mindy."
We climbed out of the XJR and headed inside.
"Hi, Paige and thanks for looking after the little terrors!"
"They've been angels as always..."
"Mindy!" Both kids yelled, running over for a hug.
"Kids, I'd like you to meet Steph. Steph is going to be staying with us for a while. Please make her feel welcome. She'll be sleeping in your room, Anne-Marie, okay?"
"Cool! Hi, Steph – I'm Anne-Marie and this is my brother, Danny. Come on, I'll show you my room."
"You going to be okay, Mindy?"
"Yeah, thanks, Paige."
"Come on!"
I dragged Steph up to my room. She seemed a little surprised when she saw my bedroom.
"It's enormous!"
I was a little taken aback by the different accent, but I was used to Josh, so it was no big deal and I did not comment on it.
"It is, isn't it?" I replied feeling a little embarrassed. "You'll sleep on the pull-out bed over there. My brother sleeps in the room through the bathroom. I love sleepovers – not had one in a while though. How old are you?"
"Nine."
"Danny and I are seven and a half, eight in March. You got some pyjamas?"
"Actually, no!"
"Yes, you do..." Mindy said as she came in the door and threw a large white t-shirt at Steph.
I saw Steph's eyes go wide when she saw what the t-shirt had on the front – it was the younger Hit Girl in her best pose – she was standing sideways, but facing the camera, with a pistol held out, aimed at the camera! Mindy calls it her 'SOMF' t-shirt; I understood Dave bought it for her, one birthday. Mindy won't tell me what 'SOMF' stands for, though...
"Should be long enough to keep you decent, Steph. I'll take you shopping in the morning."
I was humbled by the way that I was being treated.
I was a killer, a bad person and I had attacked them, but they treated me like a friend. That alone said a lot about what Fusion stood for. As I lay there in the darkness, I looked over at the bed across the room. Even that young girl at seven-years-old was happy to let me into her life and allow me, a complete stranger, to sleep in her room. Mind you, Anne-Marie and Danny saw me as an ordinary nine-year-old girl. Dave and Mindy knew different, but they still treated me the same. Mindy had shown me where her bedroom was and she had told me to wake her if I had any problems.
Problems? Like what? A desire to kill people?
It was going to be very different not having Miranda nearby, but she was sleeping back at our apartment. Anne-Marie had been curious about my bandage when I had undressed before bed. I explained that I had been hurt in an accident and Mindy had backed me up, telling Anne-Marie to stop being so nosy!
Despite my being hurt, I was pleased to have found myself in with Fusion – Miranda was not so happy and she refused to tell me why. I could tell that there was a history between her and Dave, but I had not wanted to pry.
For the first time in months, I felt safe and I actually felt happy.
"She gonna kill us in our sleep?"
"Funny, cunt – as much as I would!"
"I'll never see the morning!"
"Seriously, I trust her and I think she trusts me – but just in case..."
Mindy brought a Glock 26 out from under the pillow – it was fitted with a suppressor.
"Better safe than sorry..." Mindy added with a sheepish grin.
Later that night
It was past two in the morning when I decided to check on the girls.
As I approached the open door to Anne-Marie's room I could hear somebody talking and it was not my daughter. I was about to go into the room when I heard movement and saw Anne-Marie getting out of bed.
She went over to Steph who was obviously having a nightmare – I was about to intervene, knowing how I might react if I were awoken from a nightmare of the sort Steph was probably having. Anne-Marie shook Steph's shoulder and the girl awoke instantly. In the dull illumination of a night light, I could see that the girl was covered in sweat and breathing heavily; she was shaking too.
"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" Steph asked.
"You were having a nightmare..."
"I get them a lot; I'm sorry..."
"I get them too – you look a mess. Why don't you come and sleep in my bed; then you won't be alone."
Steph hesitated, but Anne-Marie had grabbed Steph's wrist and was dragging her across the room. Anne-Marie could be very pushy at times! Once the girls were in bed, I could hear them talking together.
"I get nightmares a lot – ever since our Dad was brutally murdered in Gotham; the first week was the worst and I was a wreck, but Mindy helped me through it. She can help you, too; Mindy is one in a million and I love her – Dave too... Are you crying?"
"I'm sorry – I'm just not used to having people care about me like this. You've only known me for a few hours, yet you are happy to share your thoughts with me and help me..."
"Get a grip Steph – Mindy asked us to make you feel welcome, so that is what I'm gonna do!"
"Thank you – you're a credit to your Mum and Dad you know..."
"I suppose I am..."
I waited until they both fell asleep and then headed back downstairs to bed.
The following morning
Thursday
Glenview
I was up early and found Anne-Marie and Danny already up, washed and dressed.
Steph was still in bed, but awake.
"You two sleep okay?" I asked the girls.
"Steph had a nightmare but we sorted it."
"Come on, breakfast!"
Steph groaned, but threw back the duvet and rolled out of bed.
..._...
After breakfast, Dave took the twins to school while I helped Steph remove her bandage so she could shower. I didn't mention anything about what I had witnessed the previous night, but Steph was smiling which was good.
Our first stop of the day was a clothes store where we picked up the essentials that Steph would need. We also stopped off to see Miranda and pickup Steph's kit.
"You look a lot better, this morning," Miranda said to Steph.
"I feel better, thanks. What about you?"
"Knowing that we are both in good hands, I slept remarkably well."
"Will I see you later?"
"Dave is picking me up this afternoon, so yes."
Safehouse F
"What's this?"
"A test!"
Arranged on the table in the armoury were various gun parts – quite a lot of them and they were all mixed up!
"Reassemble what you can..." Mindy prompted as she left the room.
I emptied my mind and focussed on the contents of the table. I felt my mind taking over and my hands started to reach for the various components, arranging them into groups. I smirked as I identified a wildcard – Mindy was trying to be clever! It did not take me long to reassemble the weapons and lay them neatly on the table.
When I was finished, I looked around the armoury. I saw my own weapons, over on another table. I took in the massive array of firearms, knives and other equally lethal weapons. I also took in the racks of ammunition. There were steel containers, cardboard boxes and loaded magazines. A part of my mind was telling me to seize a weapon and escape, but I forced that order back down – I wanted to stay where I was; I was not about to jeopardise my relationship with Mindy.
Mindy reappeared and looked approvingly at my results.
"Well done! For a bonus point – what is the extra component and where does it belong?"
I stood up and walked over to the array of pistols, selecting one from the rack.
"Browning Hi-Power – the slide stop – is that the best you've got, Hit Girl!"
Mindy laughed.
"Cocky bitch!"
I grinned.
The Galley
We were alone, which was ominous, although I was certain there was somebody else in the Safehouse; I could hear other activity.
Mindy passed me a mug of tea and sat down with a mug of coffee.
"Tell me about the other night – what happened?"
I was still piecing together the events that had put me in the Medical Centre, but I owed Mindy, so...
...+...
Tuesday night
I was bored, so I wanted to check out the area – just to be safe, of course.
Miranda tried to dissuade me, but I forced the issue, pulling on my weapons and jacket, before heading out the door. I knew Chicago was dangerous – I vividly remembered the events of that first day of our new life. I kept to the shadows, only there were already some other men using those same shadows.
I tried to sneak past, but they saw me and as I turned to run, another one took hold of me by the arms. I tried to fight only to receive a punch to my face, which damn well hurt! I fought back but then one of them shouted an order.
"They're here; stop playing with the bitch and kill her!"
A knife appeared, which I deflected, but it slashed my stomach, which really hurt and I screamed out. Then came the gun and after the gunshot, I heard and saw nothing until I awoke in the Safehouse Medical Centre.
...+...
Thursday
Safehouse F
"Sounds like you had fun!"
"Thanks, Mindy!"
Mindy looked at me and I realised that she could read my expressions and she looked worried.
"Mindy, I hate what I am – I don't want to be me; I want to be normal – a normal nine-year-old... A normal girl."
"I know how you feel, I really do; I've been there."
I had a nasty thought.
"Will I ever be normal?"
Mindy hesitated before she replied.
"To be honest, no..."
I did not like the sound of that, not one bit...
"Stephanie, you will never be normal again. Believe me, I know – I wished so many times, but it never happened. Like you, I was brain washed into doing unspeakable things without any hint of conscience. Daddy made it a game and I indulged in it; I loved the purple suit and the pink utility belt was to die for – I always wore it, even when doing my homework!
"Then Dave came into my life and I kinda developed a crush – an eleven year-old crushing on a dick in a wetsuit! Then after a night of hell, my reason for being was removed – Kick-Ass killed Frank D'Amico. It was over; there was no need for Hit Girl... I went back to what I thought would be a normal life."
"If you can call an eleven-year-old putting down two fifteen year-old bullies on her first day of school, normal!"
"Hi Dave!" Mindy laughed.
"Did she really do that?" I asked.
"They spent a week in hospital!" Dave replied with a grin. "Mindy tried her best to be normal, but she struggled – it took a few years before she finally found out what she was – who she was."
"I was fifteen and despite trying to be a good daughter to my Step-Dad, I wasn't comfortable being Mindy Macready. Then Dave's Dad was murdered and the funeral was attacked – then I fucked things up, but I discovered that I had but one identity; I was Hit Girl!"
"But..." I began.
"It's complicated," Dave said. "Stay with me; it will all become clear, Stephanie."
"I was forced to leave New York and things started well, but then one tiny mistake – I killed a cunt who tried to steal my motorcycle – and I almost died as I led a feral existence controlled by Hit Girl. Dave searched for months and finally found me here, in Chicago – I treated him badly and I still feel bad about that."
"Mindy basically told me to go fuck myself!"
"She always was a bitch!" Chloe said sitting down beside Mindy.
"Then I got myself shot and Dave saved my life – only I was an ungrateful bitch and I told him where to go even though he had just bandaged my side up!"
"I'd figured Mindy out; I was probably the first to do that, but not the last, though. All of us, even nutcase Chloe here, have two identities. We switch by taking off our costume and going back to our normal lives. Mindy cannot do that – by the time her Daddy had finished with her, Mindy Macready and Hit Girl were so intertwined that they could never be separated – I was the first to work that out."
"I am damaged, Stephanie – I cannot exist on my own. There are two people, in my life, who are able to control me and keep me as a person with a conscience and a human being. Without them, I would not be able to be Mindy Macready. I owe everything to these two – Chloe and Dave are what keep me, me.
"I hate to say it, but you are me – you will never be Stephanie Walker nor Psyche. You can only be Stephanie 'Psyche' Walker, as I am Mindy 'Hit Girl' Macready. The way you described your thoughts and behaviour to Cathy – I am sorry, but the damage is done."
I did not know what to say. I got up and went for a walk around the walkways to think through what I had been told.
"Got a minute Steph?" Chloe asked a while later.
"Of course..."
"I want you to watch something."
It was a video – YouTube.
"Hello boys and girls..."
"Is that...?"
"Just watch – but yes, that is Mindy's father, Big Daddy and over there – Dave..." Chloe said quietly.
Oh, crap! It was a fucking snuff movie!
I was horrified... Nevertheless, I could not take my eyes away...
"Even with my metal plates and my fucked up nerve-endings, I gotta tell yer; that hurt!"
I turned to see Dave standing behind me. He smiled and I turned back to the video.
'... This for all you cavemen out there... Is fire... Fire... Fire is good... Fire is our friend... Gentlemen... Time to die...'
"Holy shit!" I exclaimed as the first man went down and things went black.
"I was scared, but my training took over and I killed every last one of the murdering bastards..."
This time it was Mindy and she looked pained.
We watched as the much younger Mindy went into action. I took in the anguished yell when she saw her father burning, the strobe light, and the men dying – all the way to the end.
'... Show's over motherfuckers!'
I was stunned.
I turned to see Dave hugging Mindy tightly.
"Well?" Chloe asked pointedly.
I was speechless.
"So – what do I do?"
"You have choices to make, Stephanie. You can never be a normal girl, not without help. You can never exist as Psyche – you'd be dead before you were twelve. You have a gift, just as I have. It took me a long time to understand that. I am a bad person, but I channel my hate and use it for good. My Daddy taught me morality and it was a key part of my being Hit Girl. If you want, I am willing to teach you to control Psyche and turn her to your advantage. I can teach you what you need to know to have a life."
"You mean I can join you?"
"I thought I was crazy allowing two ten-year-olds to join up, but you have skills – exactly what they are I don't know yet. You would be an asset to us and I think you would get a lot out of it. It will take time and a lot of hard work. You would need to go to school; you would need to live a double life."
"My Mom is willing to take you in and help with your mental stability – she can be very strict and she does not take any shit!" Chloe offered.
"None of this is charity, Steph. You will be expected to work hard and earn your keep," Mindy stated before her expression turned hard and cold. "I also want to take down those that made you what you are..."
"I..."
I had no idea what to say or do.
"Think about it – don't rush; take your time."
"Why?" I asked feeling tears welling up inside of me.
"I look at you and I see me. I was lucky, I found Dave. You have nobody – Miranda is damaged too. I never thought I would ever find somebody who was as badly damaged as I was. You are not alone and you never will be – if that is what you want."
That afternoon
Glenview
Anne-Marie had me in tears.
Nothing bad! I had just taken her washing back to her room and dumped it on the end of her bed for her to put away; she was on her tablet sitting cross-legged on the bed.
Then she suddenly jumped up and hugged me.
"Thanks, Mom!"
She then jumped back onto the bed and went back to her tablet. I was shell-shocked. Then I felt tears building up and I ran downstairs and into our bedroom. I just sat down and cried. It was stupid, but just that one three-letter word meant so much to me.
Not to mention the hug.
"What?" Dave asked as he came in and saw me crying.
I smiled.
"She called me 'Mom'..."
Dave grinned; he knew what it meant to me.
That evening
"Dave, they'll tear me apart..."
"You scared, little Mindy?"
"Damn right I am!"
"You are unbelievable..."
"They are real Mom's, I'm just..."
"Get a fucking grip, girl – it's a damn get together for Moms!"
"But, what if..."
"Do I need to slap you? I'll get Megan over; she'll slap you!"
"Once upon a time you would quake in your boots when I glared at you... Where did I go wrong?"
"I found your soft side!"
"You are not helping..."
Four hours later
"You kill anybody?"
"No I did not!" Mindy retorted. "It was a piece of cake..."
"Did they torture you?"
"No."
"Did they make you feel less of a Mom?"
"No."
"Did they threaten you in any way?"
"No!"
"So what was the big panic about?"
"I overreacted, okay?"
"Any juicy gossip?"
"That would be between me and the other Moms!"