CHAPTER ONE: ISIS & DEMETRI
“I’m dead!” I gasp as I slowly fall to the ground. He stands before me and proclaims victory.
“Yes! I win again!” he shouts with the most adorable evil laugh. I sneak a peek and he scolds me.
“You’re dead, Green Goblin. You can’t open your eyes,” the five-year-old warns me.
“Okay, but if I’m dead, I’m taking all my candy with me.” My neighbor, Ben, thought long and hard over his dilemma.
“Okay, Emmy. You’re not dead, but you have to give Spiderman all of your candy”
I get up from the floor and fake a mean look. He stares me down and sticks out his wrist as if to release his “web.” It’s hard to keep a straight face when confronted with the cutest Spiderman in Manhattan.
“Okay, okay. I give up.”
“Yes!” He exclaims as he runs past me and heads over to the coffee table. He takes the bags of candy (the result of an exhaustive night of trick or treating) and dumps it out onto the table. Ben then begins to divide them. He gives me all the boring stuff (candy corn, raisins, trail mix) and takes the good stuff for himself.
Just as he is about to devour the candy, his mom enters.
“Hold it!” she warns.
He turns to look at her with wide, hopeful eyes.
“What?” he asks, knowing very well why his mom stopped him.
“One piece. The rest is for later.”
“But Mom—”
“--I mean it. Now say good night to Emmy and thank her for taking you trick or treating”
“Thanks, Emmy,” he says, giving me a hug.
I hug him back. And try hard not to pinch his cheeks. I know he hates that but he really has the most pinch-worthy checks I have ever seen.
“Rio is waiting out in the hallway for you, Em,” Ben’s mom informs me.
“Okay, thanks.” As I am walking out the door, Ben’s mom stops to look at me. She’s looking for something to say to make it all better. It’s been a month since my mom was murdered. She wants desperately to say something that will take away the grief. I get that look of sadness and helplessness a lot from people who knew my mom.
“Emmy…” she starts. I give her my most reassuring smile and tell her what a great time I had. Thankfully that is enough to satisfy her. I head out the door and find Rio patiently waiting. Ben runs out to the hallway, says hello to Rio. Before Rio even has a chance to reply, Ben launches into the events of the evening.
“There were a million Spidermen, but I was the best, right, Em?”
“Absolutely,” I confirm.
“I’m sorry I missed it,” Rio says smiling.
“You can come with us next year. Emmy and me are going to dress up next year too, right?”
Rio and I exchange a look.
Next year…
I inhale deeply and address Ben.
“It’s a date, Spiderman.”
He beams and runs back into his apartment.
Once Ben’s door is closed, I address Rio.
“I thought Marcus was picking me up.”
“He was busy.”
“I figured.”
Rio studies me.
“Emmy?”
“Yeah?”
I know he’s reading my Wave. I know there are a lot of colors. I’m certain he knows the truth that I have been hiding from everyone: I’m afraid to die.
“If you want to talk…” Rio begins.
“Let’s just focus on Marcus. He is not dealing with this well.”
“And you are?”
“No, but all I have to do is die. He’s the one who has to take the life of someone he loves.”
“I know you’re concerned about Marcus, but his concern at the moment is you. Don’t you think you should admit to him that you’re terrified?”
“Will that change anything?”
“Maybe not but you two need to talk about it.”
“That’s all we’ve done is talk. But no amount of talking will change the fact that a Dy cannot be cast out without killing the person it’s in. It’s never been done.”
“I know but…”
“The Sage was right. The minute Marcus found out the Triplex was in my eyes, and he didn’t kill me to get it, Marcus betrayed his mission.”
“So, what now?”
“Now we help him get back on track.”
“You mean we help him kill you?”
“He’s the only Guardian who can take a human life.”
“Just because he can, doesn’t mean he will.”
“I could do it myself.”
“You heard the Sage. If you die by your own hands, the map will go into limbo. We would have to start looking for it all over again. And since we are only allowed a year for this mission, there just isn’t enough time”