Aiden
Ember rushes up the stairs in her dormitory.
“Ember! Please, let’s… let’s talk!” I yell breathlessly from the bottom of the stairwell.
She continues her hurried pace.
My lungs burn for air, unable to catch my breath. Why does her dorm room have to be on the opposite side of campus? “You know… it’s… it’s not fair your abilities can make you run faster!”
A door slams shut in response.
I trek to her room, and my fist hovers over her door, wanting to knock, but is this really the best thing to do? Did she run because she wanted to get away from me? Or was it because she was too overwhelmed? No matter the reason, it won’t be good for her to bottle all this up.
I guess there’s only one to find out for sure if she’ll let me in.
Knock, knock. A few painful moments pass with no response. “Em,” I say quietly. “If you want me to go, I will. But, honey, please say something.”
The door cracks open, and I push it farther to reveal her room. A wall separates her side from Stella’s. Each side has a bed, desk, and dresser.
My eyes zone in on something on the floor: Ember’s blue dress. My heart stops.
Ember is digging through her dresser, just in her bra and underwear—a matching blue set. She removes a small bottle cap from her top drawer, shakes her head, and puts it on top of the dresser. “Oh, Lime.”
I stare at her curves, noticing a birthmark near her belly button that swirls like a living flame inside her skin. I quickly avert my eyes, feeling a bit awkward.
“Please close the door,” she says.
I do, focusing on the beige carpet.
“You can look at me.”
I do as she gathers a red tank top from the drawer, struggles to get it over her head, and roughly yanks it down her torso. She runs her fingers through her frazzled hair and says, “I'm sorry I ran from you, but I needed to get out of there.”
“We… we should talk.” My voice cracks like I’m going through puberty again.
“About what?”
I stare at her, unblinking. “Em, you know what.”
“I don’t think I can.” She takes out black shorts from her dresser and puts them on. “Better yet, I don’t want to.”
“It won’t get easier if you avoid this.”
She sighs and sits on her bed, dropping her head into her hands.
I take a seat next to her. “We also need to think about what all this means.”
“And what does it mean, Aiden?” Ember bites back. “That the one person I’ve trusted my whole life has lied to me constantly?” Her hair levitates, and her eyes flicker with her inner fire. “That it was Eliza’s brother who murdered my mom?” Tears drip down her cheeks. “That she never told me! That… that…” Sobs overwhelm her, and her head falls back into her hands.
I pull Ember into me, needing to try to comfort her, but she wails in agony. My heart shatters, and I grip her harder, wishing I could alleviate her pain. “Shh… shh… it’ll be okay.”
She balls my shirt into her fists, and her tears soak my shoulder. “It won’t be! How could it?”
“I know it’s scary, but there must be a reason for this. You need to talk to Eliza.” My words do nothing to soothe her. The tears don’t stop coming, and her breathing grows more ragged with every second, to the point of hyperventilating. “Em, breathe, please breathe.”
She stands abruptly, gasping for air. Her hand flies to her head. “I’m dizzy.” She closes her eyes and sways. “I think something’s wrong!”
I recognize what’s happening and wrap my arms around her. “Honey, listen to me. You’re okay, but I need you to focus on something. Anything.”
She eyes something behind me. “Okay.”
“What is it?”
“It’s the stuffed animal… you… you got me at the arcade.”
I smile, remembering when I gave it to her during our first time going out together. “Good. Tell me about it.”
“Well, it’s a moose… and… and it’s dressed like a pirate.” Her rapid breathing calms a little. “It has a red-striped shirt and an eye patch, and it’s sitting in the corner of my desk.”
“Good. Now tell me something you can smell.”
She closes her eyes, inhales, and smiles tenderly. “Cinnamon.”
“What’s something you can feel?”
She lays her hands on my chest, and her breathing slows. “You.”
I tenderly kiss her forehead. “Do you feel better?”
“I’m still a little shaky and lightheaded but somewhat better.” She rubs her forehead. “I don’t understand what happened. I thought I was dying there for a second.”
“I’m pretty sure you were having a panic attack. What I did was help ground you.”
“A panic attack? I’ve never had one that intense before.”
“You’ve gone through a lot today. I’m surprised you didn’t have one earlier.” I go to her mini fridge and get her bottle of water. “Here, drink this. You may be a little dehydrated too.”
She takes a sip and sits on her bed. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” I sit next to her. “I’m sorry if I pushed too hard about talking. I was just worried you’d want to act like nothing happened.”
“I did want to act like nothing happened.” She blows some of her auburn hair out of her face. “First everything with the conference, then with Johnny, with us… and now this.” She takes another drink and concentrates on her breathing for a moment. “I don’t know what to think.”
I eye her with a new curiosity. “How is it that you never knew Black Mold’s full name?”
She shrugs and sets the water bottle on the floor. “Eliza was my tutor. She taught me about villains but mostly only about what their abilities were. Even if Black Mold’s real name was ever in the papers after my parents’ murders, I wouldn’t have known then either, since Eliza didn’t let me read them. I doubt it was though, or I’m sure something would’ve come to light long ago since Eliza became my caregiver.” She sighs and rubs her forehead. “What a headline that would’ve made.”
I think of the days when I was obsessed with reading the newspapers after her parents’ murders. Most of the articles were about remembering Emerald Blaze and Digger or aimed at Ember’s whereabouts. “Actually, I don’t recall any information about Black Mold’s identity. There were articles about him, sure, but only about trying to locate him and the crimes he committed with Mad Marie.”
“You said you only learned of his last name in your Villain’s class last semester? So you didn’t know before then either, right?”
“Yeah. That’s true. I guess it’s not common knowledge. Professor Vetito said he went to school with Stanley back when he wasn’t Black Mold. That’s how he knew him.”
Ember glances at me with a new interest. “Professor Vetito?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“He’s my DNA Exploration of Abilities professor.”
“Maybe talk with him?” I say, trying to be hopeful. “He may have some answers.”
“Maybe.” Ember sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. “My mind is still having a hard time wrapping around all of this.”
I hesitantly ask, “Do you think your parents knew Black Mold is Eliza’s brother?”
“They had to. My mom and Eliza pretty much grew up together, but the real question is, why did they hide it?”
“I wish I knew.”
“What else did my mom say to Black—I mean, Stanley?” Ember’s lip quivers. “Before he killed her that is.”
My eyes glaze over. I’m suddenly twelve years old again, too scared to move—to help. I stare toward Emerald Blaze trapped in a sphere of water, but her face is uncovered. Her green outfit shimmers in the water like mermaid scales, and her red hair floats around her. A gangly form stands in front of her, and his hair could pass for black seaweed: Black Mold.
“Please, please think of my daughter!” Emerald Blaze screams. “It isn’t too late, Stanley. We can stop this together!”
Black Mold shakes his head. “Why would I think of her? Why would I care about her? Or you, for that matter? You made your choice, Julia, long ago. It is too late.” He closes his eyes and cocks his head. He raises his hand, with his palm facing Emerald Blaze, and moves it in a circular motion. Water covers her face.
“She said he didn’t have to kill her.” My cheeks get wet. “That they could work together and stop whatever was going on.”
“Stop what?”
“That, I don’t know.” I wipe my face. “He told her that she made her choice, and, well, that was the last thing he said to her before… you know.”
“I just don’t understand. What choice?” Ember jolts her head toward me with panic in her eyes. “Do you think Eliza was in on their murders?”
“What? No! There’s no way she could’ve been! You said she was your mom’s best friend.”
“You’re right. She was with me when we watched everything happen on TV. She was in shock as much as I was. I don’t think she could’ve faked that.”
Creak. The door opens, and Stella enters with Lime on her shoulder.
She takes one look at us on Ember’s bed and says, “Oh my gosh! I’m sorry!” She steps back into the hallway and shuts the door.
Ember and I chuckle. “Stella, it’s fine!” Ember shouts. “We’re just talking.”
The door slowly inches open. “Are you sure?”
Ember playfully rolls her eyes. “Yes. I’ll make sure to put a sock on the doorknob in the future if it’s not.”
Stella chuckles, entering the room. “That works.” She frowns after taking a good look at Ember. “Are you okay? I came backstage to find you after the conference, but they told me you already left.”
“Yeah.” Ember fidgets with her hands. “But there’s a lot I need to fill you in on.”
Lime pokes Stella’s cheek to get her attention. He frowns and rubs his tummy.
“I hate to change the subject, but have you two eaten yet?” She glances at us. “Lime has been bugging me nonstop for a chicken tender.”
“No,” I answer. “We haven’t had the time to.”
“Plus, my stomach is a bit of a mess,” Ember adds.
“How about a tea from the Coffee Bar?” Stella asks. “I know peppermint is your favorite, and it’ll help your stomach.”
“That actually sounds good,” Ember says, smiling a little.
“With two spoonfuls of honey, right?” I say.
Ember nods. “You know me too well.”
“Okay, so one peppermint tea with honey.” Stella looks at me. “Aiden, want to share chicken tenders with Lime?”
I chuckle. “Sure.” Even if Lime’s version of eating is just breaking the food into smaller chunks in his mouth and making a mess.
“It’s settled, then. Chicken tenders and one enormous peppermint tea.” Stella turns for the door. “Once I’m back, you can catch me up on everything.” With a wave from her and Lime, they leave, shutting the door behind them.
Ember leans her head on my shoulder and yawns. “I want to talk to Stella about what happened, but I’m exhausted.”
“How about I tell her?” I lean my head on top of hers. “And you can try to take a nap.”
“Are you sure? What about my tea?”
“We can always warm it up. Sleeping will help you feel better.”
She nods, rubbing her eyes. “Will you hold me until I fall asleep?”
I smile. “You don’t have to ask me twice.”
We lay on the red blanket, adjusting against each other. Ember’s back curves perfectly into me, and her warmth surrounds me.
She grasps my hands tighter around her. “Aiden?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for telling me the truth. I’m so sorry I said we should break up earlier. Johnny just got in my head.”
“It’s okay.” I tilt her head toward mine, staring into her shimmering, emerald eyes. “I’ll always be here for you.”
She kisses me, her soft lips melting against my own, and whispers, “I know.”