Breathe in the Embers

Part 14

Falling into a sullen silence, Martin paid little attention to Margaret’s constant babble as they walked downtown. The suburbs slowly vanished into increasing squallor, then into true dilapidation as factories and industrial complexes began to rise around them. The more imposing buildings loomed, but with more space between them it didn’t feel oppressive. Open yards where manual labor was underway, vast parking lots for freight that was absent, Martin appreciated the frenetic but focused energy of the place.

He just wished it didn’t smell so much.

At long last they reached the warehouse, just as abandoned as it always was. Margaret had become increasingly more uneasy as they left the suburbs far behind, and her patience finally wore out. “What on earth are we doing here Marty?” she demanded, glaring at the decrepit building with something more akin to affront than uncertainty, as if she was appalled that the place dared to be so run down.

“This is where we meet.” Martin explained briefly, not seeing the point of details. She would see soon enough, and wouldn’t believe him until then anyway.

“You and Lily?”

“Yep.”

“So where is she?” Margaret asked, the weight of a thousand unasked questions in her tone. He couldn’t even look at her for fear of seeing the accusation in that gaze. Did she think Lily was a drug dealer? Something even more condemning?

“Just come inside. You’ll see in a minute.”

Margaret followed him in with an appropriate degree of caution. This warehouse was set back behind rows of others, and no one ever came back here. Still, Lithuega had been forced to stay inside whenever present to avoid being noticed. The workers in neighboring buildings had been curious at first, but quickly lost interest in the eccentric young kid who came here to exercise. This wasn’t the part of town you called the cops for something so minor, if you called the cops at all. It’s part of why he’d chosen it.

Walking to the center of the building, he sighed, turning to face Margaret. She had stopped just inside the open doors, watching him cautiously. “Alright, just don’t freak out and run away or anything.”

“Marty, this isn’t a freaky, psycho killer kinda thing is it?” Margaret whispered, her voice carrying easily through the immense space. “Because I’ve seen a horror movie like this…”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Martin muttered, eyes rolling. Then he crossed his arms and fell backward, the way one would for a trust fall. Margaret cried out in surprise, then fell silent as his shadow rose to meet him.

It coalesced as they met, smoky shadow becoming solid flesh of midnight blue. Powerful arms slipped under his own, crossing over his chest in what was a now familiar, if still annoying, embrace. Lithuega formed behind him, catching him gently, and ever so briefly cradling him against her. Then, as was customary, she tossed him forward to his own feet, Martin stumbling away from her. This time he managed to stay upright.

“Well well well Martin, already given in to the temptation to reveal your secret identity?” Litheuga taunted, tapping a finger thoughtfully against her full lips. “I thought you were smarter than that. Oh so very careful no one knows the truth until you bring this girl…” her eyes lit up, sky blue flashing with mischievous delight, and she smiled. “Oh! I see how it is. I’m sorry Martin, didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

Martin colored at the implications, and he opened his mouth to retort, but Margaret cut in. “This is Lily?” she finally gasped, finding her breath once more. “You’re that hero who saved camp! Everyone wondered who…” she paused, turning slowly to Martin, her finger pointing. “You’re the person who saved camp?”

“Hey! I did that very much on my own, thank you very much.” Lithuega interrupted, pouting. “He asked me to of course, but the effort was mine. And Lily, Martin? That was the best you could come up with?”

“I’m not exactly cut out for lying.” Martin muttered, kicking at a piece of rubble on the floor.

“But you’ve had so much practice lately!”

“Woah, wait Martin how did you even meet her? And when? You two argue like an old married couple!” Margaret exclaimed, looking suspiciously between them. Martin didn’t notice, but Lithuega certainly knew the look of jealousy when she saw it. “How long have you been hiding this?”

“Now now, Margy, Martin has yet to reach the age of majority by the standards of your culture. Don’t worry, you still have many years to take the first crack at him before I’d be remotely interested.” Lithuega teased.

“Dear God this was a mistake.” Martin muttered, stepping between the two women, hands raised. “I was in trouble, alright? I was stuck on a rock in the river, the fire raged all around. I asked for help, she showed up, we made a deal. She had to save everyone. So now we are working together and sort of…”

“We’re going to be superheroes. Or a superhero. Kind of depends on how Martin does with his training.”

“You made a deal? Like sold your soul kind of deal?” Margaret demanded in disbelief. “Just to become a superhero?”

Martin sighed with frustration. “It was that or die! It was that, or you would all die! What other choice did I have? I am just making the most of it now, since it was necessary then.”

“Oh. Well, what’s your hero name?”

“Tenth Circle.”

“Fury.”

They glared at each other.

And Margaret laughed.