I DREAM OF MY FRIENDS (P.5)

Their favorite park nests between two glowering apartments, sidewalk, and a parking lot. The grass resembles a wheat field because it hasn't been trimmed in years. There is a concrete dais. The inviolable circle of stone has a bench and two people I recognize.

And bodies. Bodies on the dais. Am I not even safe in my dreams?

Clint opens his mouth as if to say something, then closes it again. He smiles bitterly, revealing his missing front teeth. It doesn't fit, I think, for such a mountain of a man to be a coward, but then that's what I like about him. He's a gentle giant.

On the other side of the bench, Ace plays with a butterfly knife. She's wiry, but her control over the knife is beyond masterful. The glare of sunlight on the blade bounces around the park, landing on the bodies.

"So," Ace says, "What power did you get?"

Clint rubs the back of his head. "I'unno Ace, it's freaky shit. I didn't pick one."

Ace rolls her eyes. "You're like that about everything! Remember when I bought that World of Warcraft sub you were clamoring for, and you tried to play a pacifist run?"

Clint slumps. "You're never gonna let me live that down-"

"Nope."

"-But this time is different. It's not a video game. People might die. Just like these guys." He tilts his head to the bodies.

Ace is silent. The butterfly knife keeps whirling. She quietly turns her head to Clint, eyes unfocused. I didn't notice before, but her cheeks are puffy. Has she been crying?

"My power tells me you have 400 HP out of 500. That's what, 20% gone?"

Clint's face twitches. "What of it?"

Ace glares at him. "You're uninjured, but you just so happen to have lost exactly 20%? Clint, what power did you get that you're so scared to reveal?"

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Clint sighs. "Hand me the knife for a moment."

"Hell no."

"I need it for my power. Anything small would work, but a knife would explain why I'm scared."

Ace looks at him. Her eyes glint with conflicting colors.

SHE HANDS HIM THE KNIFE (P.6)

Clint grasps it carefully. He gets up and walks over to the body on the slab of concrete. It’s an altar now. Gentle, like moving a baby, he rolls the cadaver over so the face is visible. Clint takes a deep breath and stares it in the eye.

Ace swallows in the background. “So, what does it d-”

There is a sudden cracking noise. Ace jumps. Clint grips the knife tighter in his fist. Blood drips.

The dried eye of the corpse begins to bulge and stretch. Something wetly slides out of the pupil, piece by piece, like giving birth. Clint starts trembling. Ace’s eyes widen, then squint. The eye turns to pulp as the knife exits the head with a pop. Clint reaches a shaky hand down and picks up a second butterfly knife.

He returns to the bench, holding two knives, and passes them both to Ace.

ACE TAKES A DEEP BREATH... (P.7)

...But she takes the weapons regardless.

Clint forces a smile and sits down again. "I'm afraid to look at people now. Cause even though I have control, I'm afraid if I stare at someone for too long, I'll lose it, and whatever object I held last will pop out of their skull, just like that.. And.." He trails off.

Ace nods gently. "It's okay, bud. The thing I’ve learned about losing control - it happens when you think it’s an option in the first place. You don’t see it as one, so don’t think about it, okay?"

“Okay.”

They sit in silence for a short time.

Clint opens his mouth as if to say something, and after lingering, he does.

"Ace, d'you think Nero's okay?"

She barks out a laugh.

"Yeah, for sure. They're made of tougher stuff. Bet they're fine, and if they aren't, bet they’ll claw their way through whatever's in their way."

Clint chuckles. "Yeah, that sounds like Nero."

“Mhm.”

Another, longer, peaceful silence.

“Ace, I don’t want to think about it. Until I figure out how to approach this stuff... can you do the thinking for me?” His voice cracks. “Make the decisions and stuff? I don’t wanna deal with the, uh- responsibility.”

Ace shrugs. “Sure. It’s not much different, right? We’re just cutting out the middle step where I convince you.”

Clint is stunned. Then he laughs like a bell ringing. “Yeah, ok. I’ll hold you to that. Thanks.”

The both of them smile.

Continued on page 23, in issue 6.