Volume 6: Anaphase

Issue 9: No Mulligans

Jannette Adrian Churchwell

By Nova

Linda pensively stirred her coffee, her eyes carefully watching the cream swirl on the surface. “The whole operation was a bust,” she quietly said. “We found a few weapons caches around Redding, as well as a few in Trinity County, but nothing… solid.”

“Doesn’t sound like a complete bust then,” I said, taking a sip from my own mug.

We sat together at a window booth in Aesop’s, meeting for the first time since she left. Outside, the golden light of the setting sun bathed the street—a light that crept indoors and cast an orange glow over everything in the shop. It was quiet today. Only a few late-afternoon shoppers browsed the board games and, except for us, the booths were derelict.

“But we didn’t find any sarin, any powerchems, or any powered leadership,” Linda continued.

“And I take it the guys you arrested…”

“Aren’t talking…” She leaned back in her seat. Her gaze drifted over toward the pastries behind the glass counter. “Are those… d20 cookies?”

I glanced over the rows of cupcakes and colorful cookies. “Looks like it,” I said.

She placed a hand on her stomach. “I’m starved, haven’t eaten since I left Redding.”

I leaned in to her. “But… weapons caches, arresting how many First Way?”

“Personally, twelve, but the whole op caught forty-two militia types. Mostly in small groups, training and drilling for something.”

“That’s… a lot.”

Linda nodded, her gaze still on the pastries. “We don’t even think we busted half of their organization,” she said. “Something big is coming… and we still have no idea where they’ll strike.” Her gaze drifted back to me. “But… you knew that already. You read our report, so enough about me. Stop dodging my question, how are you feeling?” she said, giving me a slight smile.

“Ah,” I said, sinking back into my seat. “I’m… alright.”

“Just alright? You single-handedly took down some kind of… monster invasion.”

“Not single-handedly. I had help. Camilo, those Chapel heroes… I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Linda rolled her eyes. “I know Ramirez made sure those kid heroes got the official credit to keep you out of the spotlight, but come on. I know you. None of those things stood a chance.”

“Well… At least give Camilo some credit. Without him I don’t know if I could have found the basement.”

“Fine, it was a team effort,” Linda smiled.

I raised an eyebrow at her. “You know, it really wasn’t all sunshine and roses. Plus, Ramirez still hasn’t had the school shut down.”

Linda shifted uncomfortably. “Alright, point taken. But you know that isn’t his fault-”

I scoffed. “Yeah yeah, I know.”

“I heard he supported you, backed your points all the way to the mayor’s office.”

“Still didn’t change anything. They’re still too focused on the First Way to worry about weird stuff going on at a school. Especially since no one has died in the last two attacks…”

“Isn’t that something to be thankful for?”

“Yeah, of course, but… How long until we stop being lucky?”

Linda placed her hand over mine. “Jan, you’re a hundred percent right. But it’s not that simple and you know it. From what I’ve heard, the mayor doesn’t want to appear… weak, with all that’s happening with the First Way-”

“Which is bullshit,” I said, pulling my hand away.

“Maybe,” Linda admitted, “but bullshit keeps people from panicking, which is all the mayor cares about.” Her eyes darted to the door and, turning around, I saw Camilo, Florian, and Amber entering Aesop’s. “Enough with politics?” Linda asked, smiling.

I nodded and returned her smile. “Hey guys,” Linda said to the approaching teens. “How’re you doing?”

“Never better,” Amber said, sliding into the booth beside me. “Hey, Jan,” she said to me.

“H-hey,” I said, slightly taken aback that she was now acknowledging my existence. I hadn’t seen her since she was loaded into the ambulance and taken to the hospital a week ago. Camilo and Florian remained standing, awkwardly glancing between me and Linda. I hadn’t seen Camilo either since he had disappeared, and I gave him a warm smile.

Linda turned to Amber. “I heard about what happened from Jan,” she said, a concerned expression crossing her face. “How are you feeling?”

“Other than the nightmares, I’m feeling great,” Amber said jokingly, her classic smirk smeared on her lips. From where she was sitting, practically squishing me into the wall, my powers could detect elevated cortisol levels in her system—suggesting that there was more truth to her joke than she was letting on.

“I-I’m glad to see you’re okay, Camilo,” I said. Although he looked weary, with heavy bags under his eyes, he was in one piece—and that’s what mattered. “That you made it out of there.”

Camilo nodded. “Honestly, I’m just glad to see you’re not dead. Who knows what those things were capable of…”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

I shrugged. “I got lucky, I guess.”

“Well I’m sure glad you came for me,” Amber said, “even though Stagehand and Hive had to save your skin.”

“I-I guess they did, didn’t they,” I said, chuckling slightly.

“Well, are you guys feeling up for some DnD today?” Linda asked. “After my trip and all this craziness with those doppelgänger things, it might be good to get back into the swing of things.”

I heard Aesop’s door chime again and, turning around, saw Holly enter. She wore an attractive, black dress—its sleek fabric hugging her waist and hips—which was crisscrossed with belts and black netting. I took it as a good sign that she was back to her classic outfits again. “S-sorry, I have… other plans. You guys can start without me,” I said.

“Sounds good, Jan,” Linda said mischievously.

Florian and Camilo stared intently at Holly. “I think I see the resemblance now…” Camilo said.

“Resemblance?” Florian muttered, his exasperation indicating that they had visited the topic before. “Librarian-Holly and Goth-Holly are the same person.”

“You know what I mean.”

As Amber stood to let me out of the booth, her eyes darted between me and Holly. Something absolutely terrifying gleamed in her eyes, in a way I couldn’t quite explain. She gave me a big, toothy grin. “Have fun, you two,” she said.

My heart raced as I walked over to Holly, who met me halfway to the coffee counter. I hadn’t seen her since the hospital. She’d gone back home to her parents’ house to recover there, not wanting to be alone. It was completely understandable, and we had chatted more than once over the phone…

But seeing her again made me realize just how much I missed her.

“Jan,” Holly said, pulling me into a hug.

“I missed you,” I said as I tightly hugged her back. Out of reflex, my power traced through her system. She was stressed and tired, but there was no sign of that alien doppelgänger organ. She really was Holly, and knowing that nearly made me tear up in front of the cashier.

“I missed you, too,” Holly said. We remained in each other’s arms a moment longer before pulling away, slightly red-faced. “C-Coffee?” Holly asked. “My treat?”

I glanced back to the booth, realizing I left my coffee there. I thought to say something but, looking at Holly’s eager smile, couldn’t bring myself to decline her offer. I nodded and smiled. Getting our coffee, we retreated to a private nook in the corner of Aesop’s, trying to ignore the prying eyes of Linda and the teenagers. “How are you feeling?” I asked as we took our seats.

Holly hesitated for a moment. “Paranoid,” she finally said, “like anyone could be one of those things and I’d never know it.”

“I… know how you feel,” I said. My mind went back to when I found that Ramirez had been replaced… that feeling of betrayal and paranoia…

“It’s just so…” Holly trailed off, hugging herself. “I don’t even know. It’s all muddled. Like, one minute, I’m waiting for you and that cop to come back. Next thing I know, I’m being shaken awake by you in that basement…”

I extended a hand, but didn’t say anything. Holly took it, and nodded at me. “I really can’t thank you enough…” she murmured.

“It’s alright. What matters is that it’s over now,” I said.

Holly nodded. “I guess you’re right,” she said. “I heard that there were a few of those things walking around town that melted as soon as those student ‘heroes’ killed the… What’d you call it?”

“Web-thing?”

Holly nodded. “Whatever it was that had us… wrapped up and trapped.” She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “But it’s over now, like you said.”

“Yeah… Even doppelgängers miles away melted. No way there were any survivors.” I offered a reassuring smile. “I heard the people who saw them melting were quite surprised.”

Holly gave a short chuckle. “I bet they were,” she said. She then sighed and looked pensively out the window. “I still can’t believe how stupid I was.”

“You weren’t being stupid,” I said.

“No… I shouldn’t have gone ‘ghost hunting.’ And I really shouldn’t have dragged you into it, put you at risk…”

“I wanted to help. I could help.” My hand tightened around hers. “And I’d do it again.” I knew I would have done it a hundred times over. “It was my decision to help you, and I wanted to help.”

“Thanks, Jan…” Holly said.

We sat in silence for a few minutes, our hands clasped together as we watched the traffic outside go by. “Are you…” I finally said, “…going to stay working at Chapel High?”

Holly sighed. “Yeah…” she said, though judging by the sudden scowl she obviously wasn’t happy about it.

“R-really? Why?”

“They… doubled my pay. Gave me benefits. Said that there was no one who wanted my position after everything that’s happened.” Holly shrugged. “The job sucks, but I really can’t afford to say no to that kind of money right now… especially after my hospital bill.”

“W-when do you go back?”

“Monday, next week. Not looking forward to it, but more money will make me feel better,” she smiled, but it was strained.

“It’s something, at least.” I smiled back.

“You know, Jan…” Holly suddenly said.

“Yeah?”

“I’ve been wondering…”

“About what?” My heart started racing.

“How did you know it wasn’t me? I mean, when I was replaced by that doppelgänger. You said it took you to my apartment?”

My heart was beating out of control as I thought back to that night—our game of Icons, watching the movie, the kiss…

“I-I, uh… beat you in a game of Icons,” I said somewhat lamely. “That’s when I realized you weren’t, uh, you.” My thoughts drifted back to her lips against mine, her softness… quickly interrupted by the startling discovery of the alien organ inside the doppelgänger’s body.

“Really?” Holly looked at me quizzically, her voice bringing me back to the present moment. “I mean, I’m a good player, but not that good. You’ve come close to beating me before.” She leaned in closer to me. “Was that all that happened?”

“I-I…” My mind raced. Should I tell her the truth? That I had superpowers? That I wasn’t a Stitch fangirl, but the real deal? Blow my entire secret identity out of the water?

My face grew hot as I turned a bright red. “Y-you, ah, kissed me…” I said, tearing my hand away from hers.

“Oh.” Holly turned red as well now. “A-and you knew that wasn’t me…”

“I-it didn’t feel like something y-you would do…” I stared intently out the window, avoiding her gaze.

Holly paused for a moment. “I see…” she said, looking out the window—clearly embarrassed.

I stole a glance at her, the memories of that night rushing back. I suddenly felt an aching need to taste her lips again, to feel her again. My eyes lingered on her dark hair cascading down her shoulders, the way her chest rose and fell with each breath…

I tore my gaze away and looked desperately around Aesop’s, searching for anything other than Holly to look at. I suddenly wanted to tell her how I felt, about all things I wanted to do with her, to her…

But the person I kissed wasn’t her. It was a thing pretending to be her, probably just to get close to me. Holly was so clearly uncomfortable with this whole conversation, still staring—beet red—out the window… I couldn’t tell her how I felt. I couldn’t alienate the closest friend I had beside Linda. I just couldn’t.

I pulled my Icons deck out of my purse. “E-enough about that,” I said, still red in the face. “Wanna play a match or two?”

Holly looked back at me and, in the moment our eyes met, an electric charge passed through us—a feeling which left me momentarily breathless.

And then it was gone. Holly looked down at my deck and smiled. “Sure, but I’m not going easy on you.”

“W-wouldn’t want you to,” I said. “How else am I gonna know it’s you?”

Holly laughed, pulling out her own deck. “Exactly,” she said. “You go first?”

I nodded, and drew my opening hand.

For once, I felt like it was pretty good.