Internet 24

Through Marcy’s Eyes

Kate takes a step back. She didn’t expect this out of me. I didn’t either. However, there is a factor she is more afraid of. The scales of power have shifted.

KATE

You are willing to go all this way, go this far, to hurt me. Don’t you trust me?

MARCY

You can end this at any moment. Let Lou go.

KATE

Please stop. I am only helping.

I walk forward. I see her hands tremble. It’s clear what she is about to do, but I let her.

KATE

You made me do this!

Kate squeezes the doll tight. She expects a scream of pain or for me to drop onto my knees. I instead keep walking toward her.

MARCY

You don’t have that control over me.

She looks at the doll. The color of the badges has faded. The magical energy diffuses and disperses into the air and back to the universe. Kate’s eyes burn as she looks into mine. I wonder what she sees. I jump toward her, and in a blur, I fly past her as I overshoot my shot. I slam into a shelf filled with snacks. A pile of gummies, wood, and screws covers me., yet no pain.

I stand up, and there isn’t a scratch. I can feel my body grow stronger by the second. That was meant to be a kick-off to start my sprint, but I flew across the store.

KATE

Marcy, You took it from me. All I have worked for is gone.

Kate is still kneeling, holding the doll in both hands. Dark energy swirls around as her eyes glow. Black sea water flows from her eyes, mouth, and ears. It doesn’t pour to the ground as the droplets float around her. They connect and form dark bubbles around the cafe. She drops the doll, it means nothing to her now.

I hear the commotion behind me. I feel Lou trying to resist the spell. Adam swings his bat at Lou, who moves out of the way.

LOU

Please run.

ADAM

You’re not letting me!

Lou slashes Adam’s shoulder with his nails. Lou is hit on the side with a chair that breaks on impact swung by Manny.

LOU

Agh! Good, now hit me in the head. I can take it.

Adam’s bat crashes into Lou’s face, but he is unaffected.

LOU

I figured that wouldn’t work, but it was a good hit.

Adam goes for a second swing, but Lou catches it. The bat sent an electric charge through Adam’s body. I see the metal morph into a chrome electric eel. It slivers up Lou’s arm and solidifies once more. They don’t stand a chance. The only way to save them is to get the paper.

Black bubbles and Kelp burst out from the ground and wrapped around my ankles and wrists.

KATE

Now you are like him. You’re naturally strong. But I have been studying.

The snacks rise from my feet and start to spin rapidly. They burst into balls of fire. I pull my arms and legs, and I can hear the kelp tear. Kate points at me, and the balls of fire rain on me. With a final push, I bust off of the Kelp and avoid the fiery explosion.

There is no time to waste as I rush toward Kate. She has magic, and years of studying. Me, I have always been a good fighter. My fist slams into her face, and she crashes into the counter, turning it to rubble.

ADAM

My register!

Kate gets up with a grin and wipes the blood from her mouth. A ball of fire is still in the air and slams into my back. The flame burns as the explosion sends me flying forward. Kate is waiting and slashes my abdomen with her nails.

Kate looks down at me as she speaks.

KATE

Don’t get back up.

Kate whispers words tainted with magic as she walks to stand over me. The windows shatter, and the rain from the storm burst into the room.

ADAM

My windows!

At that moment, Lou grabs Adam’s neck and raises him off the ground. Water droplets swirl around his head and turn into a bubble filled with water. Lou holds Adam up in the air as he drowns him.

Manny grabs a leg of the broken chair and swings. Before he can make contact, coral bursts from the ground and surrounds him. They are trapped in a web of coral pieces as he wiggles to free himself.

Kate hasn’t made a move. She wants me to see this. A way to show she has the power in this situation. She holds the paper up in her hand, knowing at any minute she can save him, but doesn’t.

MANNY

Fight this!

LOU

I’m trying. I really am!

Kate shouts for Manny, but her eyes never leave me.

KATE

He can’t. I may be human, but the spell I made is foolpro—

I push her again in the face, sending her across the room. The black bubbles fire at me. They move slowly. My senses are catching up to my new body as I duck between the bubbles and run across the room.

Not all of them, though, as some hit my back, shoulder, and thigh. The black water burns my clothes and scales. The pain doesn’t stop there as it is as if the water is coating my nerves as a toxin, and I feel my body burning alive. I push through the pain and clash with Kate.

She goes to slash my face, but I catch her hand and hold tight. I go for a punch, but she catches my hand and tightens her grip, trying to match mine.

Kelp wraps around my arms, legs, and stomach and pulls me back, but I don’t budge. I’m stronger than her, and she is afraid.

KATE

Was it worth it, Marcy?

You are forever attached to that monster.

Did you truly gain anything? Your sacrifice won’t get you anything,

and you won’t have me bailing you out this time.

More Kelp burst out of the ground and pulled me back, as my grip weakened and I slid back little by little.

KATE

But that doesn’t mean I won’t still be your friend.

The Kelp rises me up in the air and retracts back into the ground. My back shatters the tile as blood bursts out my mouth. The pain, I can’t deal with it. It’s more than I have ever experienced before.

KATE

I just hope you learned to listen to me. I know what’s best for all of us.

My body refuses to stand as I turn my gaze to Kate. She isn’t looking at me anymore. Her eyes are on Manny, who struggles to free himself and watches Adam drown.

KATE

The same goes for you, Manny. Next time,

listen to me when I say to wait in the other room.

Don’t worry, though; that won’t mean you’ll die.

She smiles. Everything she wanted was here.

KATE

End this, Lou.