<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<style type="text/css" style="display:none;"> P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} </style>
</head>
<body dir="ltr">
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000" class="elementToProof">Continued from Part 1<br>
</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" class="elementToProof">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000" class="elementToProof"><br>
</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" class="elementToProof">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000" class="elementToProof">*****</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"It's just, at least I thought I'd have a couple of weeks to relax, y'know? I've been seeing supervillains practically
every day, I almost totally forgot mundane criminals were even a thing!" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"You got that one good, though! I dunno why mom's so worried. It was pretty great, the look on that guy's face when he
thought you were pulling a gun on him. Kinda creeped me out when you started giggling though. You learn that from watching those supervillains?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"No... that just sometimes happens when the adrenaline starts wearing off." Mina's hand rested on the door handle, hesitating.
"Just... don't tell Mom. I don't need her to do the full helicopter impression."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Cross my heart! I'd never snitch on the purveyor of gator bites!" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">She gave him a threatening look, then pushed the door open.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"There you are! Did you kids have a good time?" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina found herself enveloped in her mother's arms the instant she stepped into the kitchen. The older woman stepped back,
looking into her face.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Great time! Mimi paid for everything!" Drew enthused, rescuing her. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"It's late," James looked up from the kitchen table, where he had been grading papers.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"It's Saturday night, pop! And it's only ten!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"And have you been working on that paper, or playing video games today?" He spoke sternly, but with a grin for Mina.
"Your sister has had a long day. And we have friends over for dinner tomorrow, so we want you to get some sleep."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I am pretty tired..." Mina excused herself, not wanting conversation until her nerves had recovered.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">She accepted another hug, though. "It's so good to have you back!" her mother whispered, and Mina's eyes burned with
imprisoned tears.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">When she got to her room, she made a beeline for her bed and dropped onto it, face first, with a groan. For a while she
lay unmoving, taking in the sounds of the house. The television... Drew moving around in his room... gentle scuffing sounds as someone rummaged through a drawer...</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Wait... that last one... that sounded like it was coming from her own desk...</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina had to remind herself to keep breathing. Slowly, slowly, she turned her head, making almost no sound...</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The desk was in its normal place against the wall, several of its drawers open. A wooden scarecrow of a figure knelt
before it, long fingers rooting through one of them. Assorted objects removed to the top of the desk attested to the length of time the figure had been at it. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina squeezed her eyes shut, but when she opened them again, the wooden creature had stood up to face her, rectangular
objects dangling from its fingers. There was something about that wood--the color, and the shape of the limbs that had been arranged in a creepily skeletal, but somehow also elegant formation. Her eyes flickered over to an old wooden rocking chair she had
kept in a corner. Sure enough, it was missing...</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Oh, good! You're awake." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Elemental..." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Elemental spoke at a discreet volume, but the bright and cheerful tone clashed so severely with the horror of her appearance
here, in this house, that it made Mina dizzy. "You've got quite the embarrassment of riches here, haven't you? I mean," and here she shook the stolen objects, which Mina realized were cassette tapes that had been impaled on the skeletal fingers. "'The Name
Is Ramrod, Girl'? 'Girl, It's</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Ramrod Again'? Tell me you've never actually *</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">listened*
</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">to these!" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina was coming to a realization. She was realizing that her dizzy sensation was not the result of fear alone, but fear
duking it out in her skull with a substantial helping of incandescent fury.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Those belonged to my sister, you--you--"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Did they? I don't think much of her musical taste."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"She's dead, you creep! Put those down!" Mina hissed, sitting up.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Wooden shoulders shrugged. "As you wish." Mina watched with helpless rage as the disemboweled cassettes fell into the
waste basket, unspooled tape fluttering after them. "I'm sure you won't miss 'You Know the Government's On Your Side, Girl'. I did leave you the one bootleg concert tape, though. Now this..." she daintily picked up another object between finger and thumb,
holding it out for Mina to see.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"This does mean something to you, doesn't it?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">It was an old action figure from the 90s, and its rarity might have made it a valuable collector's item had it been in
pristine condition. Radian wore the heroic pose and black bodysuit of her time in Calforce, but her black and white eyes, painted in with a childish hand, dated to a time well after she had ceased to be a hero. Perhaps the paint could be removed, rendering
the doll a near-mint financial blow to Mina's looming student debts, but she just couldn't bear to have it done.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"That was her favorite..." tears of grief and frustration stung her eyes, "please... just put it back..."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Elemental stared at her for a moment, carved face expressionless. Then, to Mina's surprise, she gently placed the toy
back onto the desktop. Mina stared at her, confused. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Why did you come here...?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I'm allowed to talk to people who work at the cafe. I usually don't, but you're interesting."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"So you just... rummage through my stuff?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"You didn't say anything when you came in, so I figured you wouldn't mind."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">She'd been right there when Mina walked in, and she hadn't noticed.
</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">Dull human sennnnses...</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"> she wished, with a desperate pang, that Maow was with her now.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I do mind! Why do you keep following me?" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The figure considered for a moment, tilting its head. "I'm trying to figure out why you're not dead. You really ought
to be by now--trying to have adventures with no powers or training or anything except that stupid cat toy. Yet you've done quite well for yourself, even when I wasn't there to look out for you."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The way the light fell on the wooden face made Mina realize that it was mimicking her--she recognized her own round cheeks
and retrousse nose. Choosing to ignore this mockery, she asked, "That doesn't make sense. So you're trying to figure out why you haven't killed me?" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"No! Do you take me for some kind of imbecile? I know perfectly well why *</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">I*</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"> haven't
killed you. What I'm trying to figure out is why no one else has managed it!" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Why you haven't...?" Mina asked, still trying to make sense of what she was hearing. "Don't tell me you have a crush
on me too? If only I was this popular in highschool!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The figure recoiled. "Mina! Don't be gross!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Homophobic *</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">and*</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"> a
murderer?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Homo--" Elemental began indignantly, then paused. "You really don't know who I am, do you?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina's disgust flared back up into anger. "Oh, I don't know who you are, do I? Try a different threat, I've heard that
one too many times. If you've been stalking me, you should know I work in customer service!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">But the creature seemed stuck on that one. "You really, really--" Her head suddenly snapped to the side, and she froze.
Then with surreal speed and silence, she strode to the corner where the rocking chair had been and began to twist and change. Mina stared, nauseated and fascinated, until she was distracted by a soft knock at the door. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Mimi? Can I come in?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Panic flared. "Um, not just yet!" Unfortunately she had neglected to lock her door and, little brothers being notorious
for prying, it was already swinging open. She spared a glance at the corner, just in time to see an ordinary chair rocking slightly back and forth. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Hey. I was too excited to sleep. That was some night, huh?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Be a dear and *</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">don't*</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"> introduce
us?" The voice was so unexpectedly close that Mina yelped, clapping a hand to her ear.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Mimi? You okay?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Mosquito!" She lied brightly. "Those things get everywhere. Um. You really should get to bed."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I thought I heard voices. Were you on the phone with your cat girlfriend? Have you got a picture?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Uh, no. I was actually talking to myself, since I'm slowly losing my mind!"
</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">Go away</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">, she urged silently.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Drew gave her a sardonic look, and flopped down into the rocking chair. It immediately collapsed. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Sorry," the disembodied voice followed her as she jumped up to check on him, "It's harder to put things back together
than it is to take them apart, and I was in a hurry..."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Get out!" Mina hissed under her breath. Then, out loud, "Are you hurt?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">He shook his head, dazed, as she pulled him to his feet, checking him for splinters. "What the hell(tm)? I musta sat
in that chair a hundred times... Now my ass hurts!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I don't want to hear about your ass," Mina said curtly, "Go to bed before you break something else. I've had so much
excitement I'm about to drop dead."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"If you're worried about the kid, let me set your mind at ease. I don't kill kids. Well... I've never done so before.
If they really, really annoyed me..."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Drew peered at her. "You sure you're okay? You've been acting weird." Something occurred to him suddenly. "Are you finally
manifesting some super powers? Our little Mina, becoming a woman at last?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"...This one, though. I could get to like this one."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Brat! Out!" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">He snickered.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">She closed the door behind him, leaning against it. "As for you," she whispered, "If you think I'm so 'interesting.'
I hope you like watching people play video games, because that's ALL I'm going to be doing. That, and sleeping, and chewing with my mouth open."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"If you say so. I'll be going now, but I won't miss the dinner party tomorrow... Goodnight, Mina."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">A breeze wafted past Mina to the window. She thought she saw one of the glass panels distort briefly... but then again,
perhaps it was her imagination.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">*****</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Afternoon, y'all!" declared the red haired woman as she stepped through the Westing's front door, large tinfoil covered
dish in hand.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Sophie ushered her in, taking the container. "Debbie! Is that banana pudding? You didn't... Mina, you remember Debbie
Hinkle, don't you?" The hostess looked down at the vat of custard treat in dismay, no doubt thinking of the triple-threat flan layered baked butter dulce de leches cream coated arterial murder tart (with chocolate coated berries!) already preparing to make
its way into the bloodstreams of their guests.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina had been told this guest would be here, but she flushed awkwardly anyway. "Of course. I--I'm so sorry about your
brother. I wish..." she trailed off, guiltily.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The woman rescued her with an embrace. "Thank you, hon." She held Mina tightly for a few moments, then pulled away to
look at her. "I was gonna ask to hear the story from your own mouth, if you're up to it."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I--" the memory of Ed Hinkle's death loomed large in her memory after her encounter with Elemental last night, but she
didn't want to talk to his grieving sister where the creature might overhear.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Debbie looked concerned. "...But you look like you ain't slept for a week. Maybe get settled back in a bit first."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"...Yeah, ok." Mina sighed, relieved. "I really didn't sleep well. I had nightmares about it last night." It had certainly
seemed like a nightmare, as she lay in her bed, thinking every tiny noise was Elemental returned for whatever incomprehensible purpose.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The woman touched Mina's arm gently. "You poor thing. Take your time. And when you're ready, you call me." Her voice
turned grim. "Whatever did this has some payback coming."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Thanks." Mina sighed as they stepped onto the back porch. To her relief, Debbie left her side to greet the other guests
and Mina was left to console herself with barbecue.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"She's right, you know. You look terrible." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Although she had been waiting for the voice all day, it still startled her into dropping a chicken wing. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"How was I supposed to sleep when an invisible psychopath could come into my room at any moment?" She muttered, bending
over to retrieve the lost fowl and conceal her moving lips from any spectators. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Ah." said the voice, and then it was silent for some time.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina headed back into the house as if to wash grass clippings off the disgraced food, but as soon as she was out of sight
she dropped it on the kitchen counter and kept walking straight through the house and out the front door.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Wind swirled around her, tugging at her clothes. "Mina? Where are you going?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I don't want you anywhere near my family!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I intend them no harm, I promise!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I know you're a murderer, why not a liar too?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Mina, stop!" From the road in front of her, the figure rose: a statue of a girl in asphalt. Mina halted. "I swear by
Fox and Elvis and all five Lords of the Outer Dark, I will never intentionally harm your family!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">As the words were spoken, Mina felt... something... as if the air tightened around them briefly. But the sensation passed,
leaving her unsure of herself. She eyed the statue. "I don't know... you could still be lying. And what is a Lord of the Outer Dark? I don't like the sound of it."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The figure shook her head, exasperated. "Don't you know anything? ...All right, you don't trust me. I don't know how
to make you trust me. I've even gone out of my way to not kill anyone in your vicinity, so as not to offend your delicate sensibilities!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Considerate of you."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"The sarcasm is uncalled for. My forbearance has cost me some face, let me tell you. And it's so unnecessary, since people
just go to some afterlife or other when you kill them, which even *</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">you*
</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">would know if you had been paying attention."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina blinked, briefly distracted. "They just... go to..."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"An afterlife, yes. You know! Good people go to a nice afterlife, bad people go to Hell(tm), either way they're out of
my hair! Fox, I thought *</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">everyone</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">* knew about this after Satan T. Lucifer Jones himself
invaded Earth in the 90s!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Good people... and bad..." Mina shook her head, returning to the present, "so you just 'kill 'em all and let God sort
'em out'!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Let *</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">something*
</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">sort 'em out, anyway." Elemental paused thoughtfully. "There may be some clerical errors, but those aren't very common, I hope."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">This, thought Mina, was more eldritch cosmology than she really needed to hear for her own peace of mind. "Okay... well...
look, I don't know what you want from me, but you're terrifying, you're sinister, and I don't know how to protect myself from you. I couldn't trust you even if I wanted to!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">They stood deadlocked, Mina breathing hard, Elemental moving not at all. The light seemed to visibly redden as the sun
dropped. A car roared past, which broke the animated statue from her sullen silence. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Very well. There doesn't seem to be much else to say. You needn't look for me; I won't come to you after today. But
tell me, who was that woman who almost made you cry just now?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Woman?" It took a moment for her brain to shift. "Oh, you mean Debbie. The sister of the man you pushed off a building!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"And you're still upset about that? Don't you know what that man did?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I know he was haunted by it. I know he was trying to make up for it..." Realization came to Mina in a flash. "And I
do know who you are after all!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Oh?" There was something careful about the way the word sounded, but Mina forged on, excited by her revelation.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"You're the ghost of one of the women he and his gang killed back around the Revolution! What are you doing--going around
hunting down all of them?" Worry hit her suddenly--were there more people in danger? Maybe not the nicest of people, but--</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Hinkle was the last of them..." the words came slowly, as if spaced between thoughts. "Mina--you've just given me an
idea--a wonderful, wonderful idea!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Oh, no!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Elemental laughed. "No, no, this is something you'll like! I'm going to offer you a boon! If, that is..."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Not wanting to be standing here all night waiting on a dramatic pause, Mina offered up the prompt. "If?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"If," Elemental declared, "You can guess my true name! No, that's too easy--I don't want you to just rattle off a million
names from the phone book. An extra challenge, yes--bring me something that belongs to me!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I have to guess your true name... and bring you something of yours? But that's not fair! What if it's impossible to
get hold of?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I promise you, I promise you, it won't be!" Elemental was almost singing with delight. "If it is, you'll you're on the
wrong track! Oh it's going to be so much fun!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"And if I can do that, you'll give me... what?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"A boon. A favor! Something small--a secret discovered, an enemy ki--er, rendered harmless. A million dollars in a Gucci
suitcase. Something like that, as long as it's within my power."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"How about if I ask you to leave me alone?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">A shocked, offended silence. "If that's really what you want to waste your boon on," Elemental said stiffly, "then fine.
But you only get to choose after you guess correctly. So you have some time to think on it."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Oh believe me. I am!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Good. I'll visit you in a week's time. Be ready!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The figure sank back into the asphalt, leaving no trace behind even when Mina poked the ground where it had disappeared.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">*********</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">WELL.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">WHO IS ELEMENTAL?</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">WILL MINA UNCOVER HER TRUE IDENTITY?</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">CAN SHE REALLY MAKE THIS SUPERNATURAL PEST DISAPPEAR FROM HER LIFE?</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">OR WILL SHE OPT FOR A CASH REWARD INSTEAD?</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"><br>
</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">WILL SHE EVER DEVELOP SUPER POWERS?</span><br>
</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"><br>
</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">OR WILL SHE BE CONTINUALLY MOCKED BY HER LITTLE BROTHER?</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"><br>
</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">SOME OF THIS AND MORE ON THE NEXT EPISODE!<br>
</span></p>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" class="elementToProof">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Author's note</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" class="elementToProof">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"><br>
</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" class="elementToProof">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">And with that, I'm out of the backlog! Anyone who is still reading this pray to Elvis for me and my continued inspiration.<br>
</span></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">According to the timeline I've set up, Estella was probably a little too young to have participated in Ramrodmania just
roll with it ok </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" class="elementToProof">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"The Curse of Millhaven" by Nick Cave and "The Hangman's Body Count" by Volbeat btw</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" class="elementToProof">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"><br>
</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" class="elementToProof">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">ao3 link: <a href="https://archiveofourown.org/works/40854900/chapters/104380566" id="LPlnkOWALinkPreview">
https://archiveofourown.org/works/40854900/chapters/104380566</a><br>
</span></p>
<div class="_Entity _EType_OWALinkPreview _EId_OWALinkPreview _EReadonly_1">
<div id="LPBorder_GTaHR0cHM6Ly9hcmNoaXZlb2ZvdXJvd24ub3JnL3dvcmtzLzQwODU0OTAwL2NoYXB0ZXJzLzEwNDM4MDU2Ng.." class="LPBorder777025" style="width: 100%; margin-top: 16px; margin-bottom: 16px; position: relative; max-width: 800px; min-width: 424px;">
<table id="LPContainer777025" role="presentation" style="padding: 12px 36px 12px 12px; width: 100%; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(200, 200, 200); border-radius: 2px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="border-spacing: 0px;" valign="top">
<td style="width: 100%;">
<div id="LPTitle777025" style="font-size: 21px; font-weight: 300; margin-right: 8px; font-family: "wf_segoe-ui_light", "Segoe UI Light", "Segoe WP Light", "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<a target="_blank" id="LPUrlAnchor777025" href="https://archiveofourown.org/works/40854900/chapters/104380566" style="text-decoration: none; color: var(--themePrimary);">Innocent Bystander - Chapter 9 - agiaoftyrosh - Superguy [Archive of Our Own]</a></div>
<div id="LPDescription777025" style="font-size: 14px; max-height: 100px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: "wf_segoe-ui_normal", "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-right: 8px; overflow: hidden;">
Chapter Text. Savannah, April 1994. Birds, they all know it, they showed it to me Forgotten by man, there stands an old hanging tree Forgotten by man, there stands an old hanging tree Some roots are still growin', they died long ago--"My Bones", The Pretty
Reckless. Red energy pulsed from the altar, siphoning up into the top of the archway in waves which cascaded downward and around along ...</div>
<div id="LPMetadata777025" style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(166, 166, 166); font-family: "wf_segoe-ui_normal", "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif;">
archiveofourown.org</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" class="elementToProof">
<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"><br>
</span></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
<br>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
<br>
</div>
</body>
</html>