Better Off Dead

Chapter Twenty-One: Still Not a Hero

In the morning, Devon was sitting calmly at the table as though we hadn't had that strange phone conversation the night before. "What did you find?"

I wasn't exactly sure how to put this, but I did my best. "There's one less person to worry about."

"You think someone's picking them off one by one with the candlestick in the dining room and collecting all the bodies in a built-in freezer in the basement?" Devon said with an eerily casual tone.

"That's oddly specific." Taylor said, giving him a weird look. She turned back to me. "Did you see them?"

I shook my head. I didn't have much information. I obtained as little information as possible through as little interaction as possible. I tried to tell myself that I had no reason to be afraid, physical harm is meaningless to me, I'm indestructible. It didn't really help. Those qualities don't make murders in the dark seem like inconsequential jump scares.

There was a silence as everyone decided whether or not they believed it to be true. Ultimately Devon nodded. "Now we've got someone hunting people in the dark."

We all chilled a little. It was starting to get very uncomfortable when we all started thinking about it.

Then Liam brightened. "So what you're saying..."

Devon's voice shifted from unnervingly serious to mocking, and the frightful moment passed. "That is not what I am saying."

"...Is that we need a HERO..."

"Still no."

"...Who has superpowers to fight a MURDEROUS SCIENTIST..."

"This has literally never been a thing that I have said."

"...And that's why you're SO GLAD..."

"Nothing you are about to say is going to make me happy."

"...That you're part of an unstoppable crime-fighting team with our very own superhero."

Though Devon's face had not faltered this entire time, his tone had shifted yet again to one of amusement. "You are so right. This is what I have always wanted. I am truly living my dream."

I started laughing. A lot. You know when you've been under a ton of stress, and finally something funny and not terrifying happens and you end up laughing way more than the joke actually deserves? I did that. So did Liam and Taylor. Devon's facade didn't crack, but I got the feeling he was having fun.

"Still not a hero." I said.

"You just have to put your mind to it. Remember, when you grow up, you can be whatever you want to be!" He gave me a grin to go with his 'you look like a child' joke. I get a lot of those. They don't get funnier with time.

"Still no." I gave him a frown to go with my 'you are such an idiot' tone. I use a lot of those. They don't get more effective with time.

He thought this over like it was a legit consideration. "You just need some inspiration. Role models. Well, lucky for you, I've set up every DC show and movie known to man on all of the different streaming services. You have work to do."

I gave him a look he couldn't see. "How many hours is that? There's literally no way. Even if I wanted to go along with your stupid plan, which I don't."

"Hm. You're right. You'll need a specialized plan to pack as much superhero inspiration into you as fast as possible."

"Yeah. Sure." I said. Just one more thing that wasn't a concern for me. If you're going to die in a few days there isn't even time to contemplate what being a hero is. But he looked like he was having so much fun I just didn't have the heart to shut him down.