Super Teens | Book 2: The Deity

Chapter 8: Mary❤️

I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, the weight of Mary’s power suddenly lifted from me. The air was still, eerie in the aftermath. Ellis stood frozen, his wide eyes locked onto Mary’s lifeless form as it toppled backward onto the ground. The rest of the team slowly rose, bruised and battered, staggering toward Ellis. I dragged myself up, barely processing what had just happened.

There she lay—our friend, our ally—now cold, motionless. I knelt down beside her, trembling, and gently closed her eyelids. A small gesture to give her some semblance of peace, even if it was too late. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn’t hold them back anymore. As I stood, the grief washed over me, the tears streaming uncontrollably down my face.

The others gathered around, their faces reflecting the same profound sorrow. Alexia stretched out her hands, and without a word, we all grasped each other’s hands in a circle, bound by shared grief and the hollow victory that felt more like defeat. We had won, technically. But standing there, looking at Mary’s body, it felt like we had lost far more than we had gained.

No one spoke. Connor crouched down, his movements tender as he lifted Mary’s limp body in his arms. Together, we walked out of Bryson’s shed, forever changed. Bryson stumbled outside through the hole in the wall, his eyes wide with shock as they fell upon Mary. The confusion on his face quickly gave way to sorrow, understanding what had happened without anyone saying a word.

I glanced at Mary once more. She looked peaceful, as if merely asleep. But I knew better. I knew she hadn’t slept peacefully in months. My heart ached with the wish that it could all be a terrible dream, that she would spring to life, telling us she was finally free, finally happy. I longed to hear her voice again, see her smile, share in her laughter.

But that wouldn’t happen. The reality was heavy, sinking deeper into my chest with each passing moment.

And then came the realization, the secret I’d buried for so long. When I had written that song for Mary after her aunt died, the one she’d taken as a romantic gesture... the truth was, I had meant it that way. I loved her. I always had.

I never told anyone. I thought I’d get over it, convinced myself it was hopeless. She had a boyfriend. She wasn’t interested in me like that. Even after she and Bryson broke up, I still pushed my feelings aside. She’d been through too much, and I didn’t want to add to her burdens. But now, staring at her lifeless body, the regret crashed down on me like a wave.

I loved her. And now, I’d never get the chance to tell her.

“Carter,” Will’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. He stood beside me, his own expression filled with sadness. “You okay?”

I wiped at my eyes, though the tears kept coming. “Yeah. I’m... okay. You?”

He nodded, though his voice wavered. “I’ll... be fine.”

We walked into the night, the weight of everything hanging heavy on us. Nothing would ever be the same again.

---

One Week Later...

I stepped into my room after a long, draining day. My dad had taken me to Mary’s funeral. I said my goodbyes, along with everyone else who had been touched by her life. The ceremony was painful, the air thick with grief and sorrow for a life cut short. Yet there was also love—so much love for the girl who had brightened so many lives.

I collapsed onto my bed, exhausted. Opening my phone, I searched for photos of Mary. As the images filled the screen, my chest tightened. Each picture showed her smiling, carefree, her braces flashing in her wide grin. She’d never been afraid to show them off.

Tears welled up again, and I let them fall. I missed her. I loved her. And now, the overwhelming sense of loss hit me full force. I cried until I had nothing left, my body finally giving out from the exhaustion of it all.

Once the tears stopped, I placed a framed picture of Mary—one her parents had handed out at the funeral—on my dresser. I ran my fingers over the glass, wishing I could feel something. But all I felt was emptiness.

How was I supposed to carry on without her?

I stared at the photo for what felt like hours, before a thought dawned on me. I had become like Mary—lost, broken, unsure of how to move forward. But I wasn’t too far gone. I wasn’t beyond saving. I didn’t have to spiral into the same darkness that consumed her.

I picked up my phone and texted the others. We all needed each other now more than ever. They quickly agreed, and we made plans to meet up.

---

We gathered at a local restaurant, trying to distract ourselves from the pain. The day turned into something more—a chance to remember that we weren’t alone. We went to a theme park, shopped around town, and simply enjoyed each other’s company. It was a relief, knowing that in our grief, we still had each other.

I realized something then: Mary had shut herself off from the world, drowning in her sorrow, letting it consume her. But we weren’t making the same mistake. We found hope in each other, in the bond we shared. The more we leaned on one another, the more we healed, bit by bit.

As the weeks passed, Mary’s memory slowly began to fade into the background. She was never truly gone from our thoughts, but we had learned to live without her constant presence. Life moved forward, and so did we.

---

One evening, we sat on a rooftop, watching the sunset paint the sky in soft hues of pink and orange.

Alexia sighed softly. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

Anne nodded. “Yeah, look at all the colors.”

Connor gazed out at the horizon. “If only Mary was here to see this...” His voice trailed off, and we all fell silent, remembering.

Bryson, who had become part of our group in the weeks after Mary’s death, broke the silence. “Thanks, you guys. For letting me in, even after everything.”

Ellis smiled faintly. “It’s the least we could do. After all... Mary tried to kill you.”

We shared a quiet laugh, the weight of the past still lingering, but somehow lighter now. We looked out at the sunset once more, content in the moment. We had moved on, but we would never forget her. Mary would always be a part of us, even as life carried us forward.

And as the sun dipped below the horizon, we found peace.