Prologue
“Huntress! Is it true you recently had an affair with Marble Man?”
“Huntress! How do you feel about the statue being built in Hatch Park? Have you posed for it?”
“Huntress! Will you marry me?”
I let out a loud sigh and dramatically shifted my weight from one foot to the other. Every time we stopped for reporters, it was always the same. They would bombard her with millions of questions while completely ignoring me, The Purple Fox. Woe is me, stuck in the role of the side kick. It never matters if I’m the one who immobilized the bank robbers or if I’m the one who captured Re-X; alone, might I add, because Huntress had an important conference she just could not miss. It didn’t even matter that I was the one with super powers! All that mattered was I was the side kick and she was the hero.
“Come on, Hunt,” I whined, shifting my weight once again, “I’m going to be late.”
“Hold on a sec.” She held up one finger, the universal sign to wait one minute, and turned to the reporters, “No, I didn’t have an affair. I didn’t pose, I’m a little busy, but I’ll make sure to be there for the opening. And, well sir, I’m flattered but I’m afraid I have to decline. Now, if you excuse me-“
“Wait!” Another reporter pushed her way up front, pushing out another sigh from me, “Huntress, are you really working with the police to protect the ancient ruins display at the Grayson Museum?”
“And what are your thoughts of the comment Boltz had made yesterday?” More reporters popped out, asking more and more questions.
“Okay! Okay!” I shouted, smiling as wide as I could while grabbing Huntresses arm and tugging her to her motorcycle, “I think you asked enough questions and we have places to be.”
They kept yelling out questions as she straddled the shiny, black bike. It was customized, like every other super hero’s vehicle, according to her skills. It had several compartments with arrows; an extra, foldable bow; and billions of traps if anyone tried to chase her.
They all watched, amazed into silence, as she revved up the engine and gunned it. The showoff had even lifted the bike to do a wheelie. I rolled my eyes, preparing to follow her, when I suddenly remembered today was Friday. Today was the day our cartoon premiered.
I was excited, but what side kick wouldn’t be? A cartoon was made about Huntress and me.
“Hey!” I put my hands on my hips and flicked my tail back and forth, “Make sure no trouble goes on in the city between six and six thirty today. Hunt and I are watching The Amazing Huntress and The Purple Fox!”
A single flash went out, snapping a photo of me, before I ran after Huntress.
Pause.
That flash, small and what seemed insignificant, is what I deemed the start of the biggest problem I would ever have to face. It was what pushed the first domino and caused the other ones to fall. It was the spark that lighted the fire. That one flash was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
It is amazing to think that one simple camera flash could change my life. That it could place me at the right place at the wrong time; it could help me unlock an evil scheme and save the world. At the same time, though, the flash could put me into the hospital and break my heart in the worst ways.
It was only a little flash of light from a digital camera, but it took a big picture.
