From Hero to Villain

Part One

"June 1st," thought Wendigo Denizen as she opened her eyes, "Today is the big day." She sat up slowly and stretched out her wings. She noted the sunshine, the supposed happiness, the lack of clouds in the sky. It was finally the day she had been planning ever since she left home in the first place. It was the day to begin the downfall of Morfraun, a downfall without Jasper Sallow. It's just too bad the weather didn't decide to cooperate with her mood.

Revolver? the voice asked her.

"Check."

Bullets?

"Check."

Made of osmium?

"Of course!" Osmium is the only weakness of a Sallow. It's a good thing I know where to find plenty of osmium for bullet making.

Satchel to carry everything in?

"Check," she ticked everything off in her head. The only thing left to get would soon be stolen from the Sallow manor. The orb that started all of this.

It seemed like only yesterday when it was just Wendi and Jaz. Just two kids with Aimsville as their playground. Back then they had fought crime together and had achieved their greatest accomplishment, the defeat of Baird Morfraun, well, nearly a defeat. They had intended to kill him, but they were practically children at the time. It was he who had killed Mr. and Mrs. Sallow, and all they had wanted at the time was revenge.

Because they couldn't kill him, they did the next best thing. They stole his most prized possession, the orb. It could do almost anything, and they had managed to get their hands on it. Ever since she was a young girl trapped in a villain's lab it had been her goal to become master of the orb, the object that changed her life into this tragic tale of good versus evil. With it in her hands she would be all-powerful.

"Time to go," she said aloud, stepping from the shadows of her cave into the sunlight. She opened her wings gently, careful not to lose a single feather. With a running start Wendigo was off, her face turned toward the fair city of Aimsville.

***

She landed nimbly on the roof of the manor without making a sound, that is until she shattered the skylight and set off the alarms. She gracefully dropped down next to the pedestal on which the blue crystal rested, still right where she had left it not so long ago. Snatching up the orb, she drew her weapon just as the young Sallow rushed in tailed by-- a girl?

"Wendi?"Jasper gasped in shock, gently nudging the brunette backward and away from Wendigo.

He wasn't the only one in shock. A rush of unexpected memories flashed through her mind, away from the boxes she had pushed them into. All those cases they had worked together came tumbling back all at once. That girl isn't the only one he had shoved behind his back...

It was a bank heist, which was normally practically a milk run, but this time something had gone wrong. They were cornered, and it was apparent they weren't both going to get out unscathed. The whole thing was a trap, both of the young heroes were merely a means to an end. "Don't move," the leader snapped, the gun barrel staring down Wendigo.

"Easy now, pal," Jasper said slowly, stepping between her and the weapon, "Nobody has to get hurt."

"You might wanna get outta the way, son. I wouldn't want to waste two perfectly good bullets, especially these, osmium costs a pretty penny."

"You can't hurt her without going through me first," Jaz answered, his eyes flashing with liquid fire.

Click. The gun cocked into place, "Don't say I didn't--" BANG.

Just as the thief shot, he leaped forward, shoving the gun down and out of the way saving the both of them.

She covered her thoughts with an expressionless facade, a practice she had been perfecting for so many years. "I'm home, Jazzie," Wendigo said smugly, "Who's this?"

Here covered, quickly retaining his usual cool look, "What's it to you? You're the one who walked out." In a fluid motion he shoved the strange girl a bit further behind himself.

He used to protect her like that.

The girl looked confused, "Jasper, what's happening? Who is she?"

"Ah, are you two together or something?" Wendigo snickered, simultaneously dropping the blueish crystal into her satchel, "I see you didn't tell her about your past, you know, our job."

"Past? Jaz, what is she talking about?" the girl further questioned. Becoming even more concerned about the strange girl who had just burst into their house through the roof.

"Ignore her, Molly."

"Awe, she calls you Jaz too!" laughed Wendi as she continued to aim her gun toward the couple, now with a bit more malice, "You know, Molly, Jasper and I used to fight crime together. Didn't we, Jaz?"

"Shut up, Wendigo," he growled, "just shut up."

"Seems I hit a nerve there," Wendi said, redirecting her aim as she cocked her gun, "if you didn't want her to know, that can be arranged."

Kill the girl, the voice whispered, Do it now.

It only took one shot, just a slight tug of a finger. No one saw it coming, not even Wendi herself.

"You sick--"

Crack. With a bit of osmium in his shoulder, Jasper probably wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon. "See you later, Jasper, don't be running off anywhere," the newly found young villain laughed as she flew back out of the roof. The plan to bring down Morfraun was now in motion.

That little inconvenience wasn't so bad to take care of, now was it? We make a great team.

"We do don't we."

But why didn't you take care of our darling young Sallow?

This caught her a bit off guard, "I- I don't think we're done with him quite yet." Jasper- Jasper would be difficult to take care of. Something made her stop at him.

Next time.

"Yeah, next time."