From Hero to Villain

Part Five

She returned to her own lair for the last time, though she only stayed for a few moments. Wendi knew if she put what she had to do off for too long she would lose her nerve, not to mention run out of time, but she had to pause long enough to retrieve what she needed. A bomb would suffice she decided, granted, she would go out with Morfraun. It was the only way, right?

It is the only way, darling. You have to go too, you must rid the world of evil, once and for all.

The bomb would make sure Morfraun was indeed wiped off the face of the earth, just in case the fire didn't do enough damage. She had built that bomb months ago in preparation for this day. With both herself and Morfraun dead, there would be no villain left in Aimsville. The city would finally be safe from evil.

She placed the bomb in her satchel and stepped out of her lair. It had only been a day, but so much had changed. There was no sunshine, a dark smoky heaviness filled the air. The fire hasn't reached this far yet, but she could feel it coming, which meant she had to move. She flew onward, the end is near.

Wendigo touched down again atop the roof of an office building. Clearly the fire hadn't reached this far yet. "We're in a city," she deadpanned.

Yes, we are, and you have such a grand observation the voice said, words dripping with sarcasm.

"If we blow this building up, it will kill hundreds of people," she whispered harshly, "I thought we were saving the world here!"

We are saving the world, Wendi, think about the greater good. They're going to die anyways, what with your fire and all.

She sighed quietly, "I suppose you're right." Yeah, it was true. Even from the top of the building she could see the panic going on below. People rushed about, but little did they know there was no way out. She walked over to the fire escape ladder, "Top story?"

Yep. You're doing the right thing, I promise.

She kicked in a window, and climbed into the building. She knew this hallway, she had been here as a child. This was where her life changed. Wendigo had once though that it would be for the better, but now she wondered if it was for the worse. Walking towards the room she dreaded to enter, she passed a potted plant. It was then that she stooped down and after clicking the button to start the timer she deposited her bomb among the leaves.

You have ten minutes.

Wendigo entered the room with caution, and with a click the door was locked behind her, there would be no going back now. Her fate was confirmed.

"Well, if it isn't little Wendigo," came the voice she had grown to hate, Baird Morfraun, "Not so little anymore are we now?"

"Morfraun," she returned the greeting, words laced with sarcasm, "Lovely to see you as always." She quickly whirled around to meet the eyes of the most despicable man on the earth. His face made her want to vomit.

"I see you've been busy. You know, burning down our beautiful city of Aimsille and all. Whatever brings you here?"

Wendigo laughed humorlessly, "I'm here to finish what was started all those years ago. I've already prepped the bomb, it detonates in less than ten minutes. It's over now, Morfraun, I win."

"If that's what will make you feel better," Baird chuckled, strolling toward his desk and plopping down, "Looks like the experiment was a total success."

"What are you talking about?" Wendi hissed, "We're both about to be blown to smithereens!"
"Actually, you're the only one who will be blown to bits," he commented dryly, "How long is left on the clock?"

"About eight minutes," she stated, a confused expression on her face.

"That would be just enough time to explain," Morfraun confirmed, propping his feet on his desk, "If you want to listen, I'll explain everything. It's not like you can tell anyone."

Wendigo propped up against a wall, the cool expression returning to her face,"Talk then, make the wait go a bit faster."

Morfraun chuckled before starting in on his side of the story, "Everything you know, yeah, it's not true. The orphanage you were in was a story I made up for you to believe. Your parents are alive, they just don't want you. Darling, I picked you up from the asylum a few towns over when you were twelve years old. Well, more like kidnapped. The looked for you a little while, but I mean, you belonged to the state. No one was in a rush to track down the crazy girl. Of course when I was picking who I try my experiment on I had to be rather selective. I needed someone I could easily manipulate, and you, my dear, were the perfect candidate. Schizophrenia, your mind was like putty in my hands. The voice in the back of your head was always there, but I could make it into whatever I wanted. It was me all along."

"Tha-that can't be right," she stammered, sinking to the floor, "I-I--"

"It is right. I made certain you would remember nothing of your true past. Of course, you still don't remember it. All you know is what I want you to know. On with my story now, the Sallows rescued you. The only reason they knew you existed was because I tipped them off. After all, they were a crucial part in my plan. Your purpose was to find a way for me to destroy the Mister and the Missus and for you to destroy the boy, which you did nicely. Next, you were to self-destruct. That would be what is happening this very instant. Lucky for me, you're also killing people in the process, makes my job a lot easier, by the way. Since the first Wendigo was a success, its time to go use this knowledge to create an entire army and take over the rest of the world. Now, I better be getting along. Places to be, people to meet, more kids to find. There isn't really time in my schedule to blow up today." He chuckled.

"You can't go anywhere," Wendi said without expression, "You're trapped, and there is no more crystal. I destroyed it myself. It's on fire now."

"Please, darling," he sneered, "As if I'd ever let you get your hands on the only one, I made a new one the second you and Jasper Sallow took off with the first one." Opening his desk drawer, he pulled out an identical glass globe. "At this point you have two options," he stated, "Either you come with me and I blank out your memories or you die here."

"I'll take my chances. Never will I join you, not again."

"Suit yourself," he said, "See you in the next life, Wendigo." With that, Baird Morfraun disappeared, never to be seen by Wendigo.

It's just you and me, the voice said.

"Go away," she said glancing up on the wall at Morfraun's clock. How ironic, she now relied on him to know when she'd die, "I have thirty seconds to left live. I want to spend it alone, if you please."

You know, actually I think I'll just stick around. The last few seconds of your pitiful life should be as miserable as the rest of it, don't you think? The world really isn't loosing much today, now is it, crazy girl?

Five seconds left. Wendi closed her eyes for the last time, "See you soon, Jaz."