Twisted

by J. L. Meyrick

  “Two glasses of rosé, please,” Liliana shouted across the busy bar, handing over some cash. She glanced over her shoulder while she waited for the wine, trying to see where Rose had ended up. Several flashes of red hair caught her eye, none of them belonging to her redhead.

  “Here you go,” the bartender shouted across to Liliana, drawing her attention back to their drinks. “Hang on, you’re her, aren’t you? The Dark Warrior’s girlfriend.” The bartender recognised her.

  “Nope,” Liliana lied before darting off into the crowd, hoping the bartender would not follow up on his questions.

  It was situations like this one where she hated being as short as she was. The crowd surrounding her stood head and shoulders above her. It reduced her to peeking through arms to find Rose. Eventually she thought she spotted her best friend sitting at a table against the back wall. Liliana noticed something that immediately put her in a foul mood, or one worse than she was already in. Rose wasn’t alone at the table.

  “Timmy. What are you doing here?” Liliana interrupted whatever he was saying to Rose. Liliana passed over the wine, noting that Rose was impossibly tense in Tim’s presence.

  “Ah, the villain’s girl. Surprised to see you out in public,” Tim replied, raising his eyebrows at Liliana’s appearance.

  “Why shouldn’t I be out in public? I’ve not done anything wrong,” Liliana replied.

  “No?” Tim asked. “Some people would say differently. Max was supposedly the love of your life, or something like that.” He had the audacity to chuckle as he said those words.

  “So you can imagine how much of a surprise this all has been. Even for me. Especially for me.” Liliana was doing her best to not let Tim get her all riled up, but it was hard.

  “Still. You’re all over the media. You should read some of the blog posts about you out on the web,” Tim replied. He was actively trying to get a rise out of her.

  “What happened to our girls’ night?” She turned to Rose, deciding to ignore Tim. She turned to face Rose head on, trying to block Tim from their conversation.

  “Sorry. He just came up to me as soon as I sat down,” Rose sighed. “There weren’t any other tables, I didn’t want to lose this one. Even to him.”

  “Ignore me if you want. But I’m right.” Tim edged himself back into view. “You’re out of a job. No one wants to hire you right now. You need my connections.” He was quickly changing from annoying to a bragging idiot. Liliana ended this conversation once and for all.

  “Tim,” she locked eyes with him, wanting to make sure her point got across, “your connections mean shit to me. You’re as useful as a decaf espresso”—she leaned in to finish her sentence—“now leave us alone.” She pointed away from their table, raising her voice, hoping others surrounding them would hear her.

  “Is this man bothering you, miss?” a mountain of a man turned around from the neighbouring table. What appeared to be his wife stood next to him, staring Tim down, somehow seeming more menacing than the Hulk of a man she was with.

  “Don’t worry, we’re all friends here.” Tim tried to get rid of the scary couple.

  “No, we’re not,” Rose replied shortly.

  “You need to leave,” the woman ordered. She had a calm yet terrifying way of speaking. Chills ran down Liliana’s spine at her voice. Surprisingly, Tim wasn’t already running for the hills. She would be if she were him.

  Tim stared down the couple for a moment more before shrugging his shoulders in defeat and walking away from the group. Rose couldn’t hold it in anymore, she burst out laughing.

  “I’m sorry. But you guys are amazing. Thank you,” Rose said between laughs.

  “No worries. You let us know if he comes back again,” the impossibly large man said, his tone now deep and pleasing to the ear, no sense of hostility remaining.

  “Thank you. You saved us from some very frustrating arguments,” Liliana said, smiling at the couple as they turned back to their drinks.

  “I thought I might have got rid of him now I’m not a journalist anymore,” Liliana said, taking a sip of her wine.

  “Don’t say that.” Rose tapped her on the arm. “You’re still a journalist. You just need to find a new place to work.”

  “Yeah? Who’s going to hire the girlfriend of the bad guy?” Liliana asked, already knowing the answer.

  “They’ll come around. Just give them time,” Rose replied. “Tanya might even ask you back once everything dies down a little.”

  “Ha. Like Tanya would ever go back on one of her decisions.”

  “It could happen,” Rose tried to convince her.

  “If pigs could fly, Rose.”

  The two of them laughed together for an hour or two before deciding to call it a night. Neither of them noticed the phones pointed in their direction, strangers taking pictures of the villain’s girlfriend out with a friend.

  Chapter 16

  Liliana woke the next morning, hangover free thankfully, only to see new pictures of herself on the news. These were from her drinks with Rose. So much for the safety of being on the opposite side of the city from her usual haunts.

  “Ms Liliana Masters, the former girlfriend of Max Victor, also known as Dark Warrior, was spotted socialising last night,” the reporter read from his notes as they scrolled through photos from the night before. “These pictures, combined with the latest information from her social media accounts, would seem to suggest that she is denying all knowledge of Victor’s alter ego.”

  They were finally getting the point. Liliana breathed a sigh of relief. She hoped they would now lose interest in her.

  “Sources have told this station that the woman who accompanied Ms Masters in these pictures is Ms Rose Wilson, a long-time friend and former colleague of Ms Masters.” The reporter shuffled his papers as he spoke. He was trying to sound like he was reporting on major issues, not the social life of a diminishing public figure. “Given the latest information from social media, could this friendship be developing into something more? Ms Wilson is known in social circles to be of the homosexual persuasion, could she be turning Ms Masters?”

  “TURNING?” Liliana shouted at the television. “What kind of crap is this? Are we in the twentieth century or something?”

  “He was always a backward idiot.” Yates walked into the room to hear Liliana screaming at the screen.

  “I never noticed it before now, but you’re right. Backwards idiot.” Liliana angrily shut off the TV.

  “At least your plan seems to be working.”

  “I suppose. The media frenzy should die down now,” Liliana said.

  “Fingers crossed,” Yates replied.

  The computer behind the pair dinged, drawing their attention away from the now blank television. Yates went over to check the notification that had popped up on the security screen.

  “We’ve got mail,” Yates said before walking away towards the secret door linking the base with Hilltop.

  “Mail? From who?” Liliana said, confused. “Who knows we’re here to send us mail?” Yates walked off before giving Liliana an answer, leaving her amid confusion.

  A couple of minutes later, Yates returned with a small, flat package. They turned it over in their hands, brow furrowed in contemplation.

  “Who’s it from?” Liliana asked.

  “Mr Victor,” Yates replied, stunning Liliana.

  “How?” Yet more confusion. “How on earth has he sent something while under lock and key?”

  “I am unsure,” Yates replied. “He has made many friends over the years, it is possible one could do this favour for him.”

  Liliana held out her hand. Surely the package was for her, she thought. Yates kept hold of it.

  “It’s addressed to me, Ms Masters.”

  “Oh. Okay.” Liliana wasn’t sure what to make of that. She hoped Max would have found a way to contact her. She needed to speak to him. Too many questions remained on her mind. Yates turned the package over in their hands for a moment more
before ripping it open. A letter fell out into Yates’s open hand.

  “What has he said?” Liliana knew she was being rude, but she needed to know. Yates unfolded the letter and read aloud.

  “Dear Yates,

  It would appear you may have been right.

  I know you will enjoy reading me admitting that; it doesn’t happen very often, after all. I hope you are keeping well and aren’t planning anything ridiculous. I made mistakes and am now paying for them.

  The guards here take great pleasure in telling me the details of the aftermath. The damage I caused. The people I killed.

  No.

  I didn’t kill them. He did.

  I didn’t want a fight. I only wanted to protect Liliana. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. Except maybe Sentinel. But you know how I feel about that so-called man.

  What hurts the most is knowing how I betrayed her. I should have told her the truth. I know that now. But I’ve lost her. I saw the news this morning. She’s moving on. I understand. It hurts, but I understand.

  I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. For your kind friendship. I believe this is the end of our journey.

  I wish you all the best for the future.

  May we meet again.

  Max”

  For the first time, she saw Yates break a little. A tear broke free from their eye and landed on the letter in their hands.

  “He’s saying goodbye,” Liliana said to herself more than anything. “He believes that I’ve not forgiven him. Oh god, I didn’t think it would be this hard.” Liliana’s heart hurt as she realised how alone Max must feel. She sat back on the arm of the chair behind her, clutching at her chest.

  Yates shook their head, wiping the tear away before more could join it.

  “This was bound to happen. I didn’t think he would get word out so quickly, but if he believes the lie, then surely everyone else must,” Yates said, folding the letter away into their inside pocket.

  “Can we reply?” Liliana asked, wishing she could make Max feel better somehow.

  “Not without it going through official channels. I don’t know who his contact is. He didn’t say,” Yates replied. Liliana’s shoulders dropped in resignation. After a pause Liliana stood, took in a deep breath, and marched out of the room, down to the gym.

  “What are you doing?” Yates called after her.

  “Training,” she replied. “We need to get Max out as soon as possible.”

  Yates nodded. They followed Liliana’s train of thought and her path to the gym. They needed to get down to work.

  *

  Yet again, Liliana slammed into the mat. She was sure most of her back was black and blue by now. Yates walked her through some more fighting moves before trying them out for practice. Liliana spent most of her time on the floor, struggling to fight back. They were too fast.

  “Again,” Yates ordered, kicking Liliana back onto her feet. Liliana was quickly tiring of Yates’s attitude while sparring. It was as if they didn’t see the difference between practice and actual life. She half expected Yates to knock her out at some point.

  Liliana stood, feet apart, knees slightly bent, fists raised. Ready for the attack. She watched Yates; they stood calmly, apparently unprepared for the fight. Their next move wasn’t clear until a split second before it happened. All Liliana wanted to do was land a hit, and maybe stay on her feet for once. Then Liliana remembered something she had seen on TV the other week, a specific move that would render your opponent’s arm dead in the water. You couldn’t trust everything you saw on TV, but she hoped this one move might actually help her.

  Yates suddenly moved forward, their right hand made into a fist, aiming at Liliana’s battered head. Deciding to try the new move, Liliana sidestepped, palm against Yates’s fist, and hit the underside of their upper arm. Yates’s arm fell flat against their side, their face a picture of surprise.

  “What?” Their mouth fell open in shock. “Where did you learn that?”

  Liliana laughed in surprise. “It worked!” She jumped back before Yates could attempt to hit her with their left hand.

  “Tell me, where did you learn that?” Yates repeated themselves.

  “Thank you, Netflix!” Liliana exclaimed, arms raised in celebration.

  Yates slowly started regaining feeling in their arm and flexed their hand a little. They stared down at their arm, trying to figure out what just happened. While Liliana hadn’t planted Yates on the mat this time, it couldn’t be denied that she won that bout.

  “Well done, Ms Masters.”

  “I told you to call me Liliana.” Yates just ignored her request once again.

  “Take a five-minute break, then start some reps on the programme I gave you the other day.”

  “So, you won’t use my first name, but you will give me orders. Odd.” Liliana raised an eyebrow at Yates before they walked away, smirking.

  Liliana grabbed a bottle of water from the mini fridge standing against the back wall of the gym. She glanced over at the exercise plan laid out on a nearby table, reminding herself what she needed to do. That last fight had improved her mood somewhat. It helped to know that she was improving. Maybe she could trip Yates up in their next fight. Although that might just be wishful thinking.

  Chapter 17

  After running through the exercises, Liliana walked through the complex, trying to see what Yates had disappeared to do earlier that afternoon. She eventually found them in the design room, hunched over the lit-up table, various plans scattered around them. Liliana stepped over a couple pieces of paper, some scrunched up, to move to the opposite side of the table to Yates.

  “What are you up to in here?” she asked.

  “Oh, Ms Masters, I didn’t hear you come in.” Yates looked up in surprise.

  “How the tables have turned,” Liliana chuckled.

  “I’m working on the design for your suit. The right combinations seem to elude me” Yates turned back to the sheets of paper in front of them.

  Liliana looked over the papers, each one showing a different aspect of the suit. It was all very complicated. She didn’t envy Yates’s self-appointed task.

  “Need any help?” she asked, hoping Yates asked nothing too technical from her.

  “Your measurements, actually.” Yates looked her up and down. They pulled open a drawer and took out a small device Liliana didn’t recognise.

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  “Stand against that wall, please,” Yates ordered, switching the device on. It had a small screen pointed towards the user, with a horizontal slit pointed towards Liliana. She nervously moved as instructed. “Arms stretched out.” Liliana complied.

  Yates raised the device and pointed it directly at Liliana’s head. They went to pull the worryingly gun-like trigger, making Liliana close her eyes and wince, waiting for something that never came. She peeked through one eye to see that the device was a scanner.

  “Oh. That’s what it does,” Liliana said, relieved, if nothing else.

  Yates waved the scanner over Liliana’s body, motioning for her to turn on the spot as required.

  “All done. Now I can model the suit on a scan of you. That should help,” Yates said, a glint of excitement in their eyes.

  “That didn’t feel invasive at all,” Liliana remarked. She brushed herself down and left Yates to their work. They seemed engaged in the design process, anyway.

  *

  After yet another training session, this one solo, Liliana put her mind to work as well as her body. She found some research notes of Max’s. He was trying to find the secret identities of the city’s heroes: Sentinel, Lightbringer and Glassier. The so-called holy trinity. Max had files of varying thickness on the three of them. His focus seemed to be Sentinel. On the other hand, he had barely any information on Glassier. Considering he or she was an invisible hero, that was no surprise.

  Sentinel’s dossier was full of photos, mainly from the press. He did like to show off for the camera
. Tall, dark and cocky. He was rarely seen without a smile unless it was an action shot. Then he was focused, too focused for Liliana’s liking. It was all for show.

  Max kept logs of his appearances. The records were actually giving off a creepy stalker vibe.

  “Oh, Max. Be glad the authorities never found these,” Liliana said to no one in particular. She continued to flick through the file and found some scientific reports that she didn’t completely understand. They looked like tracking reports.

  “What were you doing, Max?”

  Was he trying to track Sentinel mid-flight? Trying to find his base of operations, or his home?

  “Serious stalker vibes now.” It was creepy yet understandable. That was an intensely confusing feeling for Liliana. It wasn’t right to stalk someone like this, but Sentinel was a danger to the people. Did that make this right?

  Another in a long line of questions and discussion topics once she got in front of Max again. She had to admit to herself, she often came across a feeling of doubt in her current plan of action. She was woefully unprepared for this task. Part of her wished she had never bumped into Max that day. Of course, a moment after thinking that, she was washed over with guilt.

  Liliana rubbed her eyes, trying to work through the confusion and frustration. Why did Max have to carry this weight on his shoulders? Why was it his responsibility? Why was it now hers?

  Even for a journalist, she hadn’t had this many questions in a long time. Not since she noticed how hot Julia Stanton was in high school. That had thrown her through a loop, one that took her 4 years and a brief fling with Julia to understand fully.

  Her life in high school. That got her thinking. Surely Sentinel, or rather his alter ego, attended some sort of schooling system. He has already stated that he wasn’t an alien, born and bred human, just with a few extra talents. So, he was a kid; he went through puberty. That surely messed with his powers, along with everything else.

  Liliana brought the pictures of Sentinel back into the light, taking a good look at his smug face. He didn’t look to be much older than her and Max. Liliana ran and grabbed her laptop from her room and quickly started looking at archived newspapers, both national and on the local level. If something went wrong with his powers as a teenager, it might have made the news.