Last Hero

by Timothy D. McLendon

  William stretched his arms and yawned. “There may be another option. Lamia was cursed and unable to close her eyes. Zeus gave her the ability to remove her eyes so she could sleep.” He laughed. “You could always steal her eyes.”

  “How?”

  “It doesn’t matter. If you’re who I think you are, then you’re destined to be a hero.”

  “Who’s a hero?” Kevin asked as he walked up to them. “I don’t see anything but losers at this table.” He leaned across the table and put his face in front of Danny’s. “I saw you looking at my girl. Do you have a death wish?”

  “Leave them alone,” Becky shouted from the other table.

  Kevin smiled and turned around. “Be there in a second, babe. Just wishing my friend a belated happy birthday.” He faced Danny again. “I hope you live to see your next birthday.” He snatched William’s thermos off the table and poured the soup from it into Danny’s lap.

  Danny jumped out of his seat and brushed as much soup off as he could. Everyone laughed at him. The band, chorus, jocks, cheerleaders, nerds—everyone. Danny stared as Becky ran out of the lunchroom and Kevin chased after her.

  “He’s just a stupid bully,” Bianca Miller said, sliding into the seat next to Danny. She was a school reporter with a bouncy ponytail who never stopped talking. Everyone knew she had a crush on Danny.

  “So, I’m writing a report on Meatloaf Mondays,” she said.

  Danny sighed and snatched some napkins from the nerd table. No one read the school newsletter. Even if they did, no one wanted to read about meatloaf.

  “Ever since Ms. Lam started working here the meatloaf has been awesome,” Bianca said. She giggled and smacked her lips. “She won’t tell me the recipe, but I’m wearing her down.”

  “You should write about something more relevant to the world.” William shook his head and continued typing.

  Bianca crossed her arms. “Well, just so you know, Mr. Smarty Pants, I’m writing a story on the kids who have disappeared from school this year.” She nodded like she was proud of herself.

  William closed his laptop and looked at her. “It’s because they’re playing hooky. Which is fine with me because they’ll be pumping my gas in a few years.”

  Danny couldn’t help but think the two of them belonged together. Most of the soup was off his pants now. It would take a little longer for his jeans to dry out.

  “How many kids have disappeared?” Danny realized there may be something to this story.

  Bianca’s face lit up. “Seven. I’ve asked the school administration about it, but they won’t give me any answers.”

  “Maybe it’s because you’re annoying,” William said.

  She stuck her tongue out at him.

  “How many Meatloaf Mondays have there been?” Danny asked.

  Bianca looked at the table and counted silently with her lips. “Seven.”

  William pushed his lunch tray forward. “I’m done eating.”

  Danny stared at the lunch lady. He knew she looked innocent to everyone else, but if what William said earlier was true then she was a danger to everyone in this room. He couldn’t help but think she had killed the seven missing kids and now was serving them for lunch.

  “I’ve got to get into the back,” Danny said to William and Bianca. He had to find out for sure if Frog Lady was killing the children and how to stop her.

  “Why?” Bianca asked. “They won’t even let me back there.”

  “Because he’s going to save us,” William said.

  Danny nodded and looked at William. “Are you still on the debate team?”

  “I’m the president.”

  Danny stood and stared at Frog Lady. “I’ll help you get your story, Bianca.” He turned and faced William again. “I need you to argue for our lives.”

  DANNY SAT at the lunch table with Bianca and watched as William went back into the lunch line. The plan had to work if they were going to get into the kitchen.

  William handed Frog Lady his lunch card. Danny knew it had already been punched for today and expected Frog Lady to turn him away. Danny motioned for Bianca to stand up with him and go to the back of the line.

  “No more food for you, William Sherman,” he could hear Frog Lady say.

  “My lunch card is still valid,” William argued.

  “You’ve already had your lunch,” she responded, pointing to the hole punched in the card for today’s date.

  William adjusted his glasses. He stared at the card like he’d never seen it. “You’re right, of course.” He snatched the card from her and flipped it over. “Right here in the fine print it says we can only come through the line one time.” He shook his head and cleared his throat. “Oh, wait. It doesn’t say anything like that at all.”

  Frog lady scratched her head and closed her eyes. “No more food.”

  William stood there and stared at her. “I’m not getting out of this line without this food. Get me your supervisor.”

  “No supervisor.”

  William turned and faced the other two lunch ladies behind the counter. “Excuse me! Miss Lam doesn’t know how to do her job. Can you ladies help me?” He was speaking loud enough for the entire lunchroom to hear.

  Frog lady motioned for the ladies to join her.

  William winked at Danny as the lunch ladies all came to the register. Danny was proud of him.

  Danny grasped Bianca’s wrist and stepped to the swivel door by the back of the line that gave entrance to the other side of the counter. He unlatched it and raced with Bianca to the kitchen in the back.

  “What are we looking for?” Bianca asked. She was admiring the pots, pans, and even the sinks.

  Danny scanned the room. “Evidence. But I don’t think we’ll find it in here.” He looked at the walk in freezer. That’s where meat would be kept.

  “Come with me,” Danny said. He opened the freezer door and noticed there wasn’t a latch or lock on it. It was probably a safety protocol. He was glad for it. The thermostat said it was 0 degrees Fahrenheit inside.

  After several minutes of searching through the containers and shelves Danny knew they wouldn’t find anything. It was silly to think the lunch lady killed children and ate them. He should have never listened to William.

  Danny motioned for Bianca to follow him and pressed on the freezer door to open it. It wouldn’t budge. There was no knob or anything to turn. It was just a flat surface.

  “Let me open it,” Bianca said. She pushed Danny aside and pressed on the door. It still didn’t move. “Help!”

  Danny stared at the temperature gage inside the freezer. It said -25 degrees Fahrenheit. His heart stopped when he realized someone had blocked them inside and turned the temperature all the way down.

  CHAPTER 13

  TURNING DOWN THE THERMOSTAT

  KEVIN GRASPED Becky’s arm and turned her around. Who the hell did she think she was running away from him?

  “You’re hurting me,” she whined.

  Kevin didn’t know why but he was breathing hard and his heart was racing. “This is because of Danny.” He threw her arm back and pounded his fists together. “I won’t let him get in my way.”

  Becky pushed him. She was so weak. Kevin felt sorry for her. She would never admit it, but any idiot could see she was in love with Danny. Why would she want a loser like Danny over him?

  “This has nothing to do with Danny,” Becky pouted. “It has everything to do with you.” She crossed her arms and bit her lower lip. “This isn’t working.”

  Kevin pulled her into the hall away from everyone and shoved her against the wall. She had no right to end things with him. He was the man, damn it!

  Becky’s face was red, and she gasped for air. Kevin stepped back. He didn’t realize he was holding her neck. “I’m sorry,” he said with his hands up. “I would never hurt you.”

  Becky coughed and walked further down the hall. “Don’t ever touch me again. We’re through!” Her shoulders shuddered and her sniffles echoed
in the empty hallway.

  Every muscle in Kevin’s body tensed. She couldn’t talk to him like that! “Keep walking!”

  Kevin paced the hallway and tried to catch his breath. He needed to hit something. The energy inside of him was screaming to get free.

  “Danny has to pay.”

  He looked into the lunchroom at Danny’s table, but it was empty. Where the hell was Danny at? He heard someone at the front of the lunch line screaming about wanting to speak with a supervisor. It was William Sherman. That kid was such a geek.

  He followed William’s gaze and saw him wink at Danny at the end of the lunch line. Danny grabbed some tramp and took her into the kitchen. He was probably going to make out with her.

  Kevin marched back into the cafeteria and headed for the kitchen. All of the lunch ladies were too busy arguing with William to notice him.

  He searched around the kitchen, but Danny and his tramp were nowhere to be found. Right before he gave up he heard mumbled voices from the freezer. That was an interesting place to make out—he’d have to remember it.

  Kevin looked at the thermostat and saw it was at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. “Not cold enough.” He turned it all the way down. He reached for the nearest oven and pushed it with one hand in front of the freezer door. He seized a second oven and sat it next to the first one. Then he hoisted a refrigerator over his head and stacked it sideways on top of the ovens. A pathetic loser like Danny wasn’t strong enough to move that.

  Someone inside screamed, “Help!”

  Kevin laughed and leaned back against the ovens. The two of them wouldn’t be screaming anything pretty soon. He had no idea how long it took to freeze to death, but now was as good a time as any to find out. Lunch hour would be over in about twenty minutes.

  Kevin yawned and thought about the old man. Whoever the guy was he gave him these awesome powers. Now he was stronger than everyone else. No steroids needed. And the old fart said he’d get everything he wanted when Danny died. It seemed horrible and something he would never do at first. But this wasn’t so bad. He didn’t have to see Danny die. He was doing Danny a favor.

  Kevin tried to think about everything he ever wanted. This power was at the top of the list, but something else kept popping into his head. He wanted Becky back, and he’d do whatever it took to get her.

  Becky was boring and predictable. She was probably an eight on a scale of one – ten. Not too bad but he could do a lot better. She was lucky to have someone like him in her life. He could make her world so much better.

  Kevin felt someone press against the freezer door. They were so weak. His body didn’t even move.

  Fifteen more minutes of lunch. If they weren’t frozen popsicles by then he’d have to go in and rip their heads off their bodies.

  CHAPTER 14

  REVEALING THE ENEMY

  DANNY STOOD over Bianca and rubbed her shoulders. She was sitting on the freezer floor, shivering, rocking back and forth. Danny didn’t feel anything at all. He realized he couldn’t sense the cold.

  “How…are…you…still…standing?” Bianca sounded like she could barely breathe. Every sound she made was labored.

  “I’m used to the cold,” Danny lied. He had grown up in South Florida and hated cold weather. His parents took him to the North Carolina Mountains one winter, and he had never been so miserable. He looked at his arms and was amazed he didn’t even have goose bumps.

  Bianca wiped her nose with her shirt sleeve. Her normally bouncy ponytail was pointed straight down. “We’re…in…trouble,” she said. She was right. If they didn’t get out of here soon then Bianca would go into some kind of shock, he was sure.

  Danny pushed on the freezer door again as hard as he could. It wouldn’t move. He tried to think how it was possible because he knew there was no lock on it and he was supposed to be strong like a god. There was only one explanation. Someone had trapped them in here.

  Danny heard Bianca’s body thump on the floor. She lay there and shivered uncontrollably. Her lips were blue. “No, no, no, no, no!” He ripped his shirt off and covered her torso with it. He lifted her lifeless body, and hoisted her over his shoulder effortlessly.

  “Stay with me. We’re getting out of here.”

  Danny stared at the door and focused on how he had pushed Ty back. He threw his arms toward the door and grunted. Nothing happened. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Bianca’s breathing was faint, and her heart beat slowly. He had to get her out now!

  Danny felt his body tense with an energy that had to be released from it. A familiar tingling sensation started from the balls of his feet, rose through his torso, and burned in his arms and hands. His eyes shot open, and he threw his arms forward again.

  A ball of energy shot out from his hands and blew the door off its hinges. It flew across the room and bounced off the opposite wall, where it crumpled to the floor bent in half. Two ovens and a refrigerator were scattered in different parts of the kitchen.

  Danny couldn’t move. Not because of what he had done. But because of who he saw standing outside the door.

  “Kevin,” he whispered.

  “Get out of there!” Kevin yelled. He was waving his hands for Danny to come toward him. “I heard someone shout for help.”

  Danny raced out and set Bianca on the floor. Her chest rose and fell, and she shivered again. He ran to the remaining ovens, turned them all the way up and opened the doors. He ran back to Bianca, sat behind her, pulled her toward him, and wrapped her body in his arms.

  “It’s going to be okay,” he whispered to her. “I’m here for you.”

  “Thank god you’re okay,” Kevin said. “What happened?”

  Danny looked up at Kevin. He knew Kevin had something to do with this, but he had no idea why. Had Kevin been holding the door? If he had, how could he be stronger than him?

  “What the hell is going on in here?” Ms. Spin stepped into the room and stared at the bent door. “And why is your shirt off?” She was the In School Suspension teacher and no one liked her. She always dressed in a pantsuit and had a boy’s haircut.

  Danny didn’t say anything. Kevin didn’t either. Bianca opened her eyes. Her body was warm. Her ponytail was bouncy again.

  Danny felt weak and exhausted. Somehow he knew some of energy had transferred to Bianca.

  Frog Lady walked in next to Ms. Spin and said, “Oh, my. I hope the children are okay.”

  “You and you, head to the ISS room,” Ms. Spin ordered Danny and Kevin. “You,” she pointed to Bianca, “stay here and help Ms. Lam clean up this mess. I don’t know how you got mixed up with these hooligans.”

  “She should see the nurse,” Danny said. He retrieved his shirt from Bianca and put it back on. He knew Bianca was okay now, but he couldn’t leave her with Ms. Lam. There still wasn’t any evidence to know if she had been killing children or not.

  “She looks fine to me,” Ms. Spin said. “ISS room. Now.” She pointed toward the cafeteria.

  “Find me if you need me,” Danny whispered to Bianca. “Run if you have to.”

  “I’ll be okay,” Bianca said. She stared at her hands like she had never seen them before. “I’ve never felt better.”

  Danny walked toward the exit.

  “I’m so glad you can stay,” Danny heard Ms. Lam tell Bianca. “We can have meatloaf again tomorrow.”

  CHAPTER 15

  SUGAR AND SPICE

  BIANCA WATCHED Danny walk out of the kitchen. He was so cute! His dark blue eyes and broad shoulders always made her heart skip a beat. Why hadn’t he asked her out yet? No matter. She’d write him a poem one day, and he’d be hers forever!

  “Start cleaning,” Ms. Lam said. She was bossy for an old lady. She didn’t seem to like kids at all, and Bianca had no idea why she worked here. She was so old she walked with her back hunched over and a limp.

  Bianca picked up a white knob from the floor. It looked the piece from one of the ovens that turned the temperature up or down. “Where does this go?”<
br />
  Ms. Lam limped over to her and snatched the knob. “Where does this go?” she mocked in a high voice then slapped it on a small metal bar on the closest oven. Bianca knew her voice didn’t sound like that. She had recorded her voice many times in interviews. Speaking of interviews…

  “So, Ms. Lam, it looks like this will take awhile.” Bianca snatched a notepad from her back pocket. It had a small pencil in the metal spirals on top. “Let’s talk about your famous meatloaf. How do you make it?”

  Ms. Lam huffed. “You don’t give up—do you, girlie?”

  Bianca smiled and shook her head. Persistent—that’s what everyone said she was. Her parents said she leaned to walk at seven months old, ahead of all her cousins. Why? Because every time she stood and fell down she jumped right back up. It didn’t matter how many times she fell. She had refused to crawl anymore.

  “Push that oven back against the wall,” Ms. Lam said, pointing at the oven that had all its knobs back now.

  Bianca looked at it and laughed. It was way too heavy for her to move unless it had wheels. She put her hands on it. “Here goes nothing.”

  “Sometimes I use snips and snails to make my meatloaf,” Ms. Lam said from behind her.

  The oven escaped from Bianca’s hands and banged against the wall on the other side of the room. She held her palms in front of her face. How was this possible?

  “Other times,” Ms. Lam said, standing behind Bianca and breathing heavily on her ponytail, “I use sugar and spice.”

  Bianca turned to find Ms. Lam facing her with some kind of butcher knife. Ms. Lam contorted her face, raised the knife, and thrust it toward Bianca’s head.

  Bianca froze. She had been right about the meatloaf, and Ms. Lam’s old wrinkly face was the last thing she’d ever see. She wasn’t supposed to die like this. She was supposed to win the Pulitzer one day or at least write a feature article for the Sunday newspaper.