Magma Girl

by Claudia Silva

  Contents

  Magma Girl

  Magma Girl

  “What took you so long, Cat?” Kim demanded she open the door as if her life depended on it. In front of her stood her best friend, her other half, Caitlin. With her yellow hair sticking to her face because of the rain pouring outside, Cat stomped the floor mat before the door to get her red boots as dry as she could before entering the house. “Well, come in already! And make sure not to get anything muddy while you’re at it.”

  “I’m sorry,” Cat began to apologize. Once inside she took her purple raincoat off and left it on a chair Kim had in the foyer.

  “You should take those wet boots off, too,” her friend added. “They just cleaned the floors this morning.”

  Cat nodded, smiling awkwardly at her friend. She knew her. She had known her for years. There was little Kim could say that would truly offend her.

  Kim waited for her to get rid of her wet clothes. In a way Kim was the opposite of Cat, with her jet-black hair always tied behind her back, black jeans and a shirt that advertised a heavy metal band Cat didn’t know. It was raining outside, but still rather hot, so Cat wore a white shirt with a big pink flower on it and denim shorts, which to her were just right for her purple raincoat and red boots.

  “Come on, already, Cat!” Kim urged her. “You know what? While you figure out how to take off those fancy looking boots, I’ll go get you a towel and then we’ll go up to my room so you can tell me everything that’s happened, ok?”

  Cat tried to return Kim’s anxious smile, but it was difficult. The boots were wet and stuck to her feet. If she hadn’t been so desperate to talk to her best friend about her first world problems, she never would have ventured out in the rain.

  Although, Kim’s house was a pleasure to visit. It was huge and clean and pretty. Kim lived alone and the house had once belonged to her wealthy, now deceased, parents. They had been good people who had had an unfortunate accident taking them from their daughter’s life when she was just sixteen.

  The sight of Kim with a clean gray towel made her smile, this time with ease. Finally, Cat was able to follow her friend quietly up to her room – which used to be her parents’ room. It was a little like a ritual not to say anything of importance until they were both on the bed comfortably snuggling under the dozens of pillows Kim owned.

  Cat had known Kim since Kindergarten. Cat’s parents, who were still very much alive, still lived in the house she had grown up in and it was only a few neighborhoods away. Cat’s family had never had the money Kim’s family did, but they weren’t poor either. Even so, Cat had always known she would need to get a job to survive. Kim, on the other hand, could do whatever she chose; she chose not to work. Instead, she led a series of charity organizations – mostly ones started by her parents.

  At 22, Cat had started work as an architect on a big firm. At 26, she was still in the same position she had started at.

  So much for career advancement.

  Most of the time, Cat would drive to Kim’s to complain about the unfairness that was her job, her boss, and how little she got paid every month for all her hard work. And let’s not even start on the benefits!

  Wrapping the towel around her head, Cat cleared her throat as she prepared to start her rant while Kim let her jet-black hair loose as she patiently waited to hear the worst, thinking maybe her goody two-shoed friend would finally realize that in order to advance in business you had to have balls.

  “All right, so what is it?” Kim demanded.

  Except for this time, what came out of Cat’s mouth was totally not what Kim was expecting.

  “I’m not who you think I am,” exhaled Cat suddenly, as if she had been keeping this great secret her entire life and she had finally let it go.

  “Wait, what?”

  “I’m… different.”

  If the difference was that she had lost her marbles, then Kim would probably have believed it. Shaking her head, Kim said, “No, you’re not.”

  Nodding, Cat continued, “I have been lying to you all this time, Kim… and I’m sorry.”

  This didn’t sound well at all. “What is this lie, exactly? That you’re an escapee from some mental institution? Because if that’s it, then I forgive you.”

  Cat knew her best friend usually depended on sarcasm for most everything, but the time had come for her best friend to know the truth and she was prepared to go all the way with her revelation. It was just the right thing to do. Even superheroes needed to vent with their best friends. Didn’t they?

  “I’m Magma Girl!” Cat blurted out.

  With a snort, Kim muttered, “No, you’re not.”

  “Yes, I am, Kim,” Cat nodded reluctantly. “And I can’t keep it a secret any longer. Not from you. I don’t care what my parents say, keeping this secret from you has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done!”

  There was a moment of silence in which Kim pondered what she had just heard, “You have proof of this claim, I gather.”

  “Of course I have proof!” exclaimed Cat. “I’m not crazy, Kim. I am who I say I am.”

  Kim pursed her lips, “Right, well, I’m still waiting for the proof, Cat.”

  “Fine!” Just like that, Cat stood up; the first thing to go would be her shorts, which was why she began unbuttoning them…

  “Whoa, whoa!” Kim shouted, her hands flying in front of her face, “What in the world do you think you’re doing?”

  “I’m Magma-Girl, you dummy! You do know to whom I am referring, don’t you?” Cat said sarcastically. “My skin will turn into magma… do you want my clothes to burn to a cinder? I don’t think so… That’s why I have my uniform with me at all times, see?”

  And it was true! Under Cat’s clothes, she wore the red and yellow special super suit that Magma-Girl used. Her special Magma-Girl belt held her gloves, under her shorts was Magma-Girl’s skirt and once all her clothes were thrown aside, the very real Magma-Girl was standing in the middle of Kim’s bedroom.

  “So what?” Kim sounded unimpressed. “They sell the costume in every store. That doesn’t prove anything.”

  Rolling her eyes, Cat grunted in frustration. “Could you wait? I haven’t transformed yet! I told you, I don’t want to burn my clothes or anything around me. Like your carpet, for example,” Cat pointed at it as she explained. Then, taking a deep breath, she asked, “All right, are you ready?”

  “Yes!” Kim said, “Please do it! I am dying with anticipation here.” It was evident she was still a little incredulous.

  “OK. Hope this is the right decision,” Cat mumbled.

  Now it was time for Kim to roll her eyes, “Why shouldn’t it be?” she asked. “Aren’t I your best friend? If anything, I’m a little upset you haven’t mentioned it before… if this is true, of course.”

  “Well, you know…” Cat explained, “No one knows my secret. You’re the first human being, apart from my parents, who will see what you’re about to see.”

  “Right. We’ll have to talk about the fact that you aren’t human at some point today, you know?”

  “So, you believe me?”

  “Cat, I’m your best friend, don’t you know I’d do everything for you? I’d believe anything you tell me,” she said, “And you can trust me. I’ve known you since the first grade. You know I will not tell a soul.”

  Cat nodded a little disappointed in herself for not having taken this step sooner. “You’re my best friend, too. I know. I trust you, Kim. But you know how it is... I have enemies, your life could be in danger.” She did have a point there. “Like Dr. Evil-Man… or Woman Zero. You know, the super villains?”

  “They won’t hurt me, Cat,” Kim reassured her. “If they don’t know who you are, they won’t know about me.”

  Ca
t laughed nervously at that, “As long as you just remember not to tell anyone.”

  Kim put her hands over her face while pulling her head back. “Agh! Of course, I won’t tell… please! Let me see!”

  Cat stared hesitantly at her friend one last time before saying: “Ok, here goes nothing...”

  In front of Kimberly’s eyes, Cat began to levitate off the floor. The human skin that was covering her body began to melt like butter, her hair turned into living fire and her eyes became two black holes; a feature that helped her face remain a little human. At last, Kim stared at the one and only Magma-Girl not completely believing what she was seeing.

  “You really are Magma-Girl.” Kimberly gasped, her voice barely got out.

  “I am,” Cat’s voice was now gone and the raspy voice few had heard from Magma-Girl came out. “Always have been.” As the superhero, Cat’s mouth didn’t seem to truly move when she spoke, only a slight movement of the magma could be seen.

  Kim stared more intently at the being in front of her. “Your hair really is fire… is it dangerous?” she had a right to sound genuinely worried.

  Magma-Girl shook her head quickly. “Don’t worry, Kim, not everyone knows this, but I can create a protective field around my body to stop the heat from coming out.” She explained, “I can touch things with the parts of my body that are not protected by the suit while I will the force field to activate. If I wasn’t willing the shield up right now, you’d probably be dead.”

  “Unbelievable,” Kim said in response

  “Well, now that you know,” sighed Cat, “I feel sort of relieved.” Cat’s magma skin died away, the fire went out and her blond hair reappeared again. As if nothing had happened, her eyes became the sky blue they usually were. The human being that she had once been was back.

  “So, you can fly.” Kim pointed out.

  “Yes, but only as Magma-Girl,” Cat said as her bare feet gently touched the ground.

  Kim nodded in acknowledgment, “My best friend is Magma-Girl.” she announced, “Who would’ve thought?”

  Cat began to collect her clothes to get dressed again. “It’s not all that great. I’ve had a lot of trouble with being different since I was born. My powers came to me when I was very little and my parents had always told me how they found me where an asteroid had fallen. That’s how I know I must be from another planet. I don’t know which one, all that crap in comic books about how some superheroes find their origins are all lies. Don’t believe everything you read.”

  “Your parents know you’re Magma-Girl,” Kim said, “That must be intense.”

  “Of course, they know,” Cat said, “First time I became magma I burned my crib down. Dad had to use the fire extinguisher on me. I swear I have some incredible stories to tell about growing up.”

  Kim nodded in understanding, “Anybody else?” she asked, “I mean, anybody else knows?”

  “No,” repeated Cat, “You’re the first. I’ve been trying to tell you!”

  “Uhm...” Kim sat back down on the bed as if pondering something. “I suddenly feel like I have this huge responsibility. Not that I’m ungrateful you decided to tell me – and it’s long overdue – but still. A lot of responsibility.”

  Cat began to look worried. “But, I had to tell you, Kim. I have been keeping all this anger and sadness because of who I am and I haven’t been able to tell anybody. How do you think I felt every time I came here to vent and I could only tell you so much? Frustrating, I tell you.”

  Kim looked dubious, “Like what kinds of things?” Kim waited for Cat to pull her head up in a ponytail and sit back on the bed. “I mean, what possible problems can Magma-Girl have?”

  “If you only knew,” sighed Cat. “I’m just so sick of this stupid world that doesn’t understand me and gets into trouble… and when I help, they just take it for granted that I should help them. I’m tired of being Magma-Girl!”

  “I don’t understand… You’re a superhero, that’s what superheroes do. They help people.” Kim told her.

  “Says who? See what you’re doing? That’s such a stereotype.” Cat was beginning to raise her voice at her friend. “That’s not a rule! It’s not written anywhere! I used to do it because it was fun, but now I think I get myself into more trouble than it’s worth. For example, if I don’t make it in time to rescue somebody, then it is my fault. Why would it be my fault? Don’t they know I also have a day job?”

  “Well, no,” Kim tried to say, “of course they don’t.”

  “I have bills to pay. I’m an architect, that’s my real job. I went to school just like everybody else. I graduated from a university, just like everybody else – well, maybe not everybody. I struggle, Kim. My job is demanding; what if I’m in a meeting or at the construction site with some clients? Is it my duty as a superhero to give that up, be unprofessional and go help a stupid girl that wanted to commit suicide but regretted it too late and was hanging from a twenty-story building?”

  “Well, I-”

  “It’s her fault, Kim! Let her die! If it weren’t for this stupid super hearing that I have… darn it! Sometimes I wish I couldn’t hear anything at all. Do you know what I mean?”

  Kim couldn’t believe her friend. In front of her was a superhero that was complaining because she had the power to help. Never in her life did she expect this.

  “I always thought Magma-Girl was happy and proud a-and -” Kim ventured.

  “As Magma-Girl I don’t even have a mouth, nor can I show expression with my face. People just assume a lot of things? The truth is, I have to go to work every single day just like everybody else. I have to work to earn money to survive just like the rest of the people on Earth… I obey the law just like the rest of the citizens of this country, er, planet. It’s almost like I have extra responsibilities just because I have powers. Seriously, is that fair?”

  “And that’s not all!” continued Cat, “when I go to work, I can hear people talking trash about my superhero identity. They find plenty of faults for someone who is just trying to help. And don’t get me started on the gossip about me as a person,” she pointed at herself. “they just don’t appreciate what I do for them. They laugh at my uniform, can you believe it? They’re just a bunch of ignorant humans that have no idea the uniform actually protects them. Wouldn’t you just hate to be bullied like that? Wouldn’t you just hate them all? How can those be the people I swore to protect?”

  “You swore to protect them? Why would you do that if you don’t like them? You just told me that you hate people. I don’t get it.” Kim scratched her skull. “I kinda, wanna make sense of what you’re saying, but-“

  Cat lowered her head, shrugged her shoulders. “Well, I did it just because, well… I thought it would be cool, you know? The right thing to do and all that crap. I used to read those comic books about superheroes and one day I realized that if I wanted I could be one. The difference is, real people are not like comic book people.”

  Kim’s confusion kept rising with every word she heard. Every time her friend talked it was to nag and complain about having super powers and saving the world. Nothing she heard was even close to what she had thought Magma-Girl was like. In fact, it was really disappointing.

  “Some people like you. They like Cat and they like Magma-Girl. Not everybody is hateful,” Kim started in an effort to change the direction the conversation had taken. “You have your own comic book, too. That’s cool, right?”

  “I know. I guess I did want to be famous and I did want people to appreciate that I was different and special. Like, people don’t know I can fry my own barbecue just with the thought of it. I’m invincible when I’m magma and I can fly. I think that’s pretty cool.” Finally, she faced her best friend in shame, “Of course I know my powers can help, Kim. And you’re right, that’s what made me want to help the city in the first place.”

  Kim heard her friend talk and talk and talk. It didn’t really matter what else she said, she was starting to make up her mind that more than
a superhero, she was a super-brat.

  “Cat,” she said, “I-I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what you expect me to say.”

  Her super friend simply looked tired. “I’m only 26 years old, Kim,” she began to quietly cry. ”I can’t deal with this kind of responsibility yet.”

  “So, quit your job. Maybe it’s what you need to make your life easier. Perhaps, you could charge the city for your services?” Kim suggested in her attempt to help.

  “I don’t think I could do that,” Cat took the handkerchief Kim was handing her to blow her nose, “It just wouldn’t be fair, don’t you think?”

  “So? I think it would at least take the pressure off the regular job routine.”

  “But, I like my job,” whined Cat.

  Kim rolled her eyes when she heard this. “Cat, bottom-line, you’re complaining about having two jobs; sure, one’s being a superhero, I’ll grant you that. The solution is simple. Get rid of one job. I would think just being Magma-Girl could give you all the fame and fortune you ever wanted and-”

  Cat’s next interruption told her friend she wasn’t listening to a word she was saying: “Can you imagine that I got sued once because I didn’t notice that my protective shield was down just for a moment? I burned a man’s arm while rescuing him and they wanted me to go to court!” Kim was forced to listen again, “And I had just saved his lousy life by helping him out of a building on fire. Sure, he had a burnt arm, but otherwise, he would have been completely dead. The irony of this kills me. And just to avoid going to court, I had to take from my own salary to shut the idiot up. Can you believe it? Maybe I should have let him burn inside that building and save me a lot of trouble.”

  “You can’t really mean that, Cat,” Kim laughed quietly.

  “Well, no one cares about me, why should I care about them? This is a stupid world, that has stupid people on it! No one really cares about anybody. Or even themselves, for that matter. They are just like robots in a society that is falling apart. Someone comes to help and look how they treat her.”

  “If it bothers you so much, how about becoming a super villain instead?” Kim prompted.