Shadow Girl

  I took a few timid steps closer.

  The boys were dressed in black leather and denim.

  Squinting through the mist, I saw their arms swing.

  Heard the thud of fists.

  The boy in the ski cap screamed again. A cry of pain.

  The others kept him surrounded. Punching. Swinging their arms hard. Grunting loudly with each thrust of a fist.

  I watched helplessly as the boy sank to his knees on the wet pavement.

  As soon as he dropped, they swooped down on him. They grabbed him by the arms and started to pull him behind the gas station.

  My heart hammered in my chest. I felt sick. I pressed my hand against my mouth and glanced around frantically, searching for a policeman. For anyone who could help.

  But the street was empty.

  “Hey—stop!” I called out. “Leave him alone!”

  I didn’t think. I didn’t plan to shout at them. The words burst from my throat.

  Two of the boys turned away from their victim. Pointing at me, they started to run.

  “Get her!” one of them yelled.

  And then all four of them were tearing after me, running hard, leather jackets flying behind them, shoes stomping the pavement.

  Why did I do that? I asked myself.

  Did I really think I was some kind of superhero?

  My panic froze me in place. I was going to get pounded like that boy.

  “You’re in trouble now!” a hoarse voice cried.

  I sucked in a deep breath. Wheeled around. Forced my legs to move.

  “Ohh!” I cried out as I ran straight into a metal trash can.

  The can clattered onto its side with me on top of it.

  I hit the pavement hard. Tried to roll away so that I could climb back to my feet.

  Too late. Too late.

  Running hard, swinging their arms, the grinning boys closed in on me.

  27

  On my stomach, scrambling to stand up, I slid in the disgusting garbage.

  I turned when I heard the squeal of tires. A black SUV came wheeling around the corner.

  The driver must not have seen me down on the ground. The big car roared by, inches from my out-stretched arms.

  Gasping in fright, I struggled to my feet.

  And stared at the empty street.

  The four boys had vanished. The squealing SUV must have scared them off.

  Were they still nearby? Were they watching me? I wasn’t going to take that chance.

  I pulled my hood back over my head and started to run home. With every step I took, I grew angrier.

  Those creeps. Did they think they could beat up anyone they wanted?

  Well, I’m not going to let them get away with it, I decided.

  Aunt Janet’s words echoed in my head: “Use your powers well, Shadow Girl.”

  The costume. I needed the costume.

  I didn’t know what powers it held. I knew only that without it, I was helpless.

  The freezing rain started to come down harder. I ran back to Jada’s house, my shoes splashing up puddles on the slick pavement.

  Uncle Will’s car was in the driveway. I crept silently into the house and upstairs to the bedroom. Jada was asleep with the lights on, lying on her side, her mouth open slightly.

  I made my way silently down the hall. Into the secret room. A few seconds later, I was pulling the cloak around me, sliding the pendant around my neck, tugging the mask over my face.

  I stopped on my way out the secret door. Am I really doing this? I asked myself. Am I really going out as Shadow Girl?

  I felt excited and terrified at the same time.

  I hurried back outside. The cold rain had stopped, but a thick mist hung over the streets.

  I turned and began to trot toward Stan’s neighborhood. As I moved through the dark, silent streets, I realized I didn’t know anything about my powers.

  I knew I could fly. But I didn’t exactly know how.

  Am I super strong? I wondered. Does the cloak make me invulnerable?

  I stopped in the middle of the street. My breath puffed up in front of me in little clouds. Beneath the cloak, my whole body was trembling. I’ve never been this terrified in my whole life, I thought.

  Too late to turn back. Too late…

  The gas station stood just ahead of me. Pushing the cape behind me, I leaned into the wind and ran up to it.

  I saw the striped ski cap lying beside a gas pump. I picked it up. And then I saw the boy, still on his back, on the pavement beside the side wall.

  As I knelt beside him, he groaned and opened his eyes.

  His dark hair was wet and matted to his forehead. He had a deep cut in one cheek, and dark blood had caked under his nose.

  He groaned again, holding his side. He blinked several times. When he finally focused his eyes on me, he gasped in fright.

  I leaned over him. I brushed back his hair with my glove. “Don’t be afraid,” I said softly. “I’m your friend. I’m Shadow Girl.”

  The words sounded so funny to me. So strange. As if another person were saying them.

  He squinted at me. “My ribs…” he moaned.

  “Can you stand up?” I asked. “Should I call for an ambulance? Or call your parents?”

  “I—I think I can stand,” he said, gently touching his cut cheek. He started to stand. I grabbed his arm and helped pull him up.

  “That costume,” he said. “Why—”

  “Never mind,” I said. “I just came back to help you.” I handed him his cap. “Who were those guys who beat you up?” I asked.

  “Who wants to know?” a harsh voice behind me demanded.

  Startled, I twisted around—and saw the four tough-looking boys in black leather jackets.

  I saw the baseball bats in their hands. I saw their eyes narrow menacingly. Their bodies tensed, as if getting ready for battle.

  And then, raising their bats, they moved in on me.

  28

  A wave of fear swept over me. I can’t do this, I thought. I can’t fight these boys.

  I forced myself to my feet. I took a step toward them. Then another. My cape billowed behind me. The mask clung wetly to my face.

  Baseball bats raised in front of them, the four boys circled me.

  “You’re a little late for Halloween,” one of them shouted.

  The others laughed.

  “Put down those bats,” I told them, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m Shadow Girl. You can’t hurt me.”

  They laughed again. “She’s crazy,” one of them muttered.

  “She’s toast,” another one said.

  My breath caught in my throat. I’m going to get killed! I realized.

  How do I fight these creeps?

  Please—please—let me be strong! I silently prayed.

  They moved in closer, circling, circling. And then a tall boy with cold gray eyes and a silver ring in the side of his nose swung his bat.

  He swung it at my waist.

  I danced back. Felt the swoosh of cold air as the bat missed me by an inch or two.

  The next boy swung his bat at my head. I ducked. Reached out. Grabbed his bat.

  I pulled it easily out of his hands. His eyes went wide. I could see he was startled by my strength.

  I heaved the bat into the wall of the gas station. It made a loud clang and bounced away.

  With a grunt, the first boy swung again. I raised my hand. Caught the bat in mid-swing. Tugged it out of his grasp.

  And snapped the bat in two between my hands.

  “Whoa!”

  “Hey—!”

  “Weird!”

  I could see the surprise on their faces. Surprise—and fear.

  I lurched forward. Grabbed the bat from another boy.

  He held on to it tightly. Struggled to pull it away from me.

  I heaved the bat with all my strength—and watched as the boy and the bat sailed up to the gas station roof.

  The boy landed hard. I heard hi
m utter a groan. The bat clattered across the roof.

  And then the other three boys took off. Screaming as they ran, they vanished around the front of the gas station and disappeared down the street.

  Dizzy, wheezing with every breath, I wheeled around. And saw that the boy with the ski cap had disappeared too.

  I stood up straight. A smile spread across my face. “My first victory,” I murmured. “I did it! I’m Shadow Girl!”

  Then my body shook so hard, I dropped to my knees.

  I was sick. Sicker than I’d ever felt in my life.

  I bent over and puked my guts out.

  I couldn’t stop trembling.

  Chill after chill ran down my body.

  Finally, I felt strong enough to stand up. I wrapped the cloak around me and began to make my way home.

  I can’t do this, I decided.

  I can’t be a superhero.

  It’s not just that I’m scared. I hate it. Hate it. Hate it!

  Back in the bedroom, I woke Jada up. “I can’t do this,” I said. “I’m sorry. I tried it, and I can’t do it.”

  She blinked up at me through sleep-filled eyes. “What makes you think you have a choice?” she whispered.

  The next night, Jada forced me to test my powers.

  She pulled me to the hidden room. “Hurry. Get dressed. Go,” she ordered.

  I swallowed hard. “Are you coming with me?”

  She shook her head. “I’m your enemy—remember? You must find your own way.”

  “But—I don’t—”

  She shoved me into the secret room. “You’re so pitiful, Selena, I’ll give you one hint,” she said. “The power is in the pendant.”

  “Huh? What does that mean?” I demanded.

  She shut the door behind me. I heard the hum of the bookcase as it slid shut.

  Hey—I’m locked in here, I thought. But then I remembered the window.

  Before I pulled on the costume, I studied the pendant carefully. My photo stared out at me through the dark glass.

  Why did Jada say the power was in the pendant?

  I squeezed the cool glass between my fingers. I expected it to give off a burst of heat or a flash of light. But nothing happened.

  With a sigh, I lowered the pendant around my throat. Then I pulled on the rest of the costume.

  I raised the shade and tugged open the window. A blast of cold night air greeted me. I edged off the windowsill onto the tree branch.

  Don’t look down, Selena, I warned myself. I really have a problem with heights.

  I started to make my way down the fat trunk. “Ow!” I cried out as I scraped my hand on a patch of rough bark.

  Not a good start.

  I landed hard on the ground, twisting my ankle. Pain throbbed up my leg. I gazed at the back door. I wanted to go back inside and forget this superhero craziness.

  But I knew Jada would never let me.

  The wind swirled my cape around me. I straightened the mask so that I could see better. Then I made my way to the empty lot at the corner.

  The lot was cluttered with rocks and fallen tree limbs.

  I’ll save the flying for last, I decided. I already know I can fly. The question is, how do I do it?

  I decided to test my strength first. I remembered the amazing strength I had when I fought those four boys.

  Would I always be that powerful when I wore the Shadow Girl costume?

  The moon drifted behind the clouds. A heavy darkness rolled over the empty lot.

  I bent down to lift a large, round rock from between a tuft of weeds. “Oh.” I strained with both hands, but I couldn’t budge the rock.

  I decided to try a smaller one. This one was jagged and sharp. Gripping it in two hands, I raised it waist-high. And heaved it.

  It plopped to the ground a foot in front of me.

  What happened to my amazing strength? I wondered.

  Jada’s words repeated in my mind: “The power is in the pendant.”

  I picked up a small rock in one gloved hand. And squeezed the pendant with the other. Then I tossed the rock as hard as I could.

  It sailed a short distance, then dropped into a clump of tall weeds.

  “This is not working,” I said out loud.

  Maybe I have super speed, I thought. I kicked a clump of dirt out of the way. Then I took off, running across the lot.

  I didn’t get far. My twisted ankle hurt. And the cape tangled itself around a fallen tree limb.

  What am I doing wrong? I wondered. The costume let me fly home. And it worked perfectly against those four creeps at the gas station.

  I tried a few more times. I turned and stared hard at the house across the street. No. I didn’t have X-ray vision.

  I leaned all my weight against a telephone pole at the curb. No. I couldn’t make it tilt.

  “Use your powers well,” Aunt Janet had said.

  That meant that I had powers. Why had they vanished tonight? What was I doing wrong?

  I glimpsed a white church on the corner of the next block. It stood high on a hill overlooking the street. Beside the church, the pointed steeple rose up into the black night sky.

  “I can fly. I know I can,” I said out loud.

  Sweeping the cape behind me, I hurried across the street. The back door to the church was open. I climbed the narrow, curving stairs to the top of the steeple.

  It opened onto a small deck. I stepped outside. The wind blew so hard, it made the steeple tremble. I looked out on the trees and houses sloping down the block.

  My legs were shaking so hard, I could barely stand. My stomach lurched. I started to feel really sick.

  Can I fly again? Can I? I have no choice. I have to try it.

  I did it once. I can do it again!

  A blast of wind made my cape billow behind me. I stepped up to the edge.

  I can do it, I decided. I know I can!

  I raised my arms above my head. Leaped off the edge of the deck.

  And fell straight down…down…down…

  29

  I shut my eyes. And prayed: Please—please—let me fly!

  I waited for the explosion of pain as I hit the ground.

  But I felt a tug. Felt myself suddenly pull up.

  Opening my eyes, I saw the ground sweep beneath me. Beneath me!

  I stretched my arms out—and swooped higher. The cold wind rushed against my face, fluttering my mask, blowing the cape behind me like a giant flag.

  “Yes! I’m flying again!” I screamed.

  Higher, into the black sky. I could see the church and its steeple far below me now. And the cars parked along the street, small as toys.

  I was flying—and I knew the secret. The secret of the pendant and its powers.

  I had to wish for the power first. And when I wished for it, it was given to me.

  Yes. I remembered wishing for strength when those four boys were moving in on me. And I had it.

  And now I had wished to fly—and I was soaring over Elmwood, swooping low to the ground, then sailing high over the houses.

  How do I keep from crashing into the ground? I wondered. That first landing was really painful. Do I wish for a soft landing?

  I lowered my arms. I began to sail down. My cape flapped above me. The houses and trees roared up to meet me.

  “Nooooooooo!” I wailed. Out of control. I knew I was out of control.

  “Ow!” I landed hard on both feet. My legs folded, and I dropped to the wet grass in a sitting position. The cape fluttered down over my head, covering me.

  Wow! That was incredible! I thought.

  That was awesome!

  If I practice and get really good at it…

  Whoa!

  What was I saying? I don’t want to do this, I reminded myself. Sure, it was amazing to fly through the sky. It was thrilling. But no…no way I wanted to spend my life flying after criminals!

  What else can I do? I wondered. What other powers do I have?

  I pulled myself shakil
y to my feet. I picked up a rock from the curb. And silently wished for amazing strength.

  I heaved the rock—and watched it sail over the houses, down the block, into the next block.

  Yes. I had learned the secret of the pendant and its power.

  But my mind was made up. I want to be a normal twelve-year-old girl, I told myself. I don’t want to be a freak, running around in a costume every night. I don’t want to fight and kill and chase criminals. I want a normal life!

  I turned and started to walk toward Jada’s house. A car rumbled past. I hid behind a tall hedge. I didn’t want anyone to see me in the costume.

  About a block from the house, I came to a tree that was tilting over the sidewalk. It probably fell during a storm.

  I wished for strength again. Leaned my shoulder into the tree trunk—and pushed it back up straight.

  As I brushed off my costume, I heard laughter. From high above. I turned and saw Jada in her red costume come swooping down from the sky.

  “Shadow Girl—how’s it going?” she asked as she landed gently in front of me.

  “You didn’t tell me the secret,” I cried. “You didn’t help me at all. I—I could have been killed!”

  She laughed. Behind the red mask, her eyes flashed. “You seem to have figured things out,” she said.

  I heard voices. And saw two narrow beams of light. At the corner, I could see two girls pedaling toward us on bikes.

  “Listen, Jada, I want to go home,” I said.

  “Don’t call me Jada. My name is Red Raven.”

  “I don’t care,” I insisted. “I don’t want to do this. I think superheroes belong in comic books. I don’t want to live—”

  I stopped when I saw a car roar around the corner. Its headlights swept over the two girls and their bikes.

  The shrill squeal of brakes rose over the girls’ startled screams. The car skidded hard.

  Jada gave me a shove—and I took off.

  I leaped across the street. Dove in front of the car. Lowered my shoulder. And took a solid blow as the bumper smashed into my side.

  I held my place. I didn’t fall back.

  The car bounced. Once. Twice. And stopped.

  I spun around to see the girls skid onto the grass. One of them fell off her bike. The other one squealed her bike to a stop.