The Return

“You thought he was dead, but there he is, right in front of you on the street, smiling at you.”

“Why is he smiling at me?”

“Isn’t it obvious he’s happy to see you. You thought he was dead, he’s not.”

“Ah, that’s not how I raised him. He wouldn’t smile at me.”

“Okay, he’s not smiling at you. What would he do then?”

“Probably just stare back at me, all nervous as he should be.”

“Were you tough on him as a kid?” 

“Only as strict as I should be when he got bent out of shape. But that’s not the reason.”

“Is it because of your role, not as his father but because of-?”

“The cape? Yeah.”

*

It was odd reconciling with an enemy. For over half the time I’d been the superhero, the Red Ember, Emily Harkin was my enemy. Fighting against each other we’ve probably torn the city apart countless times with few casualties but before our final boss battle we tore up the city again, and this time my son died.  

I buried him on a sunny day. Rain wouldn’t let me grieve, but on top of the cemetery’s hill, overlooking the smoke rising from the city made me think the city was crying for me. 

When the time came, I defeated my greatest enemy and I let her live.

Now Emily was looking for redemption. And what Polly, my neighbor, said to me a month ago became reality. 

When I stood on my doorstep waiting for the delivery boy with my Chinese food, I first saw Polly through her apartment window and waved at her. Then I remembered what she said and I looked across the street. 

I thought he was dead, but in front of me on the street, Isaac was smiling at me.

I guess adult kids can surprise you.

“Are you okay, dad?”

I crushed him in my arms. 

“Were you okay while I was gone?” He wasn’t a ghost or an apparition. 

“Miraculously,” I let Isaac go, seeing his face bright and full of life. “I didn’t kill her.”

“I know you didn’t.” He chuckled through a breath. “Luckily for us.”

Over his shoulder, a car window rolled down. 

“Harkin brought you back.” 

“Yep.”

I saw her grip on the steering wheel. If anything Emily was the most nervous of all at this little reunion. She knew I was a long way off from any way of forgiveness. She was ready to hit the gas if she saw any flicker of fury in my eyes by what she did. She couldn’t tell, but I was just as tired as she was. 

“Bring her in.”

Polly stood glued to her window shocked at the scene. I waved at her this time to join us.

I went in first, and couldn’t help but turn back to look at Isaac. My son holding the door for Emily. That was Isaac alright. 

“I’ll get something to drink for all of us.” He said, patting me on the shoulder and gesturing to Emily to take a seat in the living room.

Silence hung in the air after Isaac’s brief departure. There were plenty of questions to ask between the two of us, but neither of us knew where to start.  

The front door opened just in time with Polly in tow. 

“I got your Chinese food, Graham.” She held the plastic bag higher for me to take.

“Thanks. Polly, um,” I saw Emily rise and step toward the two of us, “this is-”

“I’m Emily Harkin.”

“Yes, I know. I’m Polly - the neighbor and friend. You actually kidnapped me about two years ago.”

“Oh God. I’m so sorry! I didn’t-“ Emily waved her hand across her face.” I didn’t recognize you!”

“No, no I’m sure you kidnapped a lot of people.” Polly clamped her mouth shut. “No, no, no - I mean anyway, I looked so different back then my hair was shorter than this, kind of like yours actually. That looks recent. Is that recent?” She cleared her throat.

“Um, yeah. Now that you mention it. Isaac cut it.”

“Did he?” Polly looked closer at Emily’s head.

“Polly!” Isaac put down a tray of waters on the nearest table, catching her in his embrace.

“I saw you through my window,” Polly’s fingers rubbed through his brown curls as if he was her own son. “I can’t believe it. I’m sure your father can’t either.”

Seeing them together, I couldn’t put it into words. They’ve been the only family I’ve known for so long. Polly had been a recent addition in our lives but when she arrived in the neighborhood those three years ago, she fit right in.  

Isaac’s mother never married me when we had him, she’d always been separated from our world. Polly saw the world as we did, it was one where we both took responsibility defending it. Me with my superpowers fighting crime, and Isaac in the fire department. 

“Polly’s right as usual. I don’t know what to make of this.” I sat down on the couch’s armrest. “I’m happy, Isaac. I am, but I’m also confused. Emily, can you explain to me how? I thought your experimenting days were over. Aren’t you tired, Emily? Because the city has had enough, I’ve had enough.” 

All my emotions were hitting me at once. I wasn’t yelling but the overwhelming mix of the apparent happiness of the moment and the masked hypertension of my long-time enemy in the same room was too much for my mind to handle. 

“Excuse me.”

Isaac found me upstairs by the dryer. 

“So the Red Ember does pour out his emotions, even when you mask them with your smoldering fists. I can honestly say, I didn’t see that coming.”

“You cut her hair.” I planted my hands on the machine. “I want to laugh - maniacally.”

“I did it all the time while I was in the Navy. I got a steady hand.”

“She killed you, Isaac. You could have slit her throat!”

“I’m not Frankenstein’s monster, dad.” He said under a hushed tone. “ ‘Do what you want with them.’ That’s what Emily told me when she handed me the scissors. She knew I had her fate in my hands. I’ve had it all along since you didn’t kill her. She brought me back and made it my choice.”

“So it’s a life for a life.”

“No - it’s not. Put it out of your mind that I would be pissed at anyone for killing me. I put my life on the line every day, just as you do.”

“Yeah. You do.” 

“Is this also about Polly too? What she put you both through after I was gone.”

“She’s always been like a mother to you. Special to me, too.”

“I know. I remember when you both went on that one date.”

“And that one time, Emily kidnapped her.”

“Yet, she can’t stay away from us, even when one of us dies. I’m glad she’s here.”

“With Emily - alone.” 

We both shuffled downstairs. 

“I don’t even recognize them, anymore,” I admitted when my gaze fell on the ladies sipping tea instead of the water Isaac brought out. I’ve never seen either of them look so sophisticated. Normally, Polly drank that Japanese drink, Ramune; and Emily, well I’ve never seen her in a domestic setting. 

“I’ve only showed up because I feel like I owed Graham an explanation.”

“Are you looking for forgiveness?” Polly asked.

“I don’t deserve it. But this is a first step.”

“It’s a big one. How did you do it or was he not really because you made it looked like he died?”

“No, I didn’t play theatrics. I did kill him.” Even from around the corner I could see her sullen face. Her regret. “He died. And Graham didn’t kill me.”

“How long has he been alive?” 

“Well, I revived him two days after Graham buried him. So about a month and a half. He’s lucky he’s his father’s son. They have the same DNA, same genes, powers mute in his bloodstream. I activated them when I used an intense electric shock to revive him. He has his father’s powers but he’s still mortal.” Emily sniffed. “I didn’t want Graham to see Isaac when he wasn’t ready. Isaac agreed, he didn’t want to be nervous.”

“Ready?”

“My hair. He cut it to test out his memory. One of the many exercises we did. Healing took its time.”

“Thank you, Emily.” I came out of the dark.

“Graham, I’m sorry.” She stood up. “I’ll go now.”

“She just wanted you to know.” Isaac stood by the door to lead her out. 

I nodded and she walked past me and out the door. Isaac returned to the living room, giving Polly another hug.

I sighed and pulled the front door wide open catching Emily in my grasp before she ran away again. But she didn’t move off the porch. She knew I’d chase after her.

“Graham, I’m turning myself in.”

“Yeah?”

“When you spared me, you let me go. I’m still surprised you didn’t hand me to the police then and there, but you didn’t. I ran so hard.” She chuckled. “Did you know I come up with my best ideas while running? Isaac was my best idea.” She tilted her head. “Thank you for giving me that run. That sounds odd. I know. Sorry, but still what’s odd and stupid is how you didn’t turn me in! You’re right, I couldn’t of-! I don’t know done something horrible again. I guess we both knew I can’t. But it doesn’t change that I messed with the laws of - whatever, life and death. I’m going to prison. I just had to fix - no, help you before I see bars for the rest of my life.”

“Are you okay?” I asked her sincerely. 

“Yes. I know you are too.”