Defrost my Heart Part Eight: The Bite of Death

Standing in a room full of dead bodies, the withering effects of Lady Death’s touch haunting me. Sighing underneath my metal mask, the chill off of my super suit danced like smoke. My anxiety seemed to be raging as of late, my ability to keep my powers in check faltering. Crouching down to the closest body, the damage was irreversible. Resting my hands on my knees, no other clues could be found. 

“Where is this again?” I inquired honestly, her eyes blinking a couple of times. “There had to be a reason for this attack.” Scanning the room for anything else, a single drawer was open. Making my way to the expensive cherry wood desk, claw marks covered the top. Her soft voice snapped me out of my racing thoughts, Madame Spider hovering in front of the desk. Pressing her palms together, her eyes darted over to mine. What was she hiding?

“I believe this is a realtor business.” She answered simply, my brow cocking. What on Earth did Lady Death need to raid this place for? Staring at the decaying brick of the business, a long breath flowed from my lips. The edges didn’t meet, curiosity had me knocking on the wood. A hollowness greeted my knuckles, a sly grin dancing to life underneath my mask. Grabbing a pen off the table, the tip was thin enough for me to lift up the false bottom. A black folder greeted me, the desk rattling as I placed my feet on the desk. How curious?

“Better late than never.” I mumbled under my breath at the hidden clue, an odd expression coming across her face. Flipping the folder open, a sleek A-frame with only windows on both sides had my mind wondering about the importance. Popping to my feet, the police officers tracked us leaving. Climbing into my father’s car, a list of groceries fluttered with the engine roaring to life. Normally, I would skate over but this address was a day away from headquarters. Peeling onto the cracked pavement, the skyscrapers became a thick sea of trees. Pulling up to the sleek A-frame, nothing seemed off about it. Parking behind a giant rock, the engine died down. Snatching the key from the seat, Madame Spider lingered on my heel. Sliding the key into its matching puzzle piece, a click had it swinging open. Crossing the threshold, the thick glass floor glistened in the bright full moon. A minute crack had me grumbling under my breath, Lord Plague’s raven symbol shimmered on the wall. So this was one of his old labs, the ghost of what he had done haunting these empty halls. Glass shattered in the other room, dread bubbling in my gut. Madame Spider climbed onto the ceiling, her form disappearing into the other room. Her scream had me rushing into the kitchen, the color draining from my cheeks. A stake had pierced her heart, the light leaving her eyes. Fighting the urge to sink to my knees and give up, my dear friend needed me to bring her home. The flesh colored bob morphed into her form, hatred mixing poorly with sorrow. Ice swirled around me, the balls developing foot long spikes. Sending them in its direction, glass crashed behind it, the tough shell of its skin had me sprinting out of the room. Shit, it had developed Madame Spider’s abilities. Saying her name in my head had me sobbing into the wall, my first non-family friend having died because of me. Something had to kill it, my mind racing through her weaknesses. Snapping my fingers, salt had always eaten at her skin. Expose the core and I could bring that fucking monster down. Killing it would save the city, the damn thing almost guaranteed to make its way into the sea of potential victims. Slipping into the closet, a bag of rock salt hit my boots. Picking it up, a kick to a broom had it clattering to the floor. Time to test my theory out, a potential option not being too far away. Albeit, the result could potentially kill me as well. A spike ripped the door open, its ruby eyes glowing inches from me. Throwing the whole bag of salt into its face, the melting skin had me throwing up in my mouth. Shrill shrieks filled the air, the rest of the glass clanging all around me. Ice spread out before me, every skate forward brought me closer to my destination. Hitting the grass, a single web hit my back. Freezing it, the brittle material crumbled to pieces. Waving my hand, a thick wall of ice separated us. Skating faster and faster, the salt springs came into view. Skidding to a stop in front of the bank, the beast leapt over my head. Snatching its ankle, ice crept up my arm.  Bounding us together, a flip over my head had us splashing into the springs. The salt melted the ice, my lungs begging for air immediately. Sinking lower, air bubbles floated from my mask. Turning my head, the monster hissed until it melted into nothing. Clutching at my throat, the moonlight blurred. My eyes fluttered for a couple of seconds, a rough darkness stealing me away from the burning sensation in my chest. 

Rolling over onto the grass, a relieved Emberox clutched me close to his chest. The iciness of my blood had reversed the damage, his chin resting on my head. Wondering how he got here and at the right time, my lips parted to receive my answers. Pressing his lips into mine hungrily, my hips arched towards him. Time slowed down, the hissing of our usual steam becoming a background noise. Releasing me from his spell, the pain of my loss returning with a vengeance.   

“The alarm went off in the house.” He spoke dejectedly, silent tears staining his cheeks. “She made sure to alert me. I am so sorry.” Burying my face into his shoulder, violent sobs wracked my body. All of this was my fault, my fucking fault. Lifting up my chin with her  finger, no words could come to his lips. Shoving him off of me, grass crunched with every step towards the destroyed home. Coming upon a taped off scene, the ambulance was wheeling her body bag out of the house. Blasting a bit of ice, it formed a thin wall between the ambulance and her body. Skating up to her, their protests fell on deaf ears. Putting my hand in the air, validation of  my worst fears needed to be confirmed. Opening up the bag, my hand cupped my mouth. The spike was a weaker version of what Lady Death could do. Emberox sprinted to my side, his steady hands tying my mask back around my mouth. 

“Send her to my company. A deeper autopsy needs to be performed with special care.” I ordered icily, the cops beginning to protest. “You can have your mortician on sight. Do we have a deal?” Muttering a brisk fine, their weary eyes watched me zip the bag shut. Breaking the wall, the ice sparkled in the early morning light. Catching my frozen tears as they climbed in, her body was being driven away. Emberox followed me behind to my father’s car, his hand holding onto mine until he couldn’t. Sinking into the driver’s seat, the engine rumbling to life provided little solace. Driving in the opposite direction, Emberox shot me an odd look. 

“Where are we going?” He queried while holding my hand, the tires crunching as I peeled onto the cracked road. Bowing my head in shame, my duty as captain was going to grow rather solemn. Gathering my composure, my future husband needed an answer. A lump formed in my throat, my fingers beginning to drum on the wheel. 

“As captain, I have to inform her parents of her death and tell them that I am going to pay for her funeral.” I returned impatiently, a migraine throbbing to life. “A shining star was ripped from the world because of my inability to lead correctly.” His lips pressed into a thin line, his hand holding mine tighter. Snapping on the radio, heavy metal carried me through the four hour drive. Pulling into a small town, the brakes squealed to a halt in front of a smaller log cabin. Leaning back onto the seat, Emberox’s cellphone rang shrilly. Climbing out, he could come in later. The door opened before I could there, a joyful Mrs. Spider waved at me. Her eight ruby eyes glittered with excitement, a ten year old girl attaching herself to her legs. Her silky jet black waves floated up and down, her own eight ruby eyes meeting my glittering eyes. Guilt ate at me, my fingers fussing with the hem of my outfit. Attempting to make myself look normal, the corner of my lips quivered underneath my mask. Crouching down to Betty, the girl had to be her little sister. Madame Spider always gushed about her with the brightest smile, the sweet girl living up to her words.

“How about you get me your favorite book and doll?” I choked through a wall of tears, her hand catching one of my frozen tears. “I promise to read to you, ‘kay.” Bouncing upstairs, tears welled up in her eyes. Motioning for me to sit, her eyes welled with pure sorrow. Sitting down next to her, my hand took hers. My lips parted several times, her head bowing in response. 

“She fought hard.” I sniffled with a sympathetic smile in my eyes, my composure slipping. “I am so sorry. To make up for my mistake, she will get a superhero’s funeral. Don’t worry about the cost. Please don’t hate me.” An ungodly wail burst from her lips, arm dodging her hug. Apologizing for not being able to hug her, I passed her a pillow. Screaming into the pillow, her little sister dropped her book. A dark energy bathed the home, another one of those creatures smashing through the window. Knocking her mother to the floor, a blast of ice shot it through three walls. Why did this feel wrong?

“Go hide in your closet!” I shouted hoarsely, the creature snapping his head in my direction. Checking her pulse, a new level of fear rounded my eyes. Her heart gave out, realization dawning on me. My quivering eyes met Betty, her broken heart littered scream shattered my heart into tiny shards. Flitting my eyes between the girl and the monster, every breath shortened. Clutching my chest, my heart felt seconds from beating out of my chest. Ice crept up my legs, an overwhelming sense of sorrow crashing over me. A spike shot through my stomach, frozen blood hitting my feet. Turning my head slowly, Mrs. Spider tilted her head creepily. Licking her lips, the other monster was fast approaching. Smashing at the spike, the material refused to break. Betty hid in the shadows, my lips mouthing the word run. 

“How nice of you to deceive me?” I choked out between wheezes, a blast of ice creating a wall. “Go get help for me.” Sprinting out the door, her body brushed past Emberox. A color changing flame floated in his hand, a throw hitting what used to be the kid’s mother. Melting into nothing, the spike melted with her. Falling forward, horror rounded my eyes. Clawing at the floor, ice began to devour my body. How long had it been since my anxiety was this horrible? Screaming into the floor, everything seemed to be hitting me at once. Shivering in my spot, the shortening breaths weren’t exactly helping. The team stood in front of me, all of them shaking their heads. Shouting that it was all my fault, my hands cupped the sides of my head. 

“Make it stop! Make it stop!” I pleaded between wheezes, the frozen tears not slowing down. Pyro knelt down next to me, his sadistic grin spreading ear to ear. His rotting hand ripped my head back, a fit of wicked laughter burst from his lips. 

“Such a pathetic bitch.” He mused darkly, his hands sliding down to cup my face. “Look at what you failed to do. Your team hates you. Our father hates you. Can’t you do one thing right?” A hissing noise snapped me out of the hallucination, sirens echoing in my ears. Emberox’s face tripled, my trembling hand struggled to hold his. His words faded in and out, a harsh darkness swallowing me whole.  

Stirring awake in my room at the tower, the bed groaned as I sat up. Lifting up the blanket, fresh gauze covered my stomach. Wincing as I unraveled it, the tissue and skin seemed to have regrown itself. Wondering how, the door squeaked open. A shy Betty made her way in thick winter gear, a bouquet of silver lilies sitting in her palms. Making her way to my bed solemnly, my trembling fingers tugged my sweater dress down. 

“That was my mom’s medical advancement.” She bragged with a broken smile, her slender hand dropping the blossoms into an existing vase. “Superheroes get that treatment more than you think. Thank you for saving me.” My hand rose in protest, shock rounding my eyes at her sliding on my gloves. Holding my hand close to her cheek, her smile faded instantly. 

“Why must someone so cold feel so warm in her heart?” She continued with a sad chuckle, her wet eyes meeting my quivering lips. “The change was obvious when she came back from a vacation in the mountains and I didn’t want to see it. I hovered by the stairs to warn you. The other one was my father. When my big sister came back around, she wanted me to come with her but I couldn’t. Sorry that she was investigating behind your back. Deep down, I thought my mother was still there. What did I do wrong?” Chills shot up my spine, a bigger problem had presented itself. The way Madame Spider had pleaded to come was odd at its finest, the pieces coming back together. Shoving my emotions back down, a stunned silence came over her at the sight of my metal leg.

“Saving people is what I do and I am sorry that I couldn’t do more.” I apologized sincerely, swinging my feet over the edge of the bed. “Your mother is a hero for the technology that saved me. I have something that I have to do. I’ll tell you what, let’s get some ice cream later." Sliding on my tights, a mean quiver to my hands made the task of tying my mask on rather difficult. Tying it on for me without thinking, Betty really was a sweetheart. Thanking her as I slid on my boots on the way, protests fell on deaf ears. Closing the elevator before my old man could get to me, my finger pressing the basement button obsessively. Every little ding sounded like a toll of death bells, the door opening to the destroyed machine and the mortuary. Breathing in and out to calm my fraying nerves, time wasn’t on my hands. Locking the door behind me, frozen tears crashed to my feet the moment I pulled my friend out. The spike stuck out of her body, a smash to her chest weakened its grip. Setting the spike on the table, the police were going to have to deal with it. Preparing a mop bucket of salt water in case of a living organism, the door rattled with my father begging for me to unlock it. Moving on to the spike, a thin layer of ice allowed me to crack it open with a punch. The sight of squirming worms sickened me, her body beginning to sit up. Splashing her with the salt water, I sank to my knees. Cupping my ears to drown out her shrill screeches, her body and the spike melted to nothing. Screaming into my knees, the raw emotional agony wouldn’t die down. The door burst open, my father burying me into his chest. Thank you for being there in the darkest hours!

“This isn’t fair!” I wept uncontrollably, my first friend no longer existing. Catching Betty in the doorway, the poor girl had seen it all. Apologizing over and over again, everyone gathered outside of the door. Emberox had our kids in tow, Flurry smashing into my leg. Asking me if I wanted ice cream, a sad okay escaped my lips. Squirming out of my father’s arm, I let him guide me to the elevator. What am I supposed to do now? The elevator dinged, the kitchen glowing to life. Staring numbly ahead while I prepared two bowls of ice cream, Flurry plopped onto my lap the moment I set them down with me. Zoning out for a second, Betty swiping my bowl of ice cream snapped me out of it. 

“Can you be my big sister?” She choked out through a wall of tears, her spoon digging at the ice cream. Cupping her cheek, Madame Spider would want this. Wiping away her tears, a warmth returned to our eyes. 

“Alright. Let’s have the best life from here on out.” I promised her with a saddened smile underneath my mask. “I never had a sister before so you will have to teach me the ropes. Tell me about all the good memories.” Her features visibly brightened, the fun stories stealing my heart away. Perhaps there was a light at the end of this tunnel.