Chapter Eighteen: I've Looked Better

    "Ditto. Ditto." The voice calling sounded far away, enough that I didn't stir. Then a slap forced my eyes open. Jamie Geddy leaned over me, mouth moving in a slow fashion. "Ditto, are you awake?"

    "Dude, you have gorgeous eyes," I said. Oh shit my own mouth was dry as a desert. I coughed, turning on my side and noticing I was still on the mother fucking pavement in the dark damp alley. Laughing, my fresh blood made it apparent I hadn't been here for long.

Jamie sighed in relief. "Thank God. Now's not the time to flirt Ditto. You almost died."

"Well, it is in the name." More Hidden were trying to contain the fire, witches flying on brooms and casting rain spells onto the warehouse. I saw Buddy standing by the alley entrance, biting his fingernails. I stuttered as Jamie set my back against the brick wall. "Dies for fun and all that. And can't I admire your glorious blue eyes? So nice."

He blushed, those freckled cheeks getting red. "You were found unconscious in front of a burning building. Care to explain what happened?"

"Well, I was going to talk to you about the evil witch that wants to destroy all life." Jamie handed me a bottle of water, which I accepted and chugged. Near half was gone when I gave it back. "Then I got kidnapped for about thirty minutes, was tortured, killed most of them, and ended up like this." I looked at my friend. "You hear that Buddy?"

"Yes yes, you crazy man." He finally walked up to me. I was glad to see my old friend. "Did you find something important?"

"This was a base. I can explain when I don't look like absolute shit," I said. Ugh, my arm hurt pretty bad. I also noticed my right leg had long bleeding wounds from my knee to my ankle. When did that occur? "Ah! Look at me! Fuck, my clothes budget is getting out of control. All I want is indestructible apparel, is that too much to ask?"

A small witch with a blue cross on her hat came and got down to my level. "Let me look at that leg."

The woman cut off the remaining pant leg, making my heart break. She tapped my flesh with her wooden wand, cleaning it off in a flash. She got close, gently touching my leg with great care. "The blood of a Necromancer. How......volatile. Never got the chance to study the race in school."

"Volatile? More like damn sexy," I laughed. The witch said nothing, and presumed to heal my leg. "Say doc, what was it that did that?"

"Energy magic. A weak hit, from a low angle." A flick of the wrist and gauze materialized. That felt better. She went for my arm. "Now if I may..."

"No that's fine doc. Thank you very much. Really, I can fix this on my own." She argued against it, but I glared her away. Now it was just Jamie, Buddy, and myself. Going through my bag, I didn't even look up. "Come on now. We must get back to your place Jamie. I have business to discuss."

XXXX

Jamie's lived in an apartment like most in Lake City, and like many heroes it had bland furniture and appeal, but had plenty of relics from years of hero work. Papers and jewels and weapons and whatnot. Though Jamie had a much more organized tone with it.

The three of us sat in his parlor, and I stuffed myself with crackers. And cheese.

Honestly, I figured Jamie would break first. He's so predictable. "Are you ready to talk then Ditto?"

"Ugh, I was asked that today." But whatever. Buddy and I went over the story, explaining the present predicament in great detail. Once we finished, Jamie puffed out his cheeks in awe.

"That's a lot to take in," he said. Maybe for the small minded, though Jamie was not. "You're forcing me to pick a side then, aren't you Ditto?"

"Well, to my side. I need you Jamie. The Witch will start a war that we must stop. Lake City needs to be ours. It needs to be contained."

He didn't seem convinced. "And what if you're wrong about all this? What if this Witch turns out to be good?"

"Then I just made a big oops. But I don't see how since they've tried to kill me multiple times." Cracker crumbs filtered out my mouth. Jamie looked pissed at the mess I just made. "Sorry. You decided to dedicate yourself to this city Jamie. I remember when you first moved here. That excited young boy who wanted to prove himself worthy. Are you not still worthy?"

Buddy added, "You are a respected member of the community Jamie. Trusted by many. If anyone is more qualified to help us, it's you."

"What if I decide to bail?"

"You won't," I said. "You're moral sense of 'justice' forbids you. Stop with this dodging of truth. Are you on my side?"

"Or at least have a reason to fight," Buddy said. "There must be something."

Jamie glanced at me, hope in his eyes. I smiled, one that implied 'later'. He brushed his nose. "Ditto. You need a bath."

"Noted. So is that a yes?"

He crossed his arms, intimidating yet calming. Jamie was a good friend. I was glad we would be able to count on him. "Yes. I got your backs. Though yours is particularly dirty."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." What a fucking day. I needed a beer. Or two. Three. "Sorry about the mess Jamie. But we can't stay any longer. Gotta clean myself off you know?"

We shook hands, said our thanks, and soon me and Buddy were heading down to the Singing Goose. Like I said, I needed a beer before going back home.

"Your face is so busted," Buddy commented as he brought me a mug of ale. "Those ruffians sure did a number on you."

"Ugh. It hurt like hell." I sipped tentatively, a topic going through my mind, one that wouldn't leave. "Buddy, what do you know of the Origins of Life?"

He squinted. "The fabled source of magic and life itself? Only that it's a fairy tale."

"No no. What do you know of the Origins of Life?" It wasn't busy here at the bar. Just a few drunks enjoying the mid-afternoon, where the most important things are always transpiring. I hate noon. Why aren't people active at ten at night? "From a philosopher's viewpoint."

"Well from my own research into the subject, the Origins of Life is a tale that dates back into the farthest reach of Hidden mythology. And even some human mythos. An item of absolute power." He drank more beer, focusing hard on what to say next. "Supposedly it gave birth to the Layers. But since no one's ever proven the Origins of Life is real, no one knows how the Layers were forged. I think that the Origins of Life was real at one point. And I think at one point we had access to that power. But it rejected us or died or something. That, or it's just a metaphor for an origins story. Whatever the case, most historians believe it to be fake."

I said nothing, staring at the brown table. Buddy got closer. "Why do you ask about the Origins of Life when you probably know as much as me."

"I heard some angels talking about it the other day. At the demon pit. They said the Witch wants it." Or something along those lines. I can't remember exactly. "Is there something the Witch knows that we don't? About a fable that makes a good children's story? I think there is another reason for her war besides resurrection and destruction."

Buddy became tense. Yet very intrigued. "That's a bold statement. What lead you to this conclusion?"

"Those who seek power have similar minds Buddy. But there are different types of power. Different types of questions to ask."

"You're suggesting you and the Witch are similar? Why?"

"Because we both want something that we lost," I said as I reached the end of my drink. "Our ability to feel. Our thirst for power that isn't as simple as ruling a small corporation or country. I want power through knowledge. She has knowledge for power. Inversed, but inversed is the same if you are willing to hold up a fucking mirror."

"Ditto, might I ask what questions are you still trying to answer?" he inquired reasonably.

"One day. Not now. When this is all over I think I'll answer anything you want of me." Of course there is the chance we all die and I don't have to worry about it. Slim chance. But slim is worse than zero. Good thing I'm not afraid of death. "Mind helping me home? Honestly, nothing feels great right now."

And so Buddy carried me back in a pathetic display of just how annoying it is to be me.

XXXX

Halina was rather shocked to see me as I was. I told her I got hit by a bus. She didn't believe me, so I explained what happened in probably one of my most embarrassing stories. What? I pride myself in not being easy to capture. And it happened without me even fighting back before escaping. I've been in sticker situations, but I usually cause those on purpose. Seriously, there are some things you do not want to know about. Ah, I'll tell those stories eventually. I am pretty interesting, and I gotta keep my fans satisfied.

My roommate was rubbing my face with water in the bathroom, Spot watching from outside the door. The washcloth felt like sandpaper mixed with a rainbow. "I've always been meaning to buy better rags. And it's times like this that remind me to do so."

"Blah blah. Stop your whining." Halina managed to get the dried blood and dirt off me. She paused, before setting aside the cloth. "Alright. You look better now. A much needed improvement."

"Much needed indeed," I said. "A shower is now required. So if you kindly leave."

She left, talking about making dinner or whatever. I showered, but mostly letting the water hit my body in a sense of metaphor. Some artsy metaphor too. Blood rushes throughout one's being in race to see what's the quickest path to life. And where the path ends it must circle back to see if it missed a trail. Oh, blood holds so much power. That is a necromancer secret, a dirty secret between two lovers.

Buddy deserved more truth than pathetic dodges of conversation. They all did. But this path that I walk is not filled with life which what blood so desperately believes it's seeking. Fuck, my balls are itchy. And the soap was stinging my leg wounds. The arrow cut still pounded too. War was dirty, not that I'd know. Never fought in one before. Plus I'd barely call this a war, for the moment. In all my battles however I've never come across such a, well, hidden creature before.

Finishing up, I found it appropriate to dawn my sweats, and patiently waited for Halina to complete dinner.

"Grilled cheese served with tomato soup," she said. The bread was over toasted, but I thought it best not to say that. "Dig in."

Don't mind if I do.

When we both were satisfied on our fill of cheesy goodness, I burped without care. "Finally pulling your weight around here. My thanks."

"Hey. Don't doubt me and my ability to actually do something." Halina yawned as though she did do something today. Maybe Nicki........ah fuck. Now that's in my head. Ignore it Ditto, ignore it. Just focus on the meal. Wait it's gone. Nope it's in my head again.

"So you think this Celen is the reason for a lot of the problems going on?" Halina took my plates, which I could have handled but she slapped my hand. "I can do this. Take it easy for now."

"Gah, I'm fine. Once I had to crawl out of a flooded ditch covered in poisonous leeches. And being attacked by a malicious witch." She didn't listen. Halina loaded the dishes, and the machine was going. It was louder than normal. Probably my head still reacting to any noise ever. "She was called an Aid. I suppose that must be higher up than a Brother or Sister. Still, her motives are shrouded."

    Halina hummed as she cleaned up the kitchen. A simple tune. How ironic. "Hopefully it doesn't interfere with this Friday. I got another date with Nicki."

    I nearly spat my water. "You find that woman appealing? She confronted a total stranger in underwear."

    "Okay. Back off. I'm allowed to date whoever I please," she sneered. "You should be worried about the issue at hand. Like finding Celen."

    Finding Celen? No I could care less about where she's at. That's not the issue. What is is the bigger picture which is lacking many pieces. A half-world organization shouldn't be waiting so slowly to reach its agenda. Not in the least, in fact the opposite should be happening. Being aggressive is what you do to win. Being patient is key yes, but if you are going to complete your goal, you need to have balls.    

What is the next move?

"I must do what is needed. There is no denying that." I've always done what is in my best interests. And I will still follow that path. But for a man to get what he wants, hearts must break. There is no greater lesson. "In which order it must be done, now I'm stuck."

"Well what would you do if you were trying to take over the world?"

"Create an army that is feared by all," I said. "But that's easy for me to say. The Witch as far as I'm aware doesn't have an army."

"But she needs one right?" Halina tossed me a beer. How'd she know my craving? "The unendings are soldiers right? So they must have a factory somewhere pumping these fools out."

A factory where they are forging undying warriors. Interesting. But not just out of any Hidden. Shifters are the weapon of choice. I have an idea......

"Tomorrow we must go see Paul." He can be of great assistance for this. There's no one better at finding out current events than that naughty vampire. "But tonight I rest. And there's new cartoons on. I have to watch them."

TV is more important than saving all living things. I know my priorities.

God, why do you all keep judging me?

Actually, don't answer that.