Ten
Second Disclaimer: the two characters portrayed here are the property of Marvel
Entertainment. This is a short piece
that was meant to be at the tail end of the recent “Sinister Motives” storyline
in “Pendragons”; instead it finds itself here.
Some embarrassment and angst to follow, but nothing particularly severe;
the serious stuff is coming. For
some idea about who’s who, check out Barry’s handy Ghost Rider bio at
http://www.aric-dacia.com/pendragons/ghostbio.htm
For
those who are interested: Coda (n) 1a: a concluding musical
section that is formally distinct from the main structure; b: a
concluding part of a literary or dramatic work. 2: something that serves to round out, conclude, or
summarize yet has its own interest. (Source http://www.m-w.com)
Comments
and criticism can be sent to yankee_pendragon@hotmail.com
By Joseph Connell
Silence
“Whuh...where am I?”
“Good question.”
“Who...oh, Jesus.”
“Nope. Not him.”
“Jesus H. Christ!”
“Language, Stacy.”
“Barbara...? Is that...is that really you?”
“Yup. In the flesh. Well, sorta.”
“But you're...”
“Yup.”
“...you're...”
“You can say it.”
“...dead!??”
“As pop music.”
“Dead…oh, god…you’re dead…years dead…”
“Years and years and years.”
“Barb…oh, Jesus…”
“Shhh…”
“Oh, god…”
“Hush, Stace. Its okay…”
“No it fucking isn’t! You’re…dead…that means…oh…cough…”
“Its okay, sis. Really. Its okay.”
“Let go of me! Don’t you fucking touch me! Don’t…oh, god…oh, god…”
“Shhhh….”
“Oh, Christ…I’m really…I can’t be…I can’t…”
“Shhhh.”
Silence.
“Am I really…?”
“Hm-hm.”
“Oh…oh…”
“I’m sorry, Stace. I really hoped I wouldn’t see either of you…not for a long, long time.”
“Oh, god…I remember now…Blackout…he…he tore my throat out…”
“I know. I saw.”
“Dan! Oh, Jesus! Dan saw it…”
“No, not Dan.”
“Okay. Fucking Noble saw it happen…he didn’t stop it…”
“Now that’s your inner Fury talking.”
“I…shit.”
“Language, Stacy. You’re a police Captain’s daughter.”
“Ha. You always could see through my bullshit, couldn’t you?”
“Yup. Oww.”
“Hmph. Real solid, for a ghost.”
“Hate to remind you, Stace. But you’re one now. So…”
“Eek!”
Silence
“Have you been waiting here all this time?”
“Yup.”
“And, er, watching…?”
“Yup.”
“So you’ve seen…”
“Everything.”
“Including…”
“Yup.”
“Geez. Pervert.”
“Yup.”
Laughter
Silence
“So…”
“So…”
“Well, Barb…what now?”
“Good question. You can pass on if you want.”
“Pass on? So this isn’t…er…Heaven?”
“Stacy, do you honestly think the Afterlife looks like a graveyard in Cyprus Hill?”
“Uh…” Swallows. “I…I never really thought about it.”
“C’mon.”
“Okay, okay. So where are we? Purgatory? Hell?”
“Honestly? I don’t know myself. Its just…somewhere we end up before we go…wherever it is we’re supposed to go.”
“So why are you still here?”
“Oh, I had to…have to wait.”
“So, I can go on to…well, wherever. What about you?”
“I…I gotta wait. Orders.”
“Wait for who?
Silence
“Wait. Is…is he coming…?”
Silence
“Soon?”
Silence
“Guess I’m staying with you then.”
“Stace, your dad is waiting…”
“Then he can wait a little longer then.”
“Stacy…”
“Forget it.”
“I…”
“I said forget it. I’m not leaving you alone again!”
“Okay, okay. I was just going to say…”
“What?”
“Will you please put some clothes on? Unless you’re trying to tell me something, that is. I’m not necessarily opposed, mind you…”
Silence
“Er…”
“Uh, you didn’t notice you’re…well…”
“Er…”
“S’okay. I was the same way.”
Silence
“Soon?”
“Yup.”
Silence