Tales from the Superhero Diaries Halloween Special

Artificial smoke filled the room spreading the different colours of the lights around, casting shadows from all of the different types of people who were gathered there. Most were dancing in a group in the centre of the room, but some were stood or seated around the edge. The DJ spoke over the loud music, “Keep on getting down, here in the Underground!” The music ramped up a notch, and the DJ played the sound of cheering over the top, in an attempt to get more people dancing. Some leapt up to the dancefloor as the music started. “Mid certainly isn’t dim backwards!” The DJ whooped over the music.

Adam Rawlinson and Alex Long decided not to dance, however, and just watched the other patrons wave their arms and other body parts around on the dancefloor. An orange light appeared just above Adam, but they both thought nothing of it until a green-skinned gothic-looking figure fell on top of Adam, pinning him on his back to the wet and sticky floor.

“Nice one, Adam! You’ve still not managed that Dirty Dancin’ lift yet, I see!” A young man scoffed as he walked passed.

“Whatever, Logan!” Alex said, stepping between Logan Ashstead, who used to be the school bully several years ago, and Adam. Alex helped the green-skinned woman up, and then Adam.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, dear!” Mrs Sinster said, looking at Adam’s shirt and trousers. “Your clothes are totally ruined.”

“Where did you come from?” Adam asked as he bent to pick up his empty glass from the floor. “You seemed to come out of nowhere. Love your costume by the way!”

“Thank you, dear, but these are my normal clothes.” Mrs Sinster looked around the smoky room.

“Well, nice make-up then!” Adam continued. He placed the glass on the table and sat on the curved sofa. Alex pointed to the bar and walked away in that direction.

“Make-up? Oh. Thank you, dear!” Mrs Sinster said. She looked around the room again.

“Please, sit down. That fall must’ve hurt you. Would you like a drink or anything?” Adam pointed to the other side of the sofa. Mrs Sinster sat back, but continued to look around the room. “Did someone push you onto me?” Adam asked. “Was it that Logan? That is something he used to do back in school. He used to do it all the time to one of the teachers. I always felt sorry for her… Mrs Handler she was called.”

“Oh, no dear. I wasn’t pushed.” Mrs Sinster still looked around the room as she spoke. “Where am I?”

Alex returned with three full glasses. “Have some water!” he said, handing the glass to Mrs Sinster. “Thank you, dear.” she said, taking a sip. Alex sat down beside Adam, and touched his left upper arm. The fibres in Adam’s shirt and trousers shimmered slightly, and the fabric cleaned itself. Alex glanced around the room as he used his power to ensure nobody was looking, not that many would see through the smoky atmosphere. He glanced over to Mrs Sinster, who’d watched everything.

“Oh dear!” Mrs Sinster said, as she watched Alex’s mouth gape open. “I… er…” was all Alex could say.

“Never mind, dear!” Mrs Sinster smiled.

“One of the perks of having a superhero boyfriend!” Adam said proudly.

“Adam!” Alex spurted. “What are you saying? Why…?”

“I d-don’t know, Alex. I couldn’t stop myself.” Adam looked at Mrs Sinster. “Please…”

Mrs Sinster put her hand on Adam’s right lower arm. “Shush, dear. You have nothing to worry about with me. It’s nice to find love wherever you can find it!”

“I think it’s the superhero thing that’s more concerning!” Adam said.

“Adam!” Alex protested again.

“So, you’re Adam?” Mrs Sinster asked, looking at Adam’s confused expression. “And you are?” She looked at Alex.

“Alexander Long, but I also go by the name Lycralad.” Alex covered his mouth with his left hand.

Adam started to smirk. And then laugh. “What’s going on? Sorry Alex… your expression is priceless!”

“I think it’s me dears. It’s all my doing. Let me explain.” The two boys leant in to listen to their new friend. “I’m Mrs Sinster. I’m a Kalmalag Demon, and when we are feeling stressed those closest to us start to reveal their innermost secrets. I can’t judge anyone, although some of the secrets I’ve been told really do need judging, believe you me.” Her gentle expression quickly changed to one of concern, but then reverted back to its gentle state. “You’ll feel much better about yourselves now.” She smiled. “I arrived here through a portal… why it dropped me off in the middle of the air is anyone’s guess, and I am really sorry for landing on you, Adam. At least you broke my fall and I didn’t break any of your bones.” She smiled. “I’m searching for something called the Goblet of the Fallen Whispers. This place seems an unlikely place to find such a thing. Confusion follows me around, only this time I’m confused. I’m enjoying the music and the lights though!”

“They’ve only just reopened this place,” Alex explained. “We’re in a basement really, but they knocked out the floor above to make the room larger and more airy for the nightclub.”

“Ah… so the portal thought it was dropping me off on the floor above. That explains that, dear!” Mrs Sinster was still puzzled. “The portal sends me to the item though, so it must have been on that floor. Tell me, what was there before?”

“It was just an ordinary bar, Mrs Sinster.” Adam took over with the explanation. “It used to be called the Goblet, though!” Realisation struck all three.

“Well, I can’t take the whole bar back with me!” Mrs Sinster giggled. “And if that was the case, as soon as I touched the place I’d have been pulled back through the portal, that’s how it works, so it must be something else.” She looked around the room again, hoping something would stand out. “It must be here somewhere.”

She placed her glass onto the table, but accidentally knocked the glass Adam had picked up when she first arrived. Instinctively, she grabbed the glass and became engulfed in a bright orange light. In a split second, she and the glass were gone.

Adam and Alex sat open-mouthed.

“Your glass was the Goblet of the Fallen Whispers?” Alex said in disbelief.

“Well, I was the first one to let your secret slip.” Adam replied. “Could a revealed secret be classed as a fallen whisper?”

“Perhaps in demonic circles, I suppose.” Alex took another sip from his glass.

Logan Ashstead walked passed the table again. “Did your girlfriend dump you then, Rawlinson? Your dance moves didn’t impress her then?” He laughed and then merged with the shadowy figures on the dancefloor. Adam and Alex smiled at each other, and then continued to watch the dancing.

“Don’t hold back!” Yelled the DJ. “Have the time of your life!”.

Note: Today is National Coming Out Day, so I’ve decided to post this today rather than later in the week as originally planned.

Previous parts are listed below:

Part One here.
Part Two here.
Part Three here.
Part Four here.

Part Five here.
Part Six here.

More Sinster fun to come later in the week!