11 Facts from Behind the Scenes of Accidentally Heroic

1. Luke and Larry were originally meant to be side characters.  Sometimes characters take on a life of their own.
2. The blog has always gotten a decent share of views from Russia, despite the author being American and the blog in English.  So uh, Привет, как дела?
3. Methuselah was also meant to be a side character, but he was just too damn awesome not to keep around as a major character.
4. I got the idea for Chanteuse when I was at the tail end of book 1.  The thought process was literally, "what if I crossed Betty's powers with Michael's powers?"
5. Betty's disability was inspired by my own tonal hearing loss in my left ear.  While my own hearing loss is no where near the severity that the character has, I have a very real fear of losing all my hearing.
6. Book 2 was originally going to be a compilation of vignettes about various characters manifesting powers for the first time.  Then I got lazy and wrote another novel...
7. Linus originally was going to betray the group--but I couldn't justify a love story with Sabrina given what a dick move that would be.  I opted in favor of the love story.
8. Linus and Sabrina are obviously an homage to the movie Sabrina.
9. There are never any detailed chess references because I always lose at chess.  This is partially a result of me trying to bring glory to a single pawn in lieu of utilizing more powerful pieces.  Hint, the strategy never works, but it amuses me so.
10. Michael was meant to be the most "blend in with the crowd" looking person.  Unfortunately, Jo draws him handsome.  I named him Michael because it was one of the most common names I could think of.
11. I have been slacking off on writing book 3 because I'm working on another project.  This entire post is also my way of saying writing on book 3 has stalled out because I'm writing a different book series at the moment.

The Oops Promotion

On account of Amanda not having physical copies in time for the St. Charles County Libraries Indie Author Event, the digital copies of BOTH Accidentally Heroic books will be free on Amazon October 14th-18th. That's right, both books, completely free.#accidentallyheroic #oopspromotion

Digital Copy Free July 4

Independence Day Promotion- Accidentally Heroic: Manifestation (AKA Book 2) will be FREE for the Kindle tomorrow on Amazon. If you read and enjoyed book one, but haven't had the coin for book two, get your FREE digital copy tomorrow. You don't need a Kindle, there's a free app for your smartphone, tablet, and other digital devices.So for all those "I want to read your book, but I have no money" folks (you know who you are) no excuses, get the free download.

Digital Version of Book 2 - Accidentally Heroic: Manifestation Free July 4th, 2017

Fourth of July is coming. That means celebrating FREEdom. Accidentally Heroic: Manifestation AKA book 2 will be FREE in the digital format on Amazon July 4th.

Accidentally Heroic: Manifestation is now available in a digital format

The digital version of Accidentally Heroic: Manifestation is available on Amazon. If you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, both book 1 and 2 are now enrolled with Kindle Select--meaning, Kindle Unlimited readers can read for free.

Book One is Free on Kindle from now until May 31st

Promotion time! The Kindle/digital version of book 1 is free now until May 31st (the day before the Kindle Release of book 2). New readers can down read the first book for free in anticipation of the second book.

The physical copy of book two, Accidentally Heroic: Manifestation is now available in paperback both on Create Space and Amazon.

Click here to get a free digital copy from Amazon

Book Two Now Available for Purchase via Create Space

I am pleased to announce the paperback version of Accidentally Heroic: Manifestation is now available for purchase at: Create Space

It should appear on Amazon within the next few days, The Kindle Version is scheduled to release June 1st. 

Look at this pretty book, you know you want to buy it.

Book 2 Sneak Peak: Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Sportsmanship

Luke Marconi:

There is an old cliché that says, “History is written by the victors”.  I disagree with that opinion; in war there are no victors.  Our world had changed; I had changed.  I found myself seated on a rusting folding chair in a basement.  A solitary 60-watt light bulb shone above me, the brave light trying to illuminate an entire room.  You could tell that Power-Sparring was illegal by the lavishness of my surroundings.

Wrestling, boxing, and MMA all paled in comparison to this brutal new sport.  Our world had just discovered our existence, the existence of people with special abilities.  They called us Superheroes, because it was the best convention they knew.  Unfortunately, we were not using our powers to help people.  Rather, most of us spent our time illegally sparring one another for money and glory.  While killing your opponent was not necessary to win in Power-Sparring, not all powers could be used without shedding blood.

I knew why I was really there, but I had the perfect cover.  I started to pray more those days, remembering how beautiful faith was.  I needed something to buffer the darkness, and my faith in God was to my soul what that 60-watt light bulb was to the basement where I sat.  Without the bulb, the room would be plunged into darkness, and, if I faltered in faith, so too, would I.  Light poured down the old wooden stairs as they opened the door to the basement.  It was Showtime.

“Hey kid, why ain’t you wearing no costume?”  The MC asked as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pretending we were friends.

“My powers do all the talking,” I calmly replied.  It was all about the show, I knew that, but I didn’t need spandex or a cape to make a spectacle.  My opponent gave them more of a show, but at least his costume wasn’t nearly as flamboyant as most.  His head was shaved and he wore a black leather jacket with blue neon letters stitched upon it which read “Photon Phinish”.  Really dude?  Really?  Our kind may have been blessed with amazing abilities, but we came up with the worst nicknames.

He stared at me as we entered through the fence which created the “cage”.  He wasn’t going to be an easy opponent, no matter what power he had.  He wasn’t looking at me with hate or respect, he was sizing me up.  There I was, this skinny white boy, clad in blue jeans and a hoodie, about to fight a biker.  Photon Phinish suddenly broke into a silly grin.  Oh God, he reminded me of my dumbass cousin Larry.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, from Little Rock Arkansas, I bring to you Phoooooootoooonnnn PHINISH!”  The crowd went wild; great, this guy was popular.  “And, from Springfield Missouri, we bring you,” the MC paused, “Some scrawny guy in a hoodie!”  I closed my eyes and focused on the dinging of the bell.  Practice, that was all there was to it.  I needed to practice.  I had been working on my focus, working on controlling my power.  The cage was the best arena to practice.  I focused on the heat in the air.

I stepped to the side as Photon Phinish breezed past me.  His fist barely missed my face.  I had no clue what his power was.  His nickname, the nickname often gave away the power.  Photon Phinish?  I had taken too long trying to figure out the details when I was blinded by bright light.  Shit.

A fist pummeled me in the stomach.  I fell to my knees and heard the laughter of the spectators.  Fan-fucking-tastic.  I had to get up, I had to move, but the light was so bright it gave me one hell of a headache.  I staggered to a stand only to receive another punch, this time hitting me square in the jaw.  Holy hell, I was going down in no-time.

Many Super Heroes relied on power alone to win in the ring.  This guy clearly wasn’t super-skilled in the art of throwing a punch.  I personally knew one scary-ass Eastern European woman who could demolish a concrete wall with her fist.  However, my opponent had learned to pair his ability with tried and true fighting skills.  His strategy was simple and effective; he blinded you with light, and then beat the crap out of you.

I could almost hear the lecture Linus would give me the moment they carried me back into HQ.  I needed to win this.  I was back on my feet, my eyes still recovering from the previous flares of light.  I needed to fight with my eyes closed, just as I had the first few seconds of the fight.  Unfortunately for my opponent, I had the upper hand in terms of power.  I focused on the temperature in the room around us, on pressure, and on energy.  I was a Thermodynamic, I could control all those things.

“I’m sorry dude,” I apologized to my opponent.

“Huh?”  He said.  Suddenly, he struggled to breathe.  I had willed the air around him to dramatically drop in temperature.  His breath was visible, and now it was time for a little payback.  I moved to strike and converted the energy from the lost heat into energy in my attack.  One punch and he was down on the ground.  The crowd roared with excitement.  Like I said, I didn’t need spandex or a cape to make a spectacle, my powers did all the talking.

“Is he ok?  Do you hear me?  Is Photon Phinish okay?”  I screamed against the cheering crowd, my opponent was still on the ground.  That was when I saw her, Agent Esther Dimanche.  Agent Dimanche wore her dark hair up in a tight bun, her glasses perched at the end of her nose.  Despite the squalor of our settings, Agent Dimanche was clad in a sleek suit and shoes that cost a month’s salary.  I glanced behind to see someone help Photon Phinish stand up; thank god, he was ok.

“So, Marconi, what excuse do you have this time?”  Agent Dimanche glared at me, the venom in her eyes overwhelming.  I was doomed.  I stepped out of the cage and onto the floor.

“Well, I discovered it is, in fact, an illegal Power-Sparring operation.”  I replied.  Yeah, she didn’t buy it.  We walked; you always walked with Agent Dimanche.  She threw a towel at my head.

“You stink, take a shower and then we’ll drive back to headquarters.”

“Listen, it’s not what you think,” I said as we got into the car.

“Right, you’re not engaging in one of the illegal activities we’ve set out to stop.”  Agent Dimanche rolled her eyes as she hopped into the driver’s seat.  I opened the door and groaned audibly.  We had a passenger.

“Jin Ae, really?  You brought Jin Ae?”  I glared at Agent Dimanche as I buckled into my seat.

“You’re full of shit Marconi, and, personally, I’m not fond of it.”  She snarled.  “Now, tell me why you were really fighting.”  I remained silent.  I knew I couldn’t lie, that was why she had brought Jin Ae.  Jin Ae’s power made you tell the truth.

“Is this an interrogation?”

“Marconi, do you trust me?”  Agent Dimanche glanced at me.

“No,” I replied.  Crap, I didn’t mean to say that!

“I figured as much.”  She replied with a tone which surprised me.  Was Agent Dimanche, aka Chanteuse, disappointed I did not trust her?

“Chanteuse…”

“It’s Agent Dimanche to you, Marconi.  Now answer me, why were you fighting?”

“Because I can’t stand being idle!  I want to improve my power so the next time it isn’t someone I love taking the fall!  I don’t want someone else to sacrifice their life like my mom did.  The next time if someone has to be in the line of danger it ought to be me!  You don’t get it; you’re all about the job, that’s all you care about.  Me, I’ve got people to protect and, so sue me, if fighting in an illegal operation can help me train to do that then that’s what I’m gonna do!”

Chanteuse slammed on the brakes.

“All about the job?”  She snarled.  Oh shit.  “Fuck you Marconi, fuck you.”  The next twenty minutes we sat in dead silence.

When we entered HQ, Boss immediately picked up on the friction between Chanteuse… uh… Agent Dimanche and me.  He set down his book, “A Brief History of Time”, Boss was always reading.  Chanteuse stormed off into the other room and slammed the door.  Jin Ae walked in and looked to Boss, AKA Linus.  I was doomed.

“Luke was caught in a Power-Sparring operation… as a fighter.”  Jin Ae walked off after ratting me out.  Thanks.  Linus proceeded to clean his glasses casually.

“I’m not surprised.”  That was it.  I turned to walk away.  “Tell me Luke, have you ever given thought to how important our allegiance with Chanteuse is.”

“She’s not trustworthy.  You know she’s former Elite!”

“I suspect she’s probably still active with them, but that is beside the point.  Really, discriminating against defected Elite members?”  He smirked in amusement.  I realized I didn’t have a leg to stand on.

“It’s no offense to you, Boss.”

“You’re also forgetting Cartouche and Methuselah.”  Linus returned his glasses to his nose.  I realized there was another name he had been thinking of.  He was thinking of her.  “Chanteuse is our eyes and ears inside of the FBI.  She also ensures they don’t investigate our little group too closely.”  At that moment the door opened.  My cousin, Larry, and his girlfriend Nadia, AKA Cartouche, entered.  Aggravation must have been contagious amongst the women at headquarters.  Cartouche was clearly vexed and left a confused Larry behind in the foyer.

“What did you do this time?”  Linus sighed.

“I don’t get it, one minute I was giving her a present for Ramadan…”

“Larry, Ramadan isn’t for months.”

“It’s not?  But it’s December…”

“You’re probably thinking of Chanukah.”

“They’re similar… right?”

“No Larry, they’re not similar. Nadia isn’t Jewish.”  Linus held his head in his hands.  Larry scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“Uh… goodnight guys.”  Larry slinked off.  Linus turned his annoyance toward me.

“Luke, we’re helping Chanteuse destroy subversive activities such as Power-Sparring.  People are paranoid about our kind.  Since our kind was revealed to the world, new laws have been written.  Obviously, you have not read up on the Super Human Control act of 2012.  Chanteuse is in a particularly delicate situation; she could lose her job and fall under investigation herself should you have been caught by another agent.  More importantly, I want you to think about Larry and Nadia—something has happened.”

“The fight?  Nadia and Larry fight all the time, they’ll be fine.”

“Luke,” Linus paused, “Cartouche is on the FBI’s most wanted list.”  Linus moved to leave, but turned back to look at me.  “The crimes she committed when she belonged to the Elite make her a prime candidate for the Death Penalty.”

Book 2 Sneak Peak: Prologue

Prologue:

December 2012

Linus:

Winter once more descended upon us, suspending the land in a blanket of virgin snow.  It was calm, the perfect excuse for a pensive man to peer out the window and let his mind drift.  I thought of her, always.  My leads for the past year and a half had been inconclusive.  I had not adjusted well to losing my power; I was a fish out of water.

I picked up a book and allowed myself to drink in the words, to become inebriated from their wisdom.  As engrossed as I was, my reverie was diverted by concerns of my own uselessness.  I was the leader of a group of super heroes, the most talented and special of humans, and I no longer possessed a power.  I was inadequate to stand in their company.  They were the next evolution of mankind…

“SPIDER!”  The Caffiend shrieked in unadulterated terror.  In the blink of an eye, he darted across the room at inhuman speed.  “Ewww ewww eww, they give me the creeps!”  The Caffiend perched upon a chair.  At that moment, he resembled a three-year-old girl far more than a teenage boy.  It did not help that Jin Ae, a full-grown woman, also shied away from the offending arachnid.  Cartouche, our Bosnian cohort, made her way to defend our cowardly crew.

CRACK.  Cartouche looked up at me with guilty eyes.  There was a massive hole in the floor where she had stomped.  There were definite downsides of keeping company with a woman of unfathomable strength.  To add insult to injury, the spider scampered away on the floor, unscathed by an attack which would have killed a bear.

I sighed with ire and got up from my chair.  Casually, I strolled over to the eight-legged antagonist and dropped my book.  PLOP.  I motioned for a tissue as I retrieved my book from the floor.  Calmly, I wiped away the smashed remnants of the spider.  My sense of uselessness dissolved in an instant.  Without me, my noble companions would be trapped walking up a downward escalator.  At least I served some purpose.

How many Super Heroes does it take to kill a spider?

Book Two-- Accidentally Heroic: Manifestations is Almost Here!

Accidentally Heroic: Manifestation is coming soon!

Patient readers, as you know, it's been a long road to the elusive, "Book Two".  Almost two weeks ago, I filed the copyright.  Yesterday, I received the physical proof from Create Space.  As soon as I am done reviewing the proof for any issues, I will be announcing a release date.  Like book one, book two will initially be exclusive to paperback while I work on the Kindle/eReader formatting.

However, the perk of the delay on the Kindle Version of Accidentally Heroic: Manifestation is that, until the Kindle version is up and entered into KDP select, I can release a few of the early chapters to give readers a taste of what's to come.

In the meantime, here is a picture of book one and two side by side:

Warm Regards,
-Amanda

What's your sign?

Accidentally Heroic Book 1 is a Cancer, published July 2015.  The question, dear readers, is will Book 2 be a Taurus or a Gemini?

Free on Kindle July 5th-9th in Celebration of 1 Year in Print

July 5th is Accidentally Heroic's first anniversary of going to print.  To celebrate, the Kindle version will be free on Amazon from July 5th until July 9th!

Get your copy here!

So tell your friend, your coworker, your enemy, your parole officer, your anime love pillow, etc. to download a free copy before the promotion is over!

Welcome & Update

So we've wrapped up another free digital copy promotion--generally you can expect those once every 3-4 months.

If you missed the promotion you can still read the first few chapters starting Here.

If you like what you read please check out the full book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Accidentally-Heroic-Amanda-Kozik/dp/151464102X

While I cannot give the digital copy out for free everyday, if you are subscribed to Kindle Unlimited they do let you get your read on--so if you're a subscriber check it out!

Warmest Regards,
Amanda

Free Kindle Version March 11th-14th

If you missed our free Kindle Give away in November, then stop by Amazon March 11th-14th to get a free digital copy of Accidentally Heroic.  

Click Here to Download Mar 11-14th

Click here if you wish to purchase a physical copy.

I am working through edits for Book Two as of late and I really want to get some new readers hooked--so drop by Amazon this weekend and download your copy.

Cheers!

Amanda

Download the Kindle Version Free Now Until Nov 28th 2015

Just a few days left to get the digital copy for free!  Click here.

Warmest regards,
Amanda

Operation Read for Free- Success [Promotion Details]

Great news - we have hit 10,000 page views.

The Kindle version of the book will be FREE from Tuesday, November 24th to Saturday, November 28th 2015. 

And if you don't own a Kindle there are free apps and such that allow you read on most devices.

10 Reasons you should snag the free copy:

1. Because it's something to read this Thanksgiving to escape from the unfurling drama at your family's dinner table.

2. Because you've read all the other books on your tablet 3 times over and after fours hours of camping out for Black Friday sales you need something new.

3. You have a compulsive need to get all the great bargains this retail season.

4. You clicked on an ad from Star Power, Something Positive, or one of the other sites we advertise on.  I know, it's disappointing that this isn't a full fledged comic, but if we can get enough support I can finally bribe artist J. Duran to provide more amazing art.  (speaking of comics, if you haven't checked it out already, she has her own comic, The Accursed Cabinet )

5. Because you take the train/bus to work and you need something to cheer you up on the ride in.

6. Because you're broke but you've enjoyed the sample chapters.

7. Because Alan Moore recently made comments supporting the self-published-book industry, thus you feel it prudent to read some new authors, lest you incur Lord Moore's wrath for your insolence.

8. Because you love free things.  A stress ball with a pharmaceutical name on it? Sure, why not? It's free!  Cupcakes someone brought to work? Sure, why not? They're free! That couch at the side of the road? No... you really shouldn't take that.  No, not even if it's free, you don't know where that couch has been.

9. You are getting restless waiting for George R.R. Martin to publish another magnificent tome, so you're willing to slum it with some other authors in the mean time.  It's okay, I am also disappointed the TV show is moving past, and diverging from, the books.

10. You have nothing to lose--and you stand to gain a new favorite series/author.

Seriously, I need to bribe Jo to make this into a comic.

Update - Read for Free

We're getting closer - we reached the 9700 page mark today.

Share Accidentally Heroic with friends to help us close the gap on 10,000 pages! 

More of Jo's Amazing Promotional art.

Operation: Read for Free

Look at this book; that's a fine looking book.  You want to read this book.  You want to find out why the super strong Cartouche was left for dead.  You want to know Sonali's history.  You want to find out what happens to Luke's Lady Gaga CD that Larry threw out the window in Chapter One*.  You want action, mystery, humor, and romance that isn't too steamy so you can read at work.  You want to read Accidentally Heroic, but there's one problem.

You're broke (or maybe you're not sure if you should pay for a book by a new author).

So let's make a deal.  This blog has been close to the 10,000 page view mark for some time.  If this blog reaches 10,000 page views I will open up a promotion on Kindle where you can get the digital copy free for a limited time.  

So read up on the first few chapters, share the link with your friends and family, post the link in your signature, and send the ravens to all your banner men.

Click here to read chapter one.

**Disclaimer: The book never returns to the lost CD. 

Now Available on Kindle

I am pleased to announce that Accidentally Heroic is now available for Kindle.

You may purchase the e-Book at: Amazon.com

Prefer to flip physical pages?  You may still purchase the print copy at Create Space or simply search "Accidentally Heroic" or "Amanda Kozik" at Amazon.

By searching my pen/maiden name you will also pull up some of the collections I've had pieces featured in.

If you'd like to read a sample before purchasing check out the  Table of Contents

Unfortunately, due to an agreement with Kindle, further sample chapters will not be supplied here on the blog until further notice.  Please like our Facebook Page to keep up with updates, fun facts, goodies, and (of course) any announcements regarding book two.

Chapter 5: The Woman Afraid of Bunnies

New? Click Here to Read Chapter 1 or Click Here for the Table of Contents

Luke:

I had begun to relax.  Sure, I was surrounded by weird people, but what else was new?  I enjoyed a cold cola, sat next to a cute girl, and Linus was too preoccupied by other things to give me any grief.  It was the largest gathering of our kind I had ever been in.  We were free to talk about our powers, the way things were.  It was liberating, and damn, it felt good.  I had almost forgotten we could have been killed earlier, that was, until Larry fell to the ground.

“LARRY!”  I shouted, my voice hopping up an octave like some kind of prepubescent punk.  I knelt beside him and was relieved to find he was breathing.  It was incredibly pansy of me, but I didn’t care.  Larry had been like a brother to me.

            

“We need to get him inside,” Linus said.  Thank god Linus was with us.  If anyone could help Larry, it was Linus.  Linus hollered to the others back in the trailer.  I looked up to the stars. I lifted up Larry’s head, crying like a sissy.  I didn’t mean to panic, but I had lost my dad and my mom was what they called “bat shit” crazy.  Larry and I didn’t always get along, but he had always looked after me.

            

Cartouche made it outside and picked Larry up as though he was nothing.  She hauled him into the trailer and placed him on the kitchen table.  I followed Linus, I wasn’t thinking, I was just reacting at that point.  Reacting and sobbing like some damn kid.

            

“Luke, get a grip.” Linus didn’t raise his tone, but I felt the anger.  Linus had his hands on Larry’s head.  Linus breathed in and the air felt cool and fresh.  Sonali reached over and grabbed my hand to comfort me.  At least someone still had a heart.  Linus was a healer, despite his less than congenial personality.  There was a warm glow and a light fell over Larry.  After a few nerve-wrecking moments, Larry’s eyes fluttered open.  He turned his head to Cartouche, grinned and gave her a thumbs-up.

            

“Heeeeeyyyyy.”  He smirked.  Cartouche rolled her eyes.

            

“He’s an idiot.”

            

“What happened Boss?  I was talkin’ to you and then, suddenly, everything went black.”

            

“The next time you get hit in the head by anything, anything, you tell me,” Linus said calmly, taking a seat.

            

“Boss,” I interjected, “Larry had dried blood on his head, what did you think happened?”  I realized Linus wasn’t the sort of man to let a detail slip by.  Linus was the meticulous, almost anal retentive, type.  Linus tried to feign annoyance, but he seemed bothered by his own lack of observational skills.

            

“So a healer, a techno-kinetic, and,” Betty looked to me, “you.”

            

“He’s a thermodynamic,” Linus responded.  Everyone turned and looked to me.

            

“What?”

            

“Hun, Thermodynamic is a mighty fine skill to have.  Why haven’t I seen your fancy skills yet?”  Betty brushed a few strands of her dark purple hair out of her face.  It was odd, the woman talked like a country bumpkin but dressed like a washed-up Raver.

            

“Late manifestation,” Linus cut in.  I wanted to sink into the floor.  Sure, I allegedly had a nifty power, but it controlled me more often than I controlled it.

            

“So…” Betty looked around and turned to Cartouche.  “The Elite, what are they planning?”

            

“I… I don’t remember” Cartouche struggled with the words; she was clearly unaccustomed to saying them.  All eyes were on her.

            

“Great…” Linus muttered, pushing up his glasses.  “There is a way to get her to remember.”  As he said this Cartouche turned to me and shook her head.

            

“No, it’s fine.”

            

“Fine?”  Betty narrowed her eyes.  Wagner’s flight of the Valkyries began to play out of the thin air.  I turned my head briefly for the source and remembered this was Betty’s power.  “FINE?”  The music increased in volume.  “Honey, I hope you do remember what a sick SOB that Gable is, and I’ve heard rumors about the people he keeps in his circle.”

            

“I know,” Cartouche replied somberly.  “But I believe we’d do more harm than good seeing her.”  She looked at me again, why did she keep looking to me?

            

“Luke,” Linus turned to me.  Why did they keep looking at me? “We need to see your mom.”   Linus turned back to Cartouche.  “They know you’re alive, so they may be seeking her out anyhow.  It’s best to be safe.”

            

“What does my mom have to do with any of this!?”  I didn’t know how it happened, but suddenly I was shouting at the others.  Betty stopped playing the Wagner and turned to Linus.

            

“Luke, let’s just go, alright?”  Larry urged; he was looking like his normal self again.  “I want to see Aunt Vera.”  I turned to him and sighed.  I wasn’t comfortable with the fact everyone seemed to know something about my mom that I didn’t know. 

            

It was a long trip, whoever thought an impromptu trip across several states was a great idea was crazy.  Larry used one of his vans for the occasion, since six people weren’t fitting in any sedan for longer than an hour.  Larry insisted on a stop at Black Rook the moment we passed one in Utah.  Cartouche braved the unholy banquet of burger and, to my shock, was unfazed.  She was indeed strong.

            

Sonali had not fared so well.  Larry convinced her to try Black Rook.  She refused a burger, something about "Hindu guilt" but she did try a chicken slider.  We were mopping her off the floor of a bathroom an hour or two later.  Betty gave Larry grief for taking advantage of a girl who had no recollection of how dangerous Black Rook is.  The upside of the trip was Betty’s music.  Betty somehow appeased the clashing tastes of all the people in the car.  She introduced me to Dub-step, but kept it light.  She had all the best hits of the 80s for Larry.  By Colorado we were all singing along to the Culture Club… well, everyone but Linus.  For Linus she had some classical music which could only be described as “dirge-tastic”.

            

It was back in Utah, a few hours before sunrise, when I got a chance to speak to Linus.  You’ve probably wondered why Larry and I put up with Linus aside from the fact the man is a walking Band-Aid.  Larry, despite his appearance, was above average in school, and I wasn’t so bad myself.  Linus, however, made us look like two idiots from the country.  We had tried to be careful about our identities, but we were lost and inexperienced.  Linus found us.  

            

Larry had always kept quiet about his ability.  He had only told one person, my dad.  Larry was never close to his parents, his mama was never sober long enough to be there for him.  His dad, wanting a better life for Larry, sent him to live with me and my folks when Larry was 12.  I had always wanted a big brother.  I never knew Larry had a secret.  When I manifested my powers for the first time, Larry was there.  I had caused every can in the house to burst open from the pressure and the heat; the place was a disaster.  I was freaked out, and that was when Larry opened up and told me what he could do.

            

Shortly after that day, we got it into our heads to play heroes.  We were two otherwise average guys from the Midwest.  And let’s face it, with all the shit on the news we wanted to make a difference.  America was sinking deeper into the Recession, people were getting desperate; we wanted to help.  Larry could fix the cars of stranded motorists; it wasn’t fighting Lex Luthor, but it was incredibly helpful.  Myself, well, sometimes I managed to help.

            

One day two years back, we helped this man stranded in the middle of nowhere.  That man was Linus.  Linus figured out immediately that there was no way Larry could have had the necessary part to fix his car.  Linus then explained to us what he knew.  At first we were skeptical, but the next thing we knew, he was our Boss and we were two goons following his orders.  Larry had thick skin; Linus never bothered him.  Me, on the other hand, I didn’t like the idea of Linus talking to my already-fragile mother.

            

“Boss,” I braved, “Why are we going to see my mom, what does she have to do with this?”

            

“Luke… Did you ever notice how you and Larry are cousins and you both have abilities?”

            

“Yeah, I’m guessin’ it’s genetic?”

            

“Yes,” Linus took a deep breath, “Mental illness does run in your family, that is unfortunately true.  Your Aunt took up drinking to cover up her pain.  Your mom, however, was strong. I wouldn’t expect any less from a Psychic.”

            

“Psychic, Mom?”

            

“There is much debate about the nature of memory.  Your mom has the ability to help people recall memories, as though they were fresh.  At least, she had the power until she met… him.” He emphasized the word with venom.

            

“Hiiiimmmmm?” I echoed flippantly.  Linus reached back to smack me.

            

“What?”  I asked lightly.  Linus only stared at me, he was dead serious. “Who is him?”

            

“Gable and the Elite, they are all exceptional, even amongst our kind.  Gable is evil, I don’t use the word lightly, but he is not the worst of that group.”

            

“I don’t understand Boss.”

            

“Have you ever had a nightmare Luke?”

            

“Yeah?”

            

“I think you misunderstand what I am saying.  Have you ever had a nightmare, the sort in which you realize midway through that you are dreaming?  The sort of dream from which you try to wake, but you can’t seem to make it end.  Have you ever felt as though the pains and sorrows which visit you in your slumber were an infestation of maggots burrowing in your mind?  That the horror you feel could only be likened to staring into the eyes of the devil himself, feeling that you cannot breathe and soon, very soon, hell will swallow you up; have you ever had a nightmare?”  As Linus spoke, like some scared kid around a campfire, I felt goose bumps form on my skin.

            

“Yeah…” That was all I could say.

            

“Your mom, she met him, and then… then she lost her mind.”  Linus said calmly, turning his eyes to the window.

            

“How long have you known this?”  I was pissed Linus knew more about my mom than I did.   Had I not been so tired, I may have thrown a fit.

            

“Since I met you.”  Linus added softly, “I didn’t want to drag you into this.”

            

“Can you heal her?”  I had never thought of it.  Linus could heal people’s physical afflictions; perhaps he had a cure for the mind.

            

“No.  I wish I could.”  Linus was sincere.  He looked back to Sonali, who was now sleeping against the window.  I couldn’t help but remember what it was like when Mom had her big break down.  I had come home that day; she was sitting in the kitchen.  From the moment I looked at her I noticed something was off in her gaze.  I said hello, and then she looked at me like I was a stranger.  She grabbed one of the knives she used to cook with, and she screamed at me to get back.  She looked at me like I was a stranger, my own mother…

I woke up several hours later.  Large oak trees framed the cheerful building which housed so much unrest. “Sunny Morning Hospital” was written on the sign at the entrance.  It had been about three weeks since I’d last been to visit Mom.  Linus had us patrolling as far as Nevada, so we were gone for days on end visiting other states.  My legs were spent the moment I hopped out of the van.  Cartouche had to pick me up by the scruff of my neck and set me on the asphalt.

“Thanks…” I muttered.  She looked at me and nodded.  There was only one explanation, Cartouche was a friggin’ robot.  She never seemed to laugh or smile, or tell a joke.

“Let’s go see Aunt Vera,” Larry said, slapping me hard on the back.  I was less than thrilled.  Linus knew so much about Mom, all this time I thought he only knew the things I had told him.  If Mom had lost her mind, how was Linus going to get any information out of her?  What was he going to do?

I don’t know how it happened, but the next thing I knew, Betty was gently nudging me up to the reception desk.  A woman with the most obnoxious “perky” voice greeted me, I asked for the paperwork to see Mom.  The receptionist leaned over and glanced to my group.  Cartouche was still dressed like a cocktail waitress.  Sonali smiled politely to the receptionist.

“Vera Marconi, room 411” The receptionist gestured as she handed out the visitor passes.  We were escorted by a man in scrubs.  Anxiety didn’t begin to describe it.  I felt like there was a rubber band across my heart and lungs.  The door was open.  Mom was sitting in a chair.  She was only 58, but she looked closer to 70.  Her eyes stared vacantly at the television.  Even though it was turned off, she was yelling at Alex Trebek.

“Hi Mom,” I said meekly.  I hated having an audience, but thankfully, no one else spoke just yet.  She turned to me and looked at me as she had done for the last several years.  On some level I had gotten used to it, but on another it still hurt like hell.  She gave a polite smile; it was the kind of smile she gave to a friendly checker at the grocery store.  When I was little her face would radiate unadulterated joy whenever she saw me.  I hated to admit it, being thirty years old, but deep down inside, I wanted to see that look again.

“Hi, how are you?”  She looked to the group half-heartedly.  Larry patted my shoulder and entered the room.  He was the first to approach her.  He offered her a hug.  “Oh, you’re awful friendly.”

“Hi Aunt Vera,” Larry said, giving her a peck on the cheek.  I braved my way into the room and pulled up a chair.

“We should close the door,” her smile was fading into concern, “I don’t want them to get in.”

“I’m sorry, it’s regulations; we can’t close the door,” the man in scrubs replied.  “I’ll be across the hall if you need anything Mrs. Marconi.”  The man added before walking away.  Mom only nodded with a look of growing anxiety.  The moment I feared happened; Linus made his way to my mom.

“Vera Marconi, my name is Dr. Linus Williams and I’m here to help protect you from the Bunnies.”  Linus turned to Sonali.  “Sonali, would you please take my hand?”

“Why?” Sonali looked hesitant.  She seemed uneasy around Linus.  Yup, she was as smart as she was beautiful.  Cartouche stepped forward at this time.

“You can trust him,” Cartouche said, “this time” she quickly added. Sonali glanced from Cartouche to Linus and then grasped Linus’s hand.  Linus placed his free hand on my mother’s forehead.  Larry grabbed my arm before I could move.

“I cannot make this permanent, but for now…” Linus said softly, “Welcome back Vera.”  He moved his hand from Mom.  Mom turned and looked to me.  My heart pounded in my chest and somehow I knew.  She was crying, but smiling through her tears.

“Luke.”  We both stood up and before I knew what was happening I was hugging her tightly, sobbing hysterically.

“Mama I missed you.”  There I was, a little kid again, holding onto my mommy after waking up from a scary dream.  

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