Secrets of Lawndale - Prologue

 Secrets of Lawndale

Prologue

Quinn Morgendorffer walked through the streets of Lawndale. She didn’t believe that Tiffany Blum-Deckler had thrown her out. She didn’t know why Tiffany thought she might be fat and was asking that question all the time. She turned a corner and saw her destination, Stacy Rowe’s house, half a block ahead. She was sure that they would get along better.

 

 

“So, you were supposed to stay with Sandi but she threw you out?” Elisabeth Rowe asked.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Looks like your mother is going to tell Mrs. Griffin off about it.”

 

“That wouldn’t be surprising,” Quinn said as she went towards the stairs.

 

 

“I'm so glad you're staying here, Quinn,” Stacy said.

 

“Yeah, me too,” Quinn responded.

 

“Don't tell anybody this, but I like you best out of everyone in the Fashion Club.”

 

Quinn wasn’t sure what to think about that. She supposed that Sandi wouldn’t be high on Stacy’s list for some reason. “Um, that's nice, Stacy.” She turned her attention back to the magazine. “Look at Bridgett in that slip dress.”

 

“Slip dress?” Stacy asked. “In fact, I'd say you're my first-best friend. And Tiffany's my second-best friend. Sandi's my third-best friend. Although sometimes Tiffany's third and Sandi's second. But you're always first.”

 

‘I thought so,” Quinn thought. “Um, okay, whatever.” She wanted to focus on what she was reading. At least she was trying to.

 

“Quinn, who do you like best?”

 

“Stacy! I'm trying to read this article on eyelashes.” She wasn’t sure that increasing their density was a good idea.

 

“Oh, right, sorry,” Stacy apologised.

 

She turned her attention back to the other article. “Ugh! I can't believe she's wearing it! Slip dresses are so over!”

 

“Yeah, slip dresses are so over,” Stacy said with a nervous giggle.

 

“So, Quinn, want to go to a movie?” Stacy asked, having changed into an outfit identical to Quinn’s, which she hadn’t worn yet.

 

“Sure. What do you want to see?” Quinn asked.

 

“I don't know, whatever you want to see?”

 

“What are you wearing?” Quinn asked nervously.

 

“What do you want me to wear?” Stacy asked as she grabbed some hair dye that she had bought sometime that week.

 

“And what's that?” Quinn asked.

 

 

“I thought we could color our hair the same shade,” Stacy answered. She didn’t expect what happened next.

 

“Um, I gotta go,” Quinn said, before dashing out of the room.

 

“Quinn?” Stacy asked before breaking down again. What had she done wrong this time? She thought Quinn would like it.

 

 

“Quinn?” Stacy’s mother asked as she dashed out.

 

“I’m sorry, I have to find somewhere else…” Quinn said quickly as she made herself scarce.

 

“Wait!”

 

 

Quinn left Stacy’s house. She didn’t know why she wanted to dye her hair the same as her, but it was a little creepy, like something out of that movie with Jennifer Jason Leigh, whatever it was called. ‘Something I’ll have to deal with at some stage,’ she thought. She looked at the storm clouds hanging over Lawndale. It was going to be a stormy night. ‘But where?’ she wondered. She wasn’t sure. Her heart raced as she considered going home. But she realised that she didn’t want to do that. She also knew that she didn’t want to deal with the rumors that staying with a guy would entail.

‘Absolutely not!’

She briefly looked at the Coultard house next door. ‘Could I stay with Anna?’ She wasn’t sure. She turned towards it as she left the Rowe’s yard. She then paused. “No,” she decided. Anna was too creepy, what with the way she smiled all the time. ‘She can’t be that happy all that time.’

 

“So, where?” There was still one place. The Lanes. She was sure that Jane would take her in, somehow. At least she hoped so, because she was sure that getting into a hotel would be difficult. She didn’t want to resort to that.

 

 

Her mind was still swirling as she walked along Howard Drive and approached the Lanes. The place looked unkempt. ‘I have no choice!’

 

Jane heard the knocking. ‘Who could that be?’ She opened the door. It was… Quinn? “What are you doing here?”

 

“Um, I need to use your phone,” Quinn dissembled.

 

Jane saw right through that. ‘What is she up to,’ she wondered. “What's wrong with your phone?” she asked.

 

“Nothing. Can I spend the night?”

 

“Are you kidding?”

 

“My mother says I can't stay home alone.”

 

Something was up. “I won't say a word. I'll even spring for the keg, but you have to pay for the dry cleaning,” Jane shot back. She was sure that she could find some money if the sarcasm went over Quinn’s head.

 

“It's too last-minute to throw a party.”

 

“Then just talk on the phone all night. Ask your friends, if they could be a nail polish, what color they would be and why,” Jane said, tiring of Quinn being there.

 

“I'm sick of that game.”

 

“You're afraid to go home,” Jane realised. She wasn’t sure why that would be. She knew that the Morgendorffer’s house was secure, and that it was a good neighborhood.

 

“I am not!” Quinn said, although it was clear from her voice wavering that it was a lie.

 

“Sorry, no vacancies.”

 

“All right, I'm afraid! There's mass serial puppy killers and stuff. Come on. Please?” Quinn pleaded, with an expression that showed that she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

 

‘Fine!’ Jane thought, deciding to allow Quinn inside. “I'm going to regret this.”

 

Quinn entered.

 

“Never mind, I already do.”

 

“Nonsense!” Quinn said in a confident tone.

 

“Come upstairs,” Jane directed.

 

“Of course.”

 

Jane sighed.

 

 

Quinn looked around at the house. It was definitely in a state of disrepair which made her feel uncomfortable. ‘Ugh!’

 

Jane went up the stairs.

 

Quinn sighed before following her. She tried not to notice that some of the bannisters were loose. ‘Why can’t they fix them?’ Were they lazy?’ That was quite likely.

 

 

The untidiness of the lower story extended to the upstairs hallway, although most of the doors were closed.

 

Quinn entered Jane’s room and looked around. It was interesting, but it was still as messy as the rest of the house. ‘Why don’t they look after the place?’ She wondered before saying; “You know, we could tidy this place.”

 

“I like it the way it is. I do use a broom once or twice a week, and vacuum twice a month,” Jane said. “I think.”

 

“I suppose that people could see it like this.”

 

“Daria doesn’t mind! Nor does Trent’s band.”

 

“I suppose not,” Quinn said. She thought for a moment and her eyes widened. “Wait! They come in here?”

 

“Sometimes,” Jane answered with a little annoyance. “We do talk.”

 

“Right, but if you ask someone out and they see your room like this??”

 

“I haven’t met anyone at school I would want to go out with who isn’t already with someone!” Jane explained with even more annoyance.

 

“Oh, Jane. Maybe you should try getting to know more people.”

 

“Really?” Jane asked before turning on her radio.

 

“Of course.”

 

“I know most of my classmates.”

 

“Most?” Quinn asked.

 

“Not including some of the new ones.”

 

“Oh. But…”

 

“They haven’t impressed me so far!” Jane said as she turned to her easel.

 

“I guess not,’ Quinn thought. She thought on it for a while.

 

 

Quinn was prattling on when Trent entered the room. “I have been on dates every week since we arrived in Lawndale. And so, Matthew asked me out again. I mean, he was really nice and cute and stuff but he was only two inches taller than me, “…and my entire shoe collection is based on the concept of dating guys three inches taller than me or more.” She paused briefly. “I don't get abstract art,” she said as she looked at the picture Jane was painting.

“Who wants to look at a bunch of squiggly six-eyed people when you can get those really pretty cat paintings on the shopping network? Not that I would ever waste money on art.”

 

“Hey, Janey. You got any money?” Trent asked.

 

“Money? Are you going out? I wouldn't mind going out for a while. Of course, I don't know if I'd want to go out with someone dressed like that.” She wasn’t sure why Trent was dressed that way, nor why anyone would.

 

“Uh, who are you?” Trent asked, perplexed.

 

‘He clearly doesn’t remember.’

 

“You remember Quinn, Daria's sister?” Jane responded to Trent’s question. ‘Of course, he’d forget her.’

 

“Oh, yeah. Daria's sister. Hey.”

 

“Excuse me, I have a name,” Quinn objected.

 

“Right. Daria's sister,” Trent said as he turned on the TV.

 

“Ugh!” Quinn said.

 

“You mean you want him back? Even though he tied you to a chair and left it on an eight-lane highway in the middle of rush hour?”

 

“He got carried away by the moment.”

 

“Why would she go on TV looking like that!”

 

Jane sighed.

 

Quinn from the TV. “That’s completely wrong!” she said before prattling on about something inane, and to do with fashion.

 

‘She needs to expand her horizons!’ Jane thought. ‘Realise that there is more than fashion and popularity. Even here in Lawndale.’

 

There was a lot more to Lawndale than met the eye. ‘Maybe if I show Quinn some of that, it would broaden her horizons?’ Jane thought on it more. It would be soon, she decided. She wasn’t sure how much more of Quinn she could take.

 

 

Quinn left the room to check out the kitchen. That show was the one that Daria watched when she was bored. She didn’t find much food in the fridge. “Boring!” she said as she slammed it shut. She looked through the nearby cupboards, but didn’t find anything healthy. “Ugh!” she said. “What now?” She realised that she would have to go out with either Jane or Trent for some kind of dinner. She sighed.

 

 

Quinn re-entered Jane’s room.

 

“What now?” Jane asked.

 

“There’s hardly anything in the kitchen.”

 

“No!”

 

“No?” Quinn asked.

 

 

The next day, Quinn insisted that Jane come back with her to her place.

 

“Why?” Jane asked.

 

“Could you please come?” Quinn asked with a pleading expression.

 

“Fine!” Jane said. She wasn’t sure why. She didn’t have to explain to Helen and Jake why their daughter was at her place instead of the Griffin’s.

 

 

“…It sounds like some kind of a sweatband, if you ask me. You know what I'd name them? Wrist ornaments. It's like a tree ornament, only for your wrist. Doesn't that sound festive?”

 

“Take her now!” a slightly frazzled Jane said to Daria.

 

“This story I've gotta hear,” Daria responded.

 

“Not right now!” Jane said in a tired tone.

 

“That’s fine,” Daria said.

Aurora National Profile Expanded

 

Nation

Official Name: Samveldi Aurora (Commonwealth of Aurora)

Common Name: Aurora

Type of Government: Constitutional Monarchy

Head of State: Queen Astrid VI (House of Haraldson)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Peter Marcillius

Lower House: Althing

Upper House: Council of Advisors

Flag: A white Nordic Cross in front of yellow symbolising the dawn above and green symbolising the land below.

 

Capital and Largest City: Urbs Aeterna

Languages: Modern Auroran (Romance with Norse loanwords): 61%, Auroric (Nordic): 22%,  Southern Auroran (Romance); 10% , Auroralic (Atlantic non Indo-European indigenous languages) 4%, Other 2%

Religion: Christianity 46% (Church of Aurora; 20%, Other Lutheran; 11%, Catholic; 8%, Pentecostal; 3%, Baptist; 3%, Other 1%), Atheist/Agnostic; 25%, Norse Paganism; 12%, Islam; 8%, Native Auroran Paganism 4%, Judaism; 2%, Other 1%

Ethnicities: Auroran (Intermixed ancestries): 68%; Auroralic (Mainly indigenous ancestry): 15%; Auroric (Mainly Norse ancestry): 14%; Jewish: 2%, Other: 1%

Population: 56 million

Church notes - 27th October 2024

 27th

1 Peter 3:1 - 7

1 Peter 2:13 - 21

Submit to the institutions of man.

Likewise to the institution of marriage.

Wives - Their actions to speak louder than words.

Quiet and gentle - as Jesus was.

Submission

vs 6

- Quiet and Gentle

- As Sarah was with Abraham

Something a husband can't demand

Demanding - abuse; and not in character with how Jesus treated women.

Don't fear the crowd.

Ephesians 5:21 - 33

vs 7

Get to know her better and treat her appropriately.

Tale initiative to love, shepherd and nurture.

The husband is to honor.

Heirs together in Christ.

Spider Quinn 12 Rise of the Green Goblin - Part 7

 

Mayor Lawson was on edge. He read through the Sun-Herald’s article again. “Pure speculation!” he groused to himself. ‘There’s no proof there’s an actual fourth costumed vigilante.’

 

There was a buzz.

 

“What?”

 

“Norman Osborn is here demanding to see you.”

 

“Send him in!” he said.

 

“I see you’re aware of the news.” Osborn said.

 

“Are you behind this rumor?” Lawson asked. “Lawndale doesn’t need more people taking the law into their own hands!”

 

“I am not,” Osborn responded. “But this is exactly the sort of thing my proposal is designed to deter.”

 

“I doubt it. They will find a way to hide. And I know you’re out to get SpiderGirl. I may not like that she’s taking the law into her own hands, but she’s giving this city hope.”

 

“But what about the other two?”

 

“SpiderGirl vouches for Ninja Talon, it seems. The Shadow is more elusive. I doubt that whatever you’re planning will work,” Lawson answered.

 

“And if there is an actual fourth?”

 

“Then whoever they are will make themselves known at some point.”

 

“With my proposal we’ll catch them quicker,” Osborn argued.

 

“I will think about it!”

 

“And don’t forget that the Council approved it. You can’t drag your heels too much.”

 

“And I know you influenced the vote!” Lawson shot back. “Now get out.”

 

 

Osborn left City Hall with annoyance. He was sure that the Mayor would be instringeant every step of the way.

 

 

“Quinn Morgendorffer and Gerald Brown, please report to the Principal’s Office.”

 

“What?” Gerald asked himself.

 

 

Quinn knew it had something to do with what she had talked about with Mr. O’Neill that morning. She entered the Principal’s office.

 

“Good afternoon, Ms. Morgendorffer. We’ll wait for Mr. Brown to get here.”

 

“Of course.”

 

 

It didn’t take long for Gerald to get there. “What is this about?”

 

“Miss Morgendorffer asked Mr. O’Neill to find some elocutionists for you, and so he did. However, I must inform you that the school will not pay the fees for you.”

 

“So, they would teach me how to project?” Gerald asked.

 

“Yes, along with pronunciation and dramatic reading,” the Principal answered.

 

“How much are we talking about here?” Quinn asked.

 

“About 30 to 40 dollars an hour,” the Principal answered.

 

“Doesn’t seem that steep,” Quinn said. “What do you think?”

 

“I depends how often the sessions are and how long they are.” Gerald responded.

 

“Then it sounds good,” Quinn said.

 

“I knew you would say that,” the Principal said as she handed a sheet to Gerald.

 

 

Quinn and Gerald stepped out of the Principal’s office.

 

“What do you think?” Quinn asked.

 

“I will think about it,” Gerald responded.

 

 

At the same time, Daria and Jane were on the roof. “So, you’re concerned that you’ll change too much?” Jane asked.

 

“That’s it,” Daria confessed.

 

“Don’t worry, you’ll still be you.”

 

“I know. It’s just happening quite fast.”

 

“I’ll be here for you,” Jane promised. ‘Just as I am out there for Lawndale. I will find a balance.’

 

 

‘Angie is doing a lot better,’ SpiderGirl thought as she swung away from the school that afternoon. Her thoughts turned from the tutoring session she had just had back to the question of the Enigma. ‘I’m still not sure what to do. But I will be looking out for her.’

 

 

Sandi was at the pizza place, sitting in a booth with Harry Osborn. “Penny for your thoughts?” Harry asked.

 

“Just thinking about things,” Sandi responded. “Family is complicated.”

 

“You don’t have to tell me that,” Harry said. “My father means well, but he’s distant.”

 

“It’s more that I’m clashing with my mother’s restrictions,” Sandi said.

 

“A rebel?”

 

Sandi nodded.

 

“Whatever it is, it can’t be too bad, right?”

 

“No, it isn’t,” Sandi responded with determination.

 

 

Gerald got home, to his family’s small house in an older subdivision of Lawndale a few blocks west of the downtown. He saw that his mother was home. “Ms. Li called earlier,” she said,

 

“Yes?”

 

“We can afford the lessons, but it depends on how often and how long each one is.”

 

“Good,” Gerald responded.

 

“It is up to you.”

 

“As I told Ms. Li and Quinn, I will think about it.”

 

 

As Helen finished work, she looked towards the Historia from her office window and remembered her conversation with Elisabeth. “Have you been to the Historia yet, Marianne?”

 

“Not yet, Helen. I haven’t had time,” Marianne answered as she got ready to leave.

 

“You could come now.”

 

“No thanks. Another time.”

 

“That’s OK.”

 

 

Helen entered the Historia and saw that the restoration was better than she thought. “How much of it was Daria and Quinn, though?” she asked herself.

 

“Helen!” Elisabeth said.

 

“Coming.”

 

 

SpiderGirl arrived back at the Morgendorffers and entered by the basement, where she changed back to her usual self. She then had another look at her design for the chute locking mechanism. ‘It shouldn’t take long, but I better check that Daria isn’t home.’

 

 

That didn’t take long and Quinn started on the instalment of the locks on the bottom of the chute.

 

 

After dinner, Sandi was ready again. ‘But what is Mom going to talk to me about?’ she wondered. She knew that there was more to her powers that her mother hadn’t told her yet.

 

She opened the yearbook again. After Erin Archer was Tania Ashworth, with short dark hair. She downed the energy drink. “Finndu mann sem heitir: Tania Ashworth!”

 

She found Tania at her home, which was also on Grandstaff Drive, a few blocks away.

 

“Four down.”

 

 

This time, Quinn didn’t feel a tingle as the Ashworths were closer to the Griffins than the Morgendorffers.

 

 

Linda came up to where Sandi was practicing in the backyard. “There is more to your powers than I have taught you so far.” she said.

 

“That’s not surprising,” Sandi responded. “You, like, taught me what I already know gradually after all.”

 

“True.”

 

“What’s next then?”

 

“This,” Linda said as she generated a forcefield around her. “It contains aspects of both the energy projection and the telekinesis.”

 

“How?”

 

“Hold out your arms and then think ‘protection’. That’s how I started with it. I was a little older than you are now and I figured it out without your grandmother instructing me, but given what you are doing…”

 

 

“Got it,” Sandi said. She held out her hands and thought ‘Protection!’ The energy projection sparked in front of her, forming a partial shield.

 

“That’s a good start,” her mother praised. “Now the telekinetic component. This will also help you use the two powers in tandem.”

 

Sandi concentrated, focusing on where the energy shield was. The shield then stabilised, looking more like the one that surrounded her mother. “Yes!”

 

“Now, try to make it bigger.”

 

Sandi nodded and concentrated more and it got larger. But she quickly tired out.

 

Her mother deactivated hers. “It will get easier, like it did with everything else.”

 

Sandi nodded.

 

“But I still disapprove of you wanting to confront SpiderGirl.”

 

 

Quinn looked at the completed locking mechanism. “Done.” She then tested it, locking and unlocking it. ‘Perfect, for now. But I need to test the other side.’

 

 

Quinn drew up the board covering the chute in the closet. “I’m definitely going to need some pulleys,” she murmured. She shot a couple of webs to the sides of the closet after pushing clothes aside. “Here goes.” She then lowered herself down the chute. She then tested the locking mechanism from the other side. It worked! She then pulled herself back up to the closet.

 

“That will do for now,” she decided as she placed the board back. But she still had to clean up in the basement.

 

 

When she came back up from the basement, she saw that both her mother and Daria were in the kitchen. “Quinn, I have brought some takeaway from the Historia,” her mother said.

 

“That’s good. Did you have a good time?”

 

“I did.”

 

“That’s good,” Quinn said.

 

“The restoration seems to be done rather well.”

 

“That was more Mrs. Rowe working with Mr. Osborn, than us,” Daria responded.

 

“I knew it wasn’t just you two,” her mother said.

 

 

Before bed, Quinn wrote in the journal. No low tingle tonight. Did whoever it was take a break? ‘That’s likely.’

 

 

At midnight, the Enigma emerged from the Griffin’s backyard into the lane behind. She was sure that she would be less likely to be seen there than from Grandstaff Drive. ‘Not all of Lawndale has laneways, but that doesn’t matter.’ She then headed downtown, keeping to the laneway to the north of Grandstaff Drive.

As she came to the rear of the Ashworth’s place, she looked into the yard. ‘I doubt Tania is SpiderGirl or Ninja Talon,’ she thought. She continued.

 

 

The Shadow arrived at the store that had been broken into two nights before. ‘Was there a fourth vigilante? Was it just a rumor? Or was it true? I guess I am looking tonight.’ She turned and looked towards the Historia. ‘It offers a better vantage point.’

 

 

On top of the restored theatre, she activated her mask’s magnification mode and started looking at the streets she could see.

 

 

The Enigma saw something on the top of the Historia as she turned a corner. She took out a pair of binoculars. ‘Doesn’t look like SpiderGirl or Ninja Talon,’ she thought. ‘Could it be the Shadow?’ She didn’t want to meet the Shadow. Meeting Ninja Talon had been awkward enough. ‘I am doing this for Lawndale!’ she thought once again. She thought some more. She didn’t need to connect with the other vigilantes who weren’t SpiderGirl to help Lawndale. ‘Another time,’ she thought. But still, maybe she could gain some information.

 

 

The Shadow saw someone approaching the Historia, a girl clad in purple with brown hair in a high ponytail. ‘The new vigilante?’ she asked herself. ‘It seems it’s another teenager.’ But she knew that most of the students at Lawndale High had brown hair. ‘It doesn’t really narrow it down.’ She then climbed down to meet her.

 

 

“The Shadow, I presume?” the Enigma asked as the other approached her.

 

“Yes. But I don’t know who you are,” the other said.

 

“The Enigma.”

 

“The Enigma?”

 

“You’re the one calling herself the Shadow,” the Enigma pointed out.

 

“SpiderGirl came up with it, otherwise I would have been ‘Lawndale’s Nameless Hero’ for a while.”

 

“Again, it all comes back to SpiderGirl!” the Enigma projected.

 

“You have something against SpiderGirl?” the Shadow asked.

 

“Yes! She hasn’t been doing much of a good job.”

 

“I’m sure she has been.”

 

“That was what Ninja Talon said,” the Enigma said.

 

“Then listen to her. Why call yourself the Enigma anyway?”

 

“Like, I’m figuring things out.”

 

“That’s everybody isn’t it?” The Shadow asked. “Wait, you want to confront SpiderGirl? How would that help Lawndale?”

 

“Like, that’s also what Ninja Talon asked. But what we think would help Lawndale is different!”

 

“Of course. I’m certain that SpiderGirl, Ninja Talon and I disagree on that, but we worked well together.”

 

“Wasn’t that outside Lawndale?” the Enigma asked.

 

“It was still in the County,” the Shadow pointed out.

 

“I guess so. But I only have your word on that.”

 

“It didn’t come up with Ninja Talon?”

 

“No, I had had enough and left,” The Enigma answered.

 

“Gave you a lot to think about, didn’t she?”

 

“No comment.”

 

“I have got you there,” the Shadow said.

 

“Maybe, but do you have powers?”

 

“I’m neither confirming or denying, but I do use some theatricality in my escapades.”

 

“Such as?” the Enigma asked.

 

“You’ll see when I leave. But do you?”

 

“Yes,” the Enigma said. She fired off an energy projection to the side and then drew the debris it produced into her hand.

 

“Impressive,” the Shadow responded. “But think about what Ninja Talon and I have said.” She turned and produced a cloud.

 

The Enigma stepped through the cloud but the Shadow had vanished. ‘I guess that’s what she meant by theatricality.’

 

 

The Shadow watched as the Enigma walked off down the street. ‘That power is certainly different to what SpiderGirl does!’ she thought. She didn’t want to know what it would do to people. ‘Did she demonstrate it to Ninja Talon? And has she warned SpiderGirl? I have no idea where to find her.’ She wasn’t sure what would happen next. ‘At least I need to tell Trent,’ she decided. ‘But maybe not the name. I don’t want him including it in a Spiral lyric by mistake.’

 

 

The Enigma thought about what the Shadow said as she walked off. ‘I will still confront SpiderGirl, when I find her,’ she decided. She went a short distance before looking back at the Historia.

 

 

Nearly an hour later, Trent saw Jane come into the kitchen. “Janie?”

 

“I met the new vigilante,” Jane said.

 

“Oh.”

 

“She has some kind of energy projection powers.”

 

“Energy projection?” Trent asked rhetorically “Hmm, sounds dangerous.”

 

“Yes, potentially dangerous for Lawndale, and for SpiderGirl. She wants to confront her. I couldn’t dissuade her of that, nor could Ninja Talon it seems.”

 

“You met Ninja Talon again?”

 

“Not since last week,” Jane answered “The new vigilante did at some point.”

 

“Oh. Did you get a name?”

 

“I did, but I don’t want you putting it in Spiral lyric before it becomes publicly known.”

 

“I guess putting SpiderGirl in a song less than a month after she first appeared wasn’t a good idea,” Trent mused. “But, Janie. I haven’t put the Shadow in yet.”

 

“I thank you for that, but I know you’re figuring out how to mention Ninja Talon.”

 

“Good point.”

 

“I guess I will have to keep an eye out for SpiderGirl,” Jane said.

 

“How do you figure?”

 

“She needs to know this new vigilante is out to confront her.”

 

“But maybe Ninja Talon has already told her. They seemed pretty close,” Trent said.

 

“Probably. But I will try to find her anyway.”

 

 

A short while later, SpiderGirl sat on the roof, listening to Lawndale. ‘It seems peaceful. But is this the calm before the storm? The Enigma is still out there, and who knows what people are planning.’

 

 

Norman Osborn awoke from another of his dreams. “No! No! No!” he said, his hands on his temples, looking towards where he had put the glider blueprints. “I won’t do it!”

 

 

Lawndale Sun-Herald

Friday, February 2, 2001

Will SpiderGirl appear at the Groundhog Day Festival?

 

‘Somehow, I don’t think trying to outcompete Punxsutawney is the way forward,’ SpiderGirl thought as she put the paper aside. She then continued her pre-school patrol.

 

 

Brittany arrived at the Town Square, where the first of the festivities was to be held. She wasn’t sure why Ms. Li had asked her to represent the School. She soon found the Principal.

 

“There you are, Ms. Taylor,” she said. “Here is a speech that Ms. Landon wrote. Go and make Lawndale High proud.”

 

‘You mean, make you proud,’ Brittany thought, but she kept that to herself.

 

 

“Now Representing Lawndale High School, Brittany Taylor!”

 

“On behalf of Principal Li, Faculty and Students of Lawndale High School, I welcome you to Lawndale's inaugural Groundhog Day Festival! Soon, the Groundhog is going to come out and see if there will be another six weeks of winter. Please enjoy yourselves, and breakfast will be served afterwards…” She then continued the speech.

Mysteries of Aurora - Wednesday, 4th September 2024

 Wednesday, September 4^th, 2024

After she awoke, Freya turned on her radio to one of the campus radio stations.

 

“This is AAUA Student Radio Auroran. Now celebrating 105 years of continual broadcasting.”

 

Freya reflected on that, even in the Second World War, with the Luftwaffe unable to reach Urbs Aeterna, the radio stations in the city and further west continued broadcasting.

 

“Official Orientation activities will start today, to help new students familiarise themselves with the vast campus. They will run until Friday.”

 

Freya knew that already, but it was good to be reminded. She started getting ready.

 

 

Freya entered the Dining Hall, where the first year students of Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall were meeting prior to the first Orientation event.

 

“You’re early,” Dana said.

 

Freya shrugged. “Breakfast first,” she said.

 

“Of course.”

 

 

By the time Freya had finished breakfast, most of the students in the Hall had gathered.

 

“Good morning, everyone,” Dana said. “The first event will be a treasure hunt across the campus as is traditional. It is to help everyone familiarise themselves with the layout before classes.”

 

“How traditional?” another student asked.

 

“As far as I know, John, it started in the 19^th Century, although similar events occurred in earlier eras,” Dana answered.

 

“Oh,” the student, John, responded.

 

‘Not everything is ancient,’ Freya thought.

 

“It will start in half an hour at the Central Plaza,” Dana said.

 

“That’s good,” Freya said, bouncing up and down. “I can hardly wait.”

 

 

Olivia and Janara approached the Central Plaza.

 

“Are you OK?” Janara asked.

 

“It’s just that it’s going to be crowded,” Olivia answered.

 

“And you don’t like crowds?”

 

“No.”

 

“I’ll be with you,” Olivia said.

 

“Thanks.”

 

 

Freya looked around the Central Plazza. The crowd was close to being visually overwhelming but she focused on the people nearby.

 

“Welcome, New students.”

 

The crowd quietened down.

 

“In ten minutes, the annual orientation treasure hunt will begin.”

 

‘I can hardly wait,’ Freya thought.

 

“You will join with other students in groups of five to twenty.”

 

 

“Five to twenty!” Olivia said.

 

“Would less then ten be OK?” Janara asked.

 

“Probably,” Olivia responded as she looked around.

 

 

Freya meet up in a group of eight, most of whom were also residents of Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall. “Colorful,” one of the others said.

 

“Well,” Freya said as she twirled a pink pigtail. “I am an artist. This is one way I express myself.”

 

“Oh, of course. What’s your name?”

 

“Freya, and you?”

 

“Daniela.”

 

The group them introduced each other.

 

 

“The first clue… find a place where plants are abundant and have purpose.”

 

“That would be a botanical garden, right?” Daniela asked.

 

“Could be a herbarium,” another girl, Julia, said.

 

“That too,” Freya considered as she looked at her tablet. The Aurosoka map of the University was then shown. “The Botany department is to the north.”

 

“Let’s go,” Daniela said.

 

 

Olivia and Janara had met up with a small group. “Herbarium, that makes sense,” Olivia said. “We’ll go there.”

 

“Sure,” one of the other students, Ethan, said.

 

“North from the Grand Plaza,” Janara said. “Between the Main Library and the History Department. Then through the Art Department.”

 

“Is there another way?” Olivia asked. “As she looked around at the crowds heading in the same direction.”

 

“We could go on the elevated walkways,” Janara suggested.

 

Olivia looked at one of the nearby ramps up to the walkways. “That’s a good idea.”

 

 

Daniela lead the group into the Botanic Gardens, which looked like an oasis within the built up environment of the University. “Freya?” she asked. She turned and saw that the pink-haired girl had her eyes closed. “Are you OK?”

 

“I’m fine. It’s that I get visually overwhelmed sometimes,” Freya explained in a tone that indicated that she was tired of explaining it. “Something I live with and have adapted to. And synaesthesia gives me an advantage. I can hear the group’s footsteps and smell the foliage of the Gardens.”

 

“And you’re an artist?”

 

“I like pushing my boundaries.”

 

“That doesn’t explain much,” Daniela said.

 

“I know, it is part of who I am, but it doesn’t define me.”

 

“Good that you have figured that out.”

 

 

Freya walked along, following the patterns given off by the group’s footsteps. She knew the scepticism Daniela had displayed. It was the same as that many at her school had before they had got to know her. ‘They will see that I’m capable, despite my limitations.’

 

 

“It has to be around here somewhere,” Daniela said. “We’re now somewhere in the middle,” she added to Freya, who still had her eyes closed. ‘I had heard something about it. Is it that she’s overstimulated?’

 

“Thanks,” Freya said. “The pattern of the walkways tells me something.”

 

“And that is?” Julia asked.

 

“I’m still thinking it over,” Freya said. “I also have ADHD, so focus doesn’t come easily.”

 

“Got it,” Daniela said. “A lot of issues,” she murmured.

 

“Neurodivergence, not issues!” Freya added in an annoyed tone.

 

Daniela realised she had struck a nerve. “I didn’t mean it like that,” she said sincerely.

 

 

Freya breathed deeply as she calmed herself. “It’s that others had underestimated me in the past.”

 

“Sorry about that,” Julia said.

 

“So, where’s the next clue?” Daniela said, sounding like she wanted to change the topic.

 

Freya thought about the pattern she had found and also remembered the map of the university. “We entered through the south.”

 

“Yes,” Julia prompted.

 

“Then that means it should be in somewhere in the greenhouses!” Freya said.

 

“Then that is where we shall go!” Daniela said.

 

 

Olivia’s group approached the Herbarium along the walkways. “There it is,” Janara said.

 

Olivia looked, the building looked like it dated from the late 19^th Century. ‘The University is a patchwork,’ she realised. Areas were rebuilt over the centuries. She looked at the walkway as they walked along. She wasn’t sure how old it was. They soon entered the Herbarium building.

 

“Now, plants with purpose,” Janara said.

 

“Medicinal plants?” Olivia asked.

 

“Probably?” Janara asked.

 

 

Freya and the others entered the Main Greenhouse.

 

“It has to be in the centre,” Freya said.

 

“How do you figure?” Julia asked.

 

“The pattern is leading towards there,” Freya answered.

 

“So, a focal point?” Daniela asked.

 

“Yes,” Freya said.

 

 

They sound found the center, where they found a statue that seemed to be of a blend of Juno and Frigga. “There’s an inscription at the bottom,” Daniela said. “But it’s in Auroric.”

 

Freya opened her eyes and looked at it. “Seek the roots, where knowledge flows,” she translated.

 

“You know Auroric?” Julia asked.

 

“My family is bilingual,” Freya answered.

 

“Right, so that might mean either the Library, or the History Department,” Julia said.

 

“The Library is older, so it might be the Library,” Daniela said.

 

“Well, they are next to each other,” Freya said. “We could go to one first.”

 

 

Meanwhile, Olivia’s group found a similar inscription in the Herbarium. “Seek the root of where knowledge flows,” Janara read.

 

“Sounds like the Library,” Olivia considered.

 

“It could also be the History department,” Ethan said.

 

“That’s a good point,” Olivia said.

 

“So, where first?” Janara asked.

 

“The History department,” Olivia decided.

 

 

And so, the treasure hunt progressed. Freya found that while the others in the group didn’t understand her differences, they accepted them.

 

‘It’s certainly better than when I started high school,’ she thought after finding the fourth clue in the Main Art Gallery.

 

“Where next?” Daniela asked.

 

“The Education Department,” Freya said.

 

“That’s good. We’re crossing the campus many times,” Julia said.

 

“Plenty of exercise,” Freya said.

 

“That’s certainly true,” Daniela said.

 

 

Olivia had similar thoughts as she approached the Education Department. Her dyslexia allowed her to see some patterns before others.

 

“You’ve been quiet,” Janara said.

 

“Oh, just thinking.”

 

“About?”

 

“That the treasure hunt has been a fun way to learn about the campus,” Olivia answered.

 

“It definitely has been.”

 

 

Freya and her group returned to the Central Plaza several hours after the treasure hunt began. She saw that most of the students were still engaged in that activity. She knew that her unique perspective had helped the group solve most of the clues more quickly than otherwise.

 

“Looks like we’re early,” Julia said.

 

“We’re not the only ones,” Daniela said.

 

“That’s true,” Freya said.

 

“I’m sorry that I underestimated you earlier,” Daniela said. “I’ll try to remember, neurodivergence, not issues.”

 

“Exactly,” Freya responded with a smile.

 

 

Olivia returned to the Central Plaza a while later, when many more other students had finished the treasure hunt. She understood that the objective was knowledge and wisdom. Not just as concepts, but as a way to navigate the campus.

 

 

“Thank you for participating in the Treasure Hunt. I hope you all have attained a greater understanding of the layout of AAUA and of your fellow students.”

 

Freya looked at Daniela nearby. ‘She certainly understood more than most did in the past. But I do wonder how others in my classes will react, especially when I create tactile art in way I usually do.’

 

 

Freya returned to the Hall shortly afterwards and grabbed her sketchbook. The various patterns of the search for the clues had inspired her.

 

 

Dana found Freya sketching in a common room shortly before dinner. “I heard that the treasure hunt went well.”

 

Freya looked up from her sketchbook. “It did. I learned a lot about the university’s layout, and that some students will accept my differences.”

 

“You don’t seem that different.”

 

“ADHD and synaesthesia together. It makes me different enough.”

 

“Oh,” Dana said. She hadn’t realised.

 

“As I said to someone today, Neurodivergence, not issues,” Freya said and told Dana of the conversation she had with that person.

 

 

Olivia was still thinking about the treasure hunt when she and Janara entered the dining hall for Dinner.

 

“It was interesting wasn’t it?” Janara said.

 

“Seek the roots, where knowledge flows,” Olivia repeated.

 

“Olivia?”

 

“The inscription. I know what I’m going to do.”

 

“What do you mean?” Janara asked.

 

“Not only am I studying the Nordic Era and the foundation of the Commonwealth, but also the origin of Aurora itself.”

 

“You mean what’s behind those myths?”

 

“Exactly,” Olivia answered. “The truth is buried somewhere in this University. I’m going to find it.”