Spider Quinn 17 Tempestuous Origin of Mysterio Part 10

 

Daria hung up from Jane, who had said that she would be at the Historia an hour before the play started. ‘That’s a good time,’ she thought. Plenty of time to continue gathering information on what had happened in Lawndale since SpiderGirl first appeared. ‘Another two hours before Ted gets here with the next senior,’ she thought as she headed back to her table to clean up.

 

 

“That was quick,” Peterson said.

 

“We’ll catch up properly later. I’m continuing my investigations, and the fourth vigilante will be here, but I will talking to many people, so you can’t find her identity that way.”

 

“I can’t stick around anyway. I need to write my report on what happened, even if I didn’t see much.”

 

“Got it.”

 

 

Brittany came downstairs after showering and writing in her journal about the rescue.

 

“Afternoon, honey,” Ashley-Amber said. “You were out in that storm?”

 

“I was running, when it came up.”

 

“I see. Anyway, your father said that he might be able to make it to the play tonight!”

 

“That’s great!” Brittany said enthusiastically.

 

“Even if not, Brian and I will be there.”

 

“I hope he behaves himself.”

 

“I will make sure he doesn’t cause a scene,” Ashley-Amber said as she put some bread on a board.

 

“I know you will.”

 

 

Quinn went down to the hidden area of the basement, and looked at the various maps of Lawndale she had placed on the walls. “I guess I need maps of the area near the Lake too,” she mused. “In case Brit and I need to rescue people from there again.” She wrote that down in a notebook.

 

 

After showering, Sandi told her mother she would be at the Historia.

 

“Wait, Sandi,” her mother said.

 

“Yes?”

 

“Sam has been wanting to check out the bookstore there. Take him too.”

 

Sandi sighed. “Yes, mother.”

 

 

“So, you still sneaking out?” Sam asked, after Sandi had turned out on the engine.

 

“What do you know?” Sandi asked.

 

“Not much, just that you’re sneaking out. Mother is as she usually is.”

 

“Good.”

 

“But she also says something about SpiderGirl and Daria sometimes,” Sam said as his sister pulled out of the driveway.

 

“SpiderGirl. She’s all hype. It’s Ninja Talon and now Dafoanairi who are doing the work.”

 

“You think so? But SpiderGirl’s cool!”

 

“Sure, she appears cool,” Sandi argued. “But it seems she plays up her status as Lawndale’s first superhero. The others are more in the background.”

 

“Like, the fourth vigilante. Her name is still unknown, what’s that about?”

 

‘About keeping a low profile, while waiting for SpiderGirl to slip up.’

 

 

Daria saw Sandi enter the café. She got up.

 

“How did it go with Beck?” she asked quietly.

 

“Touch and go,” Sandi answered. “But better than when I fought the Goblin.”

 

“I heard he got away.”

 

“That wasn’t my fault. I brought the ceiling of the cabin down on him then left.”

 

“I see,” Daria said.

 

“Anyway, we can talk on the roof, while my brother looks in the bookshop.”

 

“What about your lunch?”

 

“I can wait,” Sandi answered.

 

 

Up on the roof, Sandi looked southwards, towards the Lake. The rescue operation was a success, but her mother had a point about age and experience. That was annoying. “But I will learn from this,” she said.

 

“And what exactly have you learnt?” Daria asked.

 

Sandi sighed. “That if you think a villain is down, you should make sure they’re down.”

 

“I doubt that is all.”

 

“I know it isn’t. But what have you learned?”

 

Daria looked to be in thought. “I learned that SpiderGirl might be someone I know. I know she’s not you, and I know she’s not Jane. But that still leaves a lot of people.”

 

“Like that wouldn’t be too many, right?”

 

“I know more people than you think. Everyone in all my classes. Most of the people Quinn hangs out with, including Anna. All the people involved in the play. Most of the people Jane hangs out with. That doesn’t include everybody.”

 

“Got it,” Sandi said, as she turned around. “A lot of people. I’ll continue as I have been.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I have used my powers to try to search for her, by going through the yearbook, since just before I became the Enigma, except for when I searched for Beresfield, Sam and Jane.”

 

“Isn’t that risky?” Daria asked. “I saw what happened to you when you overextended yourself on Thursday night.”

 

Sandi shrugged. “It hadn’t happened before. But I now say the risk is worth it.”

 

“I still don’t know why you need to confront her.”

 

“I told you about that time just after the Fashion Club ended.”

 

“I have a feeling there’s more to it,” Daria said.

 

“True. It’s something I need to figure out,” Sandi said as she turned back to the southern view. “Along with everything else.”

 

“Everyone has things to figure out. That’s part of being human.”

 

“That reminds me of something the Shadow said.”

 

“Which was?” Daria asked.

 

“I was telling her why I called myself the Enigma. That it reflects the fact that I’m figuring things out. Then she said that SpiderGirl was the one who first called her the Shadow.”

 

“Interesting. When was this?”

 

“When I first met her, the night before Groundhog Day.”

 

They then were silent as they contemplated the view of their home.

 

 

It wasn’t long before Sam came up looking for Sandi. “Stacy said that you would be up here,” he said.

 

“You want to go home?” Sandi said. “I was talking to Daria. I haven’t had lunch yet.”

 

“Oh,” Sam said. “I could look around the bookshop again?”

 

“Good idea.” Sam then went back down.

 

“I was going to stay up here a while,” Sandi said. “But I’m sure I’ll need to take Sam home soon.”

 

Daria nodded. “You’ll see the play tonight?” she asked.

 

“Yes,” Sandi answered. “By myself. With Mother and Sam next week. I’ll see you later.”

 

Daria watched Sandi go down and then turned back to looking at the town herself. She took out a notebook. “Lawndale, Lawndale, SpiderGirl’s appeared, Now things are changing…”

 

 

It was 6:00 when Jane arrived at the Historia and saw Daria waiting for her in the café. “Daria!”

 

“Jane! I’m glad to see you here.”

 

“You thought I wouldn’t come?”

 

“I had some doubts,” Daria said. “But I know you are resilient.”

 

“I did have a few words with the FBI shrink, and she said that I might get flashbacks at some point,” Jane said with a shrug. “But I figure if they happen, I could immerse myself in my art even more.”

 

“That’s one way of dealing with it.”

 

“The way I have dealt with my parents being rarely home.”

 

 

‘She has said that she and Trent have raised each other before,’ Daria thought.

 

“Anyway, let’s order dinner. I’m sure tonight’s going to be busy.”

 

“Definitely.”

 

 

The Taylors arrived at the Historia not long afterwards. Brian was being uncooperative as usual. “I don’t see what’s so important,” he said.

 

Steve was annoyed. “You’re here because it’s important to your sister.”

 

Brian grumbled. “I wasn’t asked about it!”

 

“You didn’t need to be,” Brittany said. “Just keep quiet and watch.”

 

 

Brittany was still annoyed at Brian as she went up to order for her family. ‘Kevie’s not here yet!’ she groused to herself.

 

 

She had ordered when she felt someone tap her on the shoulder. She turned around. “Sarah Robyn?” she asked in surprise.

 

The girl gave her a slip of paper. Hi Brittany. When I learned that you were in the play, I knew I had to see it.

 

‘Still can’t speak,’ Brittany thought. “Thanks for that,” she said.

 

Sarah Robyn wrote something else. Is it true that there were kidnappings in Lawndale this week.

 

“Yes,” Brittany answered as she looked towards where Jane was eating with Daria. “But SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon rescued them.

 

That’s good! I have been following their adventures as much as possible, especially after Groundhog Day.

 

“Yes, that was shocking.”

 

And the brownouts.

 

“Those too.”

 

 

Quinn saw Brittany talking to Sarah Robin. ‘Of course, I only interacted with her as SpiderGirl. I suppose I could try meeting her that way after the play, but I don’t think that would work.’ Her thoughts were then interrupted by someone tapping her shoulder. She turned around. “Wolfgang? What do you want?”

 

“Here,” Wolfgang said, as he handed some flowers to her.

 

“Um, Wolfgang? I’m not interested,” Quinn said as she handed the flowers back to him.

 

“You’re not?”

 

“No, I’m not.”

 

“Oh,” Wolfgang said in a crestfallen tone.

 

“But. I’m sure there’s someone here who might want to watch the play with you.”

 

“I’ll look for someone then.”

 

Quinn watched as Wolfgang left. ‘I hope he finds someone who will appreciate his attempts.’

 

 

At the same time, Kevin was getting ready to leave, when his mother blocked the door. “Mom?” he asked.

 

“You’re not going to that play,” his mother said.

 

“But I bought a ticket, and I promised Brit I would be there.”

 

“But haven’t you been saying that girl has hardly been around lately?”

 

“Yes, but I promised her I’d be there,” Kevin said.

 

“What is this play about anyway?”

 

“Daria said that it’s about change. Like how she and others have been changing.”

 

“Change,” his mother considered. “Well, you know that I don’t like that girl.”

 

“You want Brit to change? She’s already changing. Daria’s tutoring her, and she’s more into martial arts now.”

 

“That’s good, but I want another change.”

 

“But there are other girls,” Kevin said.

 

 

Charlene considered that. She looked around to be certain that her husband wasn’t in earshot. “You may be confident as the school’s quarterback, but you know that I don’t want that to be your future. Nor do I want you to be stuck in this town, where a colorful superpowered vigilante is giving it hope in a time of increased crime.

 

“But I want to see the play.”

 

“Just not tonight, especially given the events around the play. Wait until next week.”

 

 

“Fine!” Kevin said, when he saw that his mother was serious and was certain to make him do some chores he wouldn’t like if he did find a way to sneak out. “I won’t go.”

 

“Good! Now, can you help me with dinner?”

 

“Yes,” Kevin answered. ‘I hope Brit forgives me.’

 

 

Brittany looked at the time. Kevin wasn’t coming. She was annoyed.

 

“Brit?”

 

Brittany turned and saw that it was Quinn.

 

“It seems Kevin’s not coming.”

 

“It could be that he forgot,” Quinn said.

 

“That is very likely!”

 

“But?”

 

“But also, I have been thinking that he isn’t the one for me,” Brittany said.

 

“All I can say is, do you what you think is right.”

 

“Thanks, Quinn. But for now, I have a play to act in!”

 

“Go break a leg!” Quinn said with a giggle.

 

“Thanks, Quinn.”

 

 

Soon, Jane sat near the Taylors and saw that Ashley-Amber had her hands full with Brian’s squirming. ‘It seems Steve doesn’t want to have deal with his son’s behaviour.’ She then focused on the stage.

 

 

It wasn’t long before the curtain went up and the second performance of the play started.

 

At the Giant Strawberry, Mysterio was looking at the Historia through one of the telescopes. “I will be back!” he said.