The Descent Chapter 8: Old and New Friends Part 2

Full Novel Synopsis: Sequel to 'The Spiralling', itself a sequel to the Kick-Ass (2010) movie. However, this novel can be read on its own. After Big Daddy died, Mindy was driven mad, subdued by Dave, and locked away in an Institute after killing all who she deemed responsible but Dave. Will she recover? What will happen next to a New York without her nor the Motherfucker? Elements of the Kick-Ass 2 (2013) movie and comic series will be taken in.

The Descent

Chapter 8: Old and New Friends Part 2

At The Prayer Area…

I was excited! I knew from the bottom of my heart that I’d get to see the face again! God! So I skipped to where everyone else was praying, and I followed what they did. I knelt down and put my hands together. But I didn’t know what to say.

I looked around at Dave and Daddy, but they were busy talking to the others in church. So I looked the other way, and there was this man who was on the stage earlier. He was just beside me, looking at the cross. He wasn’t praying. I wanted to ask him for help, but I was afraid to. He looked big, and tough.

But I didn’t need to! He saw that I was looking at him, and he turned to look down at me. At first, I was scared. I thought I did something wrong, but he just smiled down at me.

“Oh, new kid!” He said. He had a funny way of saying things. He didn’t sound like the rest of us. He seemed happy to see me. Everyone was happy to see me, like Pastor Harkman. “Whatsamatter? You need help with something?”

I was a little afraid that anyone who heard would laugh at me, so I had to whisper it to him. He had to bend low to listen to me. I feel a little guilty for doing that. I whispered to him: “Could you teach me how to pray to God? I would like to see him again.”

“Sure thing, kid.” He didn’t seem to mind at all. He seemed nice after that, and no longer mean looking. His teeth still looked a little scary though, “Now, just put your hands together. It’s a sign of respect.” I did it like he said. It was exciting! I’ll get to see God again soon! “And look at the cross.” So I looked at the cross.

“Now, just listen to my prayer, then you’ll follow after me, okay kid?” I said okay, and he went on with his own prayer first. He closed his eyes and bowed his head a little, “Dear God, I come before you today to thank you for your guidance. Please bless me for what comes next, so that I may bring justice to New York, just as you brought justice down upon the D’Amico tower – twice now, I might add. Thank you and in your name, Amen.”

I still couldn’t understand what to do, then there was what he said… What he said… D’Amico Tower… D’Amico Tower… D’Amico Tower… Sounds like… Something I… I… Can’t think… Can’t think straight…

“Your turn, kid. Now, it’s your prayer, sweetheart, so you get to say whatever you want.” The nice big man said. What happened to me just now? I went back to listening to him, but I was still confused. He seemed to know that by just looking at me, “Just be humble and good okay? Remember, God is a person with feelings too.” I couldn’t follow what he was saying. What happened to me just now?

“C’mon, let me lead you in.” The nice big man finally said. He touched my shoulder, and it stopped me from thinking about what happened just now. I followed what he said, “Dear God…”

“Dear God,” I repeated after him. He started giving me clues. It was just like school, but more fun and friendly! I started praying with his help! “I want to thank you for saving me from the bus accident, and taking me back to my family. Thank you for giving me the best daddy in the world, and Dave, the best big brother in the world. I would be a happy girl if I get to see you again. Thank you, and in your name, Amen.”

When I was done, I opened my eyes again. I saw that the nice, big man was looking at me in a sort of weird way. “You know, there seem to be something ‘bout you, kid. You’re kind of familiar.” I stared at him in the eyes. I find it easier to look at, but I don’t remember him. Why does everyone keep saying that? Principle Dixon said that, and now this man too. Yet Dave said that I had never met Mrs Dixon before.

“I- I don’t know you, mister.” I didn’t know what to say. I looked away, because it was getting harder to look at him in the eyes.

“Nah, I think I’m just getting on in the years. I’ve seen a lot of kids in my time. Sorry, sweetheart.” The nice, big man said. Mrs Dixon said that too, “My name’s Sal Bertolinni by the way. It’s nice to meet you.” He held up his hand. It was huge! I was scared at first, but I didn’t want to be rude. I shook his hand, and he was very gentle.

“I’m Mandy… Mandy Lizewski. Do you… want to be friends?” I can’t help but to be a little shy and ashamed to ask at first, but I did. He was old and I was young, so it seems strange for us to be friends. But Daddy and Dave were like friends to me too, except they were also my family, so why can’t Sal be my friend?

“I would love to, Mandy.” He didn’t wait to say yes. I’m so, so happy! I made another friend! He didn’t stay for long though. I wish he would. After looking at his watch, he said, “Well, look at how the time runs! There’s something I need to do, so I’ll see you next week.” He waved goodbye and left.

An Hour Later…

“They may wear costumes, but it isn’t Halloween.” The television in my room blared as I was sitting in bed, getting my suit off, “They’re real life superheroes, and in the two years since ordinary citizens don capes and masks, the movement has started to spread.” Upon hearing about superheroes, I was getting pumped.

“I became a superhero because of Kick-Ass.” A very familiar man in a red-and-white costume said when the same reporter interviewed the man. It was Doctor Gravity, the superhero I’ve decided to meet and form a team. We were supposed to meet on Monday night. He looked so much more epic on the high-definition camera the WNRD used. As he swung his zero-g device towards the camera, I was actually fazing back a bit.

“Yeah, you just come home from work, grab your gear and go out on patrol.” Another superhero, this time someone who didn’t appear on the first page of Google, replied upon being asked about the routine of a superhero. I saw ‘RJ’ on his helmet, but I couldn’t figure out what it stood for. He looked like he was equipped in bulletproof armour, but he had two hacksaws for weapons. It reminded me of Hacksaw, this huge guy decked in black from head to toe with a yellow lightning bolt for a logo that reminded me of Flash. His weapon of choice were hacksaws, predictably, and I wondered if RJ and Hacksaw were the same person in two different outfits, “I usually do 4 hours a shot, sometimes 6.”

“Help us make the street safe.” A couple of similarly dressed superheroes appeared on screen said when queried about what their objective was. Blue sports jacket with orange stripes down the shoulders and arms with matching mask that looked a size too huge as they don’t fit snugly. They wore a T-shirt on the inside with a picture of a boy. They looked like a real couple, or even married.

I was pumped. The next time I suit up as Kick-Ass and take to the streets was tonight, but I decided to get out a little earlier than that, maybe in a few hours’ time, go on a full 8 hours’ patrol. With any luck I might get interviewed like the rest. There were people recognising me as the first and only Kick-Ass in the dead of night. With me going out in broad daylight and creating public awareness that Kick-Ass was out again, the few remaining criminals left in New York would be packing. To tell you the truth, I might be a little delusional and self-glorifying. I guess I could only be thankful that I didn’t have a lot of time to continue down this road. There was something I needed to do.