Praeteritus Issue 9
Today has been difficult. My joints still ache from the fight with Plus Size. I pile drove a girl from my childhood through the wall of an apartment complex.
And the most irritating man I've ever met now knows where my apartment is.
The door to the stair well opens and she steps onto the rooftop. I’m leaning on the parapet wall, looking down at the alley between the Cabaret and the health clinic opposite me. She doesn't hesitate when she sees me.
Her body shimmers and disappears as she reaches behind her neck. I see the ties come loose on a floating dress, then the dress hits the floor. “Heard you’re havin’ a rough day sugar. Something I can do.”
“I’ll live.”
“Mm....I think you’re the one who’ll live through anything, sugar. It’s the rest of us who gotta worry.” I can trace the sound of her voice drifting to a duffle bag sitting in the corner of the roof. Invisible hands open it and lift out a bright red dress covered in sequins. It’s part of her costume.
“You can say whatever you want, doll, but you can’t fool me.” I don’t know anybody. But the Lovely Magdalena? She knows everybody. “Somethin’s eaten you pretty terribly. Care to share, sugar?”
“The worlds a mess.” I bright blond wig floats out of the duffle bag.
The wig turns to face me. “The worlds a mess every day, darlin’. But you only come to visit me sometimes. So tell me what’s different about today.”
I look back at the alley. “I did something I regret today.”
“That’s probably the thing I like most about you, darlin.” I glance back at her. The cap floats on to a tube of lipstick. Bright red lips are floating in midair under the wig. “For you that’s not an everyday occurence.”
The lips get closer. “Don’t go beaten’ yourself up so bad. What did you do?”
This is the part I’m not sure I can take. “I hit Capua today.”
“I heard about that. She’s pissed....but from the sound of it there was nothing else you could have done.”
I stare down at the alley more. Then I feel a hand on my mask, tilting my head. I’m looking at the space between the lips and the wig. “Don’t feel bad. Do something about it. Go out and keep saving the world.”
I nod, and the lips press against the side of my mask. “Someday you’re gonna show me what your face looks like.” They pull away and leave a bright red outline on my face. “Until then it’ll just be all tease, won’t it?”
I never know what to say in these situations. “I’ve been working a white collar thing for a while, I’ve got some very naughty boys to punish tonight. Do me a favor and save the girl in the alley for me?”
“Who?”
“She’s six blocks from here but she’s calling for help. She’ll be running through here any minute now.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“You’re a doll. Two guys chasing her. By the sound of it their just muggers, shouldn’t be too difficult.”
I plant a boot on the parapet. “It never is.”
Magdalena disappears into the night, but she’s already stopped being Magdalena. She’s the Living Illusion now. Everyone becomes someone different when they put the mask on. It’s like they’re all method actors. I’m the only one who’s always me.
I wait until I see the woman running down the alleyway. She’s desperate, and she’s scared. The muggers are only a few paces behind her. I drop onto them and beat them both into submission. It isn’t difficult.
When I turn the woman is facing me, with a pencil and a notebook out. “Oh. My. God. You’re Praeteritus!”
I truthfully have no idea what she’s talking about.
