Good and Evil

She exists in an alternate world of her own design.

She has curated it. Perfected her ability to move in and out of this other realm, so that it wraps itself around her and makes her oblivious to her physical self.

She sits on the edge of the heavy, ancient sleeper and stares at her lap.

The laughter, the activity, the competition. All the fun of the life around her. She notices none of it. She is searching for something. An answer. An ending. An ending to humanity.

I’ve been watching her like this for years. Quietly. Patiently. She never sees me. I’ve gotten too good at staying hidden. I lie in wait. Preparing for the day that I will rid her evil from the world. Stop her from finding the ending.

There have been times I’ve come close to overcoming her, but I’ve always been thwarted. Her companion has always protected her. Repelled me with his quiet but omnipotent power.

But today, my nemesis is alone.

Today I strike.

I move from behind the thick hedge, crawling low, cursing the crackling and snapping of the leaves and twigs under my knees.

She must. Not. Hear me.

I lay down fully on my belly. The ground is wet from morning dew. It begins to seep through the thin material covering my torso. I’ve reached the sleeper she is sitting on. I’m close now. I reach back, pulling the golden rope from my belt, dragging myself up onto my feet.

“Aaaa-aaaaaaagh, Wonder Womaaaaaaan!” I throw my golden lasso at the beast.

“Heeey! Daaaaaaaaaaad!” Lacey springs to her feet, her book falling to the ground as she runs towards me. “Leave me alone Jemma!” She shoves me square in the chest, and I fall hard on my backside. Picking up her book, she moves back to the sleeper beside the playground equipment, scowling at me before sitting and flicking through to try to find her lost page. “Let me read my book in peace!”

I stick my tongue out at her. She sticks hers out in response. My face. Her face. A perfect mirror. Twins. Me. Good. Her. Evil.

“Jemma!” Dad’s voice makes me jump. He stands between us, hands on his hips. I grin at him sheepishly. He sighs. “Leave your sister alone, please”. He smiles, in spite of himself. He scans me from head to toe. “Are you ever going to stop wearing that outfit?”

“Nevahhhhh” I shout, scrambling to my feet, spinning around and around and around on the spot, my golden lasso a halo above me. “ I. Am. Wonder woman. Truth. Justice. Forevahhhhh!”