Teahon-Freelance writer For all writing services and advice.

The Bad Girl

This story is the second in The Blackmark Trilogy, but in this installment, he is but a secondary character to the villainess Tulullah, who we saw briefly in the first installment...

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I find pondering things while laying in bed very rewarding darhling.  It’s where I have my thinking time.  My me time, my, Tullulah time.  It’s so important to think darhling don’t you think?  It’s where you sort stuff in your head so that you can make your world a better place.  Delicious darhling, absolutely delicious.  What’s that?  What am I thinking?  Well darhling I was just planning to take over the world.  How’s that?  A little different?  A little extraordinary?  Well darhling, I’m an extraordinary girl darhling.  It’s delicious.  You should try it…

He looks better in moonlight.  The silvery glow makes his muscles look more defined, more scintillating.  Gives more promise.  It’s also nice to see the man beneath the armour, the face of the man that orders his troops to kill at will.  It takes a lot of doing darhling don’t think it doesn’t.  Even for really bad people like us.  I run my hand down his back slowly, savouring him through my finger tips.  He doesn’t stir, this is good darhling, because you see, I’ve just poisoned him.  Yum.

It’s a slow acting and it wont be fatal for some time.  I still need him for my world domination plans, and other things…I stand up and look in the mirror.  My body is green but I’m pretty and beautiful and according to men, wonderful.  Do you know darhling I think they’re right.  Until, like the black widow spider I have tattooed on my thigh, I kill them darhling, because that’s what I do.  Jealous?

I hear him stir and I realise it’s time for more fun.  He doesn’t object when I role him over and straddle him.  In fact he smiles.  He pulls me to him and we have a delicious kiss.  He is so good at everything.  Part of me regrets killing him.  Too late now to fret - what’s done is done.

“So, my Phantom.    What do you think of my plan?”

“It’s flawed”, he says, and reaches for his cigarettes.  “There’s simply too much risk.”

“But Phantom”, I say, and push out my bottom lip and look sad.  “That makes it so much more worth it.  Do you really want to live in the shadow of Arachnos all your life?”  Which is about two weeks I’d say, darlhing.

“I’m in no ones shadow, I never will be.”  He snaps and lights his cigarette.  I don’t say anything I just role over and face away from him.  This is the best way to deal with the ego of men darhling, because they can’t help themselves but protect women.  A good lesson to learn darhling.   Should be interesting to see what happens with this one.  He’s not like other men, he seems oblivious sometimes to what’s going on.  I like it.

“What?”  He asks.

“Nothing, just sad darhling, just sad.”  He grunts and rolls and faces the opposite wall.  I do like him darhling.  “Da Dealer has decided to join, I’m sure he’s little possey of ninjas and daemons will be enough for the job.  Not too worry.”

“What?”

“Dealer, darhling.  He’s going to help.”  He sits up looking startled.  He’s worried now and I love it.  That’s the beauty of having more than one lover darhling, you can intimidate the other with the other.  Delicious.

“Wait a minute”.  I can see the cogs turning darhling.  “The Dealer is in Gotham, in Arkham Asylum.”

“Oh darhling,” I say in a very off hand manner.  “No one stays locked up there for very long.  I’m sure he’ll be back soon.  I do hope so darhling, I do hope so.”  He’s a cool one is our Phantom, but I can tell he’s hurt darhling.  I think he may have feelings for little old me.  Yum.  He stares a cold stare at me darhling and then dresses quickly.  Armour as well.

“Show me your plan again.”

Delicious.

The sewer smells terrible darhling.  No place for a girl like me, but, this is the only way we can get across to Paragon City without detection.  It’s very old apparently darhling and was used extensively in the first Rihkti war, but that’s boring darhling so boring.  All that’s important is that we’re using this to go into Paragon City, steal lots of money and then get back to the Rogue Isles.  We don’t need the money darhling but this earns us recognition you see.  And more importantly, earns me recognition.  Lord Rucluse will have no choice but to notice us and that’s when life gets interesting.

“But Da Dealer failed to capture the Human Bullet.  He should have anticipated Batman’s interest.”  Phantom is in military mode darhling.  I’m ahead of him and yawn freely.  “He also underestimated the other three.”

“I know darhling but no matter.  There will be other opportunities to capture the Human Bullet.  I’m sure Da Dealer wont stay quiet for long.”  It’s so delicious darhling to annoy Phantom.  It’s not harsh darhling, a girl has to have her fun.  “Also, it did show us the capabilities of the other three.  So not a complete waste of time, darhling.”

He grunts.  Ahead of us Captain Jack tell us there’s some Longbow security ahead.  He’s a stalker darhling, and is awfully good at it too.  He has a manic psycho look after he kills somebody darhling, that’s damn effective.  He loves putting on the laugh and is a little bit prone to monologing.  He’s already in position to strike!  His hands raised high and his legs tensed.  The gleam in his one good eye is gorgeous darhling.  I get ready to charge: my armour is ready and I feel invincible darhling.  I love this.

I nod my head and Jack strikes at the back of the neck and the Longbow falls to the floor.  I charge into the middle and attack a young girl whose ideals are all wrong.  Dear oh dear.  She strikes me several times but you see darhling, I’m barely scratched.  I hit her a few times and we exchange blows and before long she crumples like paper.  A shame darhling, but good fun.

The others are finished by Phantom’s men and Jack.  Simple, like most heroes darhling.

We move along the sewer and reach the gate.  Through the gate is Independence Portdarhling and a lot of good guys.  And, darhling, lots of lute.  Delicious.

We go through the gate and it’s good to leave the stench behind.  I examine my hands and no nails are broken.  Very good.  The local gangs leave us alone as we make our way quickly and silently to the bank.  Their fear always makes me feel powerful and strong darhling and this is simply brilliant.  Because I’m not powerful or strong, deep down darhling.  Deep down I’m a vulnerable little girl that is kneeling by her mothers coffin when she is four years old, knocking on the wood waiting for her to get up.  But she never did darhling.  Lucky I’m tough.

Jack disappears into the bank and a few heroes are gathering in the sky.  Just as we’re about to enter I grab Phantom lift his helmet off and give him a lingering passionate kiss.  I pull his helmet back on.  “You always choose your moments.”  He says.

“Stop complaining darhling, it’s not very attractive.”  He grunts.

I charge into the bank darhling and counters and bollards go flying in all directions.  People are gasping and screaming and everything descends into chaos.  The security guards are shooting pointless bullets at me.  There guns kicking back in their hands.  I hit one a few times and he falls to the floor.  The others attack me with truncheons and I take every blow on my pretty little chin.  Phantoms men mow them down like corn.  Jack’s manic laugh, a little like The Jokers, rings through the bank.

We make our way to the big, round, shiny vault.  We all attack it darhling and we love it.  Soon it splits in half with a satisfying sheering sound, darhling.  We grab the lute-all the gold, all the notes all the business darhling.

We run as fast as we can to the exit darhling.  Ahead of us Longbow are setting up heavy weapons.  No heroes darhling.  This is a good thing.  I charge at the leader darhling and we exchange blows.  He’s quite tough but I’m so much tougher.  You see darhling us super powered beings are so powerful darhling, that when we hit it’s like being hit by a car.  Same traumas, same injuries, only worse, much worse.  Yum.

This poor Commander soon falls as do his comrades.  I smash through the doors like a train darhling and into the sunlight.  Then I’m flat on my back.  That can only be a hero darhling that can do that.  Phantom isn’t looking too good either darhling and I don’t know where Jack is.

“This is where it ends, Tullulah.”  Ahead of me three heroes are standing with their arms folded and legs apart.  What a ridiculous pose darhling.  He goes to speak again but another hero, a woman, speaks before he can.

“We know of your plans.  It’s time to come quietly.”

“Not today, darhling.” I leap to my feet and before I know what’s happening the first one that spoke is upon me.  Kapow…He kicks like a train darhling, but I’m fine.  I believe he is The Blackmark darhling.  How delicious.

He hits me again all over my body, chest, stomach, face and then a roundhouse.  I hit him a few times too as a girl has to in a man’s world.  Then it turns nasty.  Phantom is pinned by pets darhling, which are all blue and unimaginative.  I’m not looking too good as I’m fighting two heroes who see a good scalp.  I can’t run away either, they’ll catch me too easily.  Then one of them who looks like a circus act and is indeed The Human Bullet, collapses.  Captain Jack has taken care of him, how marvellous.  “Mu ha ha ha,” says Jack.  The Blackmark is bewildered and I hit him as hard as I can darhling, and he flies into a passing truck.  Jack helps Phantom and we run for the sewers.  Fighting heroes in Paragon is no fun.

I see The Blackmark leaping over us.  “He’s trying to cut us off.”  Says Phantom.

“No lie.”  Says Jack.

“Shut it.”

“Not now boys” I say. “Save the fighting for our glorious escape.”

“How?”  Asks Phantom.  Do I detect a slight I told you so inflection in his voice?

“Diversion darhling, diversion.  Can’t you get your men to attack those families over there?” He knows it’s a good idea but can’t admit it.  I love it.

Phantom summons his pets and orders them to open fire on a group of people who are picnicking.  Delicious.

The troops flank the families and raise their weapons.  The Blackmark has no choice but to attack the pets darhling, leaving the sewer unguarded.  He draws their fire but we don’t care as we get to the sewer entrance.  “Good bye darhling.”  I shout as he and the other two heroes have recovered and have dispatched Phantom’s pets.  “It was delicious.”

“Next time Tullulah.”  He points at me.  He’d make quite a good lover.

We move quickly through the sewer darhling in case they come after us.  I’m relived to be back in Rogue Isles I must say darhling.  Phantom takes of his helmet.  “I can’t believe you faced off Batman!”

I giggle darhling, I must.  “That wasn’t Batman darhling, that was The Blackmark.”

“What?”

“Yes darhlingI know.  Not very imaginative costume, but has certain qualities nonetheless.  Let’s see all that wonderful lute”.  I clap my hands and leap into the air.  I love success darhling, it makes me all the things that are wonderful in this world, more wonderful.  And above all I feel strong.

Phantoms men open casks and sacks and the glow from the gold is delicious darhling.  I use both my hands darhlingand take a big scoop of coins and then let them go above my head and I’m showered in gold.  This is the best.  Phantom looks at me and I know that look darhling very well.  He wants me and I love it.  But Jack is here counting bank notes with a manic gleam in his one good eye and, if we leave he’ll probably steal it.  So I speak instead.  “Arachnos has to take notice of us now darhling.”  I smile a big green smile.  Jack and Phantom exchange glances.  I’m not sure what this means.

“To what end?”  Says Phantom, the lover gone, the General returned.  This is outrageous.

“Darhling, the shadow.  We are all in his horrible shadow darhling, you know that.  Don’t you want to be great and strong?  Where is your nerve?”  I shriek at them, stamping my foot as I do.  How dare they want to whimper away when we are on the verge of greatness.  “Follow me, and I will show you how to become more…”

Their sarcastic glances can only mean one thing.  They are going to turn away.  I can feel it.  How dare they!  Jack starts dividing the money three ways, his gleam not so bright.  I’m so angry darhling, that I’ve squashed a coin in my hand.  “Run, run away like the cowards you are.  And when you are dead at the hands of a hero, or Arachnos is killing you slowly for fun, then you’ll remember me.”

“Calm down gal.”  Jack’s voice sounding hideous to my angry ears darhling.

“Don’t you dare tell me to calm down.”  I stamp my feet again.  “Still, me and Da Dealer can divide up the world between us.  I gather my share.  Inside I’m still fuming and twisting and hurting, but I’m not showing it to these two.  I walk out of our little base without saying another word.  I make my way to a bar where my favourite drink awaits for me darhling.  Pineapple Juice.

It takes exactly four minutes for Phantom to appear followed by Jack twenty minutes later.  I’m not approaching them as they are the ones that need to apologise darhling, not the other way round.  Phantom goes to speak and I turn my head away.  I smile as I know he is mine and I love it darhling.  At least for ten days.

“So what’s your plan?  This better be good or I’m out.  I’m not love struck like lover boy here.”  Says Jack, all business with no margin for error, and yet, he’s eerily unhinged at the same time.

“Shut it.”

The plan is simple.  I’m taking over this gang and one way or another each and every one of you will carry out my whims.  The poison that was discovered by The Blackmark, Dark Remedy and The Human Bullet will be reintroduced into Paragon City.  When it does, we will activate it by spraying it with a catalyst from one of the airships which fly around.  On contact the virus will become airborne and start killing heroes first, civilians second.  As I possess the only antidote the entire population of Paragon City will become my slaves in exchange for their sad little lives.  It’s a fair trade.  Then, with Paragon City mine, I will simply tell Arachnos how it is going to be.  Tullulah will rule the world darhling.  And do you know, I’ll never feel vulnerable or weak again.  That’s really all I want.   “Well, it involves airships, viruses, and you two and everyone else in our gang doing exactly what I say.”

“I don’t understand why we can’t secure the airships ourselves.”  Phantom’s jealousy is delicious darhling, simply delicious.  It makes this little girls heart go boom boom.  “We don’t need Da Dealer.”

“Darhling, you know that he is the only one that can secure them without detection.   And, his pets will come in handy darhling.”  He grunts and then grabs my arm and pulls me towards him.  A normal woman would be in severe pain.  “Are you sure your reasons are sound?  Are we doing this because of your feelings for Dealer?  Coming here, to the city of the Dark Knight, is dangerous.”

“Well you’re welcome to leave.”  I hiss, taking my arm back.  I say nothing of my personal interest as I’ve simply challenged his ego, and this is what we are talking about now.  “It’s about time we had some men around here.”

He says nothing but summons his pets and it’s about time darhling, quite frankly.  He is both delicious and annoying all at once.  Though I’m anxious to break the Dealer out of prison and leave as quickly as possible.  A fight with Batman will be a thousand times worse than our recent skirmish with Paragon’s Heroes.   Jack isn’t here, he’s securing the help of the Crey.

Arkham Asylum is easily broken into and out of.  I wonder why Da Dealer is still there.  Maybe he likes it.  “You ready?”  Phantom checks with his men and nods.  “Boom, boom, shake the room darhling.”  A massive explosion erupts darhling and the ground shakes, and the blast throws me somersaulting backwards into a tree.  Great columns of thick black smoke coil towards the sky.  I pick myself up and put  Phantom on my back and we charge towards the massive hole in the middle of the Asylum.  Sulphurand acrid smoke is in the air darhling and I love the chaos of fire fights and things that go boom.  Dealer’s cell should have been blown to bits darhling which means he should be semi dead in the rubble.  Phantom and myself start looking for him as Phantom’s men draw the fire from the guards.

We sift through bodies and rubble and find him, laying face down, his hair all over the place but still looking attractive darhling.  Yum.  I take a green piece of paper darhling about he size of my palm and place it on his forehead.  It dissolves into his face and his eyes flicker open.  He is stunned and confused but this is normal.  “We should get moving.”  We look in the sky and there is the Bat signal piecing the clouds.  I nod and we help Da Dealer to his feet.

We move quickly through the streets to our toys darhling.  If we’re going to run into Batman darhling or one of his sidekicks, it’s going to be now.  So far so good.  Delicious.

The docks come into view darhling and we move quickly through the shadows to a small quay.  “Where is it?  Where is it?”  Phantom shifts nervously from foot to foot.

“Try and relax my dear.”  I say.  I put a hand on his shoulder.  To my astonishment darhling, he grips it tightly.  Yum.

The waters part and a black submarine breaks the surface like a small earth quake.  As it rises, water pours off it back into the sea.  Quickly, the three of us get to the top of the coning tower.  Phantom turns the hatch and we enter the sub.  There’s no sign of anyone coming after us.  I’m relieved and good darhling.  I screw the hatch behind me and tell BAZ that we are ready to leave.  I feel the pressure rise darhling as we submerge and soon, we are setting course for the Rogue Isles.  Delicious.

In our cabin darhling I’ve just made delicious love to Phantom.  He is now having a cigarette and looking thoughtful.  I too am thinking about things darhling, as I am eager to see Jack to find out how the Crey negotiations are going.  Also, I feel a little sad as I know Phantom only has days darhling.  It’s unlikely that we will have anytime like this again.  Still, he is dangerous as well as exciting darhling, and there are plenty more like him in the Rogue Isles.

The light swings gently from side to side, casting animated shadows in this small but cosy cabin.  As it does I think of that coffin darhling and wonder if my mother felt cosy as the lid was being nailed.  I suddenly feel cold darhling.  I feel like I’m in a land where no one lives but me.  The land has one house and I’m a little girl playing in my room all alone.  The sooner the virus is active the better.

“I can’t believe it was that easy.”  Says Phantom.  I can detect he is switching into military mode.

“I know darhling, you were brilliant.”   I smile, and run a finger down his muscular chest.

He looks surprised and then smiles.  I’ve never seen him look at me like he is looking at me now.  I bury my head in his chest and I feel his arms wrap around me.  I’m sure a normal girl would cry now darhling, but I’m far from normal.  I’m Tallulah Bankside darhling, and soon, everyone will know my name.  Delicious darhling, delicious.

Da Dealer didn’t take long securing the airship and thanks to Jack, the Crey have managed to put the virus into the water supply.  Once the catalyst comes into contact with it, then the virus will take to the air and heroes and then the population will fall.  Isn’t this fun darhling.

I look at Phantom and he’s beginning to show signs of blotchiness.  Not long now darhling.  I haven’t touched him since we were alone in the cosy cabin.  I know it may sound harsh darhling and it has hurt him darhling, but a girl has to live her life darhling, and if he’d havestayed alive he would only have become boring darhling and that’s not good.  He’s glaring at me as I board the airship but I ignore him and carry on flirting with Da Dealer.

I breath deeply darhling and I feel I’m breathing my destiny darhlingas the last one of us boards the airship and we take to the air.  The vibration and the hum of the engines give it a dramatic feel that is sadly lacking in everyday life.  I make my way to the bridge along the gangways.  BAZ is there and he looks at me and winks.  I can see his nervousness darhling, hanging on him like an invisible cape.  “How long until we’re over the heart of Paragon?”  I ask.  Playful me is disappearing darhling, maybe it has something to do with the eminent mass murder?  Yum.

“Twenty minutes.”

“Any trouble darhling?”

“No, there are other airships but they’re all following standard flight patterns.”  I like BAZ, very efficient darhling.  Very professional.  He also has an amazing ability to pilot any craft darhling.  I make my way down to the bottom of the ship.  The canisters are in position and are ready to pump out delicious gas into the atmosphere darhling.  I touch the cold casing darhling and I think of my mother and how proud she would be.

“Tullulah I-“

“What do you want Phantom?”  I’m cold, so cold darhling.  I love him and I’ve killed him darhling in so many ways.  Some things are worse than poison darhling, and last longer.  His fate is sealed and in so many ways our fate is sealed.  Part of me wishes we were together but it’s impossible to have him and to rule the world.  Sooner or later he would kill me darhling, and I can’t have that.  I want to touch him but I know that would be cruel for both of us, and a mistake of the classic type.  But it’s hard not too darhling.

“Why are you doing this?”  He’s on the verge of pleading.  “What have I done?”

“Phantom I need to feel strong and powerful.  I can never feel vulnerable or alone.  I need the power Phantom.  I need that more than I need anything else.  Now I’ve told you enough.  Cast your pets and await your position.  Greatness is coming.”  I turn my back and look out the rear of the airship.  Far below skyscraper roof tops are visible.  Soon that’s all that will stand.  I hear Phantom’s footsteps clanging on the ladder, slowly disappearing.

I feel really calm and serine darhling, as I make my way to the bridge.  The crew under BAZ’s leadership are all tense darhling, and the atmosphere is delicious.  I savour it and you know darhling, that vulnerable weak little girl is being purged darhling, purged from my soul.  Dealer and Jack are here too darhling.  Phantom isn’t and this is probably for the best.  His death would probably have spoiled the atmosphere darhling, soured our grapes.  The clouds are below us darhling, stretching like a carpet of fluffy whiteness.  “We are ready to release the gas,” reports BAZ.

“Spread the love, darhling.”  I run to a window and open it.  Air rushes in and for a second the airship dips and rolls until BAZ’s crew compensates for it.  “Come citizens of Paragon, come and drink in the wine.  You’re new lives have begun darhlings.”

Dealer cracks open some champagne and glasses are filled.

One of the crew nods to BAZ.  “Tanks are empty, Tullulah.”

“Bye bye heroes.”  Jack says and laughs an evil laugh.  I’ve never had an evil laugh, just a glint in my eye.  You know what I’m talking about.

“Hello Jack.   Nice hat.”  I turn round and it’s the hero Dark Remedy, standing there in her leather costume, arms folded in that ridiculous hero pose, darhling.

“You’re too late, dear.”  I say.  “We’re talking minutes before the virus unleashes.”

“I’m gonna dance on your bones.”  Says Dealer.  I always knew he was a quick step man.

“Oh, you mean this virus.”  Blackmark?  Where did he come from?  He holds a vial in his hand with blue bubbly liquid in it.  It looks depressingly familiar darhling, like the virus that’s in Paragon’s water supply waiting to be tapped.  “You see Tullulah, we know of your plan to kill all the heroes and the citizens and hold the city to ransome for an antidote.  Don’t we Bullet?”

“Aye, that we do.”  Oh no darhling, not all three.  I bet Jack is nervous darhling.  Heroes always target the last person to defeat them.

Dealer starts to summon his pets.  In an instant The Blackmark throws something at us and we’re all on the ground at once darhling.  I clamber up and they’re upon us.  Jack is unconscious and so is BAZ.  Da Dealer will fall soon as The Blackmark is probably dwelling on the death of his parents darhling, and he is right there headbutting him right now.  I charge at Remedy, God I hate her darhling.  I hit her hard darhling and she flies into a control panel.  I’m not going to let this little bitch live darhling, I can’t explain it it’s a girl thing.  I hit her again and again.  With my hand raised poised to strike I hear The Blackmark’s voice ringing in my ears.  “Don’t hit her again Tullulah, it wont help bring back your mother.”  I’m frozen darhling.  I turn and I see him and Bullet standing side by side.  Everyone’s unconscious except me darhling.  I have this little cow by the throat darhling and my arm raised high.  She is healing herself darhling, green pureness spreads all around.  The other two are probably fully healed.

“It must be hard living with the feeling of powerlessness that you must have lived for so long.”  He says.  I can’t speak darhling.  I turn and face him darhling and slowly walk towards him.  “Killing us all wouldn’t have made you strong, just less like your mother.”

“Oh you think you’re so good I say.”  The truth is, he is darhling.  Every word is like a musical note that demands your attention.

“I like to think so.”  He says.

“Let’s cut to the chase.”  The Human Bullet speaks.  “We’ve neutralised the virus in the water supply but we’ve taken it one step further.  We’ve mutated it so it kills villains.  Thanks for giving us the basic formula for it, much appreciated doll.”

I can’t believe it darhling, that I’ve controlled an entire villain gang for so long, manipulated, killed and generally been an evil genius and here I am out manoeuvred by these three…wannabes.  This is ridiculous darhling, totally ridiculous.  “You can’t you can’t have done.”  Is all I can say.

“We already had the virus that we captured after Da Dealers pets spread it throughout the city.  The trick, was knowing how you were going to reactivate it.  When we saw the Creynwere active, we just watched what they did and intervened at the right moments.”  Says The Blackmark.

“Then we analysed the virus and changed it to attack villain DNA.  It’s ingenious.”  Remedy says, moving round to be with the other two who both look aggrieved that she has taken charge again.  Shame we can’t be friends.

“Well darhlings, it seems I’m done for.”  I hold out my hands waiting for them to be cuffed, my fingertips poised.  Remedy walks over to me.  The other two look anxious.  They walk over too, delicious.  As she reaches into her belt I touch her face.  As she brings the cuffs up she staggers sideways.  Bullet catches her and I wipe my finger tips on his hands.  He looks at me before collapsing.  I reach for The Blackmark’s face but he grabs my wrist, twists it and throws me over the otherside of the bridge.  He pours a red liquid over the two of them.  He places the vial back in his utility belt.

“You’re scum, Tullulah.”   I charge him darhling.  He has ruined everything darhling, everything.  I hit him head on darhling.  He flies over a barrier and lands on his back.  I leap high into the air to come down on top of him.  He rolls sideways just in time and I land and strike the floor.  He’s up darhling and he kicks me in the ribs.  My suit is torn and I realise that ten year old civilian slaves can never stitch a hidden button very well on a Villain Suit.  I fly into another panel darhling, sparks flying rapidly.  Before I can recover darhling, he’s punching me in the head, chest, stomach everywhere.  I swing at him darhling, but he’s done something and he’s dodging every blow.  I’d love to kill him, darhling.  He kicks, headbutts and punches me again and again.  I can feel he’s winning darhling.  I grab him and push as hard as I can.  He looses his footing and we go tumbling into control panels.  He’s not as tough as me darhling, but we break even as he is a scrapper and by nature, good at fighting, and hits me a lot more than I hit him darhling.  “Phantom, I need you.”  I say telepathically.  There’s no response darhling.  I hope he’s still alive.

He kicks me darhling in the tummy and I fly into a control panel darhling.  Sparks come from everywhere and I know my hair is singed.  He hits me three more times and kicks me in the chin.  I hit him under the jaw and knee him in the codpiece.  He headbutts me and kicks me again.  I fall darhling and he stands above me, the killing blow is not far away.  “One more move and you’re dead, Batman.”  Phantom is alive darhling.  His gun is pointing at The Blackmark but he’s swaying darhling.  He can only have moments.  Sweat has broken out across his forehead.

I slowly get to my feet and move to hold Phantom in my arms.  He feels so good but broken darhling, so broken.

“I love you.”  He says.

“Kill The Blackmark.”  I say and kiss him passionately.

“Not today Tullulah.”  Says The Blackmark.  He has Remedy and Bullet over his shoulder and he’s opened a floor hatch.  Before Phantom can react he’s through it and gone.  Around us all our villains are dead and when I look up I realise he’s set a collision course for a force field.  Then Phantom’s eyes close and he goes lifeless darhling, so lifeless.  He slumps in my arms darhling and I’m that little girl again tapping on my mothers coffin wanting her to wake up.

The force field is looming darhling...oh mother where are you now?

The End

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