Nina and Minerva

“Minerva? Wake up, please,” an angelic voice calls.

“Mmm?” I crack open an eyelid and roll over so that my back is facing my friend. “Sarah, it’s only…” I check my watch. “Eleven A.M. A lady needs her beauty sleep, yes?”

“Yes, well, it’s not like you need it.”

“That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Bombastic footsteps clap from somewhere behind me. “Don’t be like that. Come on, you’re already late for class. The teacher sent me to fetch you. Again.”

“Mmm…” I roll over to look at her, marveling at the golden waterfall tumbling down her shoulders. I grab ahold of a few strands and wrap my index finger around them, resisting the urge to glare at the wooden cross hanging from her neck. “The world has gone to hell outside, my dear. Who cares about education? I’d rather just lie here, make a warm cup of tea and do some reading. After I sleep a few more hours, of course,” I proudly admit with a warm, content sigh.

“We’re going to be down here for a long time. When the aliens die and we get out, society is going to need educated people to rebuild the Surface. Come on, Minerva, we’re the Chosen for Pete’s sake—it’s our job to be those workers! Why do I have to keep reminding you?”

“Well, to be honest…” I stretch myself out with a tight smile. A pleased squirm slips from my lips as I let go of my darling’s hair, letting my hand sink into the soft, forever cozy mattress. “I don’t neceassarily believe we’ll ever leave this place. The Feral outnumber us a hundred to one. We’ll never entirely defeat them, if you ask me.”

A storm awakens in Sarah’s azure eyes. “We will defeat the Feral. You of all people can’t have that kind of attitude. What if someone hears you? They’ll lose all hope of ever getting out of this place.” I have the decency to look guilty, and Sarah purses her soft lips. “Now get off your rump, you lazy bum.” She gives my shoulder a playful shove. I giggle and roll out of my fluffy sanctuary, dragging my silk covers over me along the way. “Minerva, we don’t have time for your silly little game.”

“Game? Whatever are you talking about?” I turn invisible, wrap the covers around myself, and then stand up. “This is no game. I’m a ghost. Owooooh!”

“Ghosts don’t wear tacky shades of blue.” Sarah says, shaking her head with a laugh. As we speak, I notice she is griping her left side with her right hand. My eyes narrow as she says, “They only wear white sheets. Besides, you didn’t even bother to poke holes in the sheets for the eyes.”

“I’m a ghost. I don’t need eyes.” I huff. “Besides, I’ll have you know that us only wearing white is quite an offensive stereotype, and I refuse to listen to you slander my sense of fashion any longer! Come at thee!” I tackle her to the floor, tickling her ribs.

“Minerva, stop it,” Sarah cries, though she too is pink with laughter. I don’t say anything, just tickle her harder. She giggles, until my hand grazes a tender spot on her left side. She gasps, lips puckering in pain.

I stand up quickly, turning visible again before throwing my blankets off to the side. “That imbecile hit you again, didn’t he? Only this time he tried to be subtle about it.”

Sarah looks down, ashamed. “How’d you know? You can’t read minds too, can you?”

“No, my dear, but while invisibility may be the only ability I have that is inherently super, it is not my only power by any means. Intuition, reading body language, and common sense are just as useful.” I grab ahold of her hand and gently pull her to her feet. “I am getting off the sidelines.”

“Minerva, you can’t solve all my problems.”

“Oh, but I can, my dear. Just watch me.”

“Wait!”

I turn invisible. “Oh, right, you can’t.” I giggle to myself as I close the door, but I don’t exit the room. A trick that’s worked dozens of times getting information from people, and a trick I expect to work now.

“She’s gone.” Sarah deflates like a balloon, dropping to her knees on the floor. “Oh, William, what are we going to do?” She looks down at her stomach and cradles it slowly, almost lovingly. Oh, my. Did he...is she…?

“How are we going to raise you in a cage?”

My insides are fried when I sneak over to my rest room. In my shocked daze, I toss on blue shorts and a white shirt without even ironing them. I fight the urge to jump in the shower, brush my teeth, do my hair, and floss among other things. For once, I have more important things to do first.

I throw open my cupboard and pick up my electronic shock bracelet. I admire the technology for a brief moment before shoving it into my pocket.

I head over to my closet, open it and greet my beautiful silver raiper, the one given to me by the Queen when I was knighted.

“Nice to see you again, Darling!” I grasp the soft blue hilt. The moment my hands make contact with the work of art, it turns invisible. I sheathe the blade and attach it to my waist belt.

I walk out of the bathroom to find Sarah still in the middle of the floor. Her face is streaked with shiny tears.

My friend is crying. I’m going to make that lowlife pay. I open the door and close it slowly behind me, careful not to make any noise. “Right then, time to chop off his balls.”