With Hallowsville being an hour away from our current location, I thought it’d serve us well to train before our big encounter with that murdering prick. Even though Jesus insisted a battle wouldn’t occur, coming unprepared was still a risk I didn’t want to take. Assuming I was the closest to Jason in power, everyone’s training relied on me. And what better place to train than in an actual gym.

  Sunshine picked up a fifteen pound dumbbell, and took up a battle stance. With her small hands, it looked like she was wielding a sword. If it wasn’t for the sour look on her face, I would’ve said that observation out loud.

  “Once again, little lady, the point of this is to exploit Jason’s weaknesses, and boost your ability to counter them,” said Jesus, benching a weight soaked with ooze. “And Jerome… remember: try not to blow everything up.”

  Sunshine gave Jesus a judgemental look as she kicked her shoes to the side. “I can blow stuff up too, you know.”

  I spread my palm out, slowly releasing energy from it. “Sunshine, we’re actually trying not to do that.”

  Our concern was understandable considering all of my energy constructs so far resulted in big explosions. That’s why I had to make sure the one I created right now could go over my time limit. Whether an energy machete could help accomplish that was up for questioning, though it did feel light in my hand.

  No more words. We charged, weapons raised, ready to clash. Her dumbbell was nothing against my machete—one slash and it’ll split clean in two.

  “Decapita—”

  But the only thing gone was Sunshine herself. She’d slipped away, leaving the weight hanging in the air. In the next instant, she was on my right, fist cocked for the strike. I darted back, swinging just close enough for the blade to cut the air between us. I didn’t need to cut her—only to make her eyes snap shut for an instant: a blink reflex.

  After that was done, another word prepared to come out. However, something stopped me. The dumbbell Sunshine discarded blocked my vision momentarily, giving her the chance to strike my abdomen.

  It didn’t hurt, but I obviously couldn’t let her know that. What if it made her more upset? So using my amateurish acting skills, I gripped my gut and collapsed to the ooze covered floor, giving my best groan.

  “Do you think I’m stupid!?” Sunshine shouted, causing me to flinch. “You wouldn’t feel pain from that unless I was using aura! You’re not even taking this seriously.”

  Her skin was almost as red as a tomato, but she had this really cute pout to go with it. “C’mon, Sunshine,” I laughed, patting her head. “I’m just having some f-”

  “Stop holding back!” she demanded, slapping my hand away. “I’m strong. I can take it.” My daughter picked her dumbbell back up before stomping back to position. “You did fifteen seconds… Good job.”

  That lasted fifteen seconds? If that was the case, then-

  The thought cut short when the energy machete in my hand crackled violently. A sharp hum filled the air before the blade erupted, bursting into a storm of light and heat right in my face.

  Instinct took over. I jammed my fingers into the blast and sucked it back in, erasing the violent surge before anyone got hurt. No one seemed too affected aside from Sunflower, sitting by the wall with a shocked expression.

  Ricky was still dangling on a rusty pull up bar after we tied him up there. Emmy was pushing her leg against the tread belt, desperately trying to force a run. As for the teleporter, it looked like Jesus found it amusing to use the depressed man as an extra weight.

  “Hey, lil sis, maybe try not doing the exact same strategy you just did this time?” Sunflower suggested with a smug smile.

  “I wasn’t going to!” Sunshine growled, angrily pointing at her sister. “And we’re not sisters!”

  No matter how much talking I did with them, the new relationship still didn’t click for the two girls. All this anger and shouting wasn’t like Sunshine. She was reminding me less of her mother, and more of… me.

  “Anyways, Dad, let’s st-”

  We had subconsciously agreed—no more words. Yet there she was, frozen in place, my energy blade inches away from her neck. I expected my daughter to dodge, but it took her seconds to realize the spar was over. Even then, all she did was fall to her knees, arms trembling.

  Not good. If I was Jason, her head would be on the other side of the gym by now.

  She blinked as though her brain still needed to process what happened. “You weren’t using your full speed before…?”

  I held my hand out to Sunshine. “Sorry. I was just trying to emulate what Jason would do in a fighting situation.”

  “Y-You didn’t say one of Jason’s phrases, so it’s not like I lost.”

  “His Radius Ability isn’t the only thing he relies on,” I argued. “Remember our first encounter with him?”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  My daughter turned to Sunflower, and her look of shock turned into frustration. “But, Dad, she distracted me! If it wasn’t for her, then I wouldn’t have gone out like that.”

  The teen crossed her legs, chuckling. “It wouldn’t matter if I distracted you or not. Even I couldn't track the old man’s speed, and I’m made of his energy.”

  “Sunshine, teammates shouldn’t be a distraction to you. You’ll be talking with them a lot during a fight. You know that, right?”

  She didn’t respond to me. Instead, her eyes were still locked onto Sunflower.

  Jesus finished his set, and spun around to face us. “The way I see it, Jerome, you’re making excuses for one kid, but not the other.”

  I glared at the man, placing my hands on my hips. “Stop trying to instigate, Horse Head. Finish up your workout. I’m not seeing enough sweat.”

  He raised his hands in surrender, and got back to bench pressing.

  I gestured for Sunflower to come, and she floated to where we were. “Alright, Sunshine, I think she’ll be a better training partner for you. You guys should be closer in strength, so-”

  “What are you trying to say?” Sunshine asked, furrowing her brows.

  “I’m saying that having me here is a little unfair. Sunflower probably needs the training too, so it’s better for both of-”

  I never got to finish. Sunshine was already suspended midair, grass snaring her arms and legs, the dumbbell still clutched tight in her hand. Sunflower stood a short distance away, one hand raised toward my daughter.

  “Heart Attack,” Sunflower said dryly.

  “Screw this,” Sunshine said angrily. “Jason’s not gonna do anything like this. He only uses a fucking machete.”

  “Watch the language, Ms. Angry,” I replied in my best dad voice. “But she is right about that, Sunflower. You can’t make a blade out of grass or something?”

  Sunflower sighed, folding her arms. “Look, if there’s gonna be a ‘war’ soon, then you’ll have to worry about a lot more things then just Jason. A wide array of powers could be on that asshole’s side. Don’t you remember that time where Kofi and Jason teamed on you?”

  I nodded, scratching my chin. “Damn, you have a point. All it takes is someone else we don’t know to restrain one of us, and we’re dead. You hear that, Sunshine? We gotta-”

  “That is so unfair!” my daughter interrupted. “You were literally just on my side, and a few words from this… random was enough to change that?”

  “Woah there! Random? I already told you she’s a member of this family now.”

  “We don’t need another family member!” Her roar echoed through the gym as the intensity of her aura reduced her restraints to shreds. The girl’s feet hit the floor, and it cracked beneath her feet. “She can say ‘asshole’, but when I curse it’s a problem? None of this is fair!”

  I reached my hand out to Sunshine. I wanted to calm her down. I really did. But what could I possibly say to help her understand?

  It was too late to find an answer. The girl was already sprinting to the bathroom before one could enter my head.

  “I should really go and talk to her. This is definitely my fault,” I said, shoving my hands into my pockets.

  “Let her cool off for a while. Believe me. She needs it,” Sunflower replied with concern in her voice. “This isn’t like that time in Boomsbarrow. She’s… different.”

  “I know.”

  “And just ‘cause you accepted me, doesn’t mean she has to. I’m perfectly fine never speaking to her.”

  “…Yeah, I know that too.”

  *******

  I knew letting Sunshine cool off for a while was the smart move. And who better than a former hothead like Sunflower to remind me of that? Still, as a father, sitting back while she needed me wasn’t in my nature.

  With that kind of selfish thinking, you’d expect I’d be the first to confront her while she lingered in the hallway by the bathrooms. But imagine my surprise when I found Emmy already there, arms crossed like an army sergeant. Maybe she’d just been wandering around, but she didn’t need to talk to my daughter to do that. What game was she playing?

  I hid by the entrance and listened in.

  “Hey, surfer! I’ve had enough of your negative emotions ruining my day,” said Emmy. “Tell me what’s causing it, so we can get to the bottom of this once and for all! And just so you don’t get the wrong idea, I’m only asking because you’ve annoyed me today. I couldn’t care less about your frivolous feelings.”

  This idiot… You’re just gonna make her more angry.

  Sunshine looked up at the green woman. “Surfer? Oh, are you calling me a surface dweller? Like combining the ‘Sur’ at the beginning and the ‘er’ at the end?”

  Emmy’s mouth gaped. “Fascinating! You’re the only one of these surface dwellers that could understand me. And here I thought you were just some annoying child, but you have my respect. Even if your existence is terminating many people.”

  Don’t say that! You’ll make her feel worse! Geez, maybe I should step in.

  “Um… I don’t think you met her, but I had this friend. Moonlight was her name. But I messed up, and almost got her killed. Her dad blames me for that. Now I’m confident I’ll never see her again.”

  Emmy tilted her head, as if the words were foreign language to her. “Well, that’s understandable. If a parent observed that someone or something was causing their offspring harm, then they’d keep them away from that danger. The best solution to that problem is to become someone that the parent views as safe.” She smirked and pointed at her own head. “Was your brain able to process that?”

  Ok, that was an alright start. Now slowly reel her in, Emmy!

  “You use a lot of words, but yeah, I get it.” Sunshine made a fist and looked at it.” That’s why I wanted to get stronger—strong enough for that prick to let me be Moonlight’s friend. But after fighting my dad… I realized getting to that level might be impossible. Not only was he holding back, but he was being all buddy buddy with my ‘new sister’. It feels demeaning.”

  “You’re leaving out crucial details, surfer.” Emmy pointed at my daughter. “For starters, you’re envious of her. Based on my observations, this assertion must be true!”

  Sunshine stayed quiet.

  Emmy groaned, folding her arms again. “I’ll assume your silence means I’m correct, and I’ll tell you this. It’s foolish to think the Type Two’s love for you has decreased because of that other girl’s presence. Unfortunately for Daemon, he’s way too selfless when it comes to you to ever let that happen. I mean, the fool foolishly ripped his own jaw off when the idea of biting you came up.”

  The girl’s head jerked up after that surprising response. “Seriously? Wouldn’t that hurt

  “Do you really think that fool cared? The answer is no, in case your answer was different.” The woman’s eyes lit up. “Oh, and this was even more absurd. He fought the Daemon Williams. And he definitely had a zero percent chance of winning. And yet, Jerome still fought to protect you. I almost find his foolishness admirable.”

  Was that an actual compliment?

  Emmy closed her eyes and turned away from the girl. Perhaps that was her way of trying to look cool. “So stop being such a negative lifeform, and start being a positive one, ok?”

  “Alright. Um… thank you,” said Sunshine, smiling.

  Emmy’s cheeks darkened. “Thanking me isn’t necessary, surfer! I just really hate the sound of yelling.”

  I wouldn’t have ended the conversation in that way, but it was still impressive how well Emmy handled that. And here I thought she didn’t give a damn about humans.

  Not long after, Emmy rounded the corner, brushing her hair out of her face. She froze. I was standing right there, staring back at her. She nearly let out a yelp, but before a sound could escape, my hand covered her mouth.

  I gave the KB a thumbs up, hoping she understood how proud she made me. Her eyes widened a bit as her cheeks became even darker. She quickly returned the gesture, and strolled out of the room.

  As long as my daughter was around people like Emmy, then I was sure she’d be fine.