Loss

Police cars surrounded the small apartment complex like silent sentinels, each flashing siren like a single, all-seeing eye. Bright yellow police tape cut off the entrances, seeming to hold a strange power over the gathered crowd that held them at bay despite its flimsiness.

Red pushed her way through the mob, sliding into openings between and sometimes under people. She ducked under the police tape, blatantly ignoring it’s “Do not cross” warning, and walked nonchalantly up to the nearest policeman.

Ignoring the officer’s shooing motions, she asked audaciously, “Hey, what’s going on?” Two other cops tried to escort her out of the area, but she slid out of their grip easily. “I live here,” she told them, a little annoyed now. “What happened?”

The original officer squinted down at her. “Red?” he asked. At the girl’s nod, he sighed. “What happened here?” Instead of waiting for an answer, she muttered. “Jeez, what blew up this time?”

The older man shook his head, lips compressed into a thin line. “I’m sorry, kid,” he said. “Your friend’s been murdered.”
****

The police cars were gone, and the building’s residents, as well. Only Red had insisted she stay behind, and in the empty apartment she heard only one voice: I could have saved her.

It had just been a human, according to the police. A normal human, who’d been easily caught still within the apartment in a drunken stupor. He’d come upon Proxy, and–

Raped her.

Killed her.

While I was off being a hotshot hero, all-powerful and unstoppable. And I was so full of myself, so GODDAMN full of myself, but I couldn’t even save my best friend. Proxy…

“I’m sorry,” she whispered into the darkness, choking on her tears.

Her eyes fell upon a picture of her friend, giving the victory sign and smiling happily. Something within her broke, and she fell to the ground, crying like a lost child.

A rustle of movement, a soft step within the open doorway marked Diana’s arrival. Then gentle arms encircled Red, holding and rocking her while her tears soaked into her shirt.

There were not words between them, nor was there a need for any. Just a comforting presence, and a shoulder to cry on.