Daisy

“Hey, Rosie. Could you please turn that TV down? I’m trying to study.” I lift my gaze from the notebook and glare at the back of my sister’s head.
She’s perched on our old couch’s armrest like a damn monkey.
Without looking at me, she says, “It’s past nine. Now it’s my time to have some fun.”

“No, now it’s time for you to go to bed, young lady.” Mom comes into the room, rubbing her hands on the checkered apron she favors. It’s faded and frayed at the edges, but she refuses to let Dad buy her a new one.

“But, Mom, Dad isn’t home yet,” Rosie whines.
All Mom does is shake her head and turn off the TV. Rosie always tries to buy more time by saying she’s waiting for Dad. I’d believe her if she ever gave him any attention when he came home. She’s only seven but already completely obsessed with the bullshit programming the networks peddle to us Norms. TV shows where Norms live happy and fulfilling lives and get along with Idols marvelously. Utter garbage. Not even the actors playing Norms are Norms.
The sound of a key turning in the lock makes me perk up in my seat. Dad comes through the door in the next second, carrying a bag of groceries in one hand and a stack of old books in the other.

“A little help here,” he says.
I push my chair back, but Mom says, “I got it.” Even so, I stand and help Dad with his books.

“Thanks, honey.” He gives me a tired smile. His eyes are red rimmed, and the dark scruff on his face tells me he didn’t shave this morning. He’s been working longer hours than usual lately.

“What are all these?” I carry the leather-bound tomes to the table. “Research for an article I’m writing.”

Mom makes a face that looks a lot like a grimace before she carries the groceries to the kitchen counter. She would never criticize Dad in front of us, but I’ve heard their hushed arguments in the middle of the night. It’s impossible to have any type of privacy in this tiny box we call home. Plus, I don’t sleep well. I exist with the constant fear that something bad will happen to us.

We live in a small two-bedroom apartment in Hawk City in a not-so-great neighborhood. The building is old and creepy, but at least our neighbors are nice. I try not to dwell too much on the fact that my father, the editor of one of the largest

newspapers in Hawk City, can’t afford a nicer place for his family. The problem is, we’re Norms, and in a town ruled by Idols, we’re lucky to even have a roof over our heads.
I glance at the books Dad brought home, and one title catches my attention. When the Gods Walked Among Us. A History of Idols.

“What is this?” I trace the faded golden lettering on the cover. “Nothing.” Dad quickly sweeps the book from my grasp. “Daisy, say good night to your dad and off to bed,” Mom says.

I groan. “Why must I go to bed this early? I’m not a child.”
Dad chuckles, and Mom watches me with one eyebrow raised. “You’re ten. Definitely in the children age bracket.”

“Ha! In your face, nerd.” Rosie jumps from the couch and sticks her tongue out at me. “Shut up, brat.” I grab my books from the table, wishing I had one more hour to study.

Getting good grades in school is the only way I can hope to not end up working a demeaning job in my adult life. Dad might not be swimming in riches, but at least he’s doing what he loves.
As I walk past the kitchen counter, I grab the flashlight Mom used earlier when we lost power thanks to the fuse box tripping. Maybe I can sneak in a few more hours of study under the sheets.

***
Loud voices in the living room jar me awake from a fitful sleep. Leaning on my elbows, I rub my eyes and then peer out the window. Silvery light streams through the threadbare curtain. It’s a full moon tonight.

“How could you, Paul? This is going to get you killed,” Mom says, exasperated.
Her words make my heart lurch forward as tight as a sailor’s knot. I untangle from my sheets and throw my legs to the side of the bed. I forgot to put socks on tonight, and the coldness from the floor sweeping up my legs makes me shiver.

“I’m tired of living in fear, Anna. I can’t just witness all the unfairness in our world and not say anything.”

“But, Paul, this article....”
I push my bedroom door open a sliver so I can better eavesdrop on my parents. I see them sitting at the kitchen table. Dad reaches for Mom’s hands and covers them with his.

“I stand by it. Idols make up only 15 percent of the population of the world, but they keep the rest of us, even Fringes, under their thumbs. It’s time for the scales to be balanced again.”
Mom shakes her head. “Wishful thinking. We can’t fight against the Idols. They’re too powerful. There’s nothing we can do.”

“There are some Idols who don’t agree with what’s going on, my love.”
Mom lets out a derisive laugh. “Are you talking about the Knights? There are only a few of them, and pretty soon there won’t be any. Another one wound up dead. I saw it on the news this morning.”
With a clench of his jaw, Dad drops his narrowed gaze to the table. “I know. It’s all my reporters have been talking about. It doesn’t matter.” He lifts his eyes again. “I discovered something that can tip the scales in our favor.”
Mom’s spine becomes taut. She pulls her hands from Dad’s grasp. “I don’t want to hear any more of this. First, it was your obsession with finding the imaginary island where Norms can live without fear.”

“Starlight Island is not imagina—”
“Enough, Paul!” Mom slaps her open palms on the table. “Your fixation with Idols and

Knights will be our end.”
“Sticking our heads in the sand won’t help, Anna, nor keep our daughters safe. All

these years that I’ve been researching the Idols’ origins have finally paid off.” Mom scoffs. “Don’t tell me you found the island.”
Dad shakes his head, looking away from Mom’s face. “I’ve got clues, but nothing solid.” He pauses, and then licks his lower lip, before focusing on Mom once more.

“I’ve found a way to kill the Idols.”
Cold sweat drips down my spine, and my stomach coils. I’ve always believed Idols were nearly indestructible and could only be killed by other Idols. They’re faster, stronger. Some can read minds, and all are immune to Norm-made weapons.

“You’re talking nonsense, Paul. If the Idols find out, they’ll kill us all.”
“I’ve been careful not to leave a digital trail. I know they’re monitoring the networks.”

He pulls his diary closer to him and taps on the distressed leather cover. “It’s all here.”
The booming crash of our front door exploding off its hinges brings a scream up to my throat. My parents jump to their feet and turn to the gaping hole where the door used to be. Three Idols wearing black from head to toe invade our home. The one in the middle takes a step forward and sneers at my dad. His hair is completely white, long on the top and pushed back. It matches the bloodless skin tone of his face. A leather patch covers his right eye, and a jagged scar runs down his right cheek, disappearing under his chin. He’s death personified.

My heart beats hard and fast, and a cold numbness sweeps over my body. “Paul Rodale, the illustrious editor of Hawk City Gazette. It’s time we have a little

chat.”
“How dare you invade my home like that?” Dad takes a step forward, pushing Mom

behind him.

With a swat of his arm, the Idol sends Dad flying across the living room. He crashes

against the TV in a twist of limbs.
“Dad!” I run toward him, but my mother jumps in my way and tries to push me back. “Mommy, what’s going on?” Rosie comes into the room, still bleary eyed.
“Take care of them,” the white-haired Idol says over his shoulder before he strides

toward my father, who is trying to get up, all bloodied. “No, leave them alone!” His face twists into a grimace.

Mom turns and widens her stance, using her body as a shield against the other two

Idols who are coming our way.
“Daisy, take Rosie out of here,” she says.

I know I have to obey, but my body is frozen.
One of the Idols laughs. “No one is going anywhere.”
Faster than I can blink, he breaches the distance between him and Mom and lifts her off the ground by her neck.
Rosie is crying behind me, but I can’t console her now. I have to help Mom. Frantically, I search for anything I can use as a weapon. Mom doesn’t like to keep anything sharp on sight, afraid Rosie will accidentally cut herself, so when I catch the handle of a letter opener peeking out from my father’s bag on the kitchen counter, I dive for it.
I manage to curl my fingers around it before an incredible power wraps around my body and yanks me back. I hit the far wall hard, banging my head against it with such force that I’m dizzy for a moment. But I don’t lose hold of the letter opener. When my vision comes into focus again, one of the Idols, a man with dark skin and eyes that blaze like fire, is right in front of me. He’s keeping me stuck to the wall above the floor, using nothing but his godly powers.
I look over his shoulder just in time to see the second Idol drop Mom to the floor, unconscious. I let out a whimper. She can’t be dead.

“Oh, are you afraid now that your Mommy isn’t here to protect you anymore?”
His taunting makes me angrier rather than afraid. Fury surges from the pit of my stomach, and I blurt out, “Fuck you!”
He strikes me across the face, and the taste of blood fills my mouth. My ears are ringing and my cheek is burning, but I look at him again with defiance.

“What are you trying to do, brat? Strike me with that pitiful weapon?” He laughs. Behind him, the white-haired Idol has my father on his knees while he’s holding his head with both hands. Wisps of blue energy envelop his fingers. Dad grunts with his eyes closed, and his face contorts into an expression of terrible pain.

“Leave my father alone!” I yell.

“You want to help your daddy, brat?” the Idol in front of me says. “Go on, hit me with your best shot.”
Suddenly, the power holding me glued to the wall slackens around my weapon- wielding arm. I know the hateful Idol is only goading me, and yet I strike his neck with a battle cry. The sharp object pierces through his skin and muscles as if they were made of butter.

I fall to the floor, but I don’t break eye contact with the man. The sneer on the Idol’s face wilts to nothing as his eyes widen in surprise. Staggering back, he clutches the handle of the letter opener sticking out of his neck. Then he lets out an enraged roar as glowing orange cracks spread through his face. A moment later, he explodes in a shower of a coal-like debris.

The letter opener clinks as it hits the hard floor, and only then do I see it wasn’t a

letter opener but a dagger with a glass blade.
“What the fuck!” the Idol who attacked my mother shouts.

The white-haired Idol drops my father and whirls around. His gaze zeroes in on the

dagger on the floor, and then he pierces me with a murderous stare.
“You! You’ll pay for this.” He stalks my way and I scooch back, knowing I can’t run

from him even if I were on my feet.
He raises his arm above his head, and a ball of blue energy forms on his palm. I hug my knees and close my eyes, bracing for the hit. It never comes.
My eyes fly open with the sound of angry shouting. A group of five Idols has joined the others. The one leading this new charge—a tall man with long, blond hair—looks like a true demigod, brandishing a sword made of fire. But they aren’t after us— they’re attacking our assailants. Balls of energy and fire are exchanged. I need to get Dad out of the shooting range. Scrambling to my feet, I run, hunched forward and using my arms to cover my head. I dive into a tuck and roll on the now littered floor to avoid being burned to a crisp by a sphere of spiraling fire.
Crawling on my hands and knees, I reach Dad’s side. Blood has caked his hair and part of his face. His eyes are barely open, and his breathing is coming out in spurts.
I shake his shoulder lightly. “Dad, talk to me. Are you okay?”
With a grunt, he tries to sit up. Chaos reigns supreme all around us, but for now, we’re forgotten.

“Where’s Rosie?”
I search for her in the melee, but I don’t see her anywhere, only Mom’s crumpled form on the ground. My throat becomes tight and my eyes burn.

“I don’t know,” I reply. “Mom is hurt.”
Dad curls his fingers around my forearm and yanks me closer. “Listen, Daisy. We don’t have much time. You have to find Rosie and take the fire escape ladder.”

I know what he’s asking me to do, but my heart twists viciously in my chest just from

thinking about it.
“No, Daddy. I can’t leave you and Mom.”

His grip tightens. “Damn it, Daisy. Don’t argue with me. You must find Starlight Island.” He pulls an old notebook from under him. It’s covered in dust and blood. It takes me a moment to recognize it for what it is—Dad’s diary.

“What’s Starlight Island?”
“A sanctuary for Norms. Promise me you’ll look for it.” Dad watches me with

determination despite the pain I see shining in his eyes. “Take this.” He shoves the leather-bound diary in my hands. “Everything I know about the island and the Idols is in there. Keep it safe, and don’t ever show this to anyone.”
My face is hot and wet. My eyes are blurry. I let out a sob, clutching the diary against my chest. “I’m scared, Daddy,” I whisper.
He lets go of my arm and cups my cheek with a callused hand. “Don’t be scared, sweetie. You must be strong for you and your sister. Now go!” He pushes me back, and then he stands up to face the wrath of the white-haired Idol.
I don’t move right away, gripped by fear. But his plea finally pierces through the panic and propels me into action. I stand on shaky legs and run toward the back of the apartment. I want to check on Mom, but two Idols are coming to blows on my path to her.

“Rosie!” I call, hoping she was smart enough to hide.
I find her cowering under the kitchen counter. I drop into a crouch and grab her arm. “Come on. We have to go.”

“What about Mom and Dad?”
“They’ll come right after us. Let’s go!” I drag her up. Not letting go of her hand, I head

for our bedroom. But something makes me pause and look over my shoulder. Everything seems to happen in slow motion.
The white-haired Idol rears his glowing hand back and launches a massive blue energy sphere toward Dad. It hits him square in the chest, sending him flying back. He drops only a few feet from us, close enough for me to see his neck twisted at an odd angle and his eyes staring into nothing.

“No,” I choke out.
Rosie begins to cry in earnest. The white-haired Idol’s demented stare collides with mine, chilling my blood. His lips curl into a sneer right before he comes for us. Whirling around, I run for the fire escape, dragging a tearful Rosie with me. I lock the bedroom door, knowing it won’t keep the Idol out, but I’ll take any second I can buy us. Dad is gone, and most likely Mom is too. There’s a terrible pain in my chest that won’t relent, but I can’t think about that now.

I tuck Dad’s diary under my arm and open the window latch, cursing my sweaty hands. I push Rosie out the window first, following close behind. The metal ladder cringes loudly as we go down the steps, but so far, there’s no sign of pursuit. I don’t know who those other Idols were, but they must be keeping the white-haired monster and his accomplice occupied.

When I hit the pavement right after Rosie, I grab her hand and take off into the night. I don’t know where we’re going or if Starlight Island is even real. All I know is that Hawk City is no longer safe for us—if it ever truly was.
Rosie is all I have now, and I’ll do anything to protect her.
Anything.