3 bar menu

Left or Right – Part 01

Wonder Girl Episode 17

Illustration & Story by Bon & Coup

Comic Manhattan, May 1930 Issue

“Help, Wonder Girl!”

At noon in the bustling streets of Babylon City, the screams of children filled the air.

Pedestrians turned in confusion. A car slammed on its brakes too hard and started spinning like a top in the intersection. Up ahead was a column of children heading to school.

People gasped in horror and covered their eyes, fearing the worst.

Then, a small blue figure descended across the cloudless sky. With sparkling silver hair flowing like a cape and a blue star mark on her forehead, she flew in like a bird and grabbed the spinning car. Both the car and the girl spun rapidly, a dizzying sight.

Onlookers clenched their fists and cheered, “Go, Wonder Girl!”

“Just a bit more!”

“Pretty little girl, hang in there!”

Wonder Girl persevered, responding to the shouts with grunts and nods.

Meanwhile, Linlin appeared from around the corner and guided the shocked children to safety.

The midsummer sun shone brightly.

“Haaaahh!” Wonder Girl poured her strength into her arms and lifted the car.

The crowd stirred in amazement at the majestic appearance of the little girl. Wonder Girl flew into the air, carefully placed the car where it wouldn’t block the alley, before returning. Cheers and applause greeted her.

Snapping back to her senses, Wonder Girl started feeling restless, bowing her head to the crowd. She then left with Linlin, who reminded the children to watch for cars. They exchanged glances and smiles of relief.

And then…

“Oh, no!”

This time, the voices of grown men came from a little distance away.

Wonder Girl and Linlin turned in surprise. Nearby, in the heart of Babylon City, a massive black tower under construction leaned dangerously. Construction workers rushed in their direction.

“The pillar supporting the foundation at the very bottom has snapped in two!”

“That’s impossible!”

“This is bad. The tower’s going to collapse, and everyone below, along with the building, will be crushed!”

“Everybody, run!”

Wonder Girl leaped into action, exchanging nods with Linlin before running off. Linlin noticed the mocking grin on the construction workers’ faces as they watched her go. Something was off. Worried, he went after Wonder Girl.

A pillar at the bottom of the tower had snapped in half, causing the entire building to slowly tilt over. Passersby were screaming, and workers were shouting.

Wonder Girl quickly dove under the tower.

“Be careful!” Linlin called out. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

With all her strength, Wonder Girl propped up the tower. It seemed impossibly heavy. Abruptly, the tower stopped tilting precariously.

Cheers erupted once again. Citizens smiled in relief and clapped their hands.

“That’s Wonder Girl for you!”

Linlin stroke his chest in relief.

A figure passed by, striding toward the tower. Linlin raised his eyebrows.

The man, dressed entirely in black, had a bright red cloak fluttering behind him. He looked like a villain.

Silently, he approached Wonder Girl, and in his hand gleamed something—a knife.

“Watch out!” Linlin shouted. “Something’s not right about that man!”

Wonder Girl lifted her head. The man raised the knife, and sliced her magnificent silver hair at its root.

“Huh?”

Wonder Girl’s eyes snapped wide open, and she fell to her knees. The tower swayed again. People screamed as they scattered in all directions. Wonder Girl tried her best to hold up the tower.

The mysterious cloaked man laughed maniacally. “Hahaha!”

“It can’t be,” Wonder Girl said.

“Have you ever danced with Death in the dark of night?” the cloaked man exclaimed high.

Linlin’s breath caught. Clenching his fists, he said, “Y-You must be Grim Reaper! Stop! Get away from Wonder Girl!”

He tried to run towards them. Grim Reaper swung his muscular arm, producing a gust of wind that sent Linlin flying far away. Linlin landed on his backside.

“W-Wonder… Girl…”

“Linlin! I’m scared. Help me!”

“W-Wait! I’m coming!”

“Linlin… I don’t think… I can hold on…”

“Wonder Girl!”

Linlin forced himself up and bolted towards Wonder Girl. She was giving it all to keep the tower up, but she was staggering. Her silver hair lay scattered at her feet.

Grim Reaper continued to laugh gleefully. “Hahaha! So-called Wonder Girl, you’ve been a nuisance for far too long!”

“What are you talking about?!”

“My mission is to destroy Babylon City and turn it into an empire of evil! But now, I know your weakness. If I cut off the source of your Wonder Power, the champion of justice won’t be able to fight anymore!”

“Grr…!”

“Wonder Girl! If you don’t hold the tower up, it will immediately collapse, killing everyone underneath. Without your silver hair, holding up the tower is all you can do. You won’t be able to move an inch further. Unfortunately for you, that means you can’t mess up my plans anymore!”

“G-Grim Reaper…!”

“You’re destined to prop up this tower until you die! Hahahaha!”

Wonder Girl groaned with frustration.

The gusts of wind prevented Linlin from coming closer. The blue star mark peeled off Wonder Girl’s sweaty forehead, flying away. Linlin, lying face down, weakly reached out and picked up the blue star.

Gritting his teeth, he called out, “Wonder Girl! C-Candy…!”

Grim Reaper continued to laugh back, his red cloak flaring ominously.

The sky grew dark as night. A voice tinged with delight echoed throughout the dark sky. “People of Babylon City, are you ready?” Grim Reaper’s mouth opened wide. “Tonight, the ball with Death begins!”

Wonder Girl captured by the enemy!

To be continued!

---

“Let us settle this. One more time!”

The Atlantic Ocean, Summer of 1865.

An old immigrant vessel sailed on. Slowly traversing the tranquil expanse of the sea, it inched forward through the undulating waves.

Victorique’s hoarse voice echoed from somewhere. “This time, allow me to recount the tale. The genuine saga of the Bluecandy family from sixty-five years past.”

La Guardia’s self-assured chuckle faintly trailed off in the distance.

A decrepit ship with a dirty mast and a deck in tatters, splintered boards protruding in various spots.

Weary passengers dragged their heavy feet across the deck. Their attire, rich in ethnic colors, featured woolen hats and brightly embroidered jackets. Each face bore the marks of poverty and fatigue, devoid of the leisure to admire the heavens or the sea. Even the wooden floorboards seemed to mirror their somber mood.

Dusk descended, painting the sky in shades of orange. A huge fish, its scales shimmering silver, darted through the water with ease. It approached the vessel, then vanished beneath the waves.

Rats scuttled along the grimy staircase leading to the living quarters below. A baby’s cries could be heard coming from the cabin, mixing in with growls and groans.

The wooden door at the foot of the stairs creaked open ominously. A door from the past, beckoning. Once more, it shuddered, and once more, a voice from yesteryears echoed forth.

“A beautiful letter, don’t you think? My beloved will surely make the most wonderful husband. I just know it!” A girl of fourteen or fifteen exclaimed joyfully, reclining against a coarse straw mat, wiping the sweat from her brow.

The cabin looked almost identical as before, save for a gray stone nestled beside the girl. An odd object of nature to be inside a ship, but it garnered no notice from the occupants.

Clutching a bundle of letters, the girl beamed as she admired the pristine white dress peeking from a suitcase. She engaged in lively conversation with a woman cradling a wailing baby beside her, whose forehead bore a star-shaped birthmark.

Drunken Irishmen shot them a glare.

“Shut that crying baby up! Can’t get a wink of sleep with all this racket!”

“Seriously!”

“Make that kid pipe down!”

Though the woman holding the baby tensed with fear, the girl paid the men no heed.

“Once we arrive in New York, I’m changing into this dress,” she continued, as the woman attempted to pacify the child.

Time froze.

The gray stone beside La Guardia stirred, revealing itself not as stone, but as Victorique, cloaked in gray fabric, curled within. Slowly, her face emerged from the shroud, hauntingly beautiful.

Victorique, lost in thought, crossed her arms within the swath of gray.

That useless, no-good, pumpkin-headed, hardworking attendant of mine should be close now. Hmm…

With a small shake of her head, she surveyed the cabin’s interior, analyzing the situation.

The fragments of chaos are gathering.

Her green eyes blinked enchantingly.

This girl… La Guardia does not understand the English language.

Victorique squinted as she scrutinized the ship’s confines, murmuring to herself. Then, taking a step back, she curled into a ball, as silent as the stone she had seemed moments before.