No More Cheer

The best way to deal with your anger is to turn it to art (or something useful), so this is my version.

Justice. Freedom. Bravery. All are traits of American culture, and in alternate world, these spirits are embedded in chosen few young people who become superheroes.

Courtney is your typical high school cheerleader, but in a nice way. She loves to make friends (and maybe, love), hangout, and help in charity. But make no mistake; she has a “tougher” side in her, especially when someone dares to mock her country. She even has a tattoo of the star-spangled banner on her right shoulder to signify that.

In her secret life, Courtney is a warrior of the Cheer Angels USA, certified national female superheroes team. With their power of friendship, ingenuity, joy, love, and butt-kicking (strangely, Courtney got the love side), they defend their home against evil enemies, both real and imaginary. They mesmerize their foes with revealing blue uniforms of sports bra and tight shorts, and sparkling pom-poms before taking them down hard.

People love them. Mission after mission, the Angels has made themselves known to the whole America, giving hope and new courage. Boys love them, of course, and all young girls want to be like them. Sometimes the Angels show up on football games just to tell their fellow citizens that everything is all right. But for Courtney, showing up at the games means seeing her only weakness.

Courtney has a boyfriend, Lucas. Your typical football jock who as patriotic as her. In fact, Lucas is a member of another superteam, one that has football as their theme. Together, they are unstoppable, and Courtney loves that. She loves him with all her heart. She will do anything for her love.

Anything? Interesting. Evil thought oozes out from the mind of the diabolical Blood Witch. She has watched Courtney for a while now, knowing she can be the key to bring the downfall of Cheer Angels. Know she can make it happen.

Courtney was excited when Lucas asks her to go on a date. He told her to wear just usual clothing, so she does. It’s her gym uniform, maybe identical to her Angel one, but with different color. The night is quite cold, so she also wears a jacket. She loves that jacket because Lucas gave her that. Symbol of his Paladin League team is visible in special light for secret identity. Both of them know each other’s secret.

Courtney gasps at what she sees. There is Lucas, but he’s not alone. Behind her boyfriend is a sinister feminine figure: The Blood Witch. “Welcome, Little Angel.”

“Let go of my boyfriend, you freak!” After a bright light (and she does all sort of transformation sequence dance inside of it), Courtney becomes her Cheer Angels form.

“So, this is the lover of the mighty Angel.” There is shackle on Lucas’ neck, and the Witch pulls it to make him choke. “How pitiful.”

“Courtney... Help....” One more pull and the jock is forced to his knees. Blood Witch put her feet on his shoulder, boasting her victory over this football hero.

“Now, Child, I have your lover here. Why don’t we trade?”

“I don’t negotiate with witches.”

“Oh, but you’ll love this negotiation, Dear. You see, your lover’s freedom for yours.”

“What?”

Lucas desperately wants to free his neck, but both of his hand are bounded on the back. The pull hurt him even more, all his muscle aches. “No... Help....”

“Stop!”

“You won’t let me hurt your boyfriend, are you? Submit to me, and I will free him. He will soon be my servant anyway.”

“If you dare―”

“But I DO dare, that’s your problem. Now I’m offering you a good deal. If not, your Lucas will serve me forever. I will torture him again and again and again―”

“Stop!”

But Blood Witch doesn’t stop. She instead says ominous chanting that makes Lucas’ choke collar glows. Then, he screams in pain. His other shackles on the ankles and wrists glow too, making the pain systematic. The jock can’t even kneel anymore, and now writhing on the ground.

“No! No! Stop!”

“Time’s running out, Cheer Angel. You better decide before your boyfriend loses his sanity.”

“OK! OK, I’ll do it!” she begs. “Plase stop hurting him. I’ll surrender myself to you.”

The chains dim, and the pain stops. Lucas still breathing heavily on the ground. “Courtney... No....”

“I’m sorry, Lucas, there’s no other way.”

“Now, let’s begin the rest of your miserable life!” says Blood Witch joyously. She waves her wand and strange golden objects appear before her. They hover gently and land in front of Courtney. The female superhero looks at them. One is a thick disc with circular hole on the center, a choke collar. The other is a heavy golden globe.

“Wear this, my pet, like a good slave you are.”

Courtney obeys her. She put the thick collar on her neck, which instantly strangles her. She can’t breathe as the cursed object glows. But after a moment, it dim and air flows into her lungs again.

“I know that you Angels have weapons of choice. Show them to me now.”

She grumbles in her heart, but has no choice. If Courtney disobey, she can’t imagine what will happen to her boyfriend. “Power to Lead!” At those words, her hands glow before a pair of sparkling pom-poms appear.

“Ah, yes, the beautiful pom-poms. Now you can lift the orb.”

With the pom-poms still on her hand, Courtney reaches for the golden orb. Just as her skin touches it, the evil object shines before jumping to her. In a strange moment, Both of her palms are suck into that solid orb, trapping the pom-poms inside. She tries all she can to pull them out, but no use. Desperation sinks for the new slave.

Her ankles locked by another gold. Blood Witch observes her captive, amazed by her beauty and tempted by her power. “You got me, now let Lucas go.”

“Ah, yes, your lover.” Blood Witch makes Lucas kneel again. “Well, don’t you want to say him goodbye before you enjoy your new life?”

There’s humiliation in her voice, knowing Courtney doesn’t have any power to fight her. Her battle is over before it begins. The hero can only hope Lucas will tell her fellow Cheer Angels friends what happen to her, and come to rescue her soon.

She approaches her boyfriend, and looks into his eyes. “Hey, it’s gonna be okay.”

“You don’t have to do this, Courtney.”

“She’d hurt you if I didn’t. Just go home and tell my friends about this.”

“But I’m already home.”

Courtney wonders at his answer. Her eyes widen when seeing her beloved guy melts like lava. He dissolves into some kind of mantle, which the Blood Witch takes and put on. The hero can only gasp.

“Surprise, surprise, Little Slave, now you will serve me for eternity because your blind love can’t tell the difference between a beautiful coat,”―she rubs her crimson mantle―“And stupid male human. Too bad.”

“No! You gave me your promise!” Courtney feels agonizing pain on the golden shackles. She tries to free her hands again, but it is futile. Her power now becomes one with the cursed objects, leaving her as prisoner.

Strange glowing magical runes appear all over, sealing the poor hero in permanent servitude. “Don’t worry, Little Pet, before long you will volunteer in helping me catch your true boyfriend!”

“NO! PLEASE!” The runes make a magical leash for the Blood Witch to pull her. With sinister laughter and Courtney’ ghostly shriek, both disappears into thin air.


To be continued?