Mik Murdoch, Identity Troubles: Mik Murdoch, #4

By Michell Plested

You might think being a superhero would be cool but Mik Murdoch knows it isn't all fun and adventure. Being the self-appointed hero of Cranberry Flats, he has had his fair share of problems to deal with.

Like keeping his secret identity hidden - a tough thing to do in a small town.

When his father starts asking about his nightly activities, Mik realizes that his alter-ego and his days as a hero may be at risk. But how to stop the questions? It takes an old friend, who unexpectedly comes to town, to distract people. Only, that friend disappears shortly after, putting the entire town on edge.

Mik battles fear, suspicion and mobs to find the lost and save a former nemesis. Oh yeah, and while he's at it, he has to deal with a haunted house and its vengeful spirit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evil Alter Ego Press
• Release date: Sep 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781988361192

Michell Plested

Michell Plested has been reading science fiction and fantasy since he was six years old, and writing for almost as long. He is an author, blogger, and podcaster living in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. he writes in multiple genres, spending most of his time with science fiction, fantasy, and YA adventure.He is the host of the writing podcast Get Published, (a 2009 Parsec Finalist) and the science fiction comedy podcast GalaxyBillies, which has been called 'Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Beverley Hillbillies' by his listeners.

Book preview

Chapter 1

What Kind of Hero?

WHAT KIND OF a superhero rides his bike to seek out crime? Not bike as in motorcycle - that would be cool - but bike as in 18-speed bicycle. I can answer that question for you. That kind of superhero is me.

And who am I?

My name is Mik Murdoch. I’m twelve-years-old and I am the superhero who protects my hometown of Cranberry Flats.

You might ask, what qualifies me as a superhero? Well, when I was nine-years-old I fell into the Cave of Wonders. The Guardian of the Cave gave me a magical berry that granted me superpowers of my own. Ever since then I have protected my town. I’ve battled giant glowing turkeys, saved lake monsters and done my best to protect my family.

But as hard as I try to keep everyone and everything safe, I still fail - sometimes badly. For example, last year, my dad was seriously injured in an avalanche. Before you ask, no, my powers cannot prevent an avalanche so I shouldn’t blame myself. Still…

After the accident, Dad was in the hospital in a coma. I spent days trying to get through to him. I talked to him. I used my powers to search his mind for any spark of him.

But there’s something else.

I told him about some of my superhero work while he was still in the coma.

I never, ever expected him to remember anything I said. I’m still not entirely sure he does remember much. But I do think there’s enough that he is starting to suspect I might have more going on.

Like the other night. I was going to go out on patrol with my best pal and sidekick, Krypto. Dad was sitting on the edge of his bed as I walked past.

Hey, Mik. Where are you going? Dad asked.

I froze and looked at him. It wasn’t the question that stopped me. It was the sudden spike of suspicious emotion that came from my father. That is exactly what I’m talking about – he suspects but doesn’t really know.

Oh, hi Dad, I said, trying to think fast. I was just going to take Krypto out while I ride my bike. He’s been cooped up in the house all day. I flushed when I realized what I had just said. Dad has been stuck in the house since he left the hospital and I just reminded him of that. Sorry Dad. I didn’t mean to be so thoughtless.

Dad tried to laugh it off, but I could tell my comment had shaken him. It’s okay, Mik. He didn’t quite manage to cover the sigh.

Are you sure you’re okay, Dad? I asked. I probed a bit with my powers. I didn’t have to try very hard to feel his frustration.

Dad shrugged. I really don’t want to burden you, but…

Go on, Dad. I’m listening, I said.

Well, the fact of the matter is, I don’t feel like I’m getting any better. I feel like I’ve hit a wall in my recovery. He smiled at me. It was forced, but it was real. But I think a change is coming that will help. Something that you might be happy about, too.

That sounded interesting. What’s coming? I asked immediately.

Oh, that’s a secret, Dad said. His emotions switched almost completely from frustrated to mysterious. In that instant, he felt like his old self.

Not even a hint? I asked.

Nope, Dad said with a grin. "You’re just going to have to wait and find out.

That’s not fair! I said.

Dad shrugged. Whoever said life was fair?

I ran over to him and gave him a hug. Don’t worry, Dad. You’re getting better all the time. It won’t be long before you’re back to your old self. I gave him a tiny boost of positive emotions - another aspect of my powers - as I hugged him.

Dad hugged me back and I felt his mind settle. All suspicious emotions evaporated with the hug and the boost. Have a good ride. And be careful, okay?

You got it, Dad. I quickly left the house before he could ask me any more questions. Krypto, unaware of the emotional storm that had raged in the front room, padded along behind me, his tail wagging. The thought crossed my mind yet again: how much did Dad remember of what I told him at the hospital?

I was pretty sure he didn’t know it all or my adventuring days would already be over. I would have to be very careful around him though.

✧✧✧

OUR FARM SITS right on the outskirts of town, so hitting my patrol route was quick. As I peddled, I tried to ignore as much of my own inner turmoil as possible so I could cast my powers out to try and detect anyone in distress.

Except, having your father suspect you of something, and you having no idea what or how much he knows, kind of distracts a person. It’s exactly like knowing your mom is mad at you but not being sure which of the things you hoped she wouldn’t learn about she had, in fact discovered.

I know. I’m babbling. It just goes to show how much it bothered me.

But really! What if he remembered me telling him about my secret identity?

I shook my head to try and clear that thought away. It wouldn’t help me to worry about whether he thought I was a superhero or not. Right now, I had to pay attention to my riding and, more importantly, to the town around me. Even now, someone might be getting murdered in a dark alleyway.

Um…remember when I said I had a vivid imagination? Yeah, there are only a handful of dark alleyways in Cranberry Flats and there has never been a murder in the entire history of the town.

A superhero can dream of adventure, can’t he? Not that I would want anyone to be murdered. That’s why I patrol so diligently.

I was passing the old Halloway Mansion when I detected the first wayward emotion.

That is, I felt an emotion that I hadn’t felt before.

It wasn’t anger or hatred or happiness. Those are pretty easy to identify and deal with. No, this one was an intense feeling of gleeful malice.

I hit the bike’s brakes and skidded to a stop on the street, kicking a few stones away with the bike tires. Krypto yelped as one pebble hit him in the back leg. He gave me the most reproachful look accompanied by an intense feeling of betrayal.

I jumped off my bike to tend to my injured pal. Sorry about that, Krypto, I said as I gently rubbed the injured part of his leg and sent soothing thoughts to him. It was an accident. As I massaged the limb, I could feel him relax and forgive my earlier transgression. As I worked on his leg I looked up at the house and stopped moving. I can’t say for sure, but I might have stopped breathing too.

Up on the second floor of the house a dim light was shining out a window. It was so dim that, if it hadn’t been quite so dark, I wouldn’t have known there was a light on at all.

For a few brief moments I’m pretty sure I saw the silhouette of a person standing in the window.

Halloway Mansion has a reputation.

Okay, while that is true, it is fairer to say that kids avoid the place like the plague. It is rumoured to be haunted. It was claimed that a family had been murdered in the house.

Yeah, I know I said there hadn’t been a murder in the entire history of the town. Rumours don’t have to make sense, do they?

What I did know for certain was, nobody lived in the house. In fact, no one I’d ever talked to even knew anyone who had known anyone who lived in the house. So, who could possibly be in the house?

As I surveyed the house, the feelings of gleeful malice I had detected changed. They took on a more thoughtful, considering vibe.

I had the very distinct impression I was being watched.

Krypto nosed my hand to remind me I should still be rubbing his leg. That broke whatever spell the house had on me. I scratched behind his ears and gave his leg a couple more gentle rubs. Then I stood up - careful to avoid looking at the house. That was another thing about Halloway Mansion; without anyone living in it, it had gained the neglected, dilapidated look of a haunted house. That probably didn’t help its reputation at all.

I dusted off my jeans and climbed back onto my bike. It was getting late and I wasn’t equipped to go searching a house, that might or might not be haunted, in the dark. No, that sort of expedition was best left to the daylight hours. I wasn’t afraid to search the house - not exactly - but one of the things I had learned was, being a successful hero meant thinking things through.

I had been a hero for more than three years. If I was going to continue for three more, I had to keep thinking about consequences. Not thinking things through had gotten me in trouble more than once in the past, and I was determined to avoid that in the future. As that thought crossed my mind, another one crept back in; how much DID my father really know?

Chapter 2

Something Mysterious

SOMEHOW, I MANAGED to sleep that night; Dad hadn’t treated me any differently than usual when I got home so I let that particular line of thinking go away. If he really suspected me of something, he wouldn’t have dropped it so quickly, would he?

I did dream about Halloway Mansion all night, though. Something sinister yet unseen lurked behind the tattered curtains of the house and, no matter what I did or what I tried, I couldn’t get a clear look at it.

I woke with my bed torn apart and my blankets wrapped around my body. It took me several minutes to untangle myself and several more to remake my bed. Krypto, for his part, didn’t stir from his doggie basket. After opening his left eye to see what I was doing he went back to sleep.

I guess he knew it wasn’t a school day for him so he decided to get more rest. I couldn’t blame him. I didn’t want to get up either but I did have school and there were still the nagging thoughts about Halloway Mansion.

I couldn’t shake it from my mind and, by the time I reached school, I decided I needed more information. That meant asking my friends what they knew about the place.

I hung my backpack in my locker and went searching for them. The first one I found was Rahesh. He was talking with a former friend of mine, Todd.

Rahesh’s back was to me as I walked up but Todd saw me. In fact, as soon as he saw me, he quickly said good-bye to Rahesh and strode off without so much as a backward glance.

Rahesh watched him leave, his mouth hanging open. When he turned and saw me, he nodded. I might have known it was you. The only time Todd just up and leaves, especially when we’re in the middle of a conversation, is when you show up.

I smiled sadly. Sorry, Rahesh. You know I’ve done my best to try and make things right with Todd. He simply won’t have anything to do with me.

Do you blame him? Rahesh asked.

I shook my head. No. I messed up big time. But I can only apologize so many times. His father has forgiven me. Why can’t he?

I can’t answer that, Rahesh said. And I refuse to get in the middle of it. You’re both my friends so I guess I have to accept that you don’t get along.

I’ll keep trying, I said with a sigh. For you, at least.

Rahesh smiled. I would appreciate that. Anyway, how was your weekend?

My weekend was good, I said. But I was going by the old Halloway Mansion and something really creeped me out. I wondered if you knew anything about it.

That place is weird, Mik. I don’t go anywhere near it. Rahesh shuddered. You should stay away from it too. Rahesh looked up and down the hallway. Sorry, Mik. I’ve got to get to class. I’ll see you around, okay?

I nodded and watched my friend hurry away. He was truly afraid. I didn’t need my powers to know that. That I wasn’t the only one freaked out by the house made me question my decision to investigate the mystery. But then I remembered the emotions I had sensed coming from the house.

It was weird, really. I’d been past the place hundreds of times in the past and I’d never sensed anything. What was different now? And, if I didn’t get to the bottom of it, would someone else suffer? Those questions were enough to convince me to keep looking for answers.

✧✧✧

I WAS SITTING at my desk in homeroom when Evelyn walked in. She and I have done some newspaper articles together. Evelyn now makes a point of sitting near me when we share classes.

For homeroom she was sitting directly in front of me.

She put her book bag under her seat before sitting down. She twisted to face me. Morning, Mik.

Morning, Evelyn. I hesitated for a second before asking what had to be a weird question. You know that old house on Sycamore Street? The one called Halloway Mansion? As I asked her the question I tried to stay tuned to her emotions in case she freaked out like Rahesh had.

Evelyn put her hand on her chin and looked up at the ceiling for several moments before looking back at me. I think I know the house you’re talking about. It’s the old broken down one, isn’t it?

That’s the one, I said. What do you know about it?

She shook her head. Nothing really. Just that it’s supposed to be haunted. I knew some kids who claimed to have gone inside. No one saw them do it, of course. They just said they did.

Interesting, I said, nodding slowly. Could I talk to them, do you suppose?

Why? she asked.

I tried to play it nonchalant. Just interested in the house, is all. I rode past it last night and realized I didn’t really know anything about it.

I guess you could talk to them, Evelyn said, sounding sceptical. I can introduce you to them at lunch. They’re a little older than us though. In grade seven."

Older kids? Thanks, Evelyn.

The teacher rapped his knuckles on his desk. Okay, class. Settle down. Announcements will start right away.

No problem, Mik, Evelyn said whispering.

The teacher rapped his knuckles on the desk again. Evelyn flashed me a smile and turned in her desk.

I couldn’t help but wonder what the older kids would tell me. But I was going to have to wait until lunchtime. I settled into my desk and waited for the announcements. I just hoped my curiosity wouldn’t overwhelm and kill me before I talked to them.

✧✧✧

I HAD A hard time concentrating on school. That’s often what happens to me when I’m working on a case. My mind spends so much time considering all the angles that I miss stuff from our lessons. The stuff I miss doesn’t usually amount to much. I have extra reading to do when I’m going through my homework. That’s about it.

Today, however, we had a chemistry lab. I managed to spoil two sets of experiments before Evelyn gave me the hairy eyeball and took over.

What’s gotten into you, Mik? You never make this many mistakes. Evelyn said as we cleaned up after the second failed experiment.

Sorry, Evelyn. I guess I’m distracted. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night and that old house has me really thinking.

She stepped back from our lab table and stared at me. Why would some broken down old house be bothering you? You’re not planning something dumb, are you?

Dumb? What do you mean? I asked.

Rahesh and Carl didn’t dare you to spend the night in that house or anything did they? That’s so childish! I felt the briefest flare of agitation come from Evelyn.

I wasn’t quite sure why the idea of me sleeping in a rumoured haunted house would bother Evelyn, but I decided to let it slide. No. I’m just curious about it, is all. I was out with Krypto last night and I thought I saw something in one of the windows.

You saw something? Evelyn asked, suddenly interested. What did you see?

I shrugged. I saw a dim light in one of the windows. It looked like someone was standing there. I considered the emotions I had felt. How could I explain that without giving away the secret that I had superpowers?

Someone? Are you sure it wasn’t just the moon or something playing tricks on your eyes? Evelyn asked.

I don’t think so, I said, thinking hard. I’m pretty sure it was a person looking out. I thought about what kind of person might have the emotions I had detected. An image popped into my head unasked. Like an evil clown.

An evil clown, huh? To her credit, Evelyn didn’t laugh. Instead, she gave the lab counter a final swipe with a paper towel. I think you’ve been watching too many movies, Mik. She looked at the clock. We’d better hurry if we are going to get this experiment properly done. She emphasized the word properly as she said it. She grinned to take the sting out of her words.

You’ll still take me to meet those guys who went in the house though, right? I asked.

I said I would, didn’t I? Evelyn asked.

I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t changed your mind, I said.

I haven’t, but if we don’t get this experiment done, we may be in here at lunch time.

I held my hands up in surrender. Okay. I get it. Let’s get to work.

Chapter 3

The Argument

THE THIRD TIME was the charm. Probably because Evelyn took the lead on getting our chemistry experiment done. That was a relief because she was right about doing it over lunch. Our chemistry teacher had made students stay over lunch before.

When the class bell rang I followed Evelyn to her locker.

"Aren’t you going to