Chapter Text
As long as Parker could remember, Marvin had always been there for him. The two cousins were always best friends, nearly inseparable, born a month apart. When they were about eight and Parker realized he was a boy, the first person he told about it was Marvin. Marvin accepted him without hesitation and with his cousin by his side, Parker told his parents the same. When they were ten and Parker joined the school football team, Marvin was at every single one of Parker’s games, no matter the weather. When they were in high school, charismatic Marvin made friends easily whereas shy nerdy Parker did not. Marvin always made sure to include Parker in activities with his friends, even at the expense of his own reputation. All their lives, Marvin had Parker's back.
Now Parker stood in a cemetery, watching his best friend be slowly lowered into the ground. The one time Marvin had needed Parker, he had failed. It rained heavily for early April and despite Parker’s jacket, he shivered; his eyes locked on the mahogany casket in which his best friend rested.
He had been right there. It was just after Marvin’s show. They were walking to his car, chatting happily about something. Parker saw the mugger from the corner of his eye. He tried to… he didn’t even remember. The only thing he could recall was a bright light like a camera flash and Marvin was on the ground. That’s when he started yelling for help as loud as he could.
Parker scrubbed his eyes and looked up at the sky. It was as if the very heavens were crying for the loss of such a beautiful soul. Parker looked at his aunt, sobbing into her husband’s coat. Parker caught his uncle’s eye as he gave the young man a sad look. Parker knew no one blamed him for what happened. Well, almost no one. Parker certainly blamed himself. He had been right next to Marvin. Why hadn’t he done anything? Why hadn’t he- Parker looked away from his uncle and noticed a strange person by the trees. They were tall and thin, with wild green curls and a white mask with cat ears. They were watching the grieving family. They were watching Parker. When they saw Parker looking at them, they quickly turned and walked away. Parker said nothing.
Jackieboy Man hopped from cloud to cloud to cloud with ease, his small sky-blue wings carrying him, his navy cape flapping behind him. As he hopped to the next cloud, his body glowed with some inhuman light, filling him with a feeling of power. Up here he felt safe, free, like nothing could touch him. Nothing could hurt him. Jackieboy laughed and turned to his left to talk to-
Standing there, eyes wide, blood running down his face, was Marvin. Parker reached for his cousin when suddenly he was falling. Falling. The once fluffy clouds turned dark and angry. Parker felt helpless.
Parker woke up with a cry, still reaching out for a person who was gone.
Parker stared at the ceiling of his bedroom. It was almost 5 in the morning and a few weeks since the funeral. Almost a month since… Parker had long since returned to the apartment he used to share with Marvin but Parker wasn't getting much sleep these days. Every time he would close his eyes, he would see that bright flash again. The flash that ended Marvin's life. He had been right there. Why hadn't he done something? Parker couldn't sleep much these days.
He picked up his phone from the nightstand and checked the notifications, not bothering to put on his glasses. A text from his mom, asking how he was doing, reminding him that grief counselling was still on the table. An article from Breakthrough, the magazine Parker worked for as a photographer. An email from his supervisor Kelly, checking in on him. An email from the Arcana, the theatre Marvin performed at, expressing condolences. A text from Teddy Simon, a friend on his football team, saying he’s here if Parker needs anything. Everyone was so sympathetic and nice to him but it almost felt hollow. Like their words just passed around his body without touching him. Parker put down his phone and covered his eyes with the heels of his hands yet again as he started to cry. He had been right there. He had been standing right next to Marvin. Why hadn't he done something? Why didn't you do something, Parker? Why? Why?
He slowly stood up, wiping his eyes. He didn’t know why he wanted to go into Marvin’s room. He knew seeing it empty would hurt more. Just the same, he stood at the door, hand resting on the handle. He gingerly opened the door, as if opening quickly would shatter the universe. He expected to see an empty room. Empty and depressing. He did not expect that person in the cat mask standing in the room, looking at a childhood photo. But there they were. They clearly hadn’t heard Parker open the door. They were just looking at the picture, their expression somewhere between sad and fond. They brushed a curl behind their ear in a way that reminded Parker painfully of his cousin. “Who the fuck are you and how did you get in my house?” Parker barked out, furious at this stranger for daring to remind him of his dead best friend. The stranger looked startled at Parker then with a blink, they were gone. Their eyes were the same colour as Marvin’s.
Parker stared out the window, lost in thought, that masked stranger lingering in his mind. “I think she’s really making a difference in this city- P? Parker? Hey. Are you okay?” His friend Jessica snapped her fingers near his ear. Parker blinked and turned to her, mind returning to the coffee shop where they sat.
“Uh yeah, sorta. Sorry. Kinda zoned out.” She frowned slightly.
“Do you want to tell me what you were thinking about?” The subtext was clear. ‘You’re thinking about Marvin.’ Parker sighed and looked down at his coffee.
“Jess, can I ask you something?” She pressed her lips together but nodded. “What do you think happens when people die?” She frowned.
“Well, a lot of religions have a good and ba-” Parker shook his head.
“No. Not what religions say. What do you personally think happens to the dead?” She was silent for a long moment.
“Parker, have you been to grief counselling? Maybe it would help for you to talk to a professional about this-” Parker groaned loudly.
“That’s not what I asked. I’m so tired of everyone walking on eggshells around me. People refusing to talk about it. Marvin died. I was next to him and he died in my arms. Now I’m asking what you, Jessica Steele, think happens when we die because-” Parker’s volume rose as he spoke until he cut himself off abruptly. Jessica frowned.
“Because?”
“Because I saw someone at the funeral and the other night the same someone was in Marvin’s room and when they looked me in the eye I swear it was him but then they just disappeared when I blinked and I don’t know if it was a ghost or my grief-stricken mind playing tricks on me but I swear it was real but I also know Marvin is dead and so I don’t know what to think and I don’t know where to look for answers so I’m asking you, my friend.” Parker rambled in a much lower volume. “Jess. Do you believe in ghosts?” She did not respond for a long while before asking,
“You’re sure no one broke in?” Parker sighed and nodded. “And they look like him?”
“Sort of. Their eyes were the same as Marvin’s and their hair was the same curly mess, but it was, like, pastel green and the person was wearing a mask with cat ears and card suits on it.” He explained then lay his cheek on the table. “Am I going crazy?” Jessica leaned back in her chair slightly.
“Probably. You said it happened at night so I could suggest it was a dream or you were half asleep at the time and your grief-addled mind was seeing things that weren’t real and inserting a stranger you saw at the cemetery,” Parker frowned. “But, honestly, I don’t know, man. I didn’t know Marvin that well. But if you really feel like it was him, maybe he is trying to reach out. He was all into that witchy woo-woo stuff, right?” Parker chuckled softly.
“He’d kill you for calling it witchy woo-woo stuff, but yeah. He was into spiritual, new-age witchcraft stuff.”
“Well, maybe he’s trying to use his spirit stuff to reach out to you?”
“So what do I do?”
“Well, maybe you should try to contact him instead. Maybe find a psychic or use a Luigi board or something.”
“Ouija. You seem weirdly chill about me trying to contact my dead cousin.”
“Yeah well, the way I see it, if this helps give you closure and move on, it can only be good for you and you said you didn’t want eggshells anymore.” Parker nodded slowly. “Did Marvin have a board?”
“Yes, but he said it’s super dangerous because of evil spirits and demons and stuff.”
“Well, he had crystals too, right? And you have salt? I’m sure if we do it together it’ll be fine.”
“If you say so.” Parker smiled softly. “Thank you, Jess.”
Parker and Jessica sat in a circle of salt on the floor of Marvin's bedroom, an Ouija board between them. Parker looked out the window at the full moon. It was quiet and dark in the room other than the moonlight. “Are you ready to do this?” Jessica asked, snapping Parker back to the present.
“Uh, yeah.” He responded, placing his fingers on the planchette. He looked at Jessica, who nodded at him then back at the board as they slowly opened it. “We’re trying to contact Marvin Adam Moore. Marvin... if you can hear me… please….give us a sign…” They waited for a minute. Two minutes. Three. Nothing. Parker sighed softly. “This was a dumb idea…” He started to lift his hand when Jessica grabbed it.
“Try something more personal. Focus on your cousin and ask him something.” Parker frowned but nodded, staring intently at the board, thinking about Marvin. The good times. The bad. Dumb things they did as kids. ...The night he… “Marvin. If you’re there, what’s my nickname? The one only you call me.” After a moment, the planchette began to move slowly.
S. P. I. D. E. R. M. A. N.
Parker nearly broke down into tears right then and there. Spiderman. That was Marvin's nickname for him. It was him. It was Marvin. Jessica could see Parker starting to get worked up and gently put her hand on his in comfort. Parker looked at the hands, Jessica's face, then back at the board. He could do this.
"Marvin. If that's really you… was that you… in your room? The other day?"
The planchette slid to yes.
"Oh. Sorry for yelling at you… Wait. So you were at your own funeral?"
Yes.
"Why?" There was a long pause.
W. A. N. T. E. D. T. O.
A pause.
S. A. Y. G. O. O. D. B. Y. E.
Parker paused this time. Say goodbye. Because he was dead. Marvin, whom Parker had known his entire life, was dead and never coming back. Parker tried to hold himself together. “And the same in your bedroom?”
Yes.
“I see. ...Are you at peace? Are you, like, in heaven or something?” They waited for a moment. Then another. Silence. “Marvin?”
B. Y. E.
“Wait, Marvin!” But the planchette had already moved to Goodbye. There was a tense pause. Finally, Parker said, “Something is wrong.”
“Parker-” Jessica started but was cut off by Parker getting to his feet and looking around the room for… something.
“Something is wrong. Marvin wouldn’t just leave like that!”
“You’re right. That was pretty weird. But, what do you suggest we do about it?”
“I don’t know. But something was wrong. Maybe I can find something in his books or something.” Parker grabbed a leather tome and opened it, finding some kind of coded language. He put it back and went for another, desperate for answers, when Jessica put her hand on Parker’s shoulder, frowning softly.
“Breathe. We will figure this out, but first, we need to close the board, okay?” Parker sighed and sat back on the ground as they closed the board, never taking his eyes off the word Goodbye.
Parker’s camera clicked as he took a photo of an arrow stuck into a wall near a bank. Recently there had been a vigilante running around the city, thwarting crime, calling herself Steel Sparrow. Normally Parker would be elated that there seemed to be a real-life superhero but honestly, Parker was just glad to be out of the apartment. He took a few more photos as he saw Kelly walk over to him. “Hey, Parker. How are you feeling?” Her tone was soft, which was out of character for her. Oh boy, more eggshells. He took another photo.
“ ‘m fine, Kelly. Just trying to focus on getting a good shot of this arrow right now.” He waited, expecting her to walk away. “Is there something wrong?” Kelly pressed her lips into a thin line before responding softly.
“I just wanted to make sure you’re doing okay. You don’t have to be back at work if you’re not ready yet. It’s only been like a month and a half.” Parker lowered his camera.
“Kelly, I appreciate the concern, I do. But, honestly, I would much rather be here than alone in my apartment-” One of the other photographers snapped a flash photo a little too close to Parker.
Heart pounding. Mind racing. Danger. Spinning. Everything spinning fast. Parker looked around. Danger. Someone is in danger. Marvin. Where’s Marvin? Can’t breathe. Danger. Spinning. Can’t move. Can’t breathe. Danger. Do something, Parker. Do something. Parker. Parker. “Parker.”
Parker blinked. He was now off to the side, away from everyone, under an awning. He was sitting on the ground, back to a wall. Kelly was kneeling in front of him. Parker could see her mouth moving but he couldn’t quite hear her words. His name, you’re safe, probably some other reassurances. He blinked again, looking around. The other photographers and reporters were glancing over, trying not to stare. Parker realized his breathing had become ragged as he tried to slow it. He wanted to sob. He wanted to scream. He was angry and embarrassed and in pain. A camera flash. A camera flash threw him into… whatever that was. Parker focused on his breathing. In. Out. Calm down. Calm. “You are safe. There is no danger. It’s okay.” Parker heard Kelly say. Parker nodded slowly as he weakly mumbled
“Sorry.” Kelly sighed, likely relieved Parker was calming down.
“It’s fine, Parker. Do you know what happened?”
“Flash. Wasn’t expecting it.” Kelly nodded, clearly getting the message.
“I’ll tell the others to give you a bit more space if they're going to use their flash. For now, you should get home. You can email me the photos you took. Is there anyone we can call to come and get you?” Parker shook his head. Kelly sighed and gently patted his arm. “I’ll call you a taxi.” Parker shook his head but Kelly was already on the phone. A few minutes later a taxi pulled up and Kelly walked him over to it and spoke to the driver. Parker felt like he was being taken to the principal’s office. He was so shaken and ashamed and felt so stupid for getting himself like this. Kelly must’ve noticed as she said “Look, Parker. I can’t begin to imagine what you’re going through, but it’s okay that you’re not okay. Not only did you lose someone, but you also witnessed it. It’s okay to be a little shaken.” Parker could only nod.
Parker was now home after being dropped off by the taxi, and he was now in his bed, trying to take a nap. Or maybe he was just hoping everything that had happened in the last month and a half had been a nightmare and Marvin was fine. Parker hadn’t seen ghost Marvin since the Ouija board incident. Part of Parker’s mind said everything he had seen was just a hallucination. But… something else in his mind told him it wasn’t. He reached for his glasses on the nightstand when his hand touched something that was decidedly not glasses. A book. Parker grabbed his glasses and looked at the book. It was that tome Parker had looked at on the night he and Jess did the Ouija board, which he had decided to take to his room for some reason. He couldn’t sleep so he decided to open the strange book. Still coded beyond sense, but a sheet fell out of the book. It had letters and the code symbols on it. A cipher. Parker looked at the sheet. It was Marvin’s handwriting. It seemed the symbols were each representative of a letter in the Latin alphabet. Maybe Marvin was trying to show him something. Maybe this had something to do with what happened the other night. Parker looked at the cipher and then at the book. The first word was Ka. Parker frowned and double then triple-checked the code. Yep, K A. Ka. But what did that mean? Parker tried a few more words. Uldacha. Yz. Ka. Alys. Bura. Parker put the book down and sighed. Maybe his cipher was wrong, maybe these words were from some magic language or maybe it was just gibberish. Parker didn’t know and frankly, he was tired. What was he even trying to do?
Find answers and feel closer to Marvin.
Parker opened the book back up. Might as well occupy himself. Kelly had told him to not come back to work until next week anyway. Maybe it was a book of gibberish but it was gibberish that Parker would solve. Something told him there was a greater mystery afoot.
Magic. Like, real magic. Real-life magic.
Parker sat cross-legged on the floor of Marvin’s room, half a dozen books around him, some of which weren’t in English. Trying to read Marvin’s books was like trying to solve a Rubix cube colour blind. He may be making progress, or he may be making a mess and he was having trouble telling which. As far as he could tell, the code he found was correct, but the language was one Parker had never heard of, something called Alyse. It sounded like something out of Alice in Wonderland to him but turns out Alys was a type of being rather than just a name. It was hard to decipher all the words, but for the most part, he could tell the leather tome was some kind of magic manual, allowing his cousin to tap into forces beyond this world. Allowing his cousin to speak with beings beyond this world.
Parker put down the book and sighed. But what did this all mean? Marvin wasn't killed for being a witch or anything, at least to Parker's knowledge he wasn't. So what did all this magic stuff mean? What was Marvin trying to tell him? Parker looked down at one of the books, this one was one of the few written in English. It was a page dedicated to something called catoptromancy. Parker sighed and turned the page. The next page was a spell for… communication. Huh. He read over the details. It didn't seem too difficult. Bowl of water, some other stuff, some magic words. If this magic stuff was real, maybe Parker could do this one and talk to Marvin. Maybe… Parker wondered if he was actually kidding himself and this would only lead to disappointment. What if this magic stuff wasn't real? But what if it is real, a small voice in Parker's mind countered. Parker looked at the Alyse cipher, written neatly in Marvin's handwriting. Parker has to follow this thread, if there is even a small chance he could talk to Marvin, or feel closer to him or even just get closure. He turned back to the communication spell. A bowl of water to start.
Fifteen minutes later, Parker was sitting on the floor again, the biggest bowl in the apartment filled with water in front of him, a piece of clear quartz at the bottom of the bowl. Parker had the spellbook in one hand, and a wooden spoon in the other. He looked back at the book then at the bowl and back at the book. Parker took a deep breath, and in the most powerful, magical voice he could muster, Parker read from the book. " Near and far, speak to me. Open your eyes and let me see. Open your ears and hear my voice. Hear my words, given the choice. " He said, thinking of Marvin and how he would deliver these words. Parker stirred the water as the spell instructed and removed his spoon, waiting for the water to settle, staring at the water. Nothing happened… of course, nothing happened. It was a bowl of water with a crystal at the bottom. Why did Parker think this would work? It was water and a gemstone. As Parker reached his hand into the water to take the rock out, he felt someone grab his hand and pull him forward.
Parker looked around. He was no longer in the apartment. It was as if someone had built military barracks in a cave. There were people all around the room, sitting on beds or standing, sleeping or reading or chatting. The floor was linoleum, but the walls and ceiling were curved and made from smoothed dark stone. Parker realized there were no windows or doors in the room, only the smooth stone walls. The people were wearing the same navy coverall type work clothes, some with the top half tied around their waist revealing grey undershirts. The people here- Parker looked at them again. The people were not quite human… Some had teeth or eyes or hair that were not natural for humans. Others had tails or horns or even wings. Where the hell was he-
Someone was still holding Parker's hand.
He blinked and looked directly in front of him. Sitting across from him on the bed, holding Parker's hand, was Marvin. He was wearing navy work clothes like the rest, and his curly hair was green for some reason and tied into a messy bun but it was definitely Marvin sitting across from him. He gave Parker a tired smile when he saw Parker finally look his way. "I am somewhat surprised you were able to get through, even with my help. Hey Spiderman." Marvin said softly.
"Wh-" Parker blinked at his cousin, brain struggling to make sense of everything he was seeing. This had to be a dream or something. He internally winced when he saw the scar Marvin tried to hide under his bangs. "Where are we?" He asked breathlessly.
"Hell," Marvin responded simply. Parker must've looked baffled because Marvin chuckled. "Well, I am. You are still in the apartment but I am helping you project a magic dream hologram here. I could not tell you I was here when you asked on the Ouija board, but I should have known you would keep pushing for answers. So when you tried the communication spell, I knew you would not stop until you got your answers so I pulled you here myself. It is not all fire and brimstone down here like they say. It is more… well, mostly bureaucratic. Where I am is functionally a prison." Marvin gestured around the room as if the barracks exemplified his point. Parker tried to process what Marvin was telling him. Marvin was in hell. Bureaucracy Hell.
"Why?" That was all Parker could muster in response to this revelation. Marvin chuckled. He seemed so tired.
"You know how they say witches go to Hell? Well, they are right. Do not worry. I am safe. Since my only crime was magic, I am residing with other mages whose crime was the same. I am okay. I just… I wanted to say goodbye to you, in person, Parker. This is it. The end of the road. You have got your answers."
“Marvin, what are you talking about?” Parker pleaded. Marvin sighed.
“I know you too well, Jack.” Parker frowned. He knew Marvin was serious when he used his first name. “I know you would fight to the ends of the earth to protect those you care about, but there is no one to fight this time. No way to save me. This is my fate. I know it’s hard to accept, but you need to move on. Live your life. I will likely be released by the time you pass.” Marvin gave a soft smile as if to reassure him. Parker blinked. Marvin wanted him to just accept that they're in Hell now? Hell, the scary bad place, bureaucratic or not. Could Parker accept it?
“No. No, I’m not giving up on you.”
“Parker, please-”
“I’m not giving up, Marvin! This has to be a nightmare. You want me to accept that you’re in hell and just move on?” Parker stated in disbelief. Marvin frowned.
“I should have known. Parker. Think about it. What can you actually do? Bust in here, guns blazing? I know it’s hard to accept. If it helps, this is temporary for me. Please. Live your life. I am going to be okay. I am okay.”
"No!" Parker nearly shouted. "Why did you even help pull me here and tell me all this if you didn’t want me to try?” Marvin looked away. Parker could see bags under his eyes. There was silence for a moment.
“I do not really know.” Marvin finally replied. That just cemented Parker’s determinations.
“I don't know what I'm going to do yet but I'll figure something out. I'll figure this out. I will get you out of this, Marvin, I swear."
“Parker-” Marvin started but when he looked back he could tell Parker had already made up his mind.
“I am going to figure something out. I promise.” Parker stated firmly. Marvin sighed again, defeated.
“Alright. I know I can’t stop you. Just… Please, take care of yourself.”
“I will,” Parker said, as Marvin let go of his hand.
Parker blinked, finding himself waking up in the apartment.