TWENTY-ONE

“Falcon.”

“Are you alone?”

“Don’t insult me.”

Even though the man’s mask covered his entire face, Zach could still see faint contours in his features. There was a hint of movement; the man’s mouth lifted to the side slightly. He didn’t reply.

Silence.

It burned.

Zach lasted for about thirty-six seconds. He counted. “So, what do you want?” he asked, unnerved. He couldn’t stop himself from filling the quiet. It was probably part of Falcon’s plan – blah blah blah. But who had time for that kind of flexing? Zach was not in the mood. “I don’t have all night for a pleasant chat. Some of us like to sleep, you know.”

Sleep? Amusing.

There was a smooth chuckle. “My, my,” Falcon drawled. “Who’s the impatient little hero?”

“You’re the one who wanted to talk to me,” hissed Zach in a low voice. “So, talk.”

Falcon touched a gloved finger to his chin. “I suppose we could get to the point,” he said, amusement in his tone. The hand disappeared. “I can respect that.”

There was another moment silence.

This asshole is purposely drawing this out!

Zach didn’t fill the silence this time, enduring each second with the agony of nails on a chalkboard. He waited. And waited.

“Let’s say you’ve… peaked my interest,” said Falcon with a languid motion of the hand. “You’re a fascinating lad. You’re… different than all the others. And I can’t help but wonder why you waste your time with the government.”

Huh?

Wait, what?

Out of all the things to talk about, this is what Falcon called at midnight to discuss?

I’m different than all the others?

Oh, please.

Did this man think him stupid? He wouldn’t be swayed by the honeyed words of a serpent. What an insult.

“I’m fascinating, am I?” asked Zach, folding his arms. He leaned back against the couch. “You, a grown man, finds a sixteen year old kid fascinating?” Zach let out a derisive laugh. “Whatever you’re selling, you’re going to have to do better than that.”

Falcon snorted; he shook his head.

“You’re a smart one. I’ll give you that.”

“What do you want?” demanded Zach. “Get to the damn point or this conversation is over.”

“You’re so impatient,” said Falcon in a chiding tone. “I thought we could have an enjoyable chat.”

“At midnight? On a school night? So bored, are you, with blowing up half the city that you gotta ruin my sleep? Get a hobby.”

The man inclined his head. “What would you say,” Falcon said with a soft whisper, “if I said I knew more about you?”

Fear choked his breath.

He knows.

Of course. A sense of dread overtook his senses. It was going to be a different game, then. Things just got deadly.

“You’re trying to mess with my head,” said Zach, his tone overconfident. No fear. Show strength. “You’re bluffing.”

There was another cruel pause.

“Let’s analyze the facts, then,” said Falcon, his tone mild, as if he were instructing a class. Condescension dripped throughout his inflection. “I have your number. I hacked into your laptop. I know your location. It gets pretty crowded in that little apartment, yes? Too small for six teenagers. Two bedroom, one bath? Tsk.”

His stomach churned.

They weren’t safe.

“Stop lying,” hissed Zach. “You know nothing about us.”

“Don’t I?” whispered Falcon with a silky drawl. “Zachary James Bennet.”

Zach went cold.

It was like someone had dropped a bucket of water filled with ice cubes over his head. A gasp shuddered through his throat. He stiffened. His heart palpitated, fluttering, gasping, dying in his chest. His vision blurred, nearly blackening completely. He sucked in his breath; his vision returned. The hair on his arms rose.

Hearing his name – his full name – out of the mouth of this man in that smooth, obnoxious tone was the most chilling thing Zach had ever experienced.

The man knew.

Fear beyond anything Zach had ever felt in his entire life gripped his heart; he couldn’t speak. His breathing quickened. Small, audible breaths were gasping from his mouth. The shadows shifted.

“Identities are fleeting,” said Falcon softly. “Did you expect to be protected behind a mask, a piece of fabric? Perhaps you thought the government would protect you…”

Zach couldn’t breathe. He would suffocate. He was drowning; horror poured through his veins, poisoning his senses.

“What a foolish boy, so childish and naive to hope for such things. Hmph. The government doesn’t care about their tools.”

Zach sucked in his breath. Stars popped in his sight; his head felt light. He shivered.

“What do you want?” whispered Zach.

His voice was weak with a quiver. It sounded foreign in his head. He sounded young, like a child calling for their father or mother in the middle of the night, frightened by the beasts that laid beneath the shadows. He quietly cleared his throat, forcing his voice down to its normal pitch.

Oh, how stupid he’d been.

How arrogant of him to think he could outwit this man. If the police and the government couldn’t find him, what had possessed Zach’s mind to believe that he – a child with botched powers – could take Falcon so easily? This man had been evading capture for years, avoiding intelligent, educated men and women who were experienced in their careers and jobs.

In his arrogance, Zach had willingly fallen into a trap.

The man would, inevitably, blackmail him.

His hearted fluttered in fear. What would that entail? The possibilities were endless and every last one of them were terrifying.

Or…

Would he be like one of those villains in the movies?

‘Join me and be free.’

And for a brief, selfish moment, a wish for that rose inside Zach’s heart. A life without fear, a life without pressure – what would that be like?

He wouldn’t live in fear of losing his family. He wouldn’t live with the pressure from Sullivan, from the government, from the world. No worry. No guilt. No pressure. There would be money for food. There would be money for a trip to the dollar store.

And so much more.

He’d have peace.

If Falcon offered such things, should he consider it? Should he think about such a future? Bring it up to his friends for serious consideration?

His heart wavered.

The allure of the enemy was strong.

It would mean turning his back on the right thing. Zach wasn’t sure if that was something he wanted to do. Siding with a man who freely killed hundreds of people – and mocked such things…

No.

His father would be ashamed of him; his mother would be disappointed in him.

Joining with a murderer, a terrorist, was the wrong choice. Even if he didn’t always feel like one, Zach was a hero. He stood for justice and law when he slipped the mask on. He protected people, even when his powers weren’t working. He wasn’t perfect, but neither was anyone else. Though the world expected their ‘heroes’ to be flawless, they weren’t.

Being on the other side meant giving up being a hero. Money, security, freedom – were those worth the sacrifice he would have to make? Were the innocents of this world more important than such trivial things?

Were his needs more important than others?

“What do I want?” whispered Falcon, repeating the words slowly. “There are a lot of things that I want. The question is, will you cooperate?”

Zach swallowed, drawing up his courage. A hero… “You know my name. What’s your point?” he demanded. “A lot of people do. The government shuts down people who talk about any identities of their Units. Go ahead and talk. Maybe the government will finally find you.”

“Who’s to say I’ll talk about you?” said Falcon lightly.

Zach’s stomach swooped downward. “What?” he whispered.

There was a soft, dark laugh. “Do you really think I’ll do something so benign as talking about you? Oh, Zachary,” Falcon purred. “You’re so cute. Information is far more valuable than spreading it around for everyone else. No… No, no, no.”

Zach waited. His body remained stiff. He waited for the threat, the thing that would bend Zach’s will to whatever this man wanted from him. Zach knew he was drawing this out, dangling it in front of him with the delighted, sadistic pleasure of a cat playing with a mouse.

“It’d be so unfortunate if something happened to your friends,” said Falcon lightly. “Didn’t a few of them almost die today?” he asked in a mock aghast tone. He shook his head. “You were a bit close to the explosion, weren’t you? A few more paces, a few more yards… Tsk. Would’ve been a right shame.” There was another long pause. His next words were slow and deliberate. “Drake, was it? Didn’t he almost lose a leg?”

He’s watching us.

Zach resisted the urge to look around the living room, every shadow a traitor to their peace and safety, hiding some secret camera.

How long?

How long has he been watching us? How? When? Why?!

There was a soft chuckle. Falcon turned his head to the side slightly and let out a mock sound of surprise.

“Oh, dear. Look at the time,” said Falcon. His head turned to face Zach; those masked eyes reflected the light for a brief moment. A shudder slid down Zach’s spine. “I think that’s enough for one night,” he said softly. “It’s a school night, isn’t it? Wouldn’t want you droopy eyed for a day of learning.”

“Excuse me?” demanded Zach. “That’s it? This conversation isn’t over. You tell me what you want from me or I’m going to the chief of police. We’ll take our chances.”

Waiting for the unknown was a far crueler fate.

“Very well,” said Falcon, sounding absurdly pleased. “Still, it is getting rather late. Let’s continue this tomorrow night, but in person.

The air disappeared inside Zach’s throat. “What?” he croaked.

“Since this is just the beginning of a wonderful relationship,” said Falcon with a dark purr. “I think it prudent to dispense with all this—” He made a gesture with his hand, as if trying to find the right word. “—secrecy. And I want to see you. In person. I’ll send you the address and you can drop by in the evening tomorrow.”

Oh, sure. Like a social call. I’ll just drop on by as if we’re old friends.

Is this man insane?!

It didn’t take someone with an active imagination to think of all the horrible things that could happen to him if he met up with this psychopath. Alone.

“The hell I’m coming over,” snapped Zach. “Are you insane? Come on, I’m not that foolish—” Zach used his fingers for dramatic air quotes. “—there’s no way. You’re a murderer, a criminal, a terrorist, and who knows what else. No way in—”

“I could always visit your little apartment, then,” interrupted Falcon with a drawl, his tone heavy with suggestion. Zach inhaled sharply. “You’re on the second floor, aren’t you? I’m sure your friends wouldn’t mind having me over for dinner, hm?“

The torrent of fear plagued his throat. It suffocated his breath; it seized his lungs. Blackness seeped into his sight, white stars sparkling like a night sky. Pound. Pound. Pound. His heart thumped rapidly. Sweat beaded at his temples.

His chest squeezed.

Zach sucked in air, starved for breath.

“Is that a no? Excellent.”

His pocket vibrated. Zach slowly pulled his phone out. An address had been texted to him.

“It’s only a few blocks from you.”

No one could save him.

“Tomorrow night, say… around eight o’clock? Come alone,” said Falcon, a hidden smirk lifting his tone. “Oh, and come without your cute mask. You don’t need it, after all, Zachary.”

Watching us…

How long?

Why?

“I could always tell the police,” whispered Zach, half to himself. His words were stronger than his shaky voice. “They’ll find you and arrest you. I could tell them.”

I should tell them.

They would capture him.

“You could,” said Falcon with an upward lilt in his voice. Then, he let out a single, breathy chuckle. He leaned closer to the camera. “But you won’t.”

Click.

The screen was black, with the backlight still illuminating the darkness.

Zach clamped a hand over his mouth and bolted to his feet. He darted to the bathroom, just in time to double over the toilet bowl. There, he retched the contents of his dinner – the dinner that had been prepared with such laughter and happiness.

Those moments felt like a lifetime ago.

Zach shuddered and gasped over the bowl; he retched again. Bile burned his throat. Tears squeezed from his eyes.

Once his body calmed down, Zach cleaned up and washed out his mouth. There was still an awful taste on his tongue. He stumbled out of the bathroom and collapsed onto the couch. His arms curled into his chest, while his hands dragged over his face.

There, he silently cried, feeling more vulnerable than a newborn kitten. His mind paralyzed his body with a powerful paralytic: fear.

I shouldn’t go.

If I do… this man could do anything to me. Anything.

But if I don’t go, he’ll kill them.

There was no escape.

The tears streamed down his face, yet a strange sense of calm washed over his senses. One thought above everything else seemed to anchor him.

Even if he had to sacrifice his soul, he would do it. Zach would do anything to protect his friends. Even if he had to suffer, even if he had to do things against his moral code…

I would do it.

For them.

And so, all he could do was cry this night away. He wasn’t supposed to do that, but he couldn’t stop himself. It only reiterated his weakness.

So what.

He was weak.

His tears were hot. His cheeks became damp. He pushed his face into the cushion of the sofa. He sobbed.

Alone.

Terrified.

Come morning, he would act like nothing had happened, like he hadn’t spent the night crying. He would go to school, laugh with his friends, eat dinner with them, and smile with reassurance. Tomorrow night, he would go. He would go to this address and meet Falcon. The man would blackmail him, somehow, someway – and Zach would do whatever he wanted.

For them.

Maybe his tears would soften the heart of some deity. Would they hear his cries? Maybe his powers would resurface just long enough for Zach to overpower Falcon.

Or maybe not.

No matter what happened, he would endure – for his friends, he would endure.

There was no safety in the shadows.

Keep reading –>

TWENTY

“All right, everyone clean up,” said Hikaru, clapping her hands together. The door shut behind her and the others trailed into the small apartment. “I’ll make us all some dinner. And—” Hikaru broke off and gave every last one of them a hard look. “You will eat. I don’t want to hear a single one of you not being hungry. We need to keep up our strength.”

The others murmured their agreements. Her gaze lingered on Zach the longest, her dark eyes filled with a challenging light. Zach smiled at her and nodded, lifting his hands into the air in a placating gesture.

While the other four went to the bathroom, chatting lightly with soft voices, Zach followed Hikaru into the kitchen. “I’ll help you,” he said.

“Oh, no,” said Hikaru, shaking her head. “Out you go. You’re just as dirty as the rest of them.”

“And you’re not?” asked Zach incredulously. He grinned at her. “I’m not the only one who needs a good shower.”

Hikaru sighed. “I know, but I won’t have much time if I want everyone to have something to eat before going to bed. It’s late.”

“Then, you can’t decline my help,” said Zach with a wry smile. He nudged her, a bounce in his step. “All right, Queen of the Kitchen!” he announced with an air of grandeur. He flourished an arm and bowed deeply. “What would you have this lowly servant do first?”

Hikaru laughed. He looked up, smiling widely. The others slowly trailed into the room, washcloths in hand, watching with curious eyes. Light chased away the darkness in their expressions. A thrill of hope sparked inside Zach.

And he put all of his energy into the act.

“I do live to serve, after all, my lady,” said Zach, lifting out of his bow. He put a hand over his heart, a twinkle in his eyes. “The lady only needs to command and my actions are yours.”

Hikaru put her hands onto her hips, giving Zach a fake stern look. She huffed, yet it sounded more of a breathy laugh. “Now how am I supposed to get anything done if you’re messing around?” she asked. Something sparkled in her eyes.

Brielle let out a small giggle. She put a hand over her mouth, as if embarrassed by the sound. Zach’s eyebrows waggled up and down, turning his gaze onto her. “And what of you, little lady?” he asked, still in that posh tone.

He strode to her with a light bounce and bowed. He grabbed her by the hand, wrapping an arm around her lower back. She laughed in delight as Zach swept around the room, twirling her a few times. He released her waist and whirled her around once more.

“Jacob, your turn with the little lady,” said Zach, pushing her to Jacob. “Go on, take her hand—that’s it.”

Soon, the two of them were dancing. Zach turned to Sevati and, not giving her a moment to decline, grabbed her by the hand and waist. With a flourish, he danced around with her. Light flashed in her eyes, until she let out a soft laugh. With a twirl, he directed her into Drake’s arms.

“Your turn, Drake!”

And off they went, dancing with the other two – with not a tune in the air.

Zach turned to Hikaru, a mischievous grin lifting his expression.

Hikaru laughed in exasperation. “Zachary Bennet, what on earth has gotten into you!” she cried.

“Sometimes, being spontaneous is fun!” said Zach. He sneaked up to her, playing it up like an old black and white silent film.

“You stay away from me,” said Hikaru firmly, yet her lips were lifted in a smile. “I have dinner to make.”

“But dancing must come first!”

Zach grabbed her around the waist. She shrieked. With his hand in hers and his other around her waist, he led her into the living room area, whirling and twirling her around as if they were in the finals of a dance show. Their attempts were clumsy. They bumped into Drake and Sevati, before bumping into Jacob and Brielle.

But no one minded it at all. Everyone was laughing.

Sweet music to the ears.

They were covered in soot. They were covered in dirt. Some had tears in their clothes, while others had blood stained on their clothes. Yet, this terrible day filled with blood, debris, and terror faded from the mind as they danced around the room to the melody of their laughter.

Zach twirled Hikaru around in his arms; she laughed with pure happiness, sending butterflies of delight through Zach’s soul.

The moment didn’t last forever, but it didn’t need to – this brief moment in time, it was more than enough to change the melancholy and lift the heart. Once again, they could forget. No one else needed to exist. It was just them and their voices of laughter.

All six of them crowded into the kitchen and helped with dinner, giving Zach and Hikaru time to clean up a bit, too. Six pairs of hands weren’t needed for something simple like rice with stir fried vegetables, yet every hand managed to touch something and help.

Their small kitchen table was set with plates and silverware; food was placed on the table like any family dinner: stir fry over white rice and freshly cut apples.

The conversation was light and cheerful.

It had been a success.

After dinner, as the others went to bed, Zach and Hikaru stood in the living room. She gave him a hug, pulling back after a moment.

“Thank you,” whispered Hikaru. She gave him a grateful smile. “I was so worried.”

“About what?”

She sighed. “I thought I’d have to fight everyone to eat. I thought after today… everyone would be in a poor mood and it would be a struggle to get anyone to cooperate with dinner. I thought it would be like last time.”

A gentle light entered her eyes.

“And then you surprised me. You were able to do something I couldn’t and I appreciate that.”

“We make a good team,” whispered Zach.

There was a soft laugh and a tender gaze.

“Yes, I do believe so, too.”

It was said in such an odd tone, one that Zach couldn’t decipher. There was something more in her expression; there was something more in her voice. There was something in the way she held her lips, in the way the edges of her eyes creased. But what it was, he didn’t know. The moment passed and Hikaru gave him another smile, before she turned away. She stopped at the girls’ bedroom door and glanced back at him.

“Good night, Zach.”

“Night,” he whispered.

Don’t go. Please…

And then Zach was left alone in the living room. Minutes passed as he stood there, waiting, listening. Snores echoed from the boys’ bedroom. The girls would soon be asleep as well. The night was dark, the day coming to a close. Midnight was closer than he’d wanted it to be.

Zach wanted to join the sleeping requiem, but he had a previous engagement to keep.

Perhaps it’d been foolish not to tell them. Perhaps they could’ve been his support during this. The act of unburdening himself would’ve been a great relief. In the ideal, there would be no arguing. They would’ve been on board one hundred percent.

But he didn’t.

Why not?

Zach turned away and picked up his laptop from off his desk, tucking it beneath his arm. He sat on the couch and set the laptop onto the coffee table. He curled his legs beneath himself, rested his hands onto his knees, and hunched over slightly.

Zach stared.

He checked the time.

Five minutes to midnight.

He had five minutes to decide. He could wake the others. He could avoid the call. Or… Was he really going to do this? Was he really going to play into the hands of this criminal, just for a sliver of information – just for the chance of it?

Zach thought about everything he had learned about this man. Falcon liked to play games. Why give the police that first tip? Why not remain silent? Why mess with them, if only to play games?

Then, silence.

A sudden attack.

It was a pattern of chaos.

So many questions, yet so little answers. Sullivan was just as bad, though. Sullivan had known some information beforehand and had chosen to withhold it. Why?

Why?

Zach growled. What was Sullivan playing at? Did he want to sabotage Unit Twelve more than he wanted to catch Falcon?

Irritation shot through his chest. Zach gritted his teeth. Wasn’t catching a murdering terrorist more important? How could Sullivan jeopardize any chance of catching this man? The fury billowed upward further.

Four minutes.

The chief had lost all trust. Perhaps it was foolish to do this alone, but it was dangerous to inform anyone else. After tonight, Zach would tell the others. Right? Where would they go from here? What would they do? What secrets could Zach learn?

All of his uncertainty, all of his fear, they flooded his veins like a poison, destroying his mind. He couldn’t defeat Falcon in a physical fight. The man was too powerful. Zach was weak; he was powerless. Maybe he should just leave that laptop lid closed. Twice, he’d been proven weak.

Twice!

He’d been at each location during an attack and yet, Zach hadn’t been able to do anything. He’d been like everyone else, feeble in the face of tragedy and catastrophe. A hero? Hah. How laughable.

And Falcon escaped again.

Why couldn’t he lay his hands on this slippery man who was far more oily than a stick of butter?

Zach exhaled, his breath ragged like a cornered, wounded animal. His fingers slowly curled into fists. His hunched body trembled.

No.

He couldn’t back out.

This criminal had his phone number. Falcon knew. He knew who they were. He probably knew where they lived. Perhaps he knew everything about them. Somehow, they’d been compromised.

So, why?

Why would Falcon want to talk with him alone? Zach couldn’t understand the motive. Had the man done this with the other leaders? There had to be some sort of angle in this. Falcon had to have a reason and one that gave him the advantage.

Three minutes until midnight.

Zach opened the lid to his laptop. The internal mechanics whirled softly, breaking the silence of the night. Its light illuminated the darkness. He pulled out his mask from his pocket and slipped the black mask over his face. He felt the taut fabric pull against his skin.

Two minutes.

Was he doing the right thing? Was taking a step into the void alone the right thing?

What was right?

And what was wrong?

He didn’t know.

That line was far too blurry. The line between good and evil was thick and wide, yet the line between right choices and wrong choices was far thinner – transparent, even. Where was the guide? Where was the mentor? No one was there to help, to guide – no one to teach him what was right and what was wrong.

Zach, alone, had to fumble through the smog.

I have to be strong.

When would he become a cool, aloof, indifferent hero, one who could shove all uncertainty into the enemy’s face? He wanted his own strength, his own power – and with that power, he wanted to be the one to take down Falcon.

Selfish? Arrogant?

Perhaps.

But if he had that power, then his body wouldn’t be trembling. If he had that strength, then his heart wouldn’t be terrified. If he were a hero, he would’ve been all powerful, filled with unbending strength. Pressure? Expectancy? Responsibilities? Easy. He could be the leader everyone expected him to be.

A madman loose in the city? Yeah, he could take him down.

Such wishful thinking.

Something moved on the screen. Zach stiffened. He hadn’t touched his laptop. A waiting sign popped up in the middle. He sucked in his breath, staring at the screen; his heart thumped.

One.

Shivers shot down his spine; the hairs on his arms rose. A mixture of anticipation, apprehension, and pure antagonism whirled inside his chest. Fear pounded with every beat of his heart.

A trap…

Maybe.

There was still time to slam that laptop screen down. There was still time to avoid entering this game of cat and mouse – of prey and predator.

But the desire to be a hero rose above everything else.

He couldn’t fail them.

The laptop screen went dark. A shadowed, masked face showed up on the screen and a smooth, taunting voice whispered in the night.

Game on.

“Hello, little Chief.”

Keep reading –>

NINETEEN

It hadn’t been their fault, yet for some reason everyone felt it was their fault. They’d just been at the wrong place at the wrong time – and, apparently, been doing the wrong thing.

Falcon had been the one to blow crap up, yet why did everyone look at them like they were the enemy?

It didn’t make sense.

The six friends sat, huddled together, on a bench within the police precinct. Exhaustion had long set in. Hours had passed since the initial blast and they were still covered in soot, dirt, and debris.

Hunger rumbled through Zach’s stomach. For the first time in a week, he wanted to put something in his mouth.

The cacophony of noise in the precinct was rattling on the nerves. Zach leaned forward, resting his elbows onto his knees and covering his ears with his hands. It did little to mask the sound.

“One!” shouted Sullivan. “My office, now!“

Zach sighed. Finally. He stood up. A hand clasped around his wrist. Hikaru gazed up at him with an intense expression, one filled with deep concern and righteous anger. Zach smiled, gently pulling his hand out of her grip.

Five pairs of eyes haunted him. Their piercing gazes never wavered. He could feel Hikaru’s eyes the most as he walked into Sullivan’s office. The blinds were shut; the door closed behind him. Zach stood at the door, trying to remain calm.

It wasn’t working.

“Sit, we have a long discussion ahead of us,” snapped Sullivan, motioning to a chair.

Zach sat on the edge of his seat, his back straight and his head down. His hands trembled in his lap.

“Every last detail,” said Sullivan, each word spoken with emphasis. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms in front of his chest. The fury bubbled beneath the surface like an active volcano about to explode. Eyes narrowed. “Go.”

And so Zach did.

He spoke carefully. Each word had a purpose. He didn’t elaborate nor did he embellish. He stated facts.

Except for one.

The man who had helped them, who had probably saved Zach’s life – Sebastian Hawke – he was missing from those facts, plucked from the day’s event as if he’d never existed. Zach wasn’t going to give Sullivan a reason to eliminate his team on the spot.

A stranger discovering their identities, even if he swore never to speak of them, would break the proverbial straw upon the camel’s back. The man’s kindness would be ignored. The police would go after him and he would disappear. Unit Twelve would be over.

Zach wouldn’t have a last Thanksgiving with his friends.

And he wouldn’t let that happen.

But what should he do about Falcon?

What would happen if Zach told Sullivan about the call? Would he lose this chance at finding more about him? Getting the police involved in something like undercover work would make things more messy. Zach didn’t trust anyone here. They could ruin it or turn it against him.

Besides, Zach could only assume that Falcon was watching him now. How else had the man gotten his number? This criminal must have intelligence everywhere. Taking the call by himself wasn’t the end of the world. Zach could handle it.

The second he couldn’t, he’d go to Sullivan.

He couldn’t risk this chance.

After what Zach had deduced about Sullivan, he couldn’t trust him. They weren’t on the same side. This man was trying to sabotage him, for whatever the reason or motive.

But it didn’t matter.

He would take Falcon down and protect his friends.

Once Zach finished explaining what had happened, Sullivan didn’t say anything. His lips were thin with displeasure.

“Reckless,” said Sullivan, shaking his head. “You’re sure no one saw you?”

His heart pounded against his chest. It was so loud in his ears, a spike of fear rushed through his heart. Could Sullivan hear his heart? Could he tell? Zach’s face betrayed nothing.

“There was too much dust and debris in the air, sir. We were in an alleyway. There is no possible way anyone saw us. We had to heal ourselves if we were to be of any use.”

You’re lying.

Again.

His stomach churned. His heart thumped. He wanted to go home, lie down, and forget this day ever happened. He wanted to sleep through the night, never waking for a certain midnight call.

And he was tired of being told he wasn’t good enough. He wasn’t perfect enough. He wasn’t doing his job. If he’d had only done this or that – no matter the outcome, Zach and his friends were never good enough.

But Zach had a horrible understanding as to why they were treated this way.

It was a double edged sword. It would backfire on the government, on these men – one day, it would. That was how Fate or Karma worked, after all.

If they broke their spirits, then they would never have the strength to stand on their own. If they beat them down, then they would never fight back.

But someday, someone would bare their teeth and bite back.

“At least, you had the sense to hide yourselves,” said Sullivan with a huff. “You—”

A rap on the door interrupted him. The door cracked ajar slightly and a sharp voice said, “Sullivan, I need a word.” The man strode inside without waiting for a reply.

He was short, yet he had an air of authority unlike anything Zach had ever seen. If Zach stood up, he would be a number of inches taller than this man. The man’s greying black hair was trimmed neatly. He wore a dark brown suit and black sunglasses. With a languid hand, he brought his cigar to his mouth and drew in a deep breath, letting out a puff of smoke into the room.

Zach’s eyes burned.

“Agent Byron!” said Sullivan with a gasp, bolting out of his seat. “Sir, we weren’t expecting you.”

“Sit down, this ain’t a proper visit,” said Bryon in a low drawl. He removed his sunglasses, revealing dark brown eyes. There was a touch of an accent to his voice, but Zach didn’t recognize it.

The man looked over at Zach, lifting an eyebrow. He motioned towards him.

“This one of them special kids?”

“Yes, sir, this is One, leader of Unit Twelve.”

“Mmm.”

“One, get out. You’re dismissed,” snapped Sullivan.

“Now wait a minute,” said Byron, lifting up his hand with the cigar. He leaned against the wall, eyeing Zach with intense scrutiny. “If he’s the leader, then he needs to hear this, too.”

Sullivan appeared as if he’d swallowed a lemon. He nodded curtly. He motioned to a free chair and sat down in his own. Byron didn’t move.

“I hate to bring poor news, but Necrosis hit another mark. A congressman.”

Sullivan swore under his breath. “Are you saying I have a terrorist and an assassin in my town at the same time?” he demanded.

“Crimson was reported to be in the area as well.”

“You think they’re in on something together or it’s just a coincidence?”

“Who knows,” said Byron, taking another deep puff. He let it out slowly, filling the air around him with smoke. “How’s the search for Falcon?”

“Terrible. He struck again today, as I’m sure you’re aware. The clinic was empty, however.”

“No fatalities, then?”

“Injuries, yes.” Sullivan glanced at Zach, but continued, “The clinic lost millions of dollars in equipment and research, from what I understand.”

“He’s still going after them, eh?”

There was no reply. Sullivan gritted his teeth.

As usual, he’s keeping information from me. Is he not supposed to do that or is it something more?

“I know you have your hands full with Falcon,” said Bryon. “But keep an eye out for Necrosis, too. He’s a wily one, always miles ahead of me. I doubt you’ll see a trace of him if he don’t want it, but I’ll always hope he’ll slip up just once in his life.”

Byron turned his gaze onto Zach.

“You be sure to inform your unit members about him. I need all eyes on him.”

“If I may, sir,” said Zach, hesitant. “But I don’t know much about Necrosis.”

Or Falcon, but that’s beside the point.

“Necrosis is a world class assassin,” said Bryon, a dark light entering his eyes. “I’ve been chasing him for years now. He’s not as high profile as Falcon is, but he’s just as dangerous. He’s killing off senators and congressmen for awhile now. Among other prominent people.”

“And you’re saying this man is in Templeton?” asked Zach, newfound worry bubbling up inside his chest.

Just what he needed. Another dangerous criminal.

“I think so,” said Bryon with a nod. “Unfortunately, you won’t see hide nor hair of the man until after he’s done. I doubt you’ll even hear a whisper of him. Wishful thinking on my part, though.”

The man sighed deeply.

“We’ll catch him. Someday.”

A wave of compassion filled Zach’s chest. Had this man been chasing Necrosis for years? It must’ve been a horrible feeling, spending years of one’s life and not being able to catch the criminal. Being outsmarted left and right, so close yet so far – Zach couldn’t bear the thought of that happening with Falcon.

No.

He didn’t have that kind of time.

“Well, I’ll be off. Good luck with Falcon.”

Zach watched the man leave. They were going to need more than luck with Falcon. They were going to need a miracle.

There was an annoyed sigh from Sullivan. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “All right, One,” he said, sounding exhausted. “You’re dismissed.”

Zach nodded. Though he was bursting with questions, it was better to remain silent. He had come out of this conversation unscathed and he wasn’t about to push his own luck.

He walked out into the busy precinct, shutting the door behind himself. The others looked up at him, unmoved from their seats on the bench. He took a step towards them, putting on a smile.

“You ready to go?”

Hikaru stood up, worry in her dark eyes, and lifted a hand, extending her fingers to touch his cheek. Zach sucked in his breath, rooted to the spot.

Her fingers were soft.

“You’re okay?” whispered Hikaru, her eyes flickering back and forth. Zach nodded, breathless. Her hand gently extended over his cheek, cradling him there.

The warmth of her hand made all the difference in the world.

“I’m fine. Nothing happened,” said Zach, putting a hand over hers. She gave him a look and he couldn’t hold back a laugh. “I’m being truthful, Hikaru. I’m fine.”

The warmth pulled away.

“Let’s go home, guys.”

It was okay. They were alive. Each and every one of them could have died today. An angel had saved Zach and helped the rest of them. A little kindness went a long way.

And now he’d been blessed with a unique opportunity. Perhaps he couldn’t outright defeat Falcon, but he could outsmart him. And when his powers returned – because they had to come back – Zach would be in position to overtake Falcon.

Falcon might think this call was scary and threatening, but Zach could only see it as a gift – a sign of hope that Fate was throwing his way.

He would show Falcon who was the hero and who was the villain – the heroes always took down the villains.

That was how the stories always went.

Right?

Keep reading –>