NINE

This just in: the terrorist, Falcon, is on the move. Last night, there was an attack on a medical clinic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Over one hundred people lost their lives. This makes it the third clinic destroyed in the city.

Where will this criminal strike next? Some say that he’ll go to Philadelphia. Others speculate that he’ll go to New Jersey. Templeton Hills and Trenton are possible targets. Law enforcements are scrambling to up their security.

Templeton Hills is home to one of the controversial government teams of the powerfully gifted – Unit Twelve. No doubt, Falcon will have his hands full if—

“Turn it off,” said Zach, folding his arms. Drake twisted on the couch, looking back at him. Jacob was sitting next to him. He stared at the small television, visibly shaken by the report.

Drake’s expression darkened. “We should be up on the news.”

“We don’t need to hear about crap, especially second-hand crap,” said Zach, taking the remote out of Drake’s hand and switching the channel to an afternoon cartoon. “We don’t need to hear about that man any more.”

“But what if… What if Falcon does come to our city?” asked Jacob. He bit his lower lip; his eyebrows furrowed. The black eye he had received a week ago had faded and the swelling had gone down. He had little discoloration around his eye.

Zach put his hands onto his hips. “If he comes to our city, we’ll hear it from Sullivan and not from some stupid reporter wearing a toupee.”

Drake snorted.

Jacob giggled, his dark eyes dancing with mischief. But his good mood faded; anxiousness filled his features. “If he does come here… what are we going to do?” he asked in a soft whisper. “He’s really dangerous.”

Zach sighed, putting a hand to his forehead. The news had blown up about Falcon, nearly every channel having some sort of discussion about him. The school had turned their attention onto Falcon, giving Zach and his friends some much needed respite. The police station was going crazy with overwork. Sullivan had been expecting this man for awhile it seemed, but he hadn’t mentioned anything – yet.

But Jacob was twelve years old, a child. This was scary. A terrorist with a chip on his shoulder could strike their city any day now and it would be expected of Unit Twelve to stop him – even when the top units had failed. If he could shield the boy from the burden and responsibility, then he would. It was better this way. He would protect them.

That was his duty as their leader.

“Look, Jacob, it’ll be all right,” said Zach, trying to sound confident. “If he has the guts to show up, then we’ll take him down.”

“But the other units have had trouble against him,” said Drake. “Remember, a few months ago, when he went to Denver? Unit Four didn’t have a chance against him – and they have someone who can see into the future.”

“We can take him down,” said Zach, a hint of warning entering his tone. He gave Drake a pointed look. “We can do this. We’re a good team.”

“Yeah… not really,” said Sevati, entering the living room from the kitchen. She sat on the couch next to Jacob with a bowl of cereal in her hands. “We’re at the bottom of the totem pole. We’re not exactly the best unit, according to online rankings. What makes you think that we’re any more powerful than the others?”

“Because we have something they don’t,” said Zach; he paused for effect. His eyes twinkled. “Nicknames.”

Jacob let out a soft giggle. Zach gave the other two a look, daring them to question it. Sevati stared at him, calmly spooning cereal into her mouth – yet within her eyes, there was a light of gratitude.

Zach handed Drake the remote and turned away, apprehensive. He walked towards the front door and slipped into the dimly lit hallway, shutting the door behind himself. With a sigh, he sat down at the top of the stairs. He rested his arms onto his knees and ran his fingers through his hair.

It’d been true all along, what those officers had gossiped about. TV, webpages, newspapers, neighbors – no one would shut up about this guy. In a way, the news had doomed them, giving the man so much publicity. Falcon was probably in the city. It was unlikely he had chosen another – he always made a show of his targets.

Zach was so done with it.

He yawned, rubbing his eyes with his fingers. Sleep. What was that again? His nights were haunted by the woman who had died, blood staining the lining of his dreams; the girl’s screams echoed. The others suffered as well. In the mornings, there was always an understanding silence between them.

And, of course, copious amounts of caffeine.

The pressure in Zach’s chest bubbled upward – the fear, the worry, the terror that someone would die because he couldn’t save them. The helpless feeling threatened to suffocate him.

It was the final lash upon his back. On top of all the stress he already had, he didn’t need some nutcase in his city. Problems at school, little to no money, sleepless nights, nightmares – after all that, did the universe really have to give him a mass murdering psychopath?

Of course, it did. It also added failing powers onto his load.

No matter how much he wanted to ignore it, no matter how much he tried to hide it, this wasn’t fixing itself. He had no idea what was wrong with himself. He had no way of knowing if this was common or otherwise. But he knew he needed his ability back immediately if they wanted even a sliver of a chance against this man.

The alternative could not be allowed.

Failing meant hundreds of people would die. Failing meant Sullivan would be furious. Failing would mean the end of their family.

No matter what, he was going to stop Falcon.

The door behind him opened, breaking his thoughts; it closed with a soft shut. Someone sat beside him and leaned against his shoulder.

“Hey,” whispered Zach, recognizing the scent of her shampoo.

“You all right?” asked Hikaru. Zach took in a breath and let it out slowly. He nodded and rested his head against hers; she fit perfectly in the crook of his neck.

“I’m fine.”

“I heard from the others. Are you worried?”

Zach shrugged.

“Mmmm… Pretty scary stuff, this all powerful Falcon,” Hikaru said, her tone light with a blend of seriousness. “I think I’m going to faint with fright!”

Zach couldn’t stop the breathy chuckle from escaping. He sobered. “Come on, knock it off,” he said with a nudge. “This is serious.”

“Oh, oh, ofcourse, you’re right. This is very serious stuff,” said Hikaru, nodding. She sat up and stared at Zach with playful, somber features. Her eyes twinkled. Her lips thinned, twitching in the effort to not break into a smile.

Zach glanced away. A hand gently touched his chin, forcing him to look at her. The twinkling playfulness was gone. He averted his gaze. Warmth spread through his face.

Her hand is soft…

“Zach, talk to me,” whispered Hikaru.

Crystal blue disappeared behind the darkness, eyes squeezing shut. He couldn’t say out loud what she wanted to hear. The words were locked in his heart. He’d always been able to tell her everything.

Why can’t I say anything?

For the first time, he couldn’t express his thoughts to her.

In the end, he didn’t want to talk about this. He didn’t want to talk about an unstable future. He didn’t want to voice his fears, because – like Hikaru had said – the act of saying them out loud made them terribly real.

Time was draining faster than sand within an hourglass.

He couldn’t tell her. It would only add to her stress. They were all struggling after the death of that woman, but it’d been hardest on Hikaru. He couldn’t burden her further. It was better to be silent.

This was his alone to bear.

“Everything’s fine,” said Zach, opening his eyes. She tilted her head, her eyebrows furrowing with concern. He put a hand over hers. “I promise. Everything is going to be all right.”

She knows.

Forgive me, Hikaru.

Her lips thinned and, for a moment, it seemed as if she would press him further. But her expression softened and she nodded.

Thank you. I know you don’t like this. You’ve always been good at knowing when to back off. I’m sorry I can’t tell you everything, but it’s better this way.

I promise.

A door slammed, breaking the quiet moment. Hikaru quickly withdrew her hand, while Zach pulled back. Brielle stomped up the stairs, her steps echoing through the hallway. She muttered under her breath, her voice rising with each step she took.

“How was your last detention?” asked Zach.

Brielle glared. She stopped two stairs below them. “I hate school,” she said hotly. “I hate people. I hate stupid kids. And I hate Ms. Park!”

“That bad, huh?”

“It was horrible!” cried Brielle, stomping her foot on the stair. “Stupid, dumb, freakin’ punks. They’re horrible jerks and yet, for some reason, they feel that I’m beneath them.” She folded her arms, her backpack sliding down her shoulder. A deep, unsettled expression crossed her face. “They all have weird families. What’s wrong with ours?”

“Oh, Bri, I’m so sorry,” said Hikaru, reaching out to the younger girl. Brielle leaned away, brushing her off. She stepped up and passed the two of them on the ledge. Hikaru’s hand curled away; her gaze dropped.

“I’m fine. I just need some food.”

The door to the apartment slammed shut. Zach sighed. “Sometimes, I wish she wasn’t so stubborn,” he whispered. “I hate it when she doesn’t let Drake pick her up. I know she can take care of herself, but still…”

“She needs that time alone,” whispered Hikaru. “She certainly isn’t going to get it here.”

Zach let out a low laugh. “True.”

With a sigh, Hikaru leaned against his side, resting her head against his shoulder. They stayed there, sitting at the top of the stairs, enjoying the quiet company.

Such times were rare.

And, of course, they never lasted long.

Something buzzed inside Zach’s pocket. His stomach flopped. Hikaru shifted at his side. For a moment, they didn’t move, postponing the inevitable. Together, they took out their phones. A chill went down Zach’s spine at the words on the screen.

EMERGENCY. Unit Twelve assemble.

Their gazes locked onto one another. Fear bloomed in those dark brown eyes.

This is it.

Zach took her by the hand, lightly squeezing it. She trembled. He stood, pulling Hikaru up. He gave her a reassuring smile, before they went back into the apartment.

Chaos flooded the ears.

“It’s him! I know it!” cried Jacob, pointing wildly towards the television. “They were right; he’s here!”

“Would you chill already? You don’t know that,” said Drake.

Brielle stood in the kitchen with a bowl of canned pasta in her hand. She dropped her spoon into the bowl, the metal clinking against the glass. “Are you freaking kidding me?” she demanded. “We got a job? I just got home!”

“It’s probably him,” said Sevati; her voice was calm, yet it wavered slightly. “Why else send out ’emergency’ in the text? It’s logical to assume it’s Falcon.”

“What’re we gonna do?” cried Jacob, grabbing his face and dragging his fingers down over his cheeks.

“We are going to remain calm,” said Zach, raising his voice above the commotion. His tone turned serious. “I’m not going to sugarcoat this: it’s probably Falcon.” Jacob whimpered, covering his eyes with his hands. Zach’s voice rose. “But we’re not going to be afraid. If we’re afraid, then this criminal has already won half the fight.”

No one said anything. Jacob lowered his hands. He still looked worried, but his expression softened, as if he were making the effort to calm himself. Wearied strength entered his features.

“We’ll make a plan on the way there,” said Zach. He took a deep breath, wetting his lips. “Don’t let the fear go to your head. We’re a team—we’re a family, aren’t we?”

The intensity left the room. Everyone nodded. Zach took a deep breath. He gazed once more into each of their faces, trying to send them strength. His gaze rested on Hikaru last. If he was weak, then they all were.

Stay strong.

“There are people depending on us,” said Zach, his voice powerful. “And we will protect them – no matter what.”

Keep reading –>

EIGHT

The next morning, Zach woke with a crick in his neck.

But his surroundings were warm.

He lifted his head and flexed his shoulders, rolling his neck to alleviate the stiffness. He glanced around, checking on everyone. Brielle was curled up against him, her head in his lap. Sevati and Drake were leaning against her. Jacob had fallen to the side, his glasses askew, curled up with knees bent to his chest and his arms folded beneath him. Everyone was still asleep.

Hikaru was gone.

Zach slipped out from beneath Brielle, letting her rest where he’d been sitting. She stirred, but didn’t wake. He stretched his arms in the air. It took a moment of awkward walking to get his flexibility back.

He looked around the apartment for Hikaru. She wasn’t in either bedroom nor the bathroom. He went to the front door and opened it; the stairway was empty as well. Zach closed the door behind himself. He walked down the stairs, careful to avoid the creaks in the wood.

Once at the bottom, he opened the door to the outside. The sun shone brightly, the warm, pleasant rays flooding over his skin. Despite the heat from the sunlight, the chill in the air offset it. Zach wished he had thought to bring a jacket.

Rubbing his hands over his arms, he walked around their apartment building, towards a shaded area where there was a secluded patch of grassy land. It was the perfect place for young children to play. Zach and his friends often used it to practice sparring; anyone who asked were told it was for karate class. A gentle breeze blew by, the last of the fall leaves rustling softly in its wake. It breathed with a crisp scent. Some leaves broke from their branches and fluttered to the ground.

As he came closer to the grassy area, he found Hikaru. She was standing outside the shade, moving with slow, precise steps – it was her Tai Chi routine, the one she practiced every morning for the past three years.

Her movements, which resembled a gentle dance, were somber.

“Mind if I join you?” asked Zach. Hikaru’s eyes glanced at him briefly, before she nodded; the elegant movements of her routine never wavered. Zach watched for a moment, before he joined in. He stood across from her, keeping his steps opposite to hers – she had taught him the routine a few years ago. She had always said that it could calm anyone down.

But, right now, she was anything but calm.

“Did you get up early?” asked Zach.

“Mmm.”

Her attempts to avoid eye contact were obvious.

“It wasn’t your fault,” said Zach, his voice soft. Her limbs stiffened, but she continued the routine.

“She would not have died if it weren’t for me,” said Hikaru, as she slowly stepped forward, her hand pushing outward. Every movement she made was within her control. As she spoke, her voice was calm; the deep ache in her heart could be heard.

“The bullets killed her,” whispered Zach. “The gun went off and she was in the way. It was an accident.”

It was my fault, not yours.

As she slowly stepped to the side, Hikaru’s eyes darkened. “Those bullets should’ve been for me,” she said, emotion burning her voice. “Now a little girl is without her mother.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” said Zach, stopping. His arms dropped to his sides, his fists clenching tightly. “It was my fault and you know it. My… My ability wasn’t w—”

“Stop!” shouted Hikaru. She broke the routine, throwing her hands into the air. “Don’t say it out loud! If you don’t say it, then it’s not true.” She looked at him, pleading desperation in her gaze. Her tone dropped. “You can’t say it. Please,” she whispered. “He was just immune. Some people can be immune to it, right?”

His heart broke.

“Yes,” said Zach, calm through the lie.

A bird chirped in the trees. Hikaru glanced away, looking up towards the treetops. She took a deep breath. The cool breeze brushed against Zach’s skin, carrying with it the fragrance of detergent from the local laundromat.

It’s only a matter of time. Once the truth was revealed, it was all over. Unit Twelve would be disbanded and assigned to new recruits.

What would happened to them?

He didn’t know. They would be separated – oh, yes, they would probably never see each other again, even when they reached adulthood. But Zach had no real knowledge of what happened to disbanded teams. Were they individually reassigned to another team? Perhaps they’d be thrown back into the system the government had created for children like them.

A darker part of his mind wondered if they would disappear altogether. Would the government ‘remove’ them? Somehow, that wasn’t as frightening as their fragile family being torn apart.

Zach would do anything to delay that future.

“There is a little girl who will grow up without her mother,” said Hikaru; her voice cracked once. “You’re not to blame. You have no control over that.” There was a long moment. She pulled her lips inside her mouth and wrapped her arms around her chest. “It should have been me,” she whispered.

Zach sucked in his breath. Those innocent words were not meant to be cruel – but, oh, they tore his heart. His chest twisted at such a thought.

“No,” whispered Zach, his voice strong. “It’s better that you live.”

Hikaru’s eyes narrowed. “Are you suggesting that her death is justified?” she snapped, her tone flinty. “That her life is of less worth than mine? I’m not a mother. She still had a great responsibility.”

“But you do, too.”

“I am nothing more than a hired soldier, a façade of a hero – if a hero at all,” said Hikaru, her expression growing hard. “I know my place and my position. I can be traded away or substituted with another at any time. But that woman can’t be substituted!” she cried, her hand gripping the fabric of her shirt. It trembled. “No mother can be traded.”

Orphans…

Families torn apart by the government.

They each knew the pain that little girl would go through. Rarely did they ever talk about their previous families. But they all knew that they were united in the same pain, bound together in a strange, yet powerful way. Zach looked into her eyes, seeing the pain of her heart plainly etched there. Her chest rose up and down in short bursts, as if she were trying to maintain the last of her control.

If Hikaru had been killed, this little family would’ve suffered a blow like no other. Zach didn’t know what he’d do without her. She was their rock, always their voice of reason. She was his rock, his best friend. Drake was an awesome buddy and, often, he went to the older boy for his thoughts and advice.

But Hikaru was his closest friend, the only one whom Zach felt safe enough to share some of his deepest thoughts and feelings. If he didn’t have her, he was sure he couldn’t handle the heavy burden he carried.

Though he was their leader, Zach was sure they could go on should something happen to him. Her strength was the glue that sealed them together. They could and would be strong without him.

But he hoped a time like that wouldn’t come.

“You’re more than a hired soldier,” said Zach softly. She looked away. He stepped closer, putting a hand onto her forearm. “You know that. It should’ve been me, but you saved my life. And I… I don’t want you to die,” he whispered. “I guess it’s selfish of me, but I want you to be alive, no matter what.”

Even if I had to choose…

Hikaru sagged, the tenseness in her body lessening. Her eyes clenched shut, sending a pair of tears down her cheeks. She tucked her arms against her chest, clasping her hands over her heart.

A sob broke through her lips.

Zach pulled her into his arms. She cried into his chest, her hands wrinkling the front of his shirt. She pressed her forehead there. His arms squeezed against her back, pulling her closer.

After a few moments, her hands released his shirt and curled around his waist. She was taller than him, barely an inch, but with her head dipped into his neck, it wasn’t noticeable.

“It’s okay,” whispered Zach. “It’s okay.”

Her hold on him tightened. “No, it’s not,” she cried.

“I know. You’re right. It’s not okay.”

There wasn’t anything more he could say to comfort her.

So, he held her.

He stood there, unaware of the time that passed. He ignored the cold that surrounded them. He ignored the rustling breeze that made it even chillier. He ignored the chirping birds. He ignored the sounds of distant cars.

His focus was on her.

Soon, her sobs softened to shuddering cries; then, she went silent. Her breathing deepened, each intake of air slow and deliberate. More minutes passed.

“Sorry.”

Zach’s hand slipped through thick strands of her black hair. It was soft and silky. His hand cradled the back of her head. “It’s not your fault,” he said. She shook her head. Her warm breath intensified against his skin, brushing it so lightly, it sent chills through his stomach. “Listen to me, Hikaru—” He emphasized his next words deliberately. “—You must live on. You’re going to have to let it go or else you’ll never be all right. You’ll always be haunted by this and we’ll never forget. But you can’t let it stop you from saving the next mother who needs us.”

There was a shuddering gasp and, for a moment, Zach thought she was going to start crying again. Her arms tightened around his waist; she nodded her head; her tears had fallen onto his shoulder, his skin still wet.

Zach didn’t mind it.

His face was surrounded by her hair, the light scent of her shampoo wafting over his senses. As he focused on this, a sensation fluttered in the pit of his stomach. The air didn’t seem so cold any more.

Hikaru pulled back. She slid her hands over her face and wiped away the tears. She sniffled, rubbing her fingers under her nose. Zach smiled at her disheveled appearance, his stomach flopping strangely again. Her clumped eyelashes brushed against her reddened cheeks; her eyes were puffy.

But she was smiling again, determination flaring once more.

“Thank you.”

Zach gave her a smile. “Are you all right now?” he asked.

She brightened and nodded. “I am now.” That gentle smile softened; her head tilted to the side, a deep sincerity within her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered.

The heat in his face crawled its way to his ears.

“Hey!“

At the sound of Brielle’s voice, Zach and Hikaru turned around to see the rest of the gang. Each looked tired, but alert. Jacob was rubbing his cheeks. The other two, Sevati and Drake, looked hesitant, but they had knowing, almost mischievous smirks on their faces.

Why is Drake looking at me like that?

“I’m starved,” complained Brielle. She folded her arms and stared at them with a pointed expression. Hikaru let out a soft laugh. Zach joined her. They laughed even harder when they received perplexed looks. Then, Hikaru, her dark eyes lighting up in mischief, gave Zach a rough shove. It startled him and he lost his balance, landing on his backside. He stared up at her.

“What—”

“You’re it!” cried Hikaru, laughing almost to the point of hysteria. She darted away, leaving a dumbfounded Zach on the damp, cold grass. After a second, he cracked a smirk and leapt to his feet. One hefty shove later and he had passed ownership to an unsuspecting Drake.

And then it was on.

A mixture of playful, delighted laughter spread through the six friends like wildfire. It didn’t matter that it was early morning. It didn’t matter that something terrible had happened the night before. Everything was lost to the moment.

Food was forgotten.

An old memory was forgotten.

The only thing on the minds of the six teenagers was a simple game. They pushed themselves to their limits; an hour passed. The game stopped rather abruptly and the grassy yard supported six exhausted teens.

Yet, everything seemed a little better.

As Zach stared up at the blue sky, his chest heaving deeply as he breathed, the smile never faded from his mouth. The freshness of cut grass from the day before and the scent of fall filled his senses. Peace. The others were sprawled across the lawn in various positions all around him. He could hear their pants. But, somehow, he knew they were smiling.

“All right, guys,” said Zach, clapping his hands and sitting up. “I dunno about you, but I’m famished. Let’s get some breakfast.”

It was going to be a good day. They would have two of them, a reprieve from the cruel world. Zach would make sure their hearts were recharged with blissful happiness before they were over.

Keep reading –>