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 –>

EIGHTEEN

“What?”

“Drake, break through it,” said Zach, his voice strong. Hikaru sucked in her breath, staring at him with wide, frightened eyes. She clutched onto Brielle tighter.

“Are you sure?” asked Drake.

“Yes.” Zach turned to the man, putting out a hand. “Sir, I need you to step back. It won’t be safe.”

The man narrowed his eyes, but he nodded. After they were far enough back, Zach gave the command.

“Do it, Drake.”

He didn’t think about the repercussions. Their safety was all that mattered. He would sacrifice anything, cross any boundary, do whatever it took to save and protect his friends – no matter what.

A cry of power shouted beneath the rubble.

The wall exploded apart. Drake burst forth. Beneath him, curled on the ground, was Jacob. Zach rushed forward, helping him out of the rubble. He was covered in dirt and soot; two trails along his cheeks revealed his tears. Once free of brick and stone, Jacob cradled his arm in his chest.

“It hurts a lot,” said Jacob, his voice catching. “I think it’s broken.”

Zach wrapped his arms around him; the boy began to sob in earnest. “That’s it,” he whispered. “It’s all right.”

“Here, I’ll take him,” said the man. He scooped Jacob into his arms with ease. Zach caught sight of Jacob’s wrist. It was swollen and bruised.

“My leg,” said Drake, his voice hissing once. His face contorted; he gritted his teeth. A long pole was embedded inside his leg. Blood pooled the ground. Though covered in dirt, Drake’s face was ghostly pale. His breathing was labored. “Hang on a minute, I’m gonna…”

He grabbed the pole. Zach’s breath caught in his throat.

“Drake, wait—”

A scream tore the air, just as Drake ripped the pole out of his leg. The pole clanged against the ground; Drake slumped back, his eyes rolling into the back of his head.

“Hikaru!” shouted Zach.

There was no time to get Drake to a doctor or other medical aid. If he wasn’t healed immediately, losing the leg was the least of his worries: Drake would die.

Hikaru and the man were at his side in seconds. Zach didn’t have time to contemplate how helpful this man was to them right now. With Zach and Hikaru’s help, the man pulled Drake out of the rubble, lifting him into his arms. In their wake, trails of blood dotted the ground. Once within the shadows of the alleyway, the man set Drake down to rest against a wall beside Sevati. Drake moaned, grimacing in pain. Jacob curled against Sevati’s side, while Brielle sat down next to him. Both Jacob and Brielle were shaking, watching the others with glazed eyes.

Hikaru rushed to Drake, kneeling beside him and immediately starting the work of healing his leg. She removed debris and dirt from his flesh, getting the blood to stop soon after. A thin layer of healed skin was over the wound. Drake was still out of it, however. Once he was secure, she moved onto healing Jacob’s wrist.

All the while, their visitor watched.

“Sir, I must request that you speak of this experience to no one,” said Zach, turning to the man. A solemn air rose among the group. The man’s eyes widened slightly as an eyebrow raised. “You know what we are, I’m sure, by now. I…” Zach let out a shaky breath. “I’d hate for something to happen to someone so kind like yourself. If the government gets wind of this, we’ll all be in a bad position.”

“Haven’t you heard?” asked Sevati in a light, yet ominous tone. “They make people disappear for a living.”

Zach nodded. “I’m not requesting this just for us,” he said softly. “Yes, we’d get in trouble, but… those who reveal anything about our identities go missing. We’ve seen it firsthand.”

A silence lifted between them. The chaos around them still raged on with a vengeance, yet within their group of six and a stranger there was an odd bubble encapsulating them.

The man’s expression softened.

“Now I am certain we’ve met before, said the man with a gentle smirk. The tension eased within Zach’s chest, slowly unknotting the pain of fear. “Fate must be directing our meetings, don’t you agree?”

Was she?

The man stepped forward. “As we seem to be crossing paths often,” he said. The man smiled and held out a hand. “Perhaps it’s wise to properly introduce myself: I’m Sebastian Hawke.”

Zach slowly extended his hand and clasped the larger one. A strong handshake was met. He stared at the man, stunned by the friendly gesture.

“I’m not the type to go spreading secrets, especially something like this,” said Hawke. “And I don’t want any trouble for you. You have it hard enough as it is.”

This man wasn’t abhorred by them.

He knew what they were and he didn’t hate them, like everyone else had. There was an openness to him, which was so unlike the cold barrier that everyone held when speaking to any of them. It was such an overwhelming feeling of being accepted. It brought an intense wave of emotion through Zach’s being.

He swallowed.

Those eyes were filled with a trustworthy light. However, a powerful aura hovered around the man, forcing Zach to keep his guard up even though he didn’t want to do so.

Was there really someone out there who didn’t view them as the enemy?

“I’m Zach Bennet.”

The smile was tender. “It’s nice to meet you, Zach,” Hawke said. Something flickered inside the man’s eyes, a deep sorrow. Uncomfortable, Zach was unsure what to say. “If I may, your parents?”

Zach shook his head. He gritted his teeth. “We’re all we have.”

“I’m sorry,” whispered Hawke.

“We have each other and that’s all that matters,” said Zach. “Our parents died years ago. It’s not a big deal.”

Are you sure about that?

The man’s jaw clenched. For a long moment, Zach wondered if he had offended the man. However, a small smile loosened Hawke’s expression. He withdrew from the handshake.

“Well, I can’t help but think you look like your mother. Hair as red as that must come from her.”

Zach inhaled sharply. “Uh, excuse me?” he asked, confused. Wait, hadn’t he said he didn’t know my Mom? Or is he just guessing?

“But… your eyes. Did they come from your father?”

Becoming even more unsettled, Zach didn’t say anything. But he couldn’t pull his gaze away from the pair of intense, almost wistful eyes – such emotion filled them.

“I must be going,” said Hawke. He glanced towards the others. “Will you and your friends be all right?”

“Yes, thank you,” said Zach in a low voice. “For everything.”

Hawke merely inclined his head. Zach watched intently as the man walked away. His gaze never left the broad back until it turned a corner to another block of the city. Confusion bled through every particle of his soul. It was foolish. The man wouldn’t lie about knowing his mother.

Michael Bennet had hazel eyes; Abigail Bennet had green eyes.

Wherever his eye color came from, it wasn’t directly from his father. Zach’s pair of blue eyes were more vibrant and crystalline in nature.

An unknown chill slid down his back. It wasn’t from a gust of winter wind. He wriggled his back, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling in his chest. There were more pressing matters now than a weird, yet kind stranger.

Hikaru was healing Sevati’s sprained ankle after finishing with Jacob’s wrist. Blessedly, they were the only ones in the small alleyway, so she could work unimpeded. Zach was about to move towards them, to be at their sides, when his cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and answered the unknown contact.

“Hello?”

There was a pause. Zach frowned, ready to end the call, when a smooth, deep voice cut through the silence. Goosebumps rose on his arms.

“Ah, my little Chief. Having a pleasant afternoon, I hope?”

Every muscle stilled inside Zach’s body. A chill raced down his spine. Zach whirled away from his friends; his jaw clenched. He took a moment to take a deep breath, trying to keep his voice from wavering.

“I’m sorry, who is this?”

His mouth went dry. He laced his tongue over his lips.

“Oh, I think you know exactly who this is.”

His breath caught in his throat; his heart skipped a beat. It took Zach a long moment to regain his voice; the fear clutched at his chest with a fist of unbending steel. Zach hunched over, walking a number of yards away to gain some privacy and distance from his friends.

“How the hell did you get my number, Falcon?” hissed Zach.

“I have my ways.”

Frick.

“What d’you want? Why are you calling me?”

“Oh, I don’t know; did you enjoy my recent show? Bit of a blast, don’t you think?” There was a hollow chuckle. “Oh, my, how callous of me. Pun wasn’t intended. I was hoping for an outing with you. Perhaps a cup of coffee? Oh, but you’re a teenager; how about a burger or a slice of pizza?”

This condescending—

“Quit playing games!” snapped Zach, his voice snapping out dangerously. He dropped his tone, hoping the others hadn’t heard his outburst. “Death and destruction isn’t something to gloat about, you psycho. People are screaming in pain and fear because of this—because of what you’ve done. How can you not understand?”

His last question came out more of a plea than an accusing demand. He’d been so close to the blast. He’d been so close to losing his own life and the lives of his friends. His hand shook at his ear; his heart thumped like a hammer upon an anvil.

We all could’ve died.

And no one would’ve cared.

“What do you want? You want something, don’t—”

“Tonight. At midnight. I think I’d fancy a video chat.”

“Stop babbling,” snapped Zach. “What’re you talking about?”

“So cute,” drawled Falcon, his breath purring through the phone. “But I’m serious. I want a video chat with you and only you. Midnight. Be alone. Don’t worry about how I’ll call; just have your laptop open at the right time. You can wear your cute mask, but that’s unnecessary.”

“What makes you think I’m going to do that?” demanded Zach. “I don’t make deals with terrorists—the government doesn’t make deals with terrorists.”

“Mmm, I suggest you think really hard about how I know your number, little Chief.” Zach sucked in his breath, his eyes widening in fear. “Midnight, tonight. Refusal would be most unwise.”

The call ended.

His arm dropped like lead, his hand tightly clutching the phone. It shook. Every breath Zach took shuddered his chest. He slowly slid his phone into his pocket. His heart pounded viciously in his chest; he could hear each beat clear and loud within his ears.

“Zach?”

A hand touched his shoulder.

He didn’t turn around right away. Finally, he faced Hikaru with a soft, smile on his face. His reply was grim.

“We have to report to the chief.”

Keep reading –>

SEVENTEEN

Screams.

So many screams.

The screams tore through his essence, sending shockwaves of fear through every vein. Dust clouded the sight, voices of terror filled the ears, smoke accosted the nose, and heat burned the eyes. Zach was disoriented. People clamored about, seeking, calling, crying for help.

I have to find them.

Be alive.

Please, you guys, you have to be okay.

Something creaked ominously overhead. It cracked with a snap. Zach could hear something falling; the dust was so thick, the air was so thick, he didn’t know where to go, where to dodge, where to—

A rough hand grabbed him by the arm. It jerked him back. He slammed into a flat chest and they toppled backwards. Zach landed hard on his arm.

Drake? No—

BOOM.

The earth shook as something struck the ground with enormous weight. Dust flumed upward. Zach rolled to the side and hunched over, choking. The others… where… are they okay…

“Are you all right?” asked a voice. “Are you injured at all?”

Hands grabbed him by the face, turning his head back and forth. Zach didn’t look at the man for a long moment. Something flashed in his eyes and he squeezed his eyes shut.

“No concussion at least.”

Movement. Where and what, he didn’t know. Zach felt himself being pulled to his feet. He swayed; a hand steadied him. His lungs burned. Exhaustion threatened to unravel him. He should’ve eaten something; he should’ve slept; he should’ve been better prepared; he should’ve—

Dammit!

Where is he? Where’s Falcon?! We have to collect ourselves. We have to go after him. We have to stop him before he escapes!

A gentle, but a firm pat on the face brought Zach back to his senses. He blinked, looking up at his rescuer. The man was covered with dust, but his crystal blue eyes shone through the grime on his face.

Zach frowned.

Those eyes… It’s that man I bumped into…

“You’ve got a nasty wound on your arm,” said the man. “You’re going into shock.”

“I’m fine,” said Zach, his voice trembling and weak. Pain clouded his mind. His arm throbbed, blood trailing downward. He let out a shaky exhale of breath. “Thank you. You probably saved my life.”

He couldn’t stop the tremors. He couldn’t stop the adrenaline exhaustion. He needed to calm down. He needed to focus. He needed to put all of his energy into finding the others. They were fine. He was fine. Everyone was fine.

We just need to regroup.

Despite all of his previous training, he hadn’t been prepared for something like this. It was a completely different experience living through a catastrophic event than swooping in later as the ‘so called’ heroes. They’d been so close to getting injured or worse – the others could be hurt, even now.

His heart thumped in his ears; it echoed so loudly he could barely hear. Panic flushed into his throat, mixing with the dust. He gasped.

Please be okay, guys.

“My friends… My friends were with me,” whispered Zach, glancing around. “I have to find them. I have to find them.”

He couldn’t stop the panic in his heart. A part of his mind screamed at him to calm down, but he couldn’t. Panicking wasn’t going to make his friends reappear. He knew that. Now if he could just get the rest of his body to figure that out…

“It’s okay. Calm down. We’ll find your friends.”

A hand on his shoulder steadied Zach, but he didn’t pay attention to it. His eyes were frantically searching.

I can’t lose them, too.

A voice broke through the chaos, a bright light shining through the darkness in his mind.

“Zach?”

He whirled around towards the source.

“Hikaru!“

He broke away from the hand on his shoulder and rushed forward. Hidden in the shadows, Hikaru was only a few paces away. She had fallen to the ground, slowly trying to sit up. Zach knelt at her side. As she looked at him, his hand slipped passed her cheek to hold the side of her neck. He could feel her quickened pulse against the palm of his hand.

She was alive.

“Are you all right?” asked Zach.

She nodded; her chest rose and fell at an accelerated rate. Her eyes flittered back and forth at their surroundings. The dust, dirt, and grime clung to her face; sweat beaded at her temples. With his free hand, Zach brushed a thick strand of stray hair out of her face. His fingers lingered as they touched her cheek.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” whispered Zach.

“I’m all right,” said Hikaru, her voice somewhat breathless. “What’s happening?”

Zach shook his head, pulling away. He looked out over the chaos, the sounds of fire still flickering in the air. Sweat slipped down his face from the heat.

“It’s him,” whispered Zach. He glanced back at Hikaru. Fear laced through her brown eyes. “It’s him.“

“We were…”

Too close.

“Where are the others?” asked Hikaru, her voice rising in pitch. She made a move to get up, but the man knelt down beside her with a hand held up.

“Wait a moment,” said the man, lifting her chin to face him.

“What are you doing?” asked Zach.

“She might have a concussion. I’m no doctor, but I know the signs,” said the man. He lifted a cell phone with the flashlight on. “Look into the light, dear.”

Hikaru’s lips thinned, but she looked into the light. Her pupils contracted as the light shone in her eyes. The man did this with both, before shutting the phone off and pocketing it. He withdrew his hand.

“You don’t seem to have a concussion,” said the man. “You don’t feel dizzy or confused, do you?”

“No, I’m fine. Thank you,” said Hikaru, shaking her head. “We have to find the others,” she said, her voice desperate yet strong. She began to get to her feet. “Let’s go.”

Zach helped her up. Hikaru looked around, her features etched with pained fear.

“How horrible,” whispered Hikaru, drawing her arms around her chest. “How could someone do something like this?”

The chaos rang in their ears. They tried looking for the others in the dusty fog, but their voices were drowned out by countless other people trying to find their own loved ones. Zach called out names, his voice growing hoarse. The man stayed with them, doing his best to aid them in their search.

They still didn’t even get his name.

Time slowed and stretched. It seemed like a century, but it was only after a few minutes when Zach caught sight of a small rustle in a section of nearby debris. He rushed to it. The rubble parted as plants flooded upward. A moment later, Sevati appeared, the plants pushing fallen stones away before they wilted to dust.

“I only had time to protect Brielle,” said Sevati, her voice breathless. The youngest girl popped up at this, looking quite shaken.

“Hikaru!” cried Zach. “Sevati and Brielle are safe!”

At the sound of his voice, Hikaru turned around. Relief bloomed in her face. She was at their side in a flash, the man quickly following after her. Zach pulled Sevati’s arm around his shoulders and helped her out of the rubble. Sevati winced and sucked in her breath.

“It’s my ankle,” whispered Sevati. “Nothing too bad, though.”

“Here. If I may,” said the man, coming forward. With gentle hands, he pulled Sevati away from Zach and lifted her into his arms.

“Are you hurt, Bri?” asked Hikaru

Brielle shook her head. “Just… Just a few scratches,” she whispered, trembling. Her eyes were wide.

Hikaru helped her out of the rubble, appearing torn as she eyed Sevati’s swelling ankle. If they’d been in uniform or were alone, she’d already have begun the healing process.

But they had an eye witness. They were lucky as it was, since the man hadn’t seen how Sevati had protected Brielle. A civilian finding out was dangerous.

Not for them, though.

For the civilian.

If this man found out and didn’t remain silent, he would disappear. Just like that girl at their school had disappeared.

“Don’t put too much weight on that foot,” said the man, as he lowered Sevati against a secure wall a number of feet away.

“Thank you, sir.”

Brielle stood still, not moving any further. Her lips trembled as her arms clutched around her waist.

“Brielle?” whispered Zach.

She turned to him and threw her arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder. She began to cry. He wrapped his arms around her.

“Shh, it’s okay,” whispered Zach, tucking her head beneath his chin. Hikaru came to them and coaxed the young girl into her arms. Brielle didn’t protest. She clung to the new comfort offered her. Hikaru looked at Zach, her eyes filled with pleading. He nodded.

Look for the others.

It was another five minutes – that seemed like hours – before he heard something odd. A weak, muffled cry came somewhere nearby. Zach froze as he listened. The sound grew louder; he recognized it.

“Drake!” cried Zach, moving closer to its source. “Drake, are you all right? Where are you?”

The muffled sound became louder. Zach moved closer to it.

“Drake, where are you?”

There was a pause. Zach prayed they were all right, hoped beyond all hope he’d found them. A rush of deep gratitude poured through his heart when he got a reply.

“Beneath…” started Drake. “Beneath a wall. I shielded Jacob. Something… Something has pierced my leg, though.” There was a weak chuckle. “Think it’s serious. Hurts too much.”

Zach’s mind raced. His hands brushed against the debris; it was too heavy to lift. Those two needed to get out. They could suffocate. How long would it be before help would come? Weren’t they supposed to be the heroes? Weren’t they supposed to be saving lives here? But… When they failed, who would save them?

There was only one solution.

“Break through it,” whispered Zach.

Consequences be damned.

Keep reading –>

SIXTEEN

Falcon had been disturbingly silent.

There were less people than usual at the large park within central Templeton Hills. Zach leaned against the park bench, catching his breath. Laughter played in his ears, voices interwoven in their melody, as his friends engaged in their carefree game of tag. His head tipped backwards all the way; he gazed at the nearby street. The skyrise of the city was upside down at this view point. There weren’t many people on the sidewalks.

Sighing, Zach lifted his head and watched his friends. A wave of dizziness struck. He drew a knee to his chest and rested an arm there, putting a hand to his forehead. Nausea flooded over his senses; his hand slid over his mouth.

Good thing I skipped lunch.

Though Hikaru had given him a disapproving look, he had managed to get away with not eating. Zach swore it was one of her life goals to fatten them all up. If anyone of them skipped a meal, Hikaru always seemed to take great personal offense at it.

He hated disappointing her.

Zach sighed, pulling out a hard candy out of his pocket and unwrapping it. He popped it into his mouth, stuffing the wrapper back inside his pocket. So long as he controlled his sugar levels, his emotions would stay in check. He could eat later. Maybe his appetite would be better around dinner time.

He doubted it.

More than likely, his lack of appetite had something to do with his sleepless nights. Though he wasn’t sure which had come first – at any rate, sleeping through the night had become a thing of the past.

He was just as on edge as the rest of this city.

A little over a week had gone by since that first attack by Falcon. There were no more sightings, no more little teasers about where the criminal would strike next, no more news – all information had ceased.

Radio silence.

Zach rubbed the goosebumps on his arms.

It was impossible to evacuate all of the clinics and hospitals. They couldn’t shuffle people back and forth between facilities, wondering when an attack would strike next. One of the larger clinics, which was about a block away from this park, had been evacuated; but the hospital a few blocks further down the street hadn’t been evacuated.

He couldn’t stop thinking about all the possibilities. He couldn’t stop thinking about the next fight, the next encounter. His phone had buzzed twice since that first fight and both times he’d been powerless against the fear that clawed at his heart and gripped his soul.

Is this it?

Is it Falcon this time?

His lack of appetite and sleepless nights had an even deeper root. Maybe if he stopped having disturbing nightmares about Falcon killing his team, maybe if he stopped having nightmares about losing his friends – maybe if everything stopped seeping into his dreams, then maybe he’d have a normal night’s sleep.

Just maybe. It was a slight possibility. Mmm.

If he stopped thinking about Falcon, then maybe he could have some semblance of normalcy once again.

Zach snorted to himself. As if that would happen. No, his mind would continue to race with new plans, potential ways of bringing Falcon down – but they were useless within his nightmares. He would continue to lie awake at night, staring up at the ceiling, staring at his mother’s painting on the wall, staring into the unknown and praying he could come out the victor.

It was better to be proactive.

Someone slumped onto the bench beside him; there was a loud exhale of breath and a low whistle.

“Can’t believe they can still go at it,” said Drake, nudging Zach and motioning towards the youngest two. Brielle and Jacob were still playing, abandoning Hikaru and Sevati on the grass; they chased each other with loud laughter in their wake.

“You sound like an old man,” said Zach with a chuckle. He lightly punched Drake in the arm.

They fell into companionable silence, watching the others play for a time. After five minutes or so, Drake nudged him softly again. Zach looked at him; he grew nervous at the expression on Drake’s face.

“So, what’s going on with you?” whispered Drake.

His breath caught in his throat. Zach swallowed. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, come off it,” said Drake, sounding frustrated. He glanced at the others before dropping his voice. “You know I can tell whether or not you’re asleep by now, right? You’ve barely slept. You haven’t eaten much and, honestly, I’m shocked Hikaru hasn’t come down on ya like a Norse god or something for missing meals. So, what’s up?”

‘Have your powers returned yet?’

‘…freak of nature.’

‘…lucky to have this job.’

‘A little hero like you could never understand.’

“Zach, hey, are you all right?” asked Drake, more urgent now. He gently pushed Zach on the shoulder, worry lighting within his eyes. “You’re pale. Are you sick?”

Zach blinked, voices echoing in his mind with the destructive lure of a Siren’s call. He smiled wanly. Drake’s lips thinned.

“I’m fine.”

“Bullshit.”

Zach raised an eyebrow, almost impressed by his courage. Hikaru had the ears of a hound. Drake glanced at her, nervous guilt on his face. When it was apparent she hadn’t heard him, he looked back at Zach with a relieved sigh.

“Bull crap,” Drake amended with a flush. “Look, I know you like to bottle things up like this, but I really hate it, Zach.” There was a pause; he ran a hand through his hair. “It scares me,” Drake whispered.

Zach didn’t answer immediately. He looked away. His eyes singled onto a billboard sign that glowed in the distance; ads interchanged every few seconds. An ad for parents came next: “Protect your future children from genetic diseases… Genetic Modification: Children of the Future.”

The ad ended with the address of the clinic, which happened to be nearby.

Smoke and flames billowed in the distance.

‘One hundred twenty-four to be exact.’

Will he crush my skull?

Zach sucked in his breath, dragging his gaze away from the billboard. Drake’s hand was over his wrist. He didn’t remember when the other boy had placed it there. He patted the hand lightly, trying to collect his thoughts.

“I have a lot on my mind,” whispered Zach, looking back at Drake. The other boy had grown more alarmed. Zach sighed. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I haven’t been sleeping and it’s affecting me. I’m just really tired all the time now.”

Drake studied him, his eyes hard with their scrutiny. He blew out a huff of air through his mouth, his throat grunting with annoyance.

“You’re not going to tell me, are you?” whispered Drake.

“No, I’m not,” said Zach softly.

“You can talk to me. You know that, right?”

“I know.”

“Then, why?” asked Drake, a hint of sadness in his voice.

“I know it looks bad now,” whispered Zach. “But it will get better. I’ll take care of it, I promise.”

Liar.

You’re lying to him. You can’t fix anything. Stop lying. Tell him. Tell them. Stop holding back and—

“And I’ll take better care of myself,” said Zach, forcing a grin to lift his face. “Once things settle down, I swear things won’t be so weird with me. All right? Trust me.”

Trust a liar?

You’re hilarious.

“It’s nothing a good sleep and a good meal won’t fix,” said Zach, his fake grin becoming more believable.

“It’s about Falcon, isn’t it?”

“No, I don’t think the Falcon problem will be solved with food.”

They stared at each other for a long moment, before they both burst into laughter. The tension slid away, like cool water quenching the thirst.

You can’t lie forever.

Oh, but he was going to try.

The laughter gradually died; the others stopped playing. Warmth encapsulated his side; hands slid around his arm. A head rested against his upper shoulder, bringing with it the familiar scent of Hikaru’s shampoo. Drake slowly smirked at him. His eyebrows bobbed up and down.

Zach ignored him.

The others shuffled forward, gathering around each other at the bench. Brielle crouched in front and prodded Zach’s forehead, keeping her finger poised for another poke.

“It’s not as much fun without you,” said Brielle with a haughty sniff. There was a light flush to her face.

Zach smiled.

Emotion rose in his chest. His jaw clenched.

He stood up, taking a moment to stretch his limbs. He wasn’t going to break down. Not now. Not ever. Not in front of them. He ruffled Jacob’s hair. He grinned at the others.

“I dunno about you guys, but I hear some mac and cheese calling my name.”

As they walked home, the sun slowly waned across the horizon. The chatter of six teens added to the cacophony of the car filled streets. An ambulance sped by.

The air shattered. A blast blew over them. The ground shook beneath their feet. Screams warbled inside Zach’s ringing ears.

His friends…

Screeching tires, honking horns, shattering glass – they crashed together with ear splitting proportions. In the chaos, Zach grabbed the nearest two and jerked them down to the ground; the others followed like dominos. The sound of flickering flames licked his ears; smoke and fire clogged his senses.

Glass struck the ground. A second explosion shook the evening. More screams. More chaos. Everything was happening so fast, yet time came to a brutal halt. There was a crackling noise nearby; it snapped. There was a tremendous, thunderous crash.

Debris came down all around them. In the disorder, Zach lost sight of all of his friends. He slammed a hand over his mouth and nose, coughing through the smoke. He groped through the smoke, trying to get clear of it. As he broke through, he gasped for breath, choking. His eyes burned. He quickly looked around.

The building closest had been old, made of faded bricks. The entire side of the wall had fallen, sections of brick lay scattered across the area and the road.

A rage of billowing black smoke and wild, untamable flames stood only two buildings down the street. If they had been any closer… They would’ve been at the danger zone. The heat was intense, meltingly hot as a desert sun. The warmth burned Zach’s face, even from this distance.

The screams hadn’t faded. It’s the clinic… Falcon had targeted the empty clinic. Empty… Zach dragged his gaze away from the raging flames, with only one focus occupying his mind.

Where are they? Where’re my friends?

Keep reading –>

FIFTEEN

Chattering animatedly amongst themselves, the six friends walked down the street towards a nearby pizza shop. Each one had a bounce in their step; though, the most excited were Jacob and Brielle. Laughter followed their playful skips. The sun shone brightly, the breeze gentle and light. The air was crisp and refreshing.

Zach hung back somewhat, walking with his hands in his pockets. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the fresh air. He really wanted to enjoy this with them, but he couldn’t shake off the misgivings floating around in his head. He could easily pinpoint the sources of these feelings, but it was more the overall effect they had on him.

Lost.

He’d managed for so long without the support of an adult. He wished he didn’t feel so darn lost, wanting someone to talk to – someone who could offer wisdom and advice that came with age and experience. He wasn’t sure why he was missing it lately. Maybe it was the deadline. Maybe it was Falcon. Maybe it was the overwhelmingly helpless feeling that burned through every particle of his soul.

Sure. Multiple choice? How about all of the above?

Zach sighed, running a hand through his hair. Hikaru glanced back at him, concern on her face. He gave her a reassuring smile. She returned it and rejoined the chatter.

She always knows…

How she did it, Zach would never know. He was thankful she didn’t prod him further. If she pushed, he wondered if he would break. Would he tell her? Would he reveal this secret, like he’d done before with so many other things in his life?

Or would he lie to her?

Just this once?

His thoughts were a chaotic mess. Zach walked with his head bowed, his eyes watching his footsteps. He bumped into a stronger body and stumbled backwards, almost falling to the ground – if it hadn’t been for a pair of powerful hands clasping him by the shoulders and keeping him on his feet.

He looked up. It was a tall man with wavy black hair. A hint of white could be seen at the roots, yet the man looked young enough to be in his thirties. His crystal blue eyes were the most intense feature on his face.

“Are you all right?” asked the man. Zach nodded, unsettled. The man removed his hands and gave him a warm smile. “Deep in thought there?”

“Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention,” said Zach, taking a step back. “Thank you, though.”

“It’s quite all right,” said the man. “We all have those days.” The man studied him, so much so that Zach felt a little uncomfortable at the scrutiny. Before he could say anything about it, the man spoke up, “Have we met before?”

Oh, probably mistaking him for someone else.

“I doubt it, sir.”

“I’m sorry, it’s just…” The man paused, his eyebrows furrowing. A distant look entered his expression. His tone dropped. “You really look like someone I knew many years ago.”

There was such sadness within those eyes. They had the light of remembering a distant past and a loved one gone. Zach recognized it. The person this man saw in him had passed on. Compassion surged through his heart.

“I’m sorry,” whispered Zach.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about.” The man paused for a moment, seeming hesitant. “Just to be sure, if you don’t mind… Would you tell me the name of your mother?”

Should I?

All right, this was a little weird; a complete and random stranger asking about his mother. But… A part of Zach didn’t see the harm. On the outrageous off chance this man knew his mother, then Zach gained an old family friend – a precious connection to the past. If this man was someone untrustworthy, it wasn’t like he could go after her.

He couldn’t hurt the dead.

“Abigail Bennet,” whispered Zach, reverence in his voice. A swell of hope took him by surprise. He swallowed it back. “Ring any bells?”

An Adam’s apple contracted.

“No,” breathed the man. A blank, stillness fell over the man’s face. With an exhale, it softened into disappointment. “I guess I was mistaken. I apologize. I didn’t mean to pry.”

Zach smiled. “You’re fine. I’m sorry to disappoint.”

The man let out a laugh. It was warm and Zach found he liked the sound of it – rarely hearing something so gentle from an adult male. The man dropped a hand onto his head and ruffled his hair. Zach flushed, embarrassed.

“Have a nice day, kid.”

The man lifted his hand as he walked away. Zach turned around, keeping his eyes trained on the man’s broad back. Zach couldn’t place it, but there was something familiar about him. Had he met him before? Even the man had wondered it himself…

Where?

Zach inhaled sharply. Hang on. He had seen that man before. Those eyes. Odd as it was, Zach had been able to pick the man out of a crowd because of those eyes. Small world. He’d seen him at the bank, when they had tried to save the hostages.

Blood flashed inside his mind. Childlike screams filled his ears. Zach sucked in his breath and shoved the image away. He squeezed his eyes shut. He leaned against the brick wall of a street shop, exhaling with a shudder.

A hand touched his lower arm.

“Zach, what’s wrong?” whispered Hikaru.

“Are you all right?”

“What’s going on?”

“You sick?”

“Don’t throw up, bruh.”

“All right, shoo,” said Hikaru, motioning the others away. “Give him some space.”

Zach laughed softly. He looked at his friends. The other four stood a few feet away, watching him with united concern.

“I’m fine. I’ll catch up, all right?”

Hikaru glanced back at the others and nodded. With hesitant movements, they turned away and began to walk – very slowly – down the sidewalk. Hikaru leaned in closer, studying him intently.

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine—really, I am.”

“No, you’re not,” whispered Hikaru, frowning. “Something is troubling you. You’re more quiet than usual. You’re tense. What’s going on?”

And she does it again.

“I just… I just have a lot of things on my mind, all right?”

“Like Falcon?” whispered Hikaru, hushed.

Zach stiffened. His insides churned. A taunting voice entered his mind once more, that horrible number ghosting through his vision. But another voice swept over it, ringing with a foreboding truth.

‘You have a month, One.’

‘Regain your powers.’

‘Or else Unit Twelve will be dissolved and assigned new members.’

“Yes, like Falcon,” whispered Zach.

She stood at his side, not pushing him further. She waited, giving him a chance to elaborate. Zach let out a tired exhale. Where do I begin? What do I say, without revealing the frightening truth? His mind could easily articulate what he wanted to say, but connecting his mind with his mouth was another skill altogether.

“I dunno,” whispered Zach. “Money’s tight – that’s old news. Thanksgiving’s this month; Christmas is…” His voice dropped against his will. “…next month. The chief is always on my case—” At this, the tender light in Hikaru’s eyes darkened. “—and I always have to worry about whether things will change.”

And not for the better.

“But Falcon—” There was another sigh, more exasperated than the last. “He throws everything out of whack.”

The hand on his arm squeezed lightly. Such gentle care were in her eyes. His face tinged with heat. Before he could pull away, Hikaru drew him into an embrace, her arms tightening around his chest. His breath caught in his throat.

“I don’t know what to do,” whispered Zach, curling his arms around her. “Nothing ever seems to get better. I feel like I’m drowning.”

“It will get better,” said Hikaru, the gentle lilt of her accent affecting her pronunciation. It was faint, almost unnoticeable, but Zach liked it. “It has to get better.”

“People always say that. It doesn’t make it true.”

“I know,” said Hikaru, pulling back out of the hug. She smiled brightly at him. “But we’ve made it this far. We just have to hang in there and believe – because if we don’t have hope, then there’s nothing to look forward to.” She bumped his shoulder with a playful expression. “Like pizza for dinner.”

Zach snorted. “Wait, are you saying you’re the mastermind behind getting pizza today?”

Hikaru stuck her tongue out at him, grinning mischievously. “I guess you’ll never know.”

He laughed. The two of them started walking again, quickly catching up with the others since they hadn’t gotten too far ahead.

Zach was overcome with a deep wish. He wanted to slip his hand into hers. But he held back. They were in public, after all. The others might see, too – and Drake was sure to rib him about it. He couldn’t hold her hand under the guise of being friends, right?

Holding hands definitely meant something more.

A gentle touch slipped into his hand. Fingers plied through his own, spreading them apart and fitting perfectly there. Heat flared inside his cheeks. He glanced over at Hikaru, but she deliberately didn’t look at him. She walked, face towards the horizon, each step taken with strength.

But there was a light squeeze.

His heart fluttered. Zach enjoyed the warmth. She was his rock, his foundation, the one person who kept him sane. He heard the thoughts of her heart through her hand, thoughts only spoken of through such touch.

She would stay at his side, supporting him.

They broke apart before they reached the pizza shop. Neither looked at the other; neither spoke of it; neither mentioned it to the others. They all gathered around one of the outside tables, while Zach went to order two large cheese pizzas. Once done, he took a seat next to Hikaru.

He was able to forget, even for a moment. They were laughing, silly meaningful yet meaningless conversations about so many different things. Zach became lost in the stream, joining in with ease. Even when the pizzas arrived, there was little lull. Every last one of them chattered with full mouths, laughing more when someone’s food disgustingly fell out.

It was fantastic.

Maybe going out for pizza had been a great idea.

It wasn’t long before both pizzas disappeared. Zach checked his wallet. There wasn’t a ton of money left. Oh, well. They were going to have to live on PB&J, white rice, and bananas for awhile or else no Thanksgiving dinner.

“All right, guys,” said Zach, standing up. “We need a few things from the store. You ready to go?”

The store – a convenient dollar general – was a few blocks away. With full bellies, the conversation was soft and the walk slow. But it was wonderful and Zach’s spirits were lifted. As they walked inside the dollar store, he grabbed a cart. He stopped abruptly. His friends had surrounded him with identical looks on their faces. Zach instantly read it.

“Oh, no,” said Zach, shaking his head firmly. “We had pizza. We can’t get more stuff over budget. Okay, guys?”

Five pairs of bright eyes blinked at him.

Crap.

Ah, screw it.

“All right! All right,” said Zach. He received five glowing expressions for his troubles. “Two bucks a piece. Go!“

Jacob and Brielle whooped, high fiving each other. They darted away. With a grin, Drake was gone, while Sevati and Hikaru went off together.

All right, ten more bucks to the bill. We can take that, right?

Yeah, sure, Zach was letting them splurge. But come on! They were all kids. Something so small as two dollars shouldn’t bring a teenager this much joy, not in this day and age. Zach didn’t want to be the one who said ‘no’ all the time. He wasn’t supposed to be the ‘mean’ adult, the stingy parent.

He was supposed to be a kid, too.

They shouldn’t have to worry whether or not a bag of chips was in their budget. They shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not they could afford food for six growing teens, let alone healthy food. Worrying about such things was an adult’s burden. It was not meant for a child’s heart.

Bananas and carrots were the cheapest produce he could find. Zach grabbed some white bread. Yay for no nutrition. His biggest purchase was a large bag of white rice, but that would last them for the rest of the month. As he shopped through the store, one of the others would come up to the cart and put something inside.

Hikaru dropped off two packs of hair bands. The two older girls broke their hair bands frequently due to their long thick hair. Drake put in a bag of potato chips and a sketchbook. Sevati got a large bag of animal crackers and a notebook.

Brielle took the longest. She perused the book aisle, carefully flipping through page after page of different books. Jacob was in the same row, but looking at something else. He shyly glanced over at Zach, who – understanding instantly – gave him an encouraging thumbs up. Shyness faded, Jacob put a tray of cookies and a small stuffed toy, which looked like a little brown bird, into the cart.

Once Brielle picked a book, she gently placed it at the top. A tug on his t-shirt pulled Zach’s attention.

“I’ll share my cookies with you,” whispered Jacob.

Zach smiled at the young boy and ruffled his hair. The others quietly gave him a similar look: all food was to be shared. Zach went to the checkout, lightness in his heart. They each supported him in their own way. No matter the stress he had to deal with, he had his friends.

His family.

But it didn’t stop a memory from cruelly tainting the moment.

‘…a month, One.’

‘You have a month.’

Keep reading –>

FOURTEEN

“All right, pause!” cried Drake, holding out a hand towards the television set.

There was a loud, exasperated sigh. “Drake!” Brielle snapped. “Can’t you let me play in peace? This is the sixth time. I’ve only got two more days with the system and I wanna finish this game before I have to return it to the library.”

“Oh, come on,” protested Drake in a passionate tone, his spiky blond hair brushing the carpet. He twirled the pencil in his outstretched hand with a flourish. “It’s the perfect time to get a snack. I’ll get this scene real quick.”

“Will you really be done by the time I get back? How can you even draw like that?” asked Brielle, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. Drake gave her a lopsided grin, gesturing elaborately – which just happened to be upside down, since the older teen had taken to sitting on the couch with his legs dangling over the back.

“Is this the face that would lie to you?”

There was a small snort from Sevati as she adjusted herself next to Drake. She didn’t look up from the notebook in her lap. She continued writing, her attention focused; though, she was perfectly aware of her surroundings.

“What?” said Drake in a mocked tone of innocence. Brielle scoffed, handing the controller to Jacob, and marched off to the bathroom, slamming the door shut. “What’d I say?” he asked with more sincerity.

Zach sighed to himself. It was difficult to get any work done with so many other people around and not enough places to be alone. There was no office and that meant distractions were a guarantee.

He hunched over the small desk, staring at the spreadsheet listing all of their expenses. It wasn’t a pretty number. He tried to block out the other voices. His leg bounced. His fingers tapped against the wireless mouse of his government issued laptop.

It’s gonna be a tight month. We’ll be able to afford a small Thanksgiving meal, but not much after that.

Time passed. He wasn’t sure how much. A frantic voice tore him away from his work again. He looked up towards the source.

“Hurry, Bri,” cried Jacob, pounding on the door with a fist. He bounced in such a way that suggested his situation was quite urgent. “I gotta use the bathroom!”

“Just give me a minute.”

“Hey, that minute is longer on this side of the door!” cried Jacob. He whimpered. His legs crossed in an awkward position; his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. He threw Zach a desperate look.

“Can’t you get her out of there? I gotta go bad!”

“I can see that,” said Zach, his mouth twitching. It took a great deal of effort to hold back the snorting chuckle.

“Zach!“

“All right, chill, kiddo. She won’t be in there for long.”

“She’s been in there for an hour!” cried Jacob in agony.

Wait, what? An hour?

Zach checked the clock. Huh. He glanced over at the couch. Drake and Sevati were still sitting there. Drake paused his drawing, looking back at them.

I wonder if she’s okay.

“Sev, what’s up with Brielle?” asked Zach.

The girl looked up from her notebook and shrugged. “She’s in the bathroom.”

“Brilliant. I had no idea,” drawled Zach. He glanced over at the closed door. “Seriously, though, an hour? Is she okay? She’s not sick, is she?”

“She’s thirteen now. She has issues,” said Sevati, as if talking about the weather.

Zach raised an eyebrow, frowning. What did age have to do with needing the bathroom for an entire hour? Was it something she ate? With an exasperated sigh, he spun in his chair slightly, before standing up. He came to Jacob’s side – who was growing more desperate by the minute – and knocked on the bathroom door.

“Can you come out now? Jacob has to pee.”

“I said just a minute! Geez.”

There was another sigh, more annoyed this time. “Yeah, I don’t think we’ve got a minute. We got a potty dance on aisle twelve, so hurry up!” Zach said, rapping his knuckles against the wooden door. “He’s not gonna make it.”

“Hey!” squeaked Jacob, sounding thoroughly indignant – and all the while, he bounced in that decidedly questionable way.

“I hate my life!”

Well, yeah. I’d hate mine, too, if I locked myself in the bathroom, thought Zach wryly.

Jacob looked tormented. He bit his lip so hard, his eyes began to water. Well, this wasn’t good. The kid was about to blow at any minute.

“Brielle, you have two seconds to open this door and let this poor kid pee or I’m sending Drake in. You can kiss future privacy goodbye.”

There was an anguished scream; the door burst open. Brielle marched out with arms folded and amber eyes alight with fury. She glared at Zach with such fire, it could’ve burnt half the city. Jacob rushed by, slamming the door shut behind himself.

There was an audible sigh of relief.

Zach chuckled. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do to curb Brielle’s poor mood. She slammed another door and commenced brooding in the girls’ bedroom. Muffled complaining indicated the girl had begun venting her spleen onto the other occupant of the room. Zach sighed, pitying Hikaru’s ears. It was probably best not to bother Brielle; it’d be like poking a grouchy mother bear.

“Hey, Sevati,” began Zach, coming to stand behind the couch. He leaned against the back. “Brielle has been acting weird lately – more moody, I guess. Is she all right?”

“I told you, she’s thirteen.”

“That doesn’t explain anything. I don’t remember having this much angst at thirteen – and Jacob’s twelve.”

“Mmm…” Sevati paused, before looking up at him. “Girls do have a harder time as teenagers. She’s come into her womanhood.”

Drake froze, while Zach frowned. He tried to make sense of the comment, but was only confused further. “You know I don’t speak girl code,” he said, somewhat frustrated. “Can’t you spell it out for me?”

Drake frantically shook his head. He made a slicing motion across his throat over and over again, his action growing more intense with each movement.

“Are you really prepared for that answer?” asked Sevati, a wry smirk lifting her face. Drake’s actions became more frantic. Finally, he was waving both his hands in front, bouncing up and down on the couch.

“Sev, just tell me, already.”

He regretted his curiosity.

Sevati let out a low, almost sinister chuckle. “She got her period a month ago.” Zach went bright red, his stomach swooping upward. Those brown eyes flashed with satisfaction. “This means she is currently experiencing the horrors and the mood swings that come with it. Please do not be alarmed by possible blood on her pants. You’ll need to budget extra money for pads – or tampons. I dunno which she’s picking. Be gentle with her. She’ll hate the world and probably you. She’s going to be in pain and agony for a week. Each and every month.”

Sevati grinned.

“There. Now you’re educated. Yay you.”

Drake slapped a hand over his face.

“Whoa!” gasped Zach; his face burned with mortification. “TMI, too much information!“

There was a dry laugh. “Well, you asked. You should know better than to open Pandora’s Box. You practically invited—” Sevati almost purred her words. “—me to open it.” Her eyebrows lifted in a double smile. “That was fun. Let’s do this again. I dare you to ask me why Brielle needs to go shopping for a special, yet demonic item in a few months – called a bra.”

Sevati turned back to her writing, leaving a sputtering, blushing Zach behind her. Drake gave him a pitying look, before clapping a supportive hand onto his arm.

“Hey, can’t say I didn’t warn ya.”

“Yeah, but…” Zach flushed. “Why aren’t you embarrassed?”

“I’m immune. The last time I asked, Sev was in one of those moods,” said Drake. He shuddered. Sevati snorted smugly. “Ever since then, I can handle anything she dishes out. You got off lucky, man.”

That must’ve been some answer.

Fortunately, he didn’t have more time to consider it.

The bathroom door opened and a happy voice cried, “Zach!” A second later, Jacob leapt onto his back. Arms curled around his neck while legs wrapped around his waist. Zach leaned forward to support the weight. “Let’s get pizza!”

“What? No. No pizza.”

The younger boy slid off and pouted, tugging on his arms. “Please!” Jacob begged, his green eyes blinking behind his glasses. “At least think about it for a minute.”

Zach sighed, shaking his head. “You know we can’t afford it, especially this month,” he said. The young boy gave his best pout to date. Zach let out another sigh. “No, that’s not going to work. Don’t you want a Thanksgiving dinner?”

“Please,” said Jacob, drawing out the word for a long thirty seconds. The pout became ridiculous. Zach’s eyebrow twitched. He glanced at the other two, hoping for a smidgen of support. Drake and Sevati had reserved, yet hopeful expressions. Dang, no support. He let out one final sigh, lifting his hands into the air.

“Fine. All right, but only the cheapest pizza in the city. No toppings, no extras, okay?”

The boy whooped with delight, jumping into the air and dancing around the room, exclaiming, “Pizza! We get pizza!” He rushed to the girls’ bedroom and pounded on the door. “Bri, we’re gonna get pizza!”

If we get take out, it’ll be under twenty bucks.

It’s doable.

It was only money, after all. Who cared if they couldn’t afford something as frivolous as pizza? It would be good for all of them. A fun outing would do them a world of good.

And it was worth it, if the bright expression on Brielle’s face was anything to go by.

Keep reading –>

THIRTEEN

Two palms struck the surface of the desk. Six teens flinched. The desk shook, pencils and pens rattling dangerously. The deafening sound echoed through the room.

“How could you let him get away!” shouted Sullivan. His nostrils flared. “Do you have any idea how many are dead because of this man? Over a hundred. All you had to do was catch him and you couldn’t even do that!”

One hundred and twenty-four.

What a haunting number. Zach couldn’t stop himself from imagining the faces of those who had been killed. Their faint reflections twisted within his psyche like milky white ghosts.

Falcon had known the exact number of people inside that hospital, even with the evacuations. He had made it his business to know. But why put that much effort into it? What was the motive behind knowing the victims – and to such an extent? Why hadn’t he killed Zach or his friends? Or any of the units?

Are the hospitals and clinics not the real target? He had researched those people, said he knew their names and their families. And I believe him. So, if the people were the target…

Then, who were they?

“You.” Sullivan pointed to Jacob. The boy sucked in his breath, his eyes wide with fright, and sunk lower in his chair. Zach stiffened, fury rising in his chest. How dare he single out Jacob. “What happened? What were you doing during all this?”

Jacob opened his mouth. A strangled, whimper of a sound scraped through his throat. Hands slammed against the desk again.

“Answer me!“

The boy squeaked.

Zach stood up, his chair pushing back. He glared down at Sullivan. The man turned, ever so slowly, towards him, his eyes narrowing.

“Three had his powers stolen by Falcon, sir,” said Zach. “Two had his stolen as well. It was impossible to win. Falcon seemed interested in all of our powers. It was obvious that he’s done this before.” He drew in a deep breath. Sullivan’s expression darkened, but Zach plowed on; his tone dropped, turning frigid. “Why weren’t we informed about this? Taking our powers away even for a short time is going to cripple the team. How could we stop him when the other units couldn’t either?”

A frightening light entered those grey eyes.

“Two through Six, you’re dismissed. Get out.”

Zach gritted his teeth. Even unmasked, they were just numbers. We have names, you know. He could feel his friends’ hesitancies without looking at them. Smug satisfaction rose inside his chest.

“Guys, obey Chief Sullivan.”

Chairs pushed against the floor. Sullivan’s nostrils flared again, his eyes flashing with repressed fury. Exactly. My team obeys me, not you, Sullivan. It was a dangerous thought, but he didn’t care. Sullivan had withheld vital information about Falcon. Granted, even with it, they would’ve failed – but withholding information indicated something else, perhaps even something sinister.

And it pissed Zach off.

He turned slightly, looking back as his friends walked out of the office. Hikaru lagged behind. She reached out, touching him on the forearm. He smiled at her and put his hand over hers.

“Go,” whispered Zach softly.

Her gaze slipped towards the man. Concern bled through those brown eyes, but she nodded and left the room. The door closed shut. Zach clenched his fists, looking at Sullivan with unwavering strength. His heart pounded. He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, wishing he could exhale all the tension away.

The man was disturbingly silent.

What if Sullivan is holding back even more?

And another thing…

Why did Falcon have powers, an unknown power at that, in the first place? It didn’t sync with the timeline. The rise of those with powerful abilities had only begun in the past decade – and only occurring before puberty. The man’s voice had been too deep, his height too tall, his physique too strong to be under the age of twenty.

Something strange was going on.

And Zach suspected Sullivan knew everything about it.

“One, why are you here?” asked Sullivan in a low voice. There was a hint of mock incredulity. “What are you employed to do?

Zach’s fists shook at his sides. “To stop criminals.”

“Tell me, then,” continued Sullivan, the light in his eyes growing darker. “Why does Falcon still go free?”

This is such bull.

Of course, I want to stop Falcon. It’s not my fault he’s more powerful than an entire unit. Why is it just our responsibility to stop him? Where were you? Why didn’t you bring in other units?

There were so many things you could’ve done.

And you didn’t.

Zach refused to break eye contact. He hated himself for his own weakness. Did Sullivan really have to point it out? Falcon’s haunting words were enough. They echoed in his mind, taunting his efforts.

“Falcon was too powerful.”

“No!” hissed Sullivan. “Why does Falcon still go free?”

Why did this man always have to mention all his shortcomings and errors? He never gave Zach and his friends a break. He expected perfection from a bunch of teenagers. He expected a level of performance from them that was far higher than from his own officers.

And that hateful look…

Well, one didn’t have to be from a different race to be racist.

Children suddenly having powerful gifts – yes, they were something to be feared. But they were still human beings. Yet, the government treated them like property. Children were stolen from their parents; parents were stolen from their children. It was a cruel, deplorable system from which the country turned a blind eye.

The world expected them to be powerful soldiers, something that took adults – ones who volunteered to be so – years to become. Just because they had powers, they expected children to be of the same cloth – and all the while, they had no adult to turn to for support.

They were just kids.

Falcon is right…

They were expected to perform like adults. They were expected to perform with perfection, with no mistakes to their names whatsoever – even during this sacred time of adolescence, a precious time reserved to learn from mistakes and to receive guidance from those wiser and older. Yet, that wasn’t available to them. They weren’t allowed to mess up – for if they did, everything was lost to them.

Zach bore this pressure on his shoulders, this forced pressure from these disgraceful adults. There were no other options for him and his friends. These options had been stolen from them. Since his friends were all he had left, Zach would bear the burden proudly. Even with all their problems and crazy times, it was worth it.

So, Zach gave the answer he knew this man wanted to hear.

“Because of my incompetence,” whispered Zach. “That’s why Falcon goes free.”

There was a pause. The air around him seemed to grow thicker, becoming heavy like molasses. Zach found it hard to breathe.

“What have I told you about incompetence?” asked Sullivan, after another agonizing moment; his tone was foreboding.

“Incompetence is unacceptable.”

He hated this man – even more than he hated Falcon. The way Sullivan looked at him, it turned his stomach, making him feel like a bug that had soiled the man’s shoes. Why was it that Falcon – the criminal, the murderer – had acknowledged Zach’s youth and the injustice there?

‘Do you even eat, kid?’

‘You’re young, aren’t you? They’re always young.’

‘You’re all children – every last one of you.’

‘Our government sure has fallen to an all new low if they have to hire a bunch of kids to do what used to be an adult’s job.’

Why had Falcon showed compassion to a bunch of kids? How could someone like that see the truth? And why was Sullivan, the chief of police, incapable of such a thing?

“So, why?” began Sullivan, his voice drawling in a dark lilt. “Why is it you still give me incompetence? You take the state’s money and you do nothing to deserve it.”

Whoa, wait a minute.

Excuse me?!

“Just a minute,” hissed Zach. “Wait just one freakingsecond here,” he snarled, glaring at the man. The anger exploded inside his chest, the injustice of everything bursting into fireworks. Before he could stop himself, he shouted, “First of all, I do not ‘take’ the state’s money! They pay me – pennies, by the way; we can’t afford anything – to be their stupid hero and sec—”

Sullivan bolted to his feet, his chair slamming against the wall. A crack cut Zach’s tirade off, causing his head to blast to the side; he stumbled from the blow. His knee banged into the front of the desk before he could collect his balance. Pain flared up; his eyes watered.

“You will speak to me with respect at all times!” shouted Sullivan, his voice harsh. “Remember your place, One!”

Zach slowly looked at the man; his hand trembled to lift to his face, but he resisted it. There was nothing but disgust and contempt in the man’s eyes.

The feeling is mutual.

“You’re just a freak of nature,” said Sullivan, his piercing words filled with hate. “You’re all just a bunch of worthless orphans. You’re not normal. You’re lucky to have this job. This is the only thing you’re good for – remember that.”

Well, aren’t you just full of it?

You created us orphans. We would’ve been more than happy to stay with our parents. Instead, you ripped our lives apart and then dare to tell us we’re worthless?

Go to Hell.

I’m sure you’ll get free admission at the gates.

His cheek throbbed. The man had struck him hard enough to bruise. Wasn’t it so convenient there was no one who would question this man about striking a minor? No one would pity the poor little orphan.

“Yes, sir,” whispered Zach.

He took a deep breath. He wasn’t going to let the man win. Zach wasn’t the only one who had shown so called ‘incompetence’ tonight.

“Sir, why wasn’t I told more about Falcon beforehand?” asked Zach, keeping his tone neutral.

Sullivan regarded him for a moment, the disgust still emanating through his stance. The man averted eye contact by a small fraction. “We had no information to give you,” he said.

Zach narrowed his eyes. Liar. “Really? The other units fought him, didn’t they? Then, they would’ve reported the same thing. So… Why wasn’t I told that Falcon had powers?”

It was subtle. Something inside Sullivan’s expression gave it away. Was it smugness? There was the briefest lift of lips.

He’s satisfied with something…

An undeniably creepy sensation crawled up Zach’s spine. The last of his trust in the man, poor as it was, vanished.

He knew.

The man had known beforehand. Sullivan had purposely left information out. Did he want them to fail? Why was Sullivan purposely sabotaging them? Did he hate them that much?

“Do you have anything else to report?”

He’s not even going to acknowledge it.

His body tensed; Zach inhaled. “No, sir.”

“Fine. You’re dismissed.”

“Yes, sir,” whispered Zach. He turned, his chest twisting painfully. His steps felt heavy and ominous. The injustice was too strong. As he reached the door, the man called out to him once more.

“Oh, and One?”

Eyes closed in pain. Zach forced himself to turn back. Sullivan had taken his seat; his elbows leaned on the surface of the desk with his hands interlaced together.

“Have your powers returned yet?”

Ice froze his heart. His breath disappeared.

He’d known all along, hadn’t he? As Zach met the man’s gaze, the truth became clear. Sullivan didn’t care about them. He wanted results. He wanted them to do their ‘job’ and catch criminals. They weren’t humans. What they wanted didn’t matter.

Sullivan wanted Unit Twelve to fail. He wanted to replace them. If One lost his powers, then a new leader would be required. One was replaceable. Two through Six were replaceable.

Something broke inside Zach’s heart.

“No, sir.“

“It hasn’t escaped my notice,” said Sullivan, his eyes narrowing. “You’ve kept this information to yourself and that’s unacceptable. You have a month, One. Regain your powers or else Unit Twelve will be dissolved and assigned new members. Now get out of my sight.”

‘You have a month.’

Zach fled the room. He leaned against the closed wooden door; he shut his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. His cheek throbbed with dull pain.

Time was running out.

A month.

That meant they had until a week into December. They wouldn’t even have another Christmas together. Zach dragged his hand over his head, gripping his hair. His fingers tightened into a fist, pulling out a few strands.

Despair flooded his entire being. He squeezed his eyes shut. They burned. He had one month to figure out what to do. He wasn’t optimistic; his powers hadn’t resurfaced for months. He couldn’t depend on them returning.

But they had to come back.

He couldn’t lose his family again. Zach couldn’t bear to experience yet another family torn from his life. While in some ways, he didn’t want these powers, he needed them to come back. This couldn’t be the end of his friends.

What would happen to them?

Zach drew on a deep breath. He forced a smile on his face. He wouldn’t tell the others. It would ruin what precious time they had left. When the day came, then he would tell them, a smile on his face, and give them strength to keep moving on.

Even if they never saw each other again.

This was his duty, his burden, as their friend, their brother, and their leader.

It was heavy, but he would carry it.

Perhaps, there was a hint of hope, though. New determination flooded his soul. Zach wasn’t going to let Falcon escape. He was going to end this, one way or another. He would defeat Falcon. Zach would be there when next the man struck and he would take him down with devastating force. He would come up with the perfect plan to combat the man’s special abilities.

Next time, Unit Twelve would not fail.

And perhaps, a little mercy would be shown their way.

Zach strode through the hallway. His thoughts flew in a whirlwind, but his determination was absolute. Once he turned the corner, his friends came into view. Exhaustion was apparent in each face.

Hikaru leapt to her feet, rushing to his side. She stopped; her dark eyes glimmered with a gentle, pained light.

“What is it?” asked Zach.

Her hand lifted to his face. Hikaru touched his cheek; he winced as her gentle fingers touched the tender skin there. A glow illuminated her hand. The pain faded.

“I’m fine,” said Zach. “Thank you.”

“He hit you,” whispered Hikaru. There was a nod. “How could he?” she asked; the betrayal bled through her tone.

He didn’t answer her.

“We did our best,” said Zach, a cheerful grin brightening his features. He looked at each of them. “Luckily, it’s Saturday. We deserve some sleep, so let’s go home.”

Hope brightened in their countenances.

And that was how Zach would lead them – with a strong, yet forced smile.

Keep reading –>

TWELVE

Well, frick.

Are you kidding me?!

The theft… It couldn’t be permanent, right? It can’t be… or else Falcon would use powers from the other units. When would their powers return? More than likely, Falcon’s control would fade over time.

There has to be a timer. How long?

Is there a limit to how many powers he can control?

Why weren’t we told about this?!

Whatever the answer, one thing was clear: it crippled an attack against Falcon. It was no wonder the other units hadn’t defeated this man – stealing powers was one thing, but losing them during a fight was an entirely different duck.

Quack. Quack.

“Bring him down!” shouted Zach.

A fight ensued. Zach rushed in first, with Drake and Jacob following behind. The man blocked a punch, dodged another, and stopped a kick. Brielle shot an assortment of tiny metals at him. He avoided most; a few landed their mark, resulting in a few grunts. Sevati threw seeds onto the ground, plants instantly sprouting into vines. They tightened around his ankles; a flash of fire burned them away. He grunted again as something else struck him. As he dodged more attacks, his attention was on something else – as if he were searching for something.

He’s looking for—

The man grabbed something in midair.

Hikaru cried out, shimmering into view. Falcon had grabbed her by the face. She clutched at his wrist, her legs flailing out beneath herself. She sucked in her breath.

“Let her go!”

“There you are. I knew someone was missing,” said Falcon lightly, as if commenting on the weather. “Invisibility. Interesting and useful, but unnecessary. Oh! A second power, healing abilities. You’re lucky; that’s quite a rare gift. Use it well.”

He threw Hikaru to the side; she landed with a cry.

“Cloak!” shouted Zach. Hikaru sat up, glaring at the man, and disappeared from sight. What…? Falcon hadn’t taken her power.

But why?

A limit, then. He has a limit.

Good.

There was a chuckle.

“You have such cute nicknames, don’t you?” said Falcon. “Now that’s something the other units didn’t have. Doesn’t that break your little protocol or something? Won’t you get into trouble? Especially since they don’t like it when you don’t conform.”

This man… he knows things.

Who is he?

Drake let out a roar, rushing at the man. His punches were heavy and frequent, but Falcon dodged every attack. Sevati threw more seeds onto the ground, bringing her arms upward. Numerous tree trunks burst forth, quickly sprouting upward, until they towered over everyone. Flowers bloomed, before transforming.

A smirk lifted her mouth, eyes lighting with mischief.

Countless coconuts launched at Falcon. The man darted out of the way. The coconuts didn’t let up; hundreds of them shot through the air, striking the rooftop with a thud as they missed their target.

“Plant manipulation. Now that’s an annoying one,” said Falcon, moving with the elegance of a panther. He avoided most of the coconuts, until one smashed into his stomach; he growled in annoyance. “Enough of this.”

He snapped his fingers; flamed flashed forward, burning down the coconut trees in a blaze. Sevati rolled out of the way of the flames. Brielle never eased up on her attacks, her small metals chasing the man as he dodged attacks from the others.

Falcon rushed at Brielle, catching her by the face. His hand clamped down. She screamed beneath his hold, wriggling and thrashing against his hand.

“Spark!” cried Drake.

The scene paralyzed Zach. She was terrified, but he couldn’t do anything. They were outmatched. One man outmatched all of them put together.

“Technopathy mixed with empathy,” said Falcon, sounding intrigued. “Unusual combination. Useful, but unnecessary.”

He tossed Brielle aside like she were a rag doll. Falcon bolted through the group of Zach, Hikaru, and Jacob. Zach whirled around, trying to slow the man down. Too late. Falcon grabbed Drake next. A moment later, the man threw him to the side; Drake landed with a low cry of pain.

Falcon flexed his hand, nodding slightly. “Super strength, I thought so. Standard ability. Yes, I think I’ll be taking this one,” he said. He looked around the group. “Well, this has been interesting, kids. But I’m afraid I must speed this up. Places to be, you see.”

They couldn’t stop him.

He was helpless, unable to stop the man as he took out each of Zach’s friends. Falcon made quick work of the others, leaving him last – he dodged Zach at every turn. Whether a punch to the gut or a jab to the neck, each member of Unit Twelve went down with a low groan.

It’s okay.

They’re alive.

He didn’t kill them.

“And, finally, the little Chief,” said Falcon, stepping towards him. Zach took a step back, his throat dry; he swallowed. “I’m always fascinated by the leaders of these units. I must say… I’m curious about what ability you have. What makes you more special than your teammates, hm? What makes you a leader?”

It was over. They had lost. Just like the units before them, they couldn’t do anything against this man. He was too powerful, too trained, too something. It’d been foolish to imagine they’d have a chance. Had the other leaders of their respective units felt this way? Had they felt this paralyzing fear?

But…

In the face of that fear, Zach wouldn’t back down. He slid into a fighting stance. If he had to go down, then he was going to go down fighting.

“Powers are useless against you,” said Zach, his voice calm. “So, I’ll stop you with my bare hands.”

“I hold two of your units’ powers,” said Falcon, flexing his left hand, while lighting his right hand on fire. “Strength alone could take you out in a second – in fact, if I didn’t hold back, I could punch right through your heart… You probably wouldn’t feel a thing when you took your last breath.”

Icy chills slid through Zach’s heart, slipping down his spine into his stomach. The fear burst in his chest.

And I wouldn’t be able to stop him.

“But it would pain me to kill one so young. You should consider yourself lucky that I’m not going to kill you or your little unit buddies.”

If he wanted to, he could kill me.

And I’d be powerless against him.

“Why, thank you,” hissed Zach. “How nice of you to let me live. But what about the others?” He jabbed a finger towards the billowing fire in the distance. His tone skyrocketed. “Where was your benevolence when you blew up that hospital?!” he shouted, his voice cracking. “You’ve killed tons of people. What do I matter in the midst of those deaths?”

It gripped his throat, this fear. It would choke the life from his lungs, suffocate his mental clarity – this was something far more than he’d ever experienced before.

Yes, sometimes people died at the hands of criminals. Yes, bad things happened – things Zach and his friends didn’t have the power to prevent. But this was different. This was new. This was scary – oh, was this terrifying beyond all measure. This man was on a different level. His mere presence attested something much more than a common robber wearing a hockey mask.

This was a true villain.

A crazed fanatic in the pursuit of a goal.

“One hundred twenty-four to be exact,” said Falcon with a detached air, his head tilted to the side slightly. “Tonight’s mark, at least.”

The wind disappeared from his stomach, sucking away the breath from his lungs. Zach stared at the man, horror pouring through his soul.

Why does he…

Why does he know that?

“How could you kill that many people?” shouted Zach, so loud it felt as if his throat would tear. “How can you stand there and casually not care that you just tore a hundred and twenty-four people from this world!”

The man stilled. His head slowly lifted. The man bolted forward at terrible speed. Zach smashed into the ledge of the roof, a cough blasting from his mouth. A gloved hand tightened around his throat; his airway closed. Stars popped in his sight; pain ravaged his back.

As the pressure on his neck lessened enough to breathe, a silky, dark voice entered his ear. He gasped; the man’s presence was indominable.

“Forty-three women and eighty-one men,” whispered Falcon.

His feet dangled uselessly. Zach tried to claw at the hand around his throat, but it was unbending. Sweat beaded down his temples beneath his mask, sliding down his cheeks; his entire body felt hot with perspiration. His hands twisted and pulled at the man’s covered wrist.

It was immovable, like iron.

“That’s who worked there,” whispered Falcon, his voice soft and unnerving. “A bit skewed in the gender department, but that’s another story. Next time, get your facts straight before you start spewing nonsense like an uninformed brat.”

Zach bristled. He struggled more, flailing with vigor against the hold – all in vain.

“You sick psycho!” rasped Zach; stars popped brighter. “Don’t act like I offended you. You’re the one who killed them.”

“Would you like me to give you their names?” whispered Falcon, that hand tightening its hold. There was a croaky gasp for breath; the flailing of limbs weakened. “I can give you every name. I can tell you about their husbands or wives, if married. I can tell you about their children. A few even have grandchildren.”

All life slipped away. Zach stopped struggling. He stared at those unnatural white eyes in chilled confusion. The attacks had all been premeditated. Why would this man put that much effort into knowing the people he was going to kill? It didn’t make any sense.

This man wasn’t just insane; he had killed with a purpose.

“Why?” whispered Zach, his voice trembling. It felt so timid. He’s going to kill me, after all… isn’t he? There was a long pause after his question. “Why?”

The man’s other hand covered his face. His fingers dug into the mask. Zach didn’t fight; he couldn’t fight. Will he crush my skull?There was a current of power, tiny static shocks bursting into his skin.

Was he trying to steal something that wasn’t there any more?

I’m so sorry, guys.

There was a sharp intake of breath. The hand pulled away.

“A little hero like you could never understand.”

The pressure gripping his neck disappeared. Zach fell to the rooftop, pain rippling through his body. He coughed and wheezed, his lungs gasping for breath.

“I suggest you tell your chief of police that Falcon’s in town. I won’t leave until my objective has been complete. Until next time, little Chief.”

It took Zach a minute to breathe normally. He glanced up, eyes searching; his coughing didn’t stop. The air was rich with the scent of smoke. The night was lighted with the flickering flames in the distance, the stars blackened with smoke.

Falcon was gone.

Keep reading –>

ELEVEN

The building shuddered. Fire billowed into the night sky, flames blanketing the surrounding areas. Black smoke puffed into the sky; debris fell like smoky raindrops. A gust of hot wind blasted over Zach; the smell of smoke and fire assaulted his senses. He whirled away, waiting out the rush of intense heat.

They had been right.

They had been guarding the wrong hospitals. They had evacuated the wrong hospitals.

They hadn’t saved those people.

How many have died?

Something moved in Zach’s eyesight. Fear slammed into his chest, choking the breath out of his throat.

A shadow sat on a raised section on the rooftop; a pair of legs dangled over the ledge. A leg crossed over the other; an arm lazily rested over them while the other elbow leaned against a knee. A head settled against a hand.

It can’t be…

In a swift, fluid movement, the shadow unfolded its limbs and leapt down. It strode towards Zach, its steps elegant and precise. Sirens blared through the night; sounds of wild flickering flames lifted into the air; the acrid smell of smoke never wavered.

And all the while, the shadow was calm within the chaos.

It was a man.

He was a number of inches taller than Zach’s five feet, seven inches. There was enough light to make out the dark blue suit; it appeared to be made of a similar material to Unit Twelve’s suits. It covered the man’s entire body. No skin showed. Two white sections, in exaggerated shapes of eyes, were on his face.

Black lines decorated the man’s suit, forming complicated and elaborate patterns. The shadow turned slightly, as if to look out over the horizon. Zach sucked in his breath, catching a glimpse of the emblem on the man’s back.

Falcon.

A pair of wings spanned across the man’s upper torso, following upward along his shoulder blades. Intricate white lines created a detailed pattern.

The one everyone feared…

And he stood only a handful of feet away.

“Beautiful night,” said the man, looking towards the billowing blaze. His head turned; those unnatural eyes seemed to glow on his covered face. His head tilted to the side. “Wouldn’t you say?”

“He’s here,” whispered Zach, his heart leaping into his throat. A chill slid down his back. “Guys!” he shouted. “To me!”

Zach darted forward; adrenaline exploded through his veins. The man’s head followed his movements. Zach threw a wild punch; a hand leisurely blocked the attack with ease. He attacked again. The man didn’t move his feet, blocking each punch with his arms.

He’s powerful.

He could tell in the brief encounter: the man had been trained in combat far exceeding Zach’s own training. It didn’t matter, though. I just have to keep his attention; wait for the others to arrive. It wasn’t lost on him that the man had been casually sitting on this roof, when a distant hospital had gone up in flames.

It’d been a trap.

Zach twisted, striking at the man’s side with his leg; it was blocked. He leapt back, putting some distance between them, and dropped into a crouch.

I haven’t gotten him to move. This is insane!

He hasn’t fought back, either.

“You’re Falcon, right?”

The man’s head cocked to the side. There was a pause. With a bolt, the man rushed at him.

Zach gasped at the speed; he dropped into a roll. He couldn’t escape: a kick met his side; he blasted across the rooftop with a cry of pain. He rolled to a stop, groaning. He pushed himself to his knees and looked up to see the man standing over him.

“You attacked without asking,” said the man. An amused tone entered his voice. “I wonder… What gave it away?”

He’s so calm.

Zach’s chest heaved for breath. His heart pounded out of his chest, sweat already accumulating at his temples; every part of his body felt hot from one short fight – and the man was perfectly calm.

What an arrogant—

“Probably the wings,” the man mused, as if to himself. Those white inhuman shaped eyes looked down; there was an inquiring tilt of the head. “And who might you be, kid? You’re young, aren’t you?” There was a low sigh, almost inaudible. “They’re always young.”

Why was this man striking up a casual conversation?

Zach shivered. There was something off about him. He could feel the man’s gaze, though hidden, as if it could strip his protective suit and reveal the truth: a vulnerable boy. He trembled, overwhelmed by the desire to run.

There was an angry snort and the man shook his head. “Our government sure has fallen to an all new low if they have to hire a bunch of kids to do what used to be an adult’s job.”

Echoes of Sullivan’s berating voice bounced inside his mind, cruel words grating his self esteem into shreds. Irritation flooded through Zach’s chest. He growled, bolting to his feet. He threw a punch at the man’s face.

“I’m not a kid!“

Falcon stepped to the side; he slammed a hand down. Zach choked as pain flared in his back. He ducked into another roll, avoiding a kick. Zach leapt to his feet; he blocked a blow to the head with his arm. He sucked in his breath, the pain stronger than he had anticipated.

“You’re all children – every last one of you,” said Falcon, a cold breeze entering his tone. “Unit Four has one of the youngest I’ve seen. I bet she wasn’t older than nine years old.”

I know.

We all started that young.

What do you know about us? What do you know about what we’ve gone through, what has been taken from us, what we’ve sacrificed? You’re acting all self righteous when you just killed a hundred people or more.

How dare you!

Zach cleared his mind; trained instinct took over.

He fought with everything he had, his attacks reactive; he couldn’t keep up. His only hope was to survive, to distract – wait for backup and hope beyond all hope they had a chance together. He had never fought someone like this before. With each punch and each kick, it became glaringly apparent: the man was holding back.

“Do you even eat, kid?” asked Falcon, blocking a punch with the palm of his hand. Fingers clamped over Zach’s fist, locking him into a tight hold. Before he could struggle, the man jerked him forward; Zach smashed into the firm chest. A hand grabbed his shoulder; there was a low chuckle. “I could break you in half. You’re a just twig. You really should eat more – you know, build that muscle.”

Heat rushed into Zach’s face, anger and embarrassment overflowing his senses.

He’s messing with me!

Zach twisted halfway, his shoulder pressing into the man’s chest. With a shouting cry, Zach pulled on his arm, heaving the man overhead. There was a whump; the man landed on his back. Zach leapt onto the man’s chest, straddling him, and punched in him the face. He pulled back his fist; Zach stilled. He’s laughing! Chuckles became deeper, flowing into condescending, low laughter.

“Is that all you got?” drawled Falcon; silk laced along his tone. “Is that really your strongest punch?” He laughed. “You hit like a child.”

Zach stiffened. Falcon slammed his hands into his chest, shoving him backwards. The breath died in his throat. He wheezed, dots popping in his eyesight. He couldn’t get his bearings; he was on his back. He curled onto his side, gasping for needed air. Zach pushed himself into a crouch and looked up, tensing for an attack.

He’s just standing there…

What does this man want?

Zach attacked again. He landed a punch; but a kick threw him to the side. Zach rolled through it, settling into a crouch. Yet again, Falcon simply stood there, observing him.

“What, no ‘you hit like a girl’ taunts?” demanded Zach, stalling for time.

Falcon let out that same irritating chuckle. “I think you mean ‘you hit like a child.‘ I’m not sexist, kid,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders. He took slow strides towards him. “I should hope you’re not, too, or else you’ll never marry. No woman likes to marry a pig – oh, they might find it sexy for a few dates, but they’ll get fed up quickly. Just a little dating advice. You’re about the age, aren’t you? Or does this generation not date any more? Ah, yes, ‘hanging out,’ isn’t that what it’s called?”

Zach’s jaw dropped. The man had even used air quotes. It was ludicrous – absolutely ludicrous. He could’ve sworn the man would’ve talked the night away if he could.

What the heck? Who is this guy?

Falcon chuckled again, but before he could say anything more, a blast of fire rushed towards him. The man dodged the attack. Relief bloomed inside Zach’s chest. Backup. His relief grew as Drake, Brielle, and Sevati arrived. A hand touched his shoulder.

Hikaru.

We’re all here.

“Chief, you all right?” asked Jacob, fire dancing around his hand.

“Yes. Even better now,” said Zach, standing up. He slid into a fighting stance. “Falcon, I’m giving you a chance to surrender. Give yourself up and we won’t hurt you.”

The man snorted. It quickly melded into full blown laughter. Chills shivered down Zach’s spine. Falcon put his hand over his heart, while he put the other to his forehead. His body bent over slightly in his laughter.

“Are you actually serious, kid?” asked Falcon finally, through his laughter. “That was a joke, right?” It took him another moment to regain himself. He shook his head. “No?” There was another snort. “Why is it that those who can’t back up their own words demand the more skilled and powerful to stand down? It never makes sense to me.”

Zach gritted his teeth. This man truly thought he was more powerful than them. The truly frightening thing: the man probably was.

Well, it was worth a shot.

“You’re going down,” said Zach, his voice unwavering. “We’re not afraid of you. We will stop you, no matter what.”

We have to try.

“Hm, very well, then,” said Falcon smoothly, confidence oozing through his tone. “You’ll just have to find out what all the other units found out—”

So fast.

Zach couldn’t stop it.

Falcon had broken off midsentence. He darted forward, stopping abruptly in front of Jacob, who gave out a squeak of surprise. The man grabbed him by the face, his hand covering it entirely.

Jacob let out a scream.

“Blaze!” shrieked Brielle.

Then, just as quickly, it was over. The boy was tossed to the side, landing with a heavy thud. Zach bit his tongue; it wouldn’t do to scream out Jacob’s real name. The boy moved slightly, groaning. Relief once again flooded through Zach’s veins.

He was okay.

Jacob was okay.

Fingers snapped. Flames blazed in a hand. “Pyrotechnics,” Falcon said, lifting his hand in the air; the flames illuminated the eyes on his mask, giving it an ominous feel. “Excellent gift to have. I’ll be borrowing this for a bit.”

Jacob stared at the flames in Falcon’s hand, his eyes wide. He threw out a punch; no fire came from his fist.

And then Zach knew – knew exactly how this man had fought against trained units with powers and won. It wasn’t just his immense training, his physical prowess – no, this man had a power, an ability, one Zach had never seen nor heard of ever before.

This man could steal their powers.

Keep reading –>