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 –>

TEN

“What do you think ’emergency’ means, One? A stroll in the park?! We aren’t setting up play dates!”

“No, sir.”

“I sent the address. Now move it!“

“Yes, sir,” said Zach, ending the call. He slipped the phone into his pocket. “Let’s go,” he said, deep tiredness in his tone.

They collected their suits and were out the door in minutes. Once in the van, Brielle changed the interior, giving them space to change into their uniforms. Windows were shaded and a divider erected.

Zach finished first; he got into the driver’s seat. “Hang on, guys,” he said.

There were muffled grunts as the van pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road. Brielle altered the interior when they had finished changing. The van became silent. With masks in place, tension was high. Zach didn’t have the heart to break the silence. They needed to make a plan. He needed to encourage them. He needed to give them hope.

But trite words weren’t going to help them.

Instead, Zach thought over plans, ideas, and scenarios for the upcoming fight. He discarded them one by one. They all seemed doomed to fail. However, one idea stood out in Zach’s mind: a group attack. A simple plan, but if this were Falcon, it’d be anything but easy.

If only he had more data. How had the other units’ fights gone down? The more he thought about it, the more something felt off. How had Falcon – one man – managed to defeat six trained fighters with special powers?

It didn’t make sense.

Something was missing here. True information about Falcon was limited, despite his infamous nature. Much of what Zach had gathered from Internet searches was a mixture of urban folklore and fake police reports. Falcon was an adult male and struck random specialized hospitals. The death toll had reached over five hundred now. Tales were told about him, the areas of where he struck were known, but there was nothing on the man’s appearance.

Well, there were no ‘official’ reports, not even from the police department. There were random blog posts and plenty of videos about supposal sightings. Obviously, there were grains of truth in those articles, but they were too difficult to pinpoint. But one thing for certain: there was no possible way the government and the police had zero information.

Zach gritted his teeth.

That meant Sullivan was holding out on them.

There was confidential information somewhere, yet – for whatever reason – Sullivan had chosen to withhold it from them. How were they supposed to protect this city? How were they supposed to succeed at stopping Falcon? Why let them go into this blind?

Zach huffed to himself. He tried to focus on driving, but his mind kept wandering to one fact.

Why was it every time this man entered a city, Falcon managed to kill hundreds of people? Why didn’t they evacuate all the hospitals? Why did they allow the man to succeed in his attacks? He was one man. Why couldn’t they stop him?

It didn’t make any sense.

The missing pieces of the puzzle frightened Zach. The shadowed unknown illuminated one thing: either Falcon was that skilled or someone was pushing the information down.

Neither sounded good.

As Zach pulled up to the location, he had to pause at the roadblock. Once he cleared inspection, he drove through the street, passing by numerous police cars. The red and blue lights flashed, blinding the evening with their bright colors. Zach pulled the van over to an empty spot and turned it off. He twisted in his seat, looking back at the others. In the sea of black suits, he could see their eyes.

“Keep our nicknames to ourselves,” said Zach. “It’s going to be all right. We’ll stop him.”

No one moved. No one answered. He knew: they all expected this to go south. Zach shook his head. He got out of the van, shutting the door behind himself. The others followed.

“There you are!” shouted Sullivan. “What took you so long?” The man strode towards them, irritated as ever.

Zach straightened and made eye contact, lifting his chin. He better have some information for me.

“Come here,” said Sullivan, motioning with a finger. Zach obeyed. When he got close, Sullivan clamped a hand onto the back of his neck. Zach stiffened. He was forcibly led away from his team.

He hated when the man touched him – it was always harsh and impersonal, despite the veneer of a casual, personal touch.

“Listen to me,” said Sullivan in a low whisper. “Based on our intelligence, Falcon is going to strike one of three hospitals in this area—”

“So, it is Falcon, then.”

Sullivan gave him a sharp look; the hand on Zach’s neck squeezed harder. “Of course, it’s Falcon,” he snapped. “What were you expecting? A picnic? Haven’t you been keeping up with the news? Don’t interrupt me again.”

Zach nodded; his hands curled into fists. “Yes, sir.”

“The potential targets have been evacuated to the nearest available locations. I want Unit Twelve on the rooftops to survey the area. Falcon is known to engage units in a fight. Your job—”

“Wait a minute,” began Zach. Sullivan’s lips thinned in heated disapproval. “Why haven’t the other hos—”

“You interrupted me again,” said Sullivan in a low hiss, his grey eyes widening furiously. “What did I just say about that?”

“I’m sorry, sir, but—”

“Shut up and listen to your orders.”

“But, sir, why aren’t they evacuating all of the hospitals?” asked Zach, plowing forward with his question, despite the glare. “Shouldn’t we be evacuating all the hospitals in the entire city? Wouldn’t it be safer to remove everyone from the locations until Falcon leaves?”

The hand on Zach’s neck tightened to an unbearable pressure.

“They can’t shut down every hospital in the city,” snapped Sullivan, the condescension dripping through his tone. Zach clenched his jaw, tightening his lips in the effort to remain quiet. “People need those facilities. We can’t shut everything down just because one psychopath goes on a terrorist spree.”

Sullivan shook him by the neck and pulled him closer, bending over his ear. Zach tried not to pull away; the mask protected him from the whispered breath over his skin. It still sent shivers down his spine.

“Pay attention, will you?” whispered Sullivan, his tone turning darker. “We don’t have all night for your idiotic questions. Your job is to bring Falcon down. I don’t care about any stories you might’ve heard. Bring him down. I want him in a cell tonight. Do not let him get away, understood?”

“Yes, sir,” said Zach. Questions were on the tip of his tongue, but he held them back. The man wouldn’t answer them, anyway. The hand disappeared from his neck. Sullivan turned and waved in dismissal.

“Get your team together. Do not fail, One.”

Zach slowly unclenched his hands and took a deep breath. He forced himself to look away; his gaze sought his team.

He really hated that name.

Zach walked to his friends, who were standing together in silence. Their attention rested on the flurry of activity of the police; each were tense, readied for the attack. He motioned to them and they quickly came to him. He took a deep breath.

“It’s Falcon.”

Their reaction was grim. Every shoulder slumped; each pair of eyes glistened with fear.

“Sullivan says Falcon is going to hit one of the surrounding hospitals,” continued Zach, keeping his tone business-like. “How he knows this, I don’t know. He’s not being forthcoming with information. But it doesn’t matter. We’re going to stop Falcon.”

“But…” began Jacob tentatively. “Can we?”

“Sullivan expects us to,” said Zach, unable to keep the bitterness out of his tone. Drake’s expression darkened, while Hikaru closed her eyes briefly. “Look, it doesn’t matter. We can do this,” he said, trying to put strength and confidence into his tone. “I know we can.”

We have to – we have no choice.

“But I don’t understand,” said Drake, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Why these specific hospitals? What’s so special about them? And what makes them think he’ll hit one of these?”

“I don’t know,” said Zach, shaking his head. “Sullivan wasn’t in the mood for questions.”

“Hey… something doesn’t feel right,” said Brielle, leaning in closer.

“Do you feel something?” asked Zach; his breath caught in his chest. “Do you think you could find the bombs from this distance?”

Brielle looked around; her head lifted into the air and glanced at the sky. She bit her lower lip. After a moment, she looked back at him. “No… I can’t sense them. I just… Something doesn’t feel right.”

It would be too dangerous to search for them now, too.

“Bri’s right,” said Sevati. “The earth beneath my feet… It feels somewhat… restless, I guess is what I’m going for – it just doesn’t feel normal.”

Zach sighed.

Five pairs of eyes looked at him expectantly. Zach knew what it meant: they would do whatever he said, even going against orders. Sullivan would brush off any tip that came from them. He wouldn’t move the entire operation based on a gut feeling from the girls.

Their voices would not be heard.

“All right, then,” whispered Zach, breathing out slowly. “Keep an eye out for anything strange. You all have your ear pieces, right?” Heads nodded. “Grappling hooks?” Hands touched a black pouch at each hip. “Okay, we’re on the rooftops tonight. If you see Falcon, alert everyone.”

“What if he sees one of us?” asked Jacob.

“He’ll fight you,” said Zach without hesitating a beat. “But if that happens, you let the rest of us know. Survive and keep him busy. We’ll get to each other. Don’t you dare try to bring him down by yourself.”

Emotion stirred in every eye. It was going to be a long night.

“Okay, split up,” said Zach, clapping his hands. The others nodded and pulled out grappling hooks. The mechanism activated with a soft click. Four hooks were pointed upward. As four of his team members ascended into the rooftops, a hand touched Zach’s shoulder. He turned.

“Everything will be all right,” said Zach, wishing he had the power to fulfill that promise. A soft smile tugged at exposed lips. Hikaru nodded. With a steadying breath, she prepared her grappling hook and followed the others to the rooftops.

Zach took a deep breath, meditating for a minute. Confidence flowed through his soul. Fortified, he removed his grappling hook and pointed it towards a different roof, shooting it into the air. It connected. He attached the cord to his suit belt. When everything was secure, he released the mechanism.

A swooping sensation fell into Zach’s stomach. He didn’t always enjoy this weightless feeling, where there was no solid ground beneath his feet. Yet, there was something freeing about it, as if there wasn’t anything else in the world but himself. The fear that had plagued his heart slipped away with the ground. Zach took deep breaths as he came closer to the rooftop.

I’ve got to stay focused. No time to be afraid.

Once at the top, Zach stood a foot away from the edge and looked out at the horizon. The scenery on the rooftop always took his breath away. Bright lights illuminated the night sky. The city sparkled, tiny glowing dots brightening the heavens as far as the eye could see. Planes flew overhead, to and from the city’s airport. In the distance, the last of the daylight waned to the blue dusk of the evening. The city was filled with life. The sounds melded together, a clash of noise and chaos with a blend of peace and tranquility.

Zach tore his gaze away from the horizon. He found a vantage point on the flat rooftop and knelt down. He blended within the shadows. He looked around, his eyes searching the other rooftops. Though the night was nearly upon them, he could catch a glimpse of movement.

“Everyone in position?” whispered Zach.

He received five affirmative answers.

“Good. Be alert.”

Now came the hard part: staying there for hours. And on little sleep, yay us. Without a doubt, it was dull work, crouched in position for hours at a time. It was easy to lose one’s mind during these moments of endless waiting – waiting for something bad to happen.

Zach wasn’t sure how much time passed. He watched the darkness of the night, looking for anything out of the ordinary. His mind was clear of thoughts, his breathing slow. In this moment, he became what they wanted him and his team to be.

An emotionless, mindless soldier.

In the stillness of the night, it seemed nothing could happen. It was so quiet, despite the city life. It was so normal, despite six teenagers in black on the rooftops. It was so calm, despite the many police officers down below.

But it wasn’t quiet. It wasn’t normal. It wasn’t calm.

An explosion shattered the night.

Keep reading –>

NINE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Drake snorted.

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

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

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

That was his duty as their leader.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zach was so done with it.

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

And, of course, copious amounts of caffeine.

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

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

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

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

The alternative could not be allowed.

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

No matter what, he was going to stop Falcon.

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

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

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

“I’m fine.”

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

Zach shrugged.

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

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

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

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

Her hand is soft…

“Zach, talk to me,” whispered Hikaru.

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

Why can’t I say anything?

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

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

Time was draining faster than sand within an hourglass.

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

This was his alone to bear.

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

She knows.

Forgive me, Hikaru.

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

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

I promise.

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

“How was your last detention?” asked Zach.

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

“That bad, huh?”

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

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

“I’m fine. I just need some food.”

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

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

Zach let out a low laugh. “True.”

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

Such times were rare.

And, of course, they never lasted long.

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

EMERGENCY. Unit Twelve assemble.

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

This is it.

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

Chaos flooded the ears.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay strong.

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

Keep reading –>