Page 13 of Fanning the Flames

Sadie’s blood froze. Joan stood tall and fisted her hands, visually sweeping the area.

Murmurs of mild concern surrounded them as people read the news. Sadie pulled out her phone with a shaky hand.

High Alert: Reported Villain activity near Century Plaza shopping area. Unknown who it is but they are causing damage to cars and parking lot.

Someone had posted a blurry photo of a huge man in burnt-orange spandex holding a compact car over his head. Another person posted a video of the same guy banging his meaty fists on hoods. He punched through a windshield, shattering glass into the minivan.

“Joanie?” Sadie looked to her to see if Joan knew who it was.

Her mouth twisted in thought. “I think that’s Smash. He’s a Villain from some small Midwestern city.”

“What’s he doing here?”

Joan shrugged.

Mark hurried across the street, Perry following close behind. Sadie and Joan met them halfway. “Isn’t that Smash?” Mark said, staring at his phone.

“I think so,” Joan said.

A live feed went up on SuperWatch. Smash jumped onto the roof of an SUV, caving it in. “I’mTheSmash!” he roared. “I’m coming to Vector City!”

“Aren’t you already here?” the brave smartass behind the camera said.

“Aren’t you just Smash?” a woman offscreen said.

“TheSmash!” The Villain jumped up and pulverized the SUV upon landing.

“Yeah, okay.”

He stomped the vehicle into a flat metal rectangle.

“Not this again,” said a tall white man walking past Sadie.

“I thought we were done with Villains,” the woman with him said.

Other comments floated by:

“Great. Another one of these jerks.”

“Does this mean the Villains are back?”

“I told you Spark and Ice were still around. They’re working with whoever this is.”

Joan shared a look with Mark. In tandem, they pulled their Wayfarer sunglasses from their jackets and put them on. Perry adjusted his aviators.

“Well, this isn’t good,” Mark muttered.

The video got shaky as Smash picked up a motorcycle and compacted it between his hands. He threw it toward the row of shops, narrowly missing the front window of a shoe store.

Frightened screams and people running away made Sadie’s heart lodge in her throat. “He’s gonna hurt someone.”

Onscreen, the video grew even shakier. “I’m outta here,” said the guy behind the camera.

The feed ended. Joan continued to scan the market crowd from the middle of the street.

“So, what?” a person behind Sadie said. “Are we getting Villains from other cities now?”

Oh, shit. Were they?

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