Page 81 of Fanning the Flames

“I didn’t meanGoodbye, food truckliterally,” Mark cried.

Joan stared dumbstruck at the twisted pile of metal that just minutes ago was the source of so much joy.

“That’s my friends’ food truck, you jerk!” Kade-as-Lunk swung at Prowl, who used his thick arm as leverage to swing from. She did a backflip and flip-flopped away. He chased in hot pursuit.

Zee managed to speed around Smash and disorient him, but they were clearly injured. Where the hell was Flight?

Fury engulfed Joan. Fire glowing in her eyes, hot enough to smoke through her clothes fury. She fisted her hands and turned back to Quake. Flight hovered above him as Quake battered the Super with rocks.

“Can I smash something else?” Smash said.

“Sure,” Prowl said, then slid between Lunk’s legs. “Knock yourself out.”

Joan stopped in her tracks. The other food trucks.No.

Mark mirrored her across the fissure as they raced back toward the sidewalk. Stopping Quake was critical, but protecting their friends was more important. They could be inside their trucks.

A Squawk cry rattled the loose metal and debris from Hot and Cold. Joan positioned in front of Powered by Plants, Mark in front of the creamed dairy experience. They blasted in one accord and created a thick blanket of steam.

She counted the seconds in her head. Her ears rang too much to hear what was being said around the park. Another rumble shook the sidewalk beneath her feet.

At thirty seconds, she and Mark stepped back. It had gone eerily quiet other than the ground crackling.

She glanced toward the park as the fog slowly dissipated. Quake was gone, but she couldn’t make out much else other than a whole lot of mess.

Her heart ached as the slanted back end of Hot and Cold came into focus.

“Holy shit,” someone said nearby. “Spark and Ice.”

Murmurs ofSpark and Icerippled through the small crowd around them. Crowds meant prying eyes and cellphone cameras. Joan tugged on her hood and met Mark halfway.

“We gotta get out of here,” he said.

“Thank you,” said a feminine voice.

“Are you good guys now?” someone tentatively asked.

Joan opened her mouth. Praise? Thanks? She didn’t know how to respond to that.

“But they’re Spark and Ice,” a third person chimed in with obvious disdain.

Sirens wailed and tires screeched. Time to go. “I need to find Sadie,” Joan said.

“You go.” Mark backtracked. “I’ll catch up.”

“What are you doing?” Their steam fog was letting up with every passing second.

Mark went to where Zee was sitting on an unconscious Smash. Zee nodded at whatever he said. Mark set a hand on their shoulder and said something that made Zee pat his hand. Joan just barely heard them say, “Get out of here.”

Where was Sadie?

Footsteps ran up and stopped abruptly. A horrified gasp, then “Oh god!” was a familiar relief.

Sadie clasped her hands on her chest, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. Joan walked past her, murmuring, “I’ll be right back.” She hated having to leave but needed to protect their identities.

“Psst. Hey you!” someone whisper-called.

Joan fell into a fighting stance, searching the haze.

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