Page 122 of The Not So Super Hero
Chris wasn’t having an issue dodging the attacks, but getting close to Law was proving difficult.Even when he got close, the shield wouldn’t let him through.It bounced Chris back like he was in a bouncy ball.He had already run out of bullets and re-loaded.
“You’re getting on my nerves.”Law sighed.Even with the threat of officers below, there was no fear in his voice.
Bailey had an idea.Before he could test his theory, the floor gave out from a shock wave.Cursing, Bailey tumbled down along with the debris to the first floor.Though he grabbed his glasses, he couldn’t see from the cloudy debris.
A hand grasped his bicep.He was an officer Bailey recognized from the interviews about Boomer.The officer tugged him out of the debris.Then a bullet flew past them.The name on the officer’s face said Terry.He shoved Bailey’s head down.They ran towards a nearby car to take shelter.
“Are you ok?”Terry shouted.
“As ok as I can be,” Bailey replied, glancing up to the second floor to see Chris was still having trouble dealing with Law.
“Chris needs your help.”Bailey pointed towards the floor above.
“Is that Law?When the hell did he get here?”Terry hissed and gestured for some officers nearby to head over.
“He attacked us seconds after the alarms went off,” Bailey explained.“Listen, that gun he’s using, it creates a barrier around him, but it stops just a centimeter before the ground.I don’t think he’s protected underneath.”
“Huh?”
“His feet, there’s a circle right around him or, at least, I think there is.”Bailey could be entirely off base.He could have been seeing things.His glasses were cracked and fogged up.However, it was the only way he could think of helping Chris.Judging by his lack of shots, he was low on ammo.
Terry didn’t look all that convinced.Bailey didn’t blame him, but when he heard Chris’ gun go off again, he growled and did as he was told.Terry and three other officers made their way beneath Law’s feet.Two officers fired at Law from below.Law spun around and fired off a warning shot, but nothing followed.The gun was charging up.The officers continued firing.The flooring cracked and crumbled until the bullets pierced through.
As Bailey predicted, the shield didn’t cover Law completely.The floor gave out just as Law was bombarded with bullets from below.He dropped to the floor beneath.Terry quickly put an end to him with one last shot that Bailey swore rang louder than the rest.He wasn’t sure what else happened after that.Chaotic, that was the best and only way to put it.He sat there, waiting for Chris to retrieve him, but it felt like forever.The world was too loud.Even when Bailey covered his ears, he couldn’t keep it out.Even after Chris returned to his side, Bailey felt weak and alone.He just wanted to go home.It was too much to take.But when the two were clear of the battle behind them, Chris said something that put a smile on his face.
“You did good,” Chris said with a proud smile.“Who said you need a mutation to be a hero?”
Bailey wasn’t sure if it was the best time to feel proud of himself, but he couldn’t help it.
It was another two hours before the attack finally ended.Bailey was kept in a safe room with Chris for the entire duration.Although when he was told it was over, Bailey’s head remained on a swivel.He was constantly shaking, waiting for something to happen and too paranoid to round a corner without checking it first.
Chris made sure not to leave his side, which seemed to ease Bailey enough to at least munch on some snacks back in their room.He needed the energy after that entire ordeal, and for the one they were about to be in after learning the news.
CHAPTER 38
Itwastoomuch.Bailey sat by Zane’s bedside.Learning of Antoine’s death should have been relieving.But seeing Zane in that hospital bed, accompanied by the consistent talk on social media of continued chaos, didn’t sit well.The cure existed.Mutants took it either voluntarily or forced by those who got their dirty hands on it.Rebirth may have lost their leaders, but judging by the ongoing attacks, others simply took their place.None seemed to have the same plans as Antoine, but they were active, nonetheless.
Bailey wondered when everything would end, if it ever really would end.How the hell were he and Zane meant to go on if it didn’t?
He gripped Zane’s hand tighter.The machines beeped, a sound he heard too much recently.He had been there so much lately that he was forgetting what it was like not to be in a hospital.Though Zane was on the men, he hadn’t woken up yet.After what Bailey heard from Nate of what happened, he suspected Zane had given into his lazy urges and took a much needed rest.
Why did he keep getting stabbed?Bailey would develop stomach ulcers at this rate.
Bailey hoped Zane would wake up soon.Bailey missed him.They hadn’t seen each other in months.Now that Bailey had Zane’s hand in his, they still hadn’t spoken.He hadn’t heard Zane’s voice.That was maddening.Made it hard to sleep.From time to time, Nate and Natalia visited with food.Bailey perked up a smidge, but it was hard to be anything less than exhausted.
“What are the plans after this?”Nate asked during one of their visits.Bailey leaned back in his chair, having taken a nap, and woken up to overhear Nate speaking with his sister.
“Rebirth isn’t backing down even with Antoine gone, but are they safe to go back?Go back to school, work, their normal lives?”Natalia questioned.
“With Antoine gone, Rebirth will probably focus on another agenda, but we can’t know for certain,” Chris replied.
“But is that the real problem?”Nate asked.“Now that everyone knows what Zane’s capable of, will he have the opportunity to go?”
Yet another question that no one had an answer to.Even if they did, there wasn’t time to respond.Zane’s eyes opened.
Turning his head to the side, he found Bailey peering wide-eyed at him.Dark bags stained his pale skin and his hair had become a knotted mess.Zane felt Bailey’s warm touch.His grip tightened.Zane’s sore throat blocked any words he attempted to form before he grumbled, “Hey.”
“Hey,” Bailey repeated, all but throwing himself forward.Zane tensed at the pain in his back and side.That didn’t matter, though.He wrapped his arm around Bailey, relieved to finally feel him.
