Page 43 of No Capes
“We can attack from two angles,” says Dark Static, “No one expects Gold and me to work together.”
“No kidding.” I exhale, leaning farther into D.S., and the arm he’s wrapped around my waist tightens. Our mission just gotmore awesome. “Wait,” I stop. “Is it just you two? Why don’t you team up with the other Supers in Capital City? Like Flare or Materio?”
“We don’t know how far up this goes,” says Golden Ace. “We don’t know if someone helped Bridges get to where he is or if he’s working for anyone. Look at Materio. Bro is seriously mad he’s not Capital City’s favorite Super anymore. Gosh, that guy is exhausting.”
I reconsider the interview I’d watched today. There hadn’t seemed to be any tension between the Supers. Golden Ace must be an excellent actor.
“If it ever gets out that Gold is working with me,” says Dark Static, “they’ll join Bridges’ side faster than we can fly.”
“Thanyoucan fly,” Golden Ace jokes.
“So where do I come in?” I ask.
Golden Ace motions for D.S. to explain. “She was your idea.”
What? Had D.S. planned to meet me even before the $200 incident?
“You have a right to know what happened to your mom,” D.S. says. “And you’re in a key position to help with this, since your sister happens to be Bridges’ devoted wife.” He’s careful to hide what he thinks of Arielle, but I catch his condescending tone atdevoted. “Since all of this started, I’ve been wondering if you can help us.”
“Especially because—” Golden Ace interjects, but D.S. cuts him off with a quick wave of his hand, as if to approach Golden Ace’s almost-comment from a different angle.
“Roberts.” Dark Static pulls away from me, stepping to my kidnapper’s lifeless body. D.S. stands tall, his arms loose at his sides, completely at ease. Typical D.S., always relaxed. “What exactly did Bridges’ guy do to you? Did he give you any tests?”
The reminder of a dead body in the room sends chills up my spine, like a chain of spiders crawling up my back.
“That’s his guy?” I ask. Phil had me kidnapped?
“That’s definitely his guy,” Golden Ace says. “Jack Wilson. He’s the head of Bridges’ internship program, perfect for doing dirty work. Well,wasthe head.”
“How did he find me?” I ask. On instinct, I reach for my phone, to where I remember leaving it in my pocket, but come up empty.
Golden Ace gingerly steps over the debris and toward Wilson, and lifts something off the ground. He tosses it to me—there’s my phone, and with only a slight crack in the screen. I thought I’d turned my location off, and my heart sinks when I see the blue tab, showing it turned itself back on.
“It’s okay,” says D.S. “It’s hard to escape.”
Remembering D.S.’s question, I reply, “He made me drink a lot of water and pour it on my clothes.”
“How did that make you feel?” D.S. asks.
Golden Ace chokes on a laugh, mocking the clichéness of the question, but D.S. gives a look that makes him stop, genuinely wanting the answer.
“Kind of like recharging,” I say. “Or injecting energy.”
“Told you.” Golden Ace beams. “Girl’s got superpowers.”
WAIT. WHAT?
Holy…
No.
Superpowers?I survey Jack Wilson’s body and the debris that cakes the floor. Black dirt coats my hands. Everything cracked into chaos when I’d lost control.
“I did this?” I ask.
Oh. My. God.
AHHHH.
