Page 144 of The Extraordinaries (The Extraordinaries 1)

Cold air washed over him as he took in a gasping breath.

The sounds of sirens filled the air.

He could see the swirl of red and blue reflecting off the buildings around him.

He hid behind a bus stop near Burke Tower.

The cop cars flew by, lights flashing, sirens wailing.

“They after you?” a voice asked, making Nick jump and scream.

He turned around to see a man sitting in a doorway, his shopping cart next to him filled with cans and socks. He’d never been more relieved to see something so normal after what had just happened.

“No,” Nick said, voice shaky. “Not me.”

“It’s okay if they are; I won’t tell. Unless there’s a reward. Then I’d tell. There a reward?”

“It’s not about—”

“Would you look at that?” the man whispered, eyes wide.

Nick looked back at Burke Tower.

The windows were reflecting orange and red.

But it wasn’t coming from outside.

It was coming from within.

Fire.

It rose higher and higher, like it was hurtling through each floor of Burke Tower.

Nick tilted his head back as it reached the top, and there was an explosion as it burst through the roof, a trail of flames rocketing into the air. It shot across the night sky and disappeared into the sky.

“Probably aliens,” the homeless man said. “Took me in ’78, but I cut out the implant so they can’t find me! And now I have all the socks I could ever want!”

“Have a nice night,” Nick muttered, pulling the hood over his head.

He hurried away, leaving the man cackling in the doorway behind him.

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