Page 107 of Flash Fire (The Extraordinaries 2)

The group of kids still stood against the lockers, but they hadn’t been the ones to call out. They were looking further down the hall, toward the doors. The doors where two people stood, the same two people Nick had noticed when he’d come from the cafeteria.

A woman faced them, familiar even at a distance, hand raised in greeting as if she were the one who’d called out Nick’s name. Crouched next to her, facing the doors, was a man, hand running along the seams between the two doors, leaving a thick coat of ice, freezing the doors together.

“Oh no,” Nick whispered.

The twins. Christian and Christina.

Smoke and Ice.

Mr. Burke sends his regards.

Dad took a step toward them. “You there! Are you students here? What are you doing to the doors?”

Ice rose to his feet, joining Smoke. They wore matching suits, black with white dress shirts. Smoke’s tie was a dark gray, and Ice’s was blue. Smoke smiled wickedly as she cocked her head. “It’s nice to see you again, Nick.”

“Yes,” Ice said. “So very nice.”

Dad took another step toward them. “I don’t know how you think you know my son, but I—I won’t—” He stopped. “Where have I seen you before?”

Ice and Smoke exchanged a look before they both laughed, a flat, dull sound that echoed along the hallway. “Familiar?” Smoke asked.

“Yes,” Ice said. “We are familiar, Aaron Bell. Very familiar.”

“What’s going on?” one of the boys at the lockers asked. “Is this part of the dance? I didn’t know there was going to be a show too.” He elbowed his friend. “Look at them.”

His friend—a douchebro if there ever was one—laughed. “Weird, right?” He pushed himself off the locker, puffing out his chest. “Hey, freaks! What’s wrong with you? Why are you talking like that?”

“Stop it, Micah,” one of the girls said, sounding annoyed. “Don’t be a dick. Nick’s dad is right there.”

“And?” Douchebro said. “What’s he gonna do?”

“He’s a cop.”

Douchebro turned around, eyes wide. “Oh shit. The weed isn’t mine! Please don’t call my parents. Cornell will rescind my acceptance!”

“Get out of here,” Nick snarled at them. “Tell everyone they have to get out of the school while they can!”

They went, the boys running as quick as they could, leaving their dates behind. One of the girls sighed irritably before motioning her friend to follow. She glanced at Ice and Smoke before looking at Nick and his dad. Nick thought she was going to say something else, but her friend pulled her along, back toward the cafeteria.

Ice and Smoke followed their exit, barely blinking. “Children,” Ice said. “I like the children.”

“No,” Smoke said sharply. “Focus. We are here for the boy.”

“What boy?” Dad asked.

Ice and Smoke snapped their heads toward Nick and his father. Without thinking, Nick took a step back. “Dad?”

“You shouldn’t be here,” Dad barked. “This is school grounds. You aren’t welcome … here … what did you do to the door? Is thatice?”

“It is,” Ice said. “Door’s frozen. Like all the other doors. There is no escape. For you. For the boy.”

“Dad!”

Dad looked back at Nick, frowning. “What, Nick? I’m trying to—”

“That’s them!” Nick cried. “That’s Smoke and Ice! They’re working with Burke!”

Dad didn’t hesitate. He went for his sidearm, cursing when he realized he didn’t have it. He’d left it at home. It wasn’t allowed in school, especially since he was off duty. Nick had watched as he’d stored it in the gun safe earlier that afternoon before they’d left the house. Instead, he moved in front of Nick, shielding him. Nick gripped his father’s coat, hanging on for dear life, breath rattling in his chest.

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