Page 54 of Infamous Heart

Both women gripped my hands tightly. I made sure to return the squeeze, trying to comfort them through the black. Every so many feet I paused, kicking to the side to count the doors we passed. Four down, one more to go before we reached the tiny vestibule that would hold the door to freedom.

The light struck my face, and I pulled them out of the shadows. Before I could open my mouth, I saw another hand reach out of the shadows. Vincent emerged. The moment he spotted the door, he pushed past and ran toward the parking lot.

“Such a Goddamned coward.” Sofia barked.

I held the door open, gesturing for them to escape. “Go, run and don’t look back.”

“You’re not coming with us?”

“I have one more person to save.”

Sofia gave a nod and exited. It was Janet who lingered, and I could tell she was chewing through a long list of insults. I’d have been shocked if she didn’t get in one last jab as I threw myself into danger.

“You were always too good for the Beacon.”

She bolted, catching up to Sofia. Wrapping her arm around the younger woman’s waist, they jogged toward safety. I should have followed them and leave the superhero antics to the people with powers, but I owed it to Sebastian. Janet’s words struck a nerve, and I couldn’t help but stare back down the hallway, rejuvenated and ready to end this fight.

“A compliment, Janet? Really?”

Okay, consider me shocked.

22

Her powers were growing.The entire building had been thrust into a perpetual night. I tried to recall how far down the corridor before the hall turned. I inched forward until my hand brushed the wall. Ninety-degrees to the right, I continued until I smashed into the door.

“How the hell am I going to help Sebastian?” My hand rested on the bar that’d open the fire exit into the lobby. It would be the perfect spot for Wraith to pull the door open, her eyes lighting up the empty space before she grabbed me. Gently, I pushed the door open and waited for certain doom.

“Too many movies, man.” I only half believed the words as I whispered them.

Something slammed into the building, causing the walls to vibrate. In the lobby, a flash of light filled the space. I couldn’t be certain, but I swore I saw a man leap from the ground, soaring straight upward. Was he the one hammering away at the building, or was it Wraith?

I made my way toward the street. In a few feet, I’d be outside the door and at least then I’d be able to spot Sebastian within Wraith’s muck. I balled my fists, as if I might be able to single-handedly take down a supervillain.

The breeze flowed through the lobby. Whatever had crashed into the building had shattered windows and the glass cracked under foot. I reached the door, careful to avoid the shards. Outside, the wind whipped at my shirt.

Without my eyes to guide me, I relied on my other senses. Smell? The city smelled nasty once you concentrated on it. Hearing? No screaming, just the howl of Mother Nature working her way between the buildings. Touch? Ew, the darkness already clung to my skin, and I didn’t want to focus on that. Taste? Yeah, no, tasting Wraith was not on my priority list.

“I am the worse sidekick.”

The hair on my arms stood on end a second before something plowed straight downward out in the street. It sounded as if a bomb had gone off, rocks spitting into the air in every direction. Broken asphalt assaulted my nostrils, and I imagined Wraith buried in a hole in the ground, put there by the Ward’s newest hero. As for taste, still ew, and now I had a mouth full of dust.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Her voice came out of nowhere, directionless and omnipotent. I suspected that she did it for a tactical advantage, but knowing Rebecca, she loved the idea of being a goddess.

Beams of light cut through the darkness, slamming into a shadowy figure. Sebastian hovered five stories above, both of his hands gripped together as his skin radiated a brilliant and beautiful glow. Could he see me? I wanted to cheer him on, to tell him I had been wrong.

Wraith constructed a shield of shadows. It cracked and shattered as if made from a solid substance. She pulled at the darkness, moving to her feet, using them to push against his light.

Heroescouldexist in the gradient between black and white. The smile stretched across my face and I gave him a silent woot for support. When the adrenaline stopped pumping through my veins, I’d look back at the stupid mistakes and sort out which had been in the heat of the moment.

Her sphere of darkness wavered, letting the light of day wash over her domain. I covered my eyes, careful not to look away. I wanted to see the very moment he defeated that bitch. Her plan crumbled and the employees of the Beacon had gotten to safety. Whatever her motivation, Wraith was about to lose.

She grunted loud enough I could make out the swearing from across the street. But she wasn’t the only one moaning. A few feet away, sprawled on the ground, Slipstream rolled over, clutching her side. The woman had joined the fight and, just like the other heroes, Wraith had bested the heroine.

I ducked low and worked my way over to her. My sidekick duties weren’t limited to one hero. If I could help, I would. I dropped to my knees, shielded by an overturned car.

“We need to get you out of here.” I was terrified to pull her hand from the wound. The blood was pouring freely and already leaving a puddle on the ground.

“He can’t beat her.” Her voice didn’t match the bold black and white contrast of her uniform. The shard of glass sticking out of her torso was at least three inches long. It vanished between her hands and buried itself in her gut. If I had my phone, I’d call Xander, he’d know what to do.

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