CLAIRE

Every muscle screamed at me to run. I managed to push myself up and off the ground. My vision was blurry and my ears were ringing, but I still had to move. I stumbled forward a few feet before falling to my knees again. I stood, head pounding as I decided that I had no more running left in me.

I blinked a few times as my vision cleared. No one was looking at me— all eyes were on the tram and something above them that hadn't quite come into focus yet for me. . .

That means no one knows that I have superpowers, I realized as I looked down at my hands. I blinked and shook my head. My hands were covered in blood— my blood, I realized as I looked down to my knees.

Guess I picked the wrong day to wear my ripped jeans to school.

I reached a hand to my forehead, and came away with more slick blood.

A head wound— great.

Probably multiple, I thought, remembering how I hit my head against the pole when the tram first stopped.

I finally managed to crane my neck up to see what had captured everyone's attention, sparing me what came with powers in New Kingsbury.

Of course it was none other than a fight between supers.

I squinted up at the blur of flashing lights and fast-moving limbs. I could make out two up there—and I recognized the great black trenchcoat with a crimson patten on it like the lines of a cracked mirror.

I groaned—of course it was Tenebrous.

Most of the heroes and villains had left New Kingsbury when City Hall burned down, if they didn't disappear or die int he wake of the war against Dark Titan.

But there was always some new branch of evil ready to the take their places.

Tenebrous was the kingpin and the most powerful of all of them. With the long-lasting Dr. Electra and the other minor villains of the city by his side, he used both his destructive powers and impressive technology to wreak havoc on New Kingsbury.

While others had come and gone for competition, Tenebrous' faction were the only ones to avoid capture by the Sentinels.

Well, the only villains.

Because the hero fighting him had avoided the Sentinels for about the same time.

Well, hero was one word for him.

Renegade was in a class all his own, a rogue with no alliance to good or evil—although I guess more often than not, you saw him fighting villains. But every now and then he was caught on camera stealing from museums and jewelry stores. Definitely a criminal, maybe a villain.

What made him interesting to those who studied things like superpowers was that he had two power sets—something that most of the Mutated didn't have. It was something that had only recently started popping up here and there.

Renegade was interesting for how he used his abilities— he had similar ones to what Tenebrous had, with the ability to shatter anything with a single touch and control the debris created from. His costume, made of sweats and a jacket were even the same color.

But his second power set was the one that put him apart from Tenebrous and was the one he took far more delight in— his ability to create portals.

Above the tram the two were fighting in a blur of lights and a whirlwind of debris from the tram and the monorail line. It hurt my eyes to look at it— Renegade was using his powers to jump through portals and telekinetically fling rocks while avoiding any attempted hits by Tenebrous.

As for Tenebrous, he was holding his own in the fight, more martial experience and his ray-gun giving him some hidden advantages.

I knew there were some people streaming it on YouTube who would probably analyze it later— lots of people liked to do it, like it was some movie instead of a real act of violence.

Once, I'd clicked on those videos from time to time, caught up in the legend and excitement of it all. But now I knew I never could again in good conscience.

This was viscerally real in a way that could not be denied.

Then I saw it—the tram lifting again, out of the corner of my eye. I turned to see a figure that sent chills down my spine.

Once again, I scrambled to try and move, to do anything. Only for a tsunami of dizziness and nausea to overwhelm me, and I fell back to the pavement before I was even halfway off the ground.

That's when someone finally noticed me—but not anyone I wanted to.

I recognized the black duster, her large belt, the green spandex suit peeking out from under her black trenchcoat that matched her mask perfectly.

Heretic, my mother's murderer, was standing just a few feet away, lifting the tram back onto the track as if it were nothing.

"You!" I winced—drawing her attention was the last thing I wanted to do. And yet. . . It just kinda slipped out of my mouth.

Well, it definitely caught her attention, her head swiveled, and the tram slipped a little before she caught it again. There was an awful gleam of recognition in her eyes—she knew me.

"You okay, kid?"

My stomach was churning and my head was turning—I was certain I was gonna be sick. Maybe from the concussions.

Heretic took a step towards me, but then she pulled her ray gun—not on me, but a Sentinel girl who had appeared out of nowhere.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

How had she noticed her?

"Oh, so there's a new team in town?" Despite the sarcasm dripping from her vice, there was this strange, kinda excited energy coming from her. Like she wanted to fight a new hero. "Are you a solo act, or do you belong to those frauds at Atomic Energy?"

"I'm a Sentinel." I swear to god, the new girl pretty much puffed up her chest and straightened her posture, like she was freaking Superman or something. "I've got backup coming— we're taking you in, this time."

I glanced to the side of the road. It was only a matter of time before the other Sentinels and heroes would start showing up.

I craned my neck again—that was when the birds came, you see. Like, all the pigeons and the crows in the city or at least the ones close by descended on Renegade like a death cloud.

He redirected them with a series of portals. Some of them came dive-bombing and shrieking over the heads of cops and civilians, and I ended up doing the good old duck-and-cover like from the Cold War.

What was scarier, though, was when all the birds got clear, covering pretty much every nearby building parapet and alcove. That was when the power lines came crackling to life—and they fell, brushing up against the tram, the energy arcing towards and around Renegade.

I remember how Renegade screamed, mingling with those of others on the tram as the lightning snaked around the power line and the outside of the tram.

The people were still inside the tram—who knew if Renegade could withstand more than they could?

It didn't stop until the power lines were suddenly righted, almost tipping back into the buildings before settling them back in the ground where they belonged. Renegade started a free fall towards the ground—only stopping himself with his portals, and he threw himself back into the fight with Tenebrous.

I doubted he could hold out for much longer—I didn't know much about heroes and villains and superpowers, but everyone knew they all had their limits.

I looked to my own scraped-up hands.

I had limits—whatever they were.

What were even my limits?

"There were civilians on the tram, Powerline!"

The Sentinels arriving interrupted my train of thought. One team, I recognized—the Elemental Defenders.

Of course they were here—they were one of the most popular Sentinels debuted by Atomic Energy, with their barely-executed five-elements gimmick. Powerline was supposed to be air even though he only controlled energy, the Natural could talk to animals, Dazzler could make her fists light up in flames, Hydro controlled water, and Prophet who was a mind-reader for some fifth element crap.

The new guys, though—I hadn't seen them before.

Two girls and two guys, and I could put two and two together that their fifth member was the one dealing with Heretic.

Prophet stepped forwards, placing one hand to her temple, the other splayed out. Her eyes flashed violet. "There are civilians in there—we need to get to them!"

"We've got Renegade and Tenebrous," Dazzler said as she knocked her fists together, causing them to start lighting up. "Mystic, you should go after Mercury."

"On it!"

Mystic lifted a police car, telekinetically I think, and flung it at Heretic as everyone split to go do their hero thing or whatever.

Of course, that's a bad idea when you're going up against a hero with metal powers. Heretic stopped the car in its tracks and gently set it down on the pavement next to her.

"I'm impressed." Heretic looked from Mystic to Mercury. "Not bad, kid. You're more than they usually produce at the Atomic Baby Factory. Do they know what true power they have?"

As riveting as that was, I heard the caw of the Natural's crows going around for a second round, and started looking around, trying to figure out where they were going.

I could see three of the new guys and Prophet climbing up one of the supports for the track—probably to go and help the people still stuck in the tram.

Were there any people still left to help, after what Powerline pulled?

It was one of those small, horrifying things you tried not to think too hard about—how there were some heroes that were willing to sacrifice God-knows-how-many to get the villain behind bars.

The Elemental Defenders were mainly going after Tenebrous and Renegade, with Powerline and the Natural focusing their efforts on Renegade, and Dazzler and Hydro going after Tenebrous.

When I looked back to Heretic, the Sentinels had gotten her ray gun—but not for long. She used her powers to pull it out of Mercury's hand, then stepped out of the way as Mercury tried to charge her with her super-speed.

Of course, that's when Warlock showed up.

He was a fan of the blue and gold, and he had a big cape like a freaking boy wizard, and he was probably the best thing we had as far as heroes went. A paragon, the kind of guy that never got caught doing the kind of shit Heretic and Renegade were.

Even I had to admit that if there were more heroes like Warlock, then this city wouldn't be in such big trouble.

"Stand down!" He ordered as he set down in between the Sentinels and Heretic.

"Warlock." Heretic smirked. "How nice of you, to join the party."

"I'm guessing you didn't start the fire this time?" Somehow, Warlock was being nice to the woman who burned down City Hall.

"Haven't burned anything down since 2012." She spun the ray gun around in her hand, like it was a toy or a baton. "But that doesn't matter—I'm afraid mass-casualties aren't my thing, Warlock."

He nodded—as if he trusted her?

You're too much of a goody-goody for your own good.

"Get out of the way," Mercury snarled. "She's on our most wanted list—we're bringing her in, one way or another."

"We've got bigger problems than an anti-hero," Warlock said, looking up at the sky.

But Tenebrous was gone.

He'd disappeared, somehow, in the chaos. And now that left the Elemental Defenders to gang up on Renegade.

He was proving to be more of a match, though, redirecting their attacks through portals.

How much longer could he keep it up, though?

In watching that fight, I wasn't paying attention to the Natural's goddamn birds—all I heard was the thunder of flapping wings, the shrieking of pigeons, and I looked to see all of them coming straight at me.

I was about to duck and cover and pray to God I didn't get my eyeballs scratched out when someone grabbed my arm, and I was yanked upwards in a blur of motion.

I remember feeling dizzy, and being suddenly on my feet, about to fall over.

Someone gripped my arm as I tried to get my bearings, and wrapped another arm around me before I could move—and that's when I felt the barrel of Heretic's ray gun pressed against my temple.

"Sorry about this, sweetheart," a voice mumbled to me—Renegade's, I realized. "Don't take it personal."

"How can I not?" I snarked back, only to bite my lip and regret that choice. My heart raced so hard my chest ached, and I was sure I was going to throw up all over Renegade's suit. I screwed my eyes shut— I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

Please, I prayed to nothing and no one in particular. Please let me survive this— for Dad's sake if not my own.

Renegade however didn't respond to my comment at all— which I took as one small victory.

I tried to remember one of those self-defense videos Holly had shown me when she was practicing them in the living room—but it was all coming up blank.

The Sentinels were now on the defensive, approaching the three of us slowly—but Warlock came out in front, his hands up.

"Don't do this," he warned. "You're both better than this."

"Don't step any closer," Heretic shot back. "Or else the girl gets it."

Oh God, what's Dad going to think when he sees this?

Warlock stopped, frowning.

I could hear a portal forming behind me, slowly but surely.

That was what they were waiting for, I realized—for Renegade to get enough strength back, to make their escape.

I tried to grab at his wrists, to pry him off of me or something, but to be honest, I don't really remember much about this part beyond how terrified I was, and the feeling like I was gonna puke.

"Look, I don't know why you keep focusing on me, but the bad guy got away," Renegade said. "I wouldn't have to do this if you didn't keep trying to kill me while I do your job for you!"

"Surrender, Renegade." Powerline held up his hand, lightning crackling around his gloved fingertips. "You can either come quietly or we will take you in."

"As fun as this has been, I've gotta go."

With that, he pushed me forward, and both he and Heretic disappeared, the portal closing before anyone could go after them.

I hit the ground, deciding I would rather stay there until the world stopped spinning.