The night air was boiling with anticipation as Buck’s car and the old truck came to a halt halfway up Angelo’s driveway. The soft hum of the engines faded into the stillness, leaving the group in an uneasy silence. Buck was the first to step out, his boots crunching on the gravel. Maxine and Katherine followed, exiting the truck with an air of grim determination.
“We’re going in,” Buck announced, his voice firm but laced with concern. “Katherine and I will check it out. If everything’s fine, we’ll come back out. If we’re in there longer than five minute, leave.”
Maxine’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you talking about? I’m not going to abandon you.”
Buck’s eyes softened as he turned to her. “Max, you and Garan have to protect Evelyn. If something’s wrong in there, just go.”
Garan, always the pragmatist, nodded in agreement. “You got it, Buck. We’ll see you in four minutes.”
A fleeting smile crossed Buck’s face, a small gesture of reassurance before he turned and began walking toward the house. Katherine fell in step behind him, her expression focused and alert.
Maxine let out a heavy sigh as she slid into the driver’s seat of Buck’s car. The darkness outside seemed to press in on her, the uncertainty of the situation weighing heavily on her mind. “This sucks,” she muttered, her fingers tightening around the steering wheel.
“It’s going to be fine,” Garan said, his tone calm and steady. He leaned over slightly, his eyes fixed on the house in the distance. “They’ll be back out in just a few minutes.”
As Garan spoke, the sound of a car door opening caught his attention. He turned to see Evelyn climbing out of the back seat, her small figure barely visible in the dim light.
“Evelyn, get back in the car,” Garan called out, a note of urgency creeping into his voice. “Where are you going?”
Evelyn paused for only a moment before she started running toward the wooded area next to the driveway. “Grandfather needs our help,” she called over her shoulder, her voice filled with determination.
“Evelyn!” Garan shouted, but the young girl paid him no heed. She continued to run, her small legs carrying her swiftly into the shadows of the trees.
Maxine and Garan exchanged a quick, worried glance before they both jumped out of the car and followed. Maxine pulled a small flashlight from her pocket, the beam cutting through the darkness as they pursued Evelyn into the woods.
The forest was alive with the sounds of night—crickets chirping, leaves rustling in the breeze—but all Garan and Maxine could focus on was the figure of Evelyn ahead of them. She moved with a surprising speed and purpose, weaving between the trees with ease.
“Evelyn, is Avery out here?” Garan called out, his breath coming in short gasps as he tried to keep up. “Evelyn?”
But Evelyn didn’t answer. She pressed on, leading them deeper into the woods. The path twisted and turned, and it wasn’t long before they found themselves circling around to the back of Angelo’s yard.
Suddenly, Evelyn stopped. Garan and Maxine skidded to a halt behind her, and Maxine shone the flashlight further along the path. The beam illuminated a familiar face.
Elle stood before them, clutching a pointy stick in her hands. Her chest heaved with rapid breaths, and her eyes were wide with fear. “Who’s there?” she demanded, her voice trembling.
Maxine’s heart surged with relief. “Elle? It’s us. It’s Maxine.”
Recognition dawned on Elle’s face, and she let out a shaky breath. “Oh my god. Thank goodness. I thought you were them.”
Maxine swept the flashlight around, the beam catching sight of Avery sitting on the ground beside Maggie, who lay unconscious with a makeshift bandage wrapped around her head.
“Elle, what happened? Is Maggie okay?” Maxine asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Elle shook her head, her face pale in the harsh light. “I don’t know. She’s hurt pretty bad. She tried to help Dad, but… Avery saved us. He grabbed us and the next thing I knew, we were out here.”
A low moan escaped Maggie’s lips, and Evelyn stepped forward, her small hands reaching out to touch Maggie’s head. The group watched in silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on them all.
***
The front room of Angelo’s house was shrouded in an ominous stillness as Buck pushed open the door and stepped inside, Katherine close behind him. The room was dimly lit, the shadows deepening the foreboding atmosphere. Seated in a chair at the center of the room was a man clad in a black uniform, his presence commanding and unnervingly calm. Behind him, four more men stood, each dressed in the same stark attire, their eyes cold and unyielding.
“Excellent,” the captain said, his voice dripping with malevolent satisfaction. “We’ve been looking for you for a long time, number twenty-seven.”
Katherine’s eyes narrowed at the captain, her body ripe with anger. As if responding to her rising fury, her hair began to stand on end, giving her an imposing, almost otherworldly appearance.
The captain’s gaze shifted to Buck. “And of course, it’s an honor to finally meet you, Daniel. Or should I call you Buck?”
Buck met the captain’s gaze with a calm intensity. “I guess my reputation precedes me. Unfortunately, I don’t know you.”
The captain’s smile widened, though it held no warmth. “I should hope not. If you did, I wouldn’t be very good at my job. You see, Daniel, I am the yin to your yang. You people like to refer to yourselves as phenoms, or metahumans, but in reality, you are a mistake. And when nature makes a mistake, it corrects the mistake. I am that correction.”
Buck’s posture stiffened, his eyes narrowing with disdain. “I could have you on the floor in an instant.”
The captain’s expression didn’t waver. “No, Daniel, you don’t seem to understand. Your skin shield is useless here. I can negate all phenom powers.”
“Bullshit,” Buck spat, his patience snapping. In a flash, he charged toward the man, ready to strike. But before he could reach the captain, the largest of the soldiers stepped forward, blocking his path. Buck swung a punch at the soldier, but the man deflected it with ease and delivered a brutal blow to Buck’s face, causing him to stumble backward.
“Like I was saying,” the captain continued, his tone condescending. “Your superpowers won’t work against me. I am the solution to the problem of the metahuman. I am the next step in human evolution.”
Buck steadied himself, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. “So, you’re one of us? You’re a phenom with the ability to neutralize the abilities of others?”
The captain’s eyes flared with anger. “Such ignorance. I am not one of you. I am beyond you. My entire life, you people have hated me. You fear me. You despise me. I take away the very thing that makes you special, and that destroys you. Without your precious abilities, you are nothing. I level the field and give the power back to normal humans. Your time is over.”
The soldiers moved in unison, advancing on Buck and Katherine. Buck lashed out with another punch, catching one of the soldiers in the jaw, but the largest soldier retaliated with a fierce punch to Buck’s torso, driving the air from his lungs. Buck staggered back, trying to recover, but the soldier followed up with another punch, this time to Buck’s face.
Katherine was already in motion, her reflexes sharp and deadly. She delivered a powerful jump kick to one of the soldiers approaching her, sending him crashing to the floor. The remaining soldier circled her cautiously, aware of her prowess. Katherine assumed a defensive stance, her eyes locked on her opponent as they moved in a deadly dance.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Meanwhile, Buck was taking a beating. The large soldier landed a punch to his ribs, followed by a kick to his knee that sent Buck crashing to the ground. He gasped for breath, his body screaming in pain as he braced himself for the next attack.
Katherine, engaged in her own battle, kicked at the soldier in front of her, but he skillfully blocked her strike. She barely had time to react before the first soldier, having recovered from her initial attack, lunged at her from the side. He tackled her to the ground, his fists raining down punches on her face. Katherine blocked what she could, but the second soldier seized the opportunity to grab her legs, holding her down as the first soldier continued his assault.
Buck struggled back to his feet, but another vicious punch to his ribs and a blow to his lower back sent him crashing to the floor again. He groaned in agony, clutching his side as he raised his hands in a desperate attempt to defend himself from the inevitable onslaught.
“Enough!” the captain’s voice cut through the chaos like a knife, his right hand raised in a commanding gesture. “We don’t want to kill them just yet.”
The soldiers instantly obeyed, halting their attacks on the battered heroes. The captain approached them, his expression cold and calculating.
“We still have some loose ends to tie up,” he said, his voice dripping with malice. “Some of their friends have escaped us, and we need these two alive to use as bait. Get them up and restrain them.”
Two soldiers hauled Buck to his feet, one of them pulling out a pair of handcuffs and snapping them onto Buck’s wrists. Katherine, despite her battered state, resisted fiercely as the soldiers tried to subdue her. She stomped on one soldier’s foot, causing him to wince in pain, but he quickly retaliated by pulling out a small baton and cracking it against her head. Katherine’s vision blurred as she was forcibly handcuffed.
The night air hummed with electricity as the captain of the soldiers stepped out onto the back porch. His black uniform blended into the darkness, save for the porch lights casting long, sharp shadows across the yard. Behind him, the two soldiers hauled Buck and Katherine out into the open, dragging them like dolls. Buck's breath was ragged, his body bruised and bloodied, while Katherine's face was streaked with blood, her eyes still blazing with defiance despite the swelling.
The captain moved with calculated precision, his vision scanning the yard as if searching for something unseen. He paused, staring intently at a dark spot in the woods to the left. His eyes narrowed, and with a small, satisfied smile, he motioned for his men to bring the prisoners forward.
The captain’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding, cutting through the night like a blade.
"We have your friends, and we know you're out there," he called, directing his words to the heroes waiting beyond the tree line. "We know Maggie is hurt. We know you aren't going anywhere. It's only a matter of time."
The silence that followed was eerie, the only sounds the chirping of crickets and the soft whisper of leaves in the breeze. The captain waited, his posture confident, his expression one of absolute certainty.
"Come now, Maxine," he continued, his voice taunting. "Let’s not waste time. I’d hate to have to kill your brother."
Hidden among the trees, Elle, Maxine, Avery, and Garan huddled close, their breathing shallow as they listened. Maggie, her wounds miraculously healed, had already sat up, the confusion on her face giving way to a smile as she patted Evelyn on the head in gratitude. Garan, crouched beside Maxine, whispered urgently.
"Four of us?" he asked, his voice barely a breath.
Maxine nodded, whispering back, "He doesn’t know about you and Evelyn."
Elle, ever the strategist, glanced at Maggie and then back to the group. "He also thinks Maggie is still injured. We can use that to our advantage. Max and I will go out and buy some time so you four can get away."
Maggie’s eyes flashed with determination. "Absolutely not. I'm not letting you sacrifice yourselves. We're sisters. All three of us."
Elle sighed but knew better than to argue with Maggie's resolve. "Fine. Garan, make sure Evelyn and Avery stay safe. We're counting on you."
Garan nodded, agreeing with the plan. "I will. Good luck."
With a last look at his friends, Garan scooped Evelyn into his arms, signaling to Avery with a finger pressed to his lips. Silently, the trio began to slip away, moving deeper into the woods and away from the looming threat.
Meanwhile, the three women, their resolve steeled, began to make their way toward the backyard. They emerged from the trees one by one, Elle leading, followed closely by Maggie, with Maxine bringing up the rear. Together, they formed a united front, standing tall despite the odds.
The captain watched them approach, a smug smile curling at the corners of his mouth. He descended from the porch, his boots sinking into the grass as he came to a stop a few feet away from the trio. His eyes, cold and calculating, swept over them, then back to the woods.
"Well, it looks like Maggie is feeling much better," he remarked, his tone dripping with false concern. "Do you have a healing ability I’m not aware of?"
He paused, studying Maggie with an inquisitive stare, but quickly dismissed the idea. "No, of course, you don't. I know everything about you and your sister. Elle and Maggie, such common, trashy names. You really should go by Elizabeth and Margaret, much more elegant."
Maggie’s response was immediate, her voice filled with disdain. "You really should kiss my ass."
The captain’s smile widened. "Ah, there's that magnetic personality. How could anyone possibly resist you?"
He then turned his attention to Maxine, his eyes gleaming with a different kind of interest. Maxine shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, her skin crawling with revulsion as he leered at her.
"Oh wait, that's you, Maxine," he said, his voice now dripping with mockery. "You're the one with the irresistible charm. It’s a shame you and I are natural enemies. You’d make a lovely trophy wife. Maybe I’ll let you live if you beg me. Maybe we can come to some sort of agreement. Maybe?"
Maxine turned her head away, disgust etched into her features. The captain’s laugh was dark and cruel.
Elle, her voice steady, took a step forward. "You won't get away with this."
The captain’s eyes flicked back to her, his expression one of amused superiority. "Won’t I? Who is going to stop me? You tried. Buck tried. Katherine tried. Do you think a little boy is going to stop me?"
Elle’s heart raced as she saw the captain’s eyes scanning the far end of the yard, where Garan, Evelyn, and Avery were hiding. His attention lingered, and Elle held her breath, praying they remained unseen.
“By the way, where is Avery?” the captain asked, his voice laced with dark amusement. “Are you actually trying to hide him from me? I can sense your tainted blood from miles away.”
Elle stepped forward, her voice steady despite the fear gripping her. “Don’t worry about it. He’s just a kid.”
The captain chuckled, shaking his head. “Indeed, but you see, I can’t have any of you people running free. In fact, he’s more important than you three put together. He was able to use his ability in my presence. We can’t have him growing up and becoming stronger, can we?”
Elle’s eyes narrowed, and she shot back, “You’ll never find him.”
The captain’s grin widened, his eyes glinting with malice. “Oh, I don’t have to find him. You’re going to bring him to me, or I kill your friends.”
He gave a nod, and one of the soldiers pressed a gun into Buck’s back while another pointed a gun at Katherine’s head. Katherine, despite the threat, stood tall, defiance burning in her eyes.
The captain raised his voice again, his tone mocking. “Avery, I’ll give you one chance to come out and save your friends. Be a good boy for me.”
Avery started to move toward the captain, but Garan quickly grabbed his arm, holding him back. Avery turned to him, his face set with determination.
“I can’t let you do that, Avery,” Garan whispered urgently. “You’re the only real family Evelyn has.”
Avery’s voice was calm but firm. “I’ll be fine. He can’t negate my abilities like he can with the others. I can get them out of there.”
Garan’s grip tightened as he shook his head. “I promised I would keep you safe. Plus, in the future, you told me to take care of Evelyn. I can’t let her lose you. I can’t let you go. I’m sorry.”
Avery’s frustration reached a fever pitch. “Well, someone needs to do something. We can’t just watch them die.”
Garan’s gaze shifted back to the yard, his heart heavy as he took in the scene before him. Buck, with a gun pointed at his back, bloodied and breathing hard. Katherine, her face streaked with blood, stood unflinchingly with a gun aimed at her head. Elle and Maggie, powerless and waiting, and Maxine, her head bowed, tears slipping silently down her cheeks.
The captain’s patience was wearing thin. “Someone better go get the boy. I do relish bathing in your fear, but this is starting to drag on.”
Maggie’s voice was filled with fury as she challenged him. “Maybe you should stop being a coward and fight me one on one.”
The captain laughed, a dark, hollow sound. “It’s always sad when the prey gets desperate. Go get the boy.”
Elle’s anger flared as she spat, “Piss off.”
The captain sighed dramatically, “Such a shame.”
Without warning, he raised his hand, and the crack of a gunshot echoed through the night. Buck fell to his knees and then collapsed face-first onto the ground, motionless.
Maggie’s scream tore through the silence, “You asshole!”
Maxine’s shoulders shook as she wept, her tears flowing freely now. Elle’s rage exploded, and she rushed at the captain, but before she could reach him, the soldier who shot Buck swung his pistol and struck her hard on the forehead. She crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain.
The captain watched her with a mix of boredom and disdain. “Someone really needs to go get the boy.”
Maggie’s voice was raw with grief and anger. “Go. To. Hell!”
The captain, unbothered by her defiance, pulled out his own pistol and aimed it directly at Maggie. But then, his eyes flicked to Maxine. “Maxine is very special to you, isn’t she, Margaret? In fact, you love her deeply, don’t you?”
Maggie’s bravado faltered as fear gripped her heart. “Please.”
The captain’s smirk widened as he cocked his gun, extending his arm toward Maxine, and began to pull the trigger.
In the forest just beyond the yard, time seemed to slow to a crawl as Garan’s body reacted on instinct. His eyes turned black, and in an instant, he vanished from where he stood.
The gunshot rang out, and the bullet hurtled toward Maxine. But instead of finding its mark, it struck Garan, who had appeared in front of her just in time to take the hit.
Garan’s mouth fell open in shock, his hand instinctively clutching his lower chest where the bullet had pierced him. He staggered, then collapsed to the ground in front of Maxine, his breathing thin and labored.