“What do you mean?” Miss Militia asked in a quiet, grave tone as she took me aside in the hallway.

“I mean I've got nothing!” I hissed back, panic's icy claws digging at my throat. “Nada, zip, zilch! This wasn't supposed to happen!”

I wracked my brain. It couldn't have been Bonesaw, unless she somehow became a Stranger overnight. Mark was healed, and there was literally only one person that could do that. Oh shit that fucking selfish bitch. Right, her original plan, before Bonesaw showed up, was healing him then sad-ant-bindling away from home. This time, somehow, she'd actually done it.

“Hey,” Gallant said, interrupting my train of thought. “Amy ran off about twenty or thirty minutes ago, healed Mark and just...” He shrugged helplessly.

“God dammit,” I swore, biting my lip. “Sorry, I...this is because I told you, isn't it?”

“Don't be so hasty,” Miss Militia replied, rising. “Come on, we need to regroup.” She jerked her chin and headed into the bedroom. I cast Gallant an apologetic glance, then followed.

“--need to go and find her!” I heard Victoria say as we entered.

“We need to stay,” Brandish countered coldly. “Amy's decision to...leave, is her own. We still have a villain to deal with here.”

“She could be in danger!”

“We're all in danger,” Miss Militia interjected. “Right now we can't afford to weaken ourselves by sending out search parties.”

“At least let me go!” Victoria demanded bitterly. “Dad's fine now, you won't be down anybody, right?” Brandish shook her head, as did Miss Militia.

I checked my watch as they continued arguing, my frown deepening. It was well past six, I wasn't sure exactly when Bonesaw attacked but I felt like it would have happened by now. I looked out the window into the darkening street, searching for any sign of...anything. A person, a shadow, even just some movement.

Of course I wasn't so lucky as to see one of Bonesaw's shambling horrors suddenly appear in the waning twilight. In fact, the streets were as quiet as I ever remembered them being before...this. I chewed on my lip, I really didn't want to be wrong about this one but...

“Amaranth.” I jumped as Miss Militia addressed me. “With Gallant, we're preparing the ambush.” I simply nodded and fell in behind my fellow Ward, blindly following him down the stairs and out of the house.

We didn't go far, half a block to a small laneway between two houses. It was well covered by trees and bushes, a good spot to hide out but still be in sight of the house. We waited in the shadows, just off the road. The warm night had me soaked in sweat, and we hadn't even done anything yet! I whipped it off with my projection, but more quickly took its place.

“It's going to be alright,” Gallant said quietly. It didn't sound like he believed it. “Amy's tough, she'll be okay. And we've got plenty of heroes here to handle whatever Bonesaw can throw at us.”

“Sure,” I replied, mentally rolling my eyes. I heard distant yelling from the house and, a second later, a streak of white and gold rocketed into the sky. “Oh shit.”

“What?”

“Your girlfriend just took off,” I said dryly, licking my dry lips with a parched tongue. “Probably going to look for Amy.”

“Oh.” I heard him sigh. “Okay.” He didn't sound too disappointed. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, I couldn't just ignore it.

“You should go after her,” I said, guilt squirming in my gut. “I've...got a feeling.” I started as he grabbed my shoulder suddenly.

“Amaranth,” Gallant said, tone hard. “What do you mean.” I turned to him, eyes wide, swallowing dust.

“Something's gonna happen,” I replied, fighting to keep my voice from shaking. “She's...Vicky's going to get hurt, Amy's there...I don't know.” I shook my head, not wanting to share everything. Gallant couldn't help against Bonesaw, but maybe, maybe he could help there. The rest of us could deal with the good doctor without him.

“Okay.” He was quiet for a minute, and I had to check to see if he'd left, but finally: “Sorry Amaranth I...”

“Go,” I said. “It's fine, I'm literally invincible.” We both knew that wasn't true, but he nodded and turned, running down the bylane and after the shrinking white dot of Glory Girl.

Well, last card played. I'd have preferred to go myself, but I was run ragged from the past few day. I didn't get a chance to eat often, sleep was a bitch and a half, and daily patrols had me running all over. Sure, every Ward was in the same place, but not every Ward was doing it over, and over, and fucking over.

It was fine, I was just here keeping an eye out for Bonesaw. If she came, I didn't even have to get stuck in, not really. Too many cooks and all that. The big heroes could probably deal with her and the creations, maybe I'd take on something my size and intelligence level; the spiders would do. I stayed as quiet as I could, head swiveling to keep a look out down the darkened street.

Silence, and nothing else. I frowned and flicked through the channels of my radio, all tuned to nothing. It felt...wrong, like there was another piece of the puzzle we were missing. Bonesaw, really, shouldn't have known Amy wasn't home so she should be coming. She didn't have the ability to track people through the city, only Cherish could--

Cherish.

“Amaranth to Miss Militia,” I barked over the radio. “Bonesaw's not coming, we need to find Panacea.” I started running back towards the house; we needed to regroup and fucking go.

“Amaranth what are you talking about?” She asked, and I shook my head.

“Should have attacked by now,” I bit out as I reached the front lawn. “Miss Militia please.” I clenched my fists as the front door opened, Brandish and Flashbang stepping onto the porch and eyeing me. I gave them a wave.

“Amaranth, what are you doing?” Brandish sounded pissed, but I stood my ground.

“Bonesaw isn't coming,” I replied quickly. “We need to go after Glory Girl and Gallant, find Panacea.”

“Where did Gallant go?” Miss Militia demanded as she arrived, Triumph hot on her heels.

“After Glory Girl,” I replied quickly. “And we need to too. Or like...spread out and search.” I met her eyes, quickly looking away from the steely glower. “I...have a feeling.” It felt like the tension racheted up another notch, and I flinched as she touched my shoulder. Deja vu...

“Amaranth,” Miss Militia said, her tone cold and weighty. “Please tell me exactly what your...feeling is.” Sweat stung my eyes as I looked up at her again.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

“She's after Amy,” I hissed, hoping that the heroes of New Wave wouldn't overhear at least. “And she has help finding her. I don't...” I bit my tongue and shook my head. “I don't know exactly, I've...I don't know, this is kind of all new to me.” Literally.

“You're sure Bonesaw isn't coming?” I nodded firmly. Even if she did and we all left, it couldn't hurt. Miss Militia nodded once in return, then straightened. “Brandish, Flashbang, get the rest of your family together. We need to organize now.”

“Your source?” Brandish said sardonically, eyeing me. I stared at the ground, her tone wasn't undeserved...

“If she says we need to go,” Miss Militia replied evenly. “Then we need to go. I understand your hesitation, but we don't have time to lose. Glory Girl and Gallant are already out there, need I remind you?” Brandish's mouth set in a firm line.

“Fine,” she said coldly. “We'll head after them. The Protectorate ought to sweep the immediate area, make sure that their information is accurate.”

“Very well,” Miss Militia, to my shock, backed down. She tapped her ear and cocked her head slightly. “Miss Militia to Gallant.” There was a pause. Private line, I guess. “You're getting backup. Continue searching, and stay in contact.” A short pause. “Good, out.” She turned to me as the rest of New Wave began gathering. “Come on.”

We left the little house of heroes behind, heading just up the road to where the armoured van was parked. A pair of troopers waited there, confoam guns in hand. She spoke to them briefly, quietly, before turning to me and Triumph.

“You two are a team,” Miss Militia said sharply, then looking pointedly at me: “You stick together. Communicate, and if you have any inkling of trouble, you call in backup. Understood?” We both nodded and I fought back the sick churning in my gut. “Sweep the streets West, all the way to Robichaud. Move quick, we need to be ready to back up New Wave in case--”

“Break, break, break!” Gallant's voice suddenly interrupted. A chill went up my spine, he sounded. “Gallant to anyone in the area, backup needed on Studley, tenth block! Bonesaw and three hybrid cape creations engaging me and Glory Girl!”

“Get in!” Miss Militia snapped, slapping the trooper's shoulder nearest her. “Move!”

We did, scrambling into the back of the van as it roared off. I stood clinging to an overhead handrail, standing on my tip-toes to reach it. The way we were driving, I'd have eaten shit otherwise. Triumph and the other trooper unlucky enough to be back here were both hanging on for dear life. Whoever the fuck was behind the wheel needed a driving lesson, and an ass kicking.

I strained my ears, listening out for the slightest peep from my radio. Nothing but dead air, traffic probably cleared to other channels so we had a clear line for the emergency. It was good, really, but fuck was it nervewracking to be sitting in the metaphorical dark when Gallant, Victoria, and probably Amy were fighting for their lives.

Here I had thought telling someone may actually help, but this was a fucking shitshow. That wasn't entirely my fault, Amy was her own person making her own, stupid choices. Half and half was fair enough, probably. Settling that didn't help the feeling of wanting to throw up, but neither did the rollercoaster ride through the broken roads of Brockton Bay.

Over the sounds of the roaring engine and rush of the asphalt, I could barely make out the commotion of battle. It was the high-pitched shriek of lasers, mixed with the dull thuds of blows that could shake buildings that gave it away. The noise grew louder, until finally the brakes of the van screamed. We were all almost thrown to the ground, but recovered quickly.

I was the first out, bulling through the doors and charging ahead. Gallant said three hybrid capes, which didn't sound right but he was the one fighting them. I cast my eyes about as I ran, locking onto an ugly monstrosity with a rat-like nose, twisted and malformed. Murder Rat, it had to be. I licked my lips and slowed, still moving towards her but not all out.

She was two capes in one, Mouse Protector and Ravager. No clue what either of their powers were, but she had some wicked looking claws. She turned and faced me, drool dripping from misshapen teeth and ragged lips. I felt the hairs on my neck stand on end and halted just outside her reach. I focused on my breathing, trying to ignore the sounds of battle that I could hear just down the road.

A blow came for my face and, despite my desires to the contrary, I raised my arm and blocked it dead. Murder Rat vanished, and I felt a sudden stab in my back. I didn't flinch, somehow, and whirled to face her. The fuck? Another blow came stabbing towards my gut, this time I held my breath and let her strike. The points of her knife-like claws, halted on my projection, and I snapped my hand out, grabbing her wrist.

I didn't hesitate crushing the joint to dust, just a split-second before she teleported again. Murder Rat leaped back, then was thrown into a building by an explosion. I turned and saw Miss Militia, Carl-Gustav on her shoulder, fire another round into the fallen monster. Then another, and another, and another, until the building behind her had lost most of the near wall.

Murder Rat was pulped, but there were bigger issues to deal with. A two-bodied cape was teleporting around the battlefield, leaving clones that crumbled to ash in its wake. Oni Lee? But he was dead wasn't he? No, I remembered in a flash, he was mixed with--

“Don't let him get near you!” I yelled, opening my comm channel. “That's Hatchet Face and Oni Lee!”

A fucking power killer, just what the doctor ordered. The doctor in question being a twelve year old little monster that if I got my hands on I'd...well, Taylor wasn't the only one that could kill children. I shook my head and looked around for an opponent that wouldn't spell instant death for me. Brandish, Flashbang, and Gallant were busy with a human centaur looking thing that was definitely going to appear in my nightmares later. Laserdream, Lady Photon, and now Miss Militia and Triumph were trying to deal with the teleporting monstrosity.

Where was Victoria? Actually, where was Bonesaw? Her creations were here, even some skittering metal spiders joining the fray, but the cape herself was missing. That...wait, there were three people unaccounted for here. Bonesaw, Victoria, and...

Oh no.

I ran through the battlefield, ignoring friendly and enemy attacks alike. My heart hammered against my ribs and my stomach demanded to be emptied on the ground. I ignored it like the fighting around me, dead-set on finding the missing trio. They couldn't be far, but there were a hell of a lot of buildings and alleys around here. I ducked a stray laser and swore under my breath, retreating a little from the battle itself.

Looking around, it wasn't easy to see where they may be hiding. The sun had fully set, and around here the only lighting came from glowing weapons and blinding flashes of laser beams. The moon was barely a sliver, casting only weak light to see. I strained my ears and eyes to trying and discern anything that could help me.

Suddenly, from behind me, I heard a sharp 'bang'. I whirled around and charged, heading towards a squat, brick structure that a thin line of smoke was coming up from. I heard another blast and heard the shattering of glass from the building. Well, that was it. I found the glass doors had been long shattered and barreled through them. Muffled shouting came from upstairs, and I took the steps two at a time as my lungs burned.

I slammed through the last door just in time to see Glory Girl hurtle a metal spider at Bonesaw so hard that, when it missed, it punched a hole in the wall. The little monster herself made a squeak of surprise and tossed a vial at the heroine's feet. It exploded and threw her into the far wall. I charged forward at her, and her eyes seemed to widen.

“You're new!” Bonesaw said, the childish lisp not fitting the blood-and-shit stained apron she wore. “What's your name?” I didn't say a word, instead swinging an open hand to try and grab her throat. She ducked it and scrambled back the way she came. “Dumb? I can fix that!”

Bonesaw grabbed a little remote off the floor and grinned, pressing a button. I gasped as cold steel jammed into my side, shockingly hot. I heard a muffled noise, and a second later, the feeling of something in my gut vanished, and Hack Job appeared behind Bonesaw. I fell to the floor and cried out as my stomach exploded in crippling agony.

“See? Now you don't have to be dumb, you can just be dead!” She sounded genuinely cheerful. “You know, I don't know what your powers are, but they don't seem that good if you die just like that.” I grit my teeth and pressed my hands against my side. I didn't want to look, I didn't want to... “I can fix that too though.” My eyes widened and, for the first time since all this started, I desperately prayed that I would die, and quickly.

Hack Job exploded into dust as something careened overhead and struck his face. A sphere of blue light rocketed past me and hit Bonesaw, knocking her to the floor. When she rose, her mismatched eyes were wide, and she fled without another word. I stared up at the ceiling, trying to keep pressure on my wound as the sounds of battle carried on around me. I couldn't look and see I just...

“Amaranth!” I turned and saw Miss Militia running into the room. She fired a shot at something I couldn't see, then sprinted over and knelt next to me. “Oh, Amaranth no.” I opened my mouth to ask for a medic but all that spilled out was blood.

I coughed, then I threw up, all red. I gasped desperately, choking on the shit that was supposed to be keeping me alive. I twisted my neck and finally saw what Hack Job had done. A burbling moan escaped my lips as I saw the savage, ragged wound that nearly reached my belly button. I threw up again, blood and bile choking me as much as flowing from my mouth. I saw...someone above me through my tear-blurred vision.

A cool hand touched my cheek, and I wished it was just a little warmer...