by Simon Archer
The boy cackled like a true supervillain, and his sister followed behind him, a strange twist in her lips that betrayed some unhappiness. Once the two vanished from behind the next door, the guns halted again. The lasers were all askew behind me, and their gun barrels smoked from use. I checked my shoulder with a palm and hissed. No bleeding, so the bullets weren’t real. The pain was harder to explain, maybe it was some kind of psychic weapon at work, but knowing that I wasn’t actually injured was half the battle.
The way forward was clear now, so I ran on and met the twins on the other side. The sister was pulling on the chain that held she and her brother together, and while her eyes were blindfolded, it was clear that she was furious. The brother yanked the chain toward him instead and growled low in his throat. It sounded bestial, a guttural noise. When he spotted me, his lips pulled back and bared wolf-like fangs.
“You survive then, Inferno Boy?” he snarled. “What a wonder you are.”
“Stop it, Matt!” the sister shot back. “This isn’t the fucking time. Keep it up, and you’re going to get us both DQ’d.”
So I was pissed. No surprise there. I had no idea what this bastard wanted from me, and nor what I’d done to cross him without even knowing his name. It was probably some fucking fallout from my father again, which wasn’t fair in the least but welcome to my life. He’d tried to kill me outright and would have gotten away with it on a technicality because he hadn’t actually hit me. He hadn’t known those guns were fake, not if I didn’t. I wanted to return the favor. I wanted to break his body in six different places.
The black bracelet was a tight reminder around my wrist, and I chose to keep my mouth shut while I studied the course. ‘Matt’ apparently wasn’t happy with my lack of reaction. No doubt he wanted to see me gone from the academy forever.
The sister once again drew his attention when she grabbed at his shirt as she shouted, “Strap your balls on and let it go, we’ve got bigger problems right now!”
The brother retaliated with a snarl but didn’t strike.
It’d be funny if she were stuck here, bound to her stupid unconscious brother, unable to proceed and win the tryouts because he was careless. Not that it mattered to me what they did since I was going to pass no matter what.
I let them argue as I hopped down into what seemed to be an arena full of killer robots hellbent on destroying humanity. There was yet another pit of death blocking the rope ladder to the end of the trials. This one was filled with green bubbling acid, and the caustic smell of it burned at my lungs.
Andie was nearby, holding her own against four of the angry robots. Her fists flew in crazy directions as her arms stretched, snapped back, and spun around like actual rubber. Some of the robots were firing bullets, and others were wielding clubs. She skillfully evaded the gunfire by stretching and pulling her body like taffy, but she was too slow to avoid the melee fighters since her left leg was held in some kind of device that kept her from stretching it.
One of the club-wielding robots whirred angrily as it lashed out at her shoulder. As the blow smacked her shoulder, her rubber body deformed, and while she winced, I could tell that her powers had mitigated most of the impact.
She kicked it back with her good leg which stretched outward to increase the force. Her foot hit the robot with a sound like a rubber band snapping only a million times louder. The robot flew backward, collided against the nearby wall and exploded into furious sparks, probably vowing some kind of revenge, no doubt.
As another robot came up behind her, I moved in to help, but she didn’t need it. She grabbed hold of that one and twirled around in a pirouette to build up momentum. She tossed it out towards the acid, where it tumbled down and exploded like the first bot had. These ones couldn’t fly, so the damage was rather spectacular.
“C’mon, you stupid hunks of metal!” she cried and then gave them the ‘bring it’ gesture. “I can do this all day. In fact, I want to do this all day.”
The robots seemed so incensed by her rebellious nature that they largely ignored me. Since she clearly had it handled, I turned my attention back to the course and found a pressure plate near the edge of the platform. When I stepped on it, a bridge made of light appeared over the acid pit.
“Won’t work!” Andie cried as she twisted her body around a robot, and then let her body spin back to normal, causing the robot to jet off the platform like a top. “The bridge disappears when you pull your foot off. I tried putting a few robots on them, but that didn’t do it either.”
“Damn,” I said as I lifted my foot and watched the bridge vanish. “Say, why didn’t you stretch over it?”
“There’s some kind of power mitigation field in that pit that keeps me from doing it,” she replied as another robot fired at her. She dodged it easily before throwing herself at the robots trying to kill her, and I realized she was taking out her frustration on them.
That meant I could focus on the task at hand, and as I put my foot back on the platform and caused the bridge to reappear, I realized I knew what to do.
“You get across,” I said as I gestured toward the bridge. “They’ll follow you, and then I can open the pit out from underneath them once you’re safe.”
“Wait, you’re gonna help me? We’re in competition, Nick. Not that I don’t trust you, but—”
“There’s no rule against working together,” I called back. “Clearly, this one's meant to teach that lesson. Get on the bridge. I won’t drop you.”
“You promise?”
“Yeah, I promise, Andie. Time’s ticking, move it!” I gestured at the bridge again.
She grinned and then hobbled onto the bridge. She was apparently willing to place her life into my hands without much debate on the matter. I wasn’t sure anyone else in the building would do it, but apparently, I’d put some kind of good impression on Andie, and she just winked at me as she stepped onto the bridge.
The robots did indeed follow her, especially when she howled like a wolf and catcalled back to them. They whirred and beeped, their metal bodies shivering with rage as they stepped onto the bridge to chase her down. I held the plate until she was safe on the other side and then let go. All the robots who’d chased her tumbled down into the acid pit which embraced them with the tender care only extremely corrosive acid can bring.
On the other side, she laughed and glanced up at the rope ladder to freedom. Clearly, for a moment, she considered leaving without me... but then she stepped on a plate her side, and the bridge reappeared.
“C’mon, cutie.” She smiled as her eyes glistened under the lights overhead. I could see approval there, happy for the ally she’d gained. “Quick, before I change my mind.”
I didn’t hesitate. I sprinted across the bridge and joined Andie on the other side a moment later. She stepped off the plate, and a curse from behind me told me that the twins hadn’t been far behind us. I glanced back to see Matt scrambling back from the bridge, and he flipped me off with a rude finger when he noticed my attention.
I ignored the asshole and pointed to Andie’s restricted leg with a concerned frown. “Can you make it up the ladder in that?”
“Does a duck like grapes?” Andie snorted and hobbled toward it. She used both arms and her good leg to climb, apparently happy to prove her own independence. I followed underneath her, determined to catch if should she fall, but she didn’t.
We made up easily enough, and she waited until I was by her side before glancing at the finish line. She smiled and took my hand. It was a warm feeling, a calm comfort. She eased the nervousness I felt right at the end.
I said to Gemma that I’d break the record, but I worried I’d wasted too much time on the twins and the light bridge. I wanted to prove that I could do this. I wanted to be the best, I wanted to be better than he was. I was so tired of people like Matt blaming me for things I didn’t even do.
“You’re a good sort, Nick,” Andie said as she met my eyes with a heated amber gaze. It was like she could read my mi
nd, maybe my insecurity was just that obvious. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
With that, we crossed the finish line together.
Triton was on the other side of it, and he clapped enthusiastically like the world’s proudest dad. Gemma was behind him, a smile on her face as she held up a chart.
“Five minutes even,” Triton said as he grinned from ear to ear. He gestured at the chart which displayed our names and the time. “You beat your father and Ice-Bringer’s time, back when they tried. The two of you are currently best in class.”
“Best in class! Cute and talented.” Andie howled in triumph and immediately pulled my shirt in for a quick kiss.
My face turned crimson, but I kissed her back. Her lips tasted sweet, and as that thought entered my brain, Andie wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me in deeper.
From our right, I heard Gemma’s throat clear. “Alright, that’s enough! Go get a water bottle or three, you’re not done yet.”
Like ice sliding down my spine, I became aware of the world around me again. The heat of my face could probably start a fire. Andie laughed at it and pinched my cheek. That only made it worse, of course.
“Wait...” I said as I met Gemma’s eyes. “We’re not done yet?”
“Of course not.” She grinned back at me with a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. “That was only the first trial, Gateon. Move it or lose it!”
Chapter 2
Her leg freed now that the power limits were off, Andie had her arm slung around my shoulder as we waited for the next stage to assemble. It was an easy, loving gesture, and one that I wasn’t used to getting. It made my heart sing in ways that it hadn’t in a long time. I poked her hand where it hung down over my shoulder and smiled back at her.
“You’re a good partner,” I said quietly. “Strange, but good.”
Her laugh was the sound of sunshine. “Strange, eh?”
“Yeah. The best kind of strange.” I hugged her with one arm and watched as the Barbur twins crossed the finish line. Matt sneered in my direction, but I didn’t care anymore.
Andie slipped out from my half-embrace and led me away from the finish line to grab the water bottles Gemma had mentioned. She tossed one my direction and then unscrewed the cap of another to down the entire thing in one go. Little droplets slid down her throat as she went for it. When she finally pulled away, the bottle was empty. She sucked in a great big breath of air and then wiped her mouth with the back of her wrist.
I was impressed. “Thirsty?”
She laughed again. I unscrewed mine and took it a bit more slowly. We met eyes, and they held for a long time. Hers were these loving brown irises that seemed to see beauty in the simplest of things, and I had to wonder what else I’d learn in the days to come. Everyone who applied at the academy had a story, and it was clear given her skill level that she’d come here prepared for a fight. Why then had she attached herself so easily to me?
I knew I had the skill, and it was true that I’d helped her cross the final bridge at great risk to myself, but most people upon learning my name assumed other things about my character. She did not.
Why?
She snickered at the blatant confusion on my face, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sound of it. “God, Nick. I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours, but stop over-thinking everything.”
I ducked my head in response, but the smile didn’t waver. She was right, of course. No point in pushing away the one ally I had in this place because I wasn’t used to a little affection.
I was pulled out my thoughts by a blaring horn and Gemma waving for attention. I realized that the others had finished the obstacle course. Eric was among them, as well as Elianna, who had gone back to her human form. Jack was speaking to the Barbur twins, apparently content in their company. I was certain that I was the focus of their conversation because they kept darting glances in my direction while they spoke in hushed tones.
At least sixty applicants moaned in despair as they were led off the course and out of the academy. Their entire lives had been shattered, or so they believed. I hadn’t realized the course would be so difficult for so many people, especially since most of them, presumably, had access to their powers.
“We all start somewhere, don’t we?” Andie tsked with pity as she watched them pass by. “It’s not like they can’t try again next year.”
A few years ago, that would have been me, but it seemed like my hard work was paying off, and while I was proud to make it this far, I found myself excited to get to the next event.
“We will begin in only a few moments,” Gemma said as she signaled to a tall, dark man next to her, and my jaw practically dropped when I saw him.
He was City Master, an older hero that led the academy as well as taught many of the training courses. He could manipulate walls and city buildings effortlessly, and he was likely responsible for the earlier obstacle course. Rumor had it that a lot of the defense against Lord Inferno was in his hands and that he safeguarded the entire city with his abilities. Given the ease at which he manipulated the course, I believed it.
City Master didn’t even look back as he parted the giant wall behind him and Gemma to reveal a tremendous arena. Skylights beamed down from above and brought all focus to the large golden pyramid at the center.
“Fifty-seven of you remain,” Gemma said loudly enough to pull our attention away from the pyramid. “There is only enough room for fifteen of you at the top. Now, half of you stand here, on the left.” She gestured, and Matt and his crew went to the left side of the arena. “Other half on the right.”
I followed Andie’s lead as we made our way down to the right side. On the way, I passed by Eric, whose eyes lit up in recognition. He gestured as if to ask if he could join, and I knew better than to refuse allies with the battle to come, so I nodded. He grinned as if I’d just given him a winning lottery ticket.
“On the first horn, the left group will fight for the first tier,” Gemma explained. “On the second, the right group will join them. You will have five minutes to reach the second tier. Every five minutes after that, the horn will blare, and you will fight your way to the next tier. Anyone left behind on a previous tier for more than one minute will be disqualified.”
As she spoke, I felt an odd sensation on my wrist and realized that the black band was gone now. There had been no sound of it falling. It simply vanished. A hallucination, perhaps?
“Combat is allowed,” the black-haired teacher continued, “but any threats to your fellow applicants’ lives will be swiftly dealt with. A hero arrests, a villain hurts. Remember that.”
I balled my fists at my sides and bounced a little as I realized this was going to be a long fight of endurance. Gemma said nothing about powers or hindrances, so now I had to calculate when best to use mine.
“Andie, you’re on defense,” I whispered as a plan began to form in my head. “Eric, what’s your power set?”
“I zap things!” he enthused. “I’m zappy, like Thundress! You remember her? She was my great aunt, led the battle against—”
“Focus, Eric,” I said with a smirk. “How good are you?”
“I mean, I can’t control it.” He shrugged. “I try, but I—”
“Learn, then.” Despite my worry at his inexperience, I kept my voice even and confident. “You’re on offense.”
For some reason, Eric was keen to impress me, because his grin got even wider. Excitable though he was, I was happy to see that he was more confident than nervous. We needed that if we were going to win.
“You got it, boss.” He gave me a quick salute. “Nothing will get by me.”
“Sounds good.” I took a deep breath. “Andie, do you think you can handle defense?”
“Shouldn’t be a problem.” She grinned at me. “What about you?”
“Well, that’s the rub.” I sighed. “My power only works for ten minutes at a time, so I’ll try to conserve it until the end.” I looked between them. “While
I can take care of myself, I’d prefer to act as a secondary defensive or offensive player and assist where needed as we push from tier to tier.”
Both Andie and Eric bobbed their heads in confirmation as the horn blared and the first group ran in. I watched Matt immediately bare wolf-like claws and start leaping on various applicants. He did enough damage and caused enough fear to send them screaming.
Far above us, the bolts holding down a skylight groaned in distress, and then the whole thing tore off with a shower of sparks. It followed the Barbur sister’s extended hand who warped the metal with her mind. She stretched the material until it was flat like a shield and then used it to protect herself against the force beams of another applicant. Jack, caught between her and Matt, roared and tossed his brick-like body into the crowd, sending several applicants flying backward.
“A metal bender, a werewolf, and a man made of bricks,” I muttered as I added this new data to my battle plan.
“Sounds like the start to an interesting joke,” Andie said as she elbowed me lightly in the side. “Or a boy band.”
“Oh wow, you’re hilarious,” Eric said between guffaws, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Thanks, I try,” Andie said, and I could tell the two of them would become friends, assuming we could beat this trial.
And I was determined to make that happened, so I watched our competition closely. They were well-trained, and several seemed hungry to see me fail. The second horn roared overhead, and Matt and I met eyes as I raced in. He was on the other side of the pyramid, busy with at least three different contenders. From his expression, it was clear that he wanted to claw my heart out, but that would have to wait. We each had our own immediate problems.
Andie’s rubber arm stretched up from beside me and caught the foot of a flying applicant who was headed toward Eric with a rather mean kick. She twirled and sent the guy flying.
As he collided with the golden steps of the pyramid, Eric’s fingers lit up. With crazed blue eyes, he zapped three other applicants with a burst of chain lightning as he let out a cackle of glee.