by J. D. Wright
“No, I’m pretty sure I would look like an idiot for taking a girl I just dumped after I found out she cheated on me. Multiple times.”
“Who told you that? I want names. Whoever it is—”
“It doesn’t matter, Scarlet. No means no.”
Scarlet let out an angry hiss and shoved a plastic tray into Nick’s chest. “Fine. Go alone. But I swear to you, if you bring someone else to prom that isn’t me, I will make you regret it. Don’t think I have forgiven you for that public display the other day. I know you only broke up with me like that to embarrass me.”
Nick leaned down toward her. “I don’t want your forgiveness. I want you to leave me the hell alone.”
He didn’t give her an opportunity to respond. He stepped around her and began to fill his tray, suddenly starving for food and some peace and quiet.
Victor pushed the door to the locker room open and walked inside. Finding his customers for his father had been easier than he’d predicted thus far. The first boy he’d found was in his father’s lab at that very moment. Victor had picked him up two nights ago at a rave in the industrial district. The boy had been high on something and way too trusting. It had only taken a promise of more drugs and half-naked girls to get the boy into a cab and on the way to Marticus.
The next one on his list was a nerd who frequently bought stimulants to feed his all-night study sessions. Victor thought it was a waste of good drugs, himself. But since he was only providing the product, he didn’t care what anyone used it for.
“Simon,” Victor said, smiling. “Just the man I wanted to see.”
Simon looked up and readjusted his glasses. “Uh, hello, Victor.”
“I knew you’d be here, waiting to change after gym class until everyone else left. Still afraid to show off the big guns?” Victor gave the boy’s thin arms a squeeze.
“What do you want, Victor?” Simon nervously pretended to adjust his glasses again. “I told you I won’t need your help until the week before finals. That’s still almost a month away.”
“Oh, I know. I just wondered how you were feeling after that party we went to. You know, the one where you practically begged me for a hit of the ‘good stuff’?” Victor raised his hands and did air quotes.
Simon quickly looked around then growled, “Don’t say that here! You can get me kicked out of school. You know that we have a strict no-tolerance policy!”
Victor snickered. “You’re such a dweeb, you know that?”
Simon started to leave but found himself shoved against the lockers behind him.
“I asked you a question, Simon,” Victor said. His voice was calm, but his eyes shot warning daggers at the boy. “It would be in your best interest to answer me. How do you feel after taking the hit?”
“I don’t know what you’re—”
“Just answer the fucking question!”
“I didn’t take it, all right?” Simon spat. “I chickened out and didn’t take it. I put it in my bag and planned to toss it when I got home that night.”
“Planned to? Does that mean you didn’t?”
“No, I…I lost it.”
Victor’s forearm on Simon’s neck pushed harder, causing the boy to gasp for air.
“You lost it? Lost it?”
“Yes!” Simon wheezed. “I don’t know…where it went. When I got home from…the party, it was gone.”
Victor loosened his hold, but barely. He was convinced Simon hadn’t taken the drug and become a super. If he had, the boy certainly would have used his power to fight back and save himself.
The second bell rang out. Simon looked down at his bags, but couldn’t make a run for it with the arm still pinning him in place.
“Time for lunch,” Victor said, smiling. He released the boy and backed away. “And a word of advice, Simon. Next time someone sells you an illegal drug, take it right away and destroy the evidence, idiot.”
Chapter Thirteen
Majestic had just jumped over the fence and landed in the alley behind the school when Whiskey chimed into her ear.
“This better be good because I’m missing pizza day, Majestic.”
“You’ve always told me to trust my gut, Whiskey.”
“Yeah, but it’s never interfered with my lunch before.”
“You probably ate pizza for breakfast. Am I wrong?”
The other end was silent for a moment.
“That’s beside the point. I can eat pizza three times a day and still not get enough.”
“I believe it.” Majestic walked slowly down the alley in the direction the man had gone when she’d seen him the night she tested out her suit and gear. “It’s a little strange being out here in the daytime with my suit.”
“You might as well get used to it. Crime doesn’t only happen at night.”
“Yeah, I know but…what if someone sees me?”
“Then your coming-out party happens earlier than planned?”
Majestic chuckled and studied the buildings as she passed them. All of the structures were brick, but each one was a different color. She tried to remember what building the man had been near when she’d lost sight of him, but in the dark, they had all looked the same.
“Uh…Majestic,” Whiskey said, his voice heavy with concern.
“What?”
“We have a major problem. I just got a bulletin on my agent feed from the S.U.C.”
“Okay? What does it say?”
“Shit. It’s being reported on the city news too. This is bad.”
“Just tell me!”
“You know that very alley that you’re standing in?”
“Yes.”
“Less than six hours ago, it was a crime scene. They found a boy, Majestic. A seventeen-year-old. According to the S.U.C., he is thought to have been killed somewhere else but dumped there. They haven’t released his name. Cause of death is unknown.”
“Tell me where to go.”
“North. One more block. He was found…” He paused to read. “They found him next to the back door of Gary’s Pizza. I’m bringing up a satellite image now. Okay, it’s the blue building and the door is white with no window.”
“Got it.”
Majestic sprinted up the alley and slowed when she neared the place Whiskey had described. There was a red crime scene tape, but it was useless as it only ran across the door. Other than the red tape, the alley looked like every other. Trash was piled into the open dumpster and some littered beside it.
She crouched to get a better look at the ground next to the door of the pizza joint and reported her findings. “I don’t see any blood. There is a small puddle of some type of yellow goo. Should we take pictures?”
“Yeah, just look at the scene from every direction and I’ll grab some stills from your camera.”
Majestic did as instructed then straightened up. “I wonder why they left this so open. If it’s a crime scene, shouldn’t it be blocked off or something?”
“I guess forensics must be done with it. Majestic, this cause of death doesn’t make sense. It’s unknown. That’s the actual cause. It doesn’t say anything about further testing or determination. Just unknown.”
“How can someone die from…nothing?”
“That’s what I was wondering too.”
“All right. I’m coming back.”
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Whiskey asked, typing away on his computer.
“That this can’t be a coincidence for a body to be found in the alley I was suspicious about? Yep. What about the boy? No name, but is he a student—”
“Already on it. I’m hacking into the school system now to see who’s been marked absent.”
Majestic took in her surroundings as she walked back. She doubted a clue would jump out at her, but it was worth the look. Whiskey was right, though. If the scene had been abandoned like that, chances are that there was nothing of importance left behind.
“Out of the eleven boys who missed school today,” Whiskey began, “
only four of them were seventeen. I’m going to try to narrow it down. Give me a minute.”
She turned left toward the school and skidded to a halt when she caught movement beside her. A figure was leaning on the darkened portion of the fence, watching her. Whiskey began to speak in her ear but Majestic said in a low voice, “Hold that thought.”
“Well, who do we have here?” the woman asked, stepping out of the shadows and into the sun, looking Majestic over from head to toe. “Another super?”
Majestic didn’t reply. She did her own study of the stranger with long and thick brown hair. The woman’s suit was barely a suit at all…more of a strapless leotard with a plunging neckline that showcased a pair of round breasts miraculously held in place. It was emerald green and silver with diamond-shaped cutouts on each side and the navel. Her thigh-high silver boots had the same green trim that also matched the choker around her neck.
In lieu of a mask, the woman wore heavy ornate makeup around her eyes, nose, and lips in the same green and silver. There was a dagger attached to the top of her right boot and the woman absently rubbed the hilt with her palm.
“Let me guess…Circus Girl? Do you entertain the masses by pulling a rabbit from your ass or something?” the woman said, laughing loudly at her own joke.
“No,” Majestic returned, annoyed. “The name is Majestic.”
“Majestic,” Whiskey said into her ear. “Who are you talking to?”
She didn’t reply to him, but turned her body to face the other woman so that her micro-cameras would catch her.
“Majestic…Majestic.” The woman tested the name on her plump green lips a few times. “No, I think I’ll call you Circus Girl. More fitting.”
“And you are?” Majestic asked, putting her hands on her hips. “A Poison Ivy knock-off?”
The woman smirked. “Aww…that’s adorable. Not quite, Circus Girl. I’m Eden.”
“Eden? Like the garden? That’s not very original, either.”
“Eden, like the bearer of the forbidden fruit, darling. No man can resist the temptation.” She licked her lip and gave Majestic an assessing glance. “You look as if you could use a little something sinful in your life. Want a taste?”
“No, thanks.”
“I’ll bet I could make you change your mind.”
Eden moved toward Majestic, but halted when a dark figure stepped out beside her.
“Aww, Velocious. Already time to go?” Eden asked, faking a pout. “I was just getting to know my new friend here.”
“Sorry. Duty calls,” Velocious said, paying no attention to Majestic.
His face was hidden behind the dark hood that matched the rest of his black suit. His muscular arms were bare from the bottom of his sleeves to his gray wrist-cuffs. The only distinguishable mark on his suit was a jagged gray strap across his chest that resembled a lightning bolt. He took Eden’s hand and led her over to a black motorcycle that was parked on the other side of the alley. After he turned, Majestic noticed two short swords crossed over the center of his back.
“Oh, Circus Girl.” Eden climbed on behind him then turned back to Majestic. “If you change your mind, I’m sure we’ll let you join us. I don’t mind sharing.”
Velocious threw his head back and a deep laugh rolled out just before he punched the gas. The bike dashed away at such a high speed that all Majestic could see was a blur. She ran into the alleyway, but the bike was gone.
“Whoa,” Whiskey said. “That was fast.”
“You saw that?”
“I tapped into the cameras in the alley. They practically disappeared. Who was that?”
“I have no idea. But you got the names, right? Eden and—”
“Velocious. Yeah, I got them. I’ll check the databases and see if anything pops up on them.”
“Good. I’m going to change and meet you in a few minutes.”
Majestic hopped over the fence and ducked into the bushes in the courtyard to change out of her supersuit. “Prest-o change-o,” she spoke into her compact. Less than a heartbeat later and she was back in her school clothes and headed into the library.
James was zipping up his bag when Vada found him in the hallway.
“Graduation can’t get here soon enough,” he grumbled. “I’m tired of working in the janitor’s closet.”
“Sorry.” Vada gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Now, let’s get you fed.”
They walked into the cafeteria as people began to trickle out. After a quick run through the lunch line, James had half a slice of pizza already eaten before he even reached their table. The other half disappeared shortly after.
Vada toyed with her own slice as the first bell rang. A thought continued to pop into her mind and she wrestled with the decision to say it aloud. Finally, seeing that the cafeteria was mostly empty, she leaned forward.
“I think that girl was Henley.”
“What?” James said with his mouth full. “Who?”
“Eden. I think it was Henley.”
“Vada—”
“No, wait. Hear me out,” she interrupted. “We know something strange is happening with her, and even you agree that it could be supernatural. We saw that notice about new supers. Maybe she’s one of them. One of the new supers.”
James shook his head. “I don’t know, Vada. I mean, how could someone who doesn’t know anything about being a super suddenly turn into one? She had a suit, weapon, name…everything.”
“I have a pretty good idea that whoever she was with has something to do with it. For all we know, he could be the one who changed her.”
When the second bell rang, they hurried out of the cafeteria and split up to go to their next classes. The moment Vada sat down at her desk, her phone vibrated. She discreetly took a peek at the message.
James: I believe you and I’ll look into it. We’re a team and I trust your judgment.
Vada: Thanks, James. You’re the best. :)
James: But you still owe me a late lunch.
Vada sighed at the phone and slid it back into her jeans.
Chapter Fourteen
The street was quiet when Majestic slunk out of her current hiding spot and leaned up on her toes to peek into the window of the apartment behind her. It was still dark inside, but she’d heard a noise and thought maybe someone had finally returned home.
“Still empty,” she murmured.
“Roger,” Whiskey echoed.
Majestic rolled her eyes at Whiskey’s insistence to use military code when communicating in her suit. She hadn’t the vaguest idea what some of it meant, but at least she did know what “roger” meant. Her father had told her it would probably take a while for her and her agent to get into a good rhythm, but if the pairing was meant to be, Whiskey would eventually become an extension of her.
“While we’re waiting,” he said, “let’s go over the target’s info.”
“All right.” Majestic recalled the file from her memory. “Jergon Hanson, age 45. Jumped bail on domestic abuse and drug charges. Third time arrested for assaulting his current wife and active restraining order in place from first wife, who has now moved to Tulsa.”
“Good girl.”
A light on the front stoop of the apartment came on as the motion sensor was tripped by a couple walking toward it. Majestic crouched back down and hid in the bushes while she watched a middle-aged man and woman stop at the door. The man stuck a key in the hole and turned it while the woman waited. Once the door was open, the man jerked the woman inside and slammed the door behind them.
“The birds have landed in the nest,” Majestic said, feeling more like a soldier than a superhero. “Do I really have to say it that way?”
“You promised to give it a try,” Whiskey said.
“Fine. The birds have landed. Happy?”
“Affirmative.”
“Oh, geez…”
Whiskey chuckled. “Now that we have the target in sight, let’s go over the plan one more time.”
“I go
inside through the window in the bedroom, wait until the target is distracted, and take him down.”
“Good. And once you’ve apprehended him?”
“I’ll say, ‘Target secured,’ and you’ll alert the police.”
“Then we’ll be on our way to our very first official catch.”
“Yes, sir.” Majestic gave a mock salute.
“You just saluted, didn’t you?”
“You told me to give it a try.” Majestic smiled and heard a sigh in her ear before it went silent. It was time for her to work.
The window became her entrance after she discovered it was unlocked and unobstructed by any furniture. It was lucky this apartment was on the ground floor, so getting in wasn’t much of a challenge. She did have to take a short run and use a foot against the wall to propel her high enough to get through the window, but then she was inside and quietly closing the glass down behind her.
“I’m in,” she said.
She kept her voice low, but it wasn’t really necessary because the house was suddenly filled with loud shouting coming from another room. The voices echoed down the hallway and through the paper-thin walls of the apartment. When Majestic eased the bedroom door open, it made a tiny squeak, but the sound couldn’t be heard over the arguing.
The hallway was dark and long. Majestic slowly tiptoed down it, edging along the wall because she wasn’t sure which room the couple was currently in. From the apartment’s layout that James had found on the complex’s website, this apartment could be one of two different arrangements. The room coming up on Majestic’s right would either be the kitchen or the living room.
She hoped that whatever room it was, the fighting couple was in the other one. She wanted a moment to check out the scene before going in. Her power would definitely come in handy, but only if she knew what was available. She couldn’t move what she couldn’t see.
Light shone into the hall from the doorway as she approached. Holding her breath, she eased her head around just enough to peek around the corner. It was the kitchen, and it was empty. Majestic did a mental sigh of relief. Then she crouched down and, after checking her surroundings, did a tuck-and-roll across the floor. Within a second, she was on the other side of the kitchen and hiding beside the refrigerator.