by Jamie Zakian
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Max said, staring into Shay’s eyes. “Maybe you do need a doctor.”
“It was Evie.” Simon turned his cell phone’s display toward Max. A video streamed of the fake Evie person cracking Shay’s head like a cantaloupe.
“That’s not really Evie. That woman looked like Evie, sounded like her, even smelled like her, but the eyes and her smile were different.”
Shay held her head, willing the throb of her brain into submission so thoughts could creep through. “She said the real Evie was in a cell. That my sister was smart for feeding her bad information.”
“It could be possible,” Hetal said. “There were a hundred and twenty-two other people we picked up on the energy frequency scanner. One of them could be a shapeshifter.”
“Why would they target Shay, and how did they get their hands on Evie?” Max asked.
Strength returned to Shay’s legs. She climbed off the floor, a bit too fast, and her knees shook.
“I was with the real Evie last night,” she said, leaning against her workbench in attempts to ease the quake in her muscles. “I know it was her.”
“Maybe Antiserum or Dr. Mayhem snuck into the building,” Hetal said. “Left behind an imposter Evie then snuck out with the real one.”
“Impossible.” Simon clicked off his cell phone. “I just tracked Evie’s movements for the last forty-eight hours, there was nothing out of the ordinary. Unless they learned how to teleport and popped into her bedroom, there’s no way.”
“Where’s Lexie?” Max asked.
Simon shifted in place, staring into the far corner of the room.
“She was here earlier.” Shay sat on a stool, since her knees wouldn’t quit their quivering. “I’m not sure where she went, something she forgot to do. We need to find Evie.” Her voice cracked and she took a deep breath.
The biggest temper tantrum neared the verge of eruption. She predicted foot stomping, waterfall tears, and a grainy shrill that could pierce a person’s skull. “If Evie’s in a cell, she’s probably at the asylum. I was in a cell there.”
Hetal hurried to the computer with the energy signature map still on its display. “The scanner is picking up five blips at the asylum right now. I think the bad guys did some recruiting.”
“We need to find Lexie, get over there now,” Max said as he headed for the door.
“I’m going too.” Shay hopped off the stool and her wobbly legs gave out beneath her.
Max grabbed Shay by the waist before the squeak of his sneakers could bounce off the walls. His secure yet gentle hold came with an electric charge, one that pumped her weakened muscles full of adrenaline.
Shay stood up straight and looked at Hetal. “Get the stem cell ointment we made this morning, I’m going to guinea pig it on myself.”
“Awesome.” Hetal ran across the lab, toward the small fridge. “I’m recording this for posterity.”
The rush of barking orders gave Shay a very Evie feel, and she rode with it.
“You two.” She pointed her finger between Max and Simon. “Find Alexie and suit up. We’ll head out in fifteen.”
Their stunned faces could’ve made the cover of Superhero Weekly with the title, Caught in Headlights! To grin now would shatter the authoritative façade, but if Shay held it in any longer she’d strain her lips. Thankfully, they walked away and she let a small snicker escape, despite the burn in her cheek.
Hetal hurried to Shay’s side, juggling a camera stand, medical kit, and jars of neon green goo.
“I need some kind of suit,” Shay said, looking at her blood-speckled lab coat. “Something badass, with pockets to hold all the weapons I plan on using.”
After setting up the camera, Hetal grabbed her backpack from the desk.
“I was thinking the same thing.” Hetal set her bag on the table beside Shay and pulled out a handful of leather clothes.
“You got me an outfit?”
“Actually, I made it.” Hetal handed Shay a stretchy halter top then unpacked gauze and cotton swabs from the medical kit.
“When did you have time to make a superhero suit?” Shay peeked into Hetal’s bag, running her fingers along the smooth leather of jet-black pants. “Are you a superhero too?”
Hetal’s eyes grew wide and her body grew stiff.
“Wait.” Shay pushed the backpack aside, weaving to catch Hetal’s evasive stare. “Do you have an ability?”
“It’s … more like a disorder.” Hetal cleaned the blood from Shay wound, leaving a pile of crimson-stained alcohol wipes on the table. “I have insomnia and when I don’t sleep for a few days, I get hyper.”
Shay didn’t know what to say. As a science-minded person, she understood why Hetal didn’t use pills to help her sleep. Brain cells were a terrible thing to waste. However, the friend in her wanted to see Hetal healthy. Working with dangerous equipment in a manic state definitely wasn’t healthy.
“I’m not a freak!”
“I don’t think you’re a freak,” Shay said with all honesty. “But I am going to make a sleep ray when this is over. Hit you with it when you overachieve.”
A smile lifted Hetal’s cheeks, but only for a moment. She slapped on a serious expression and opened a jar of stem cell ointment. “All right. I’m turning on the camera, so let’s be real doctorly.”
Shay nodded. She sat tall on her stool, pulled her hair into a bun, and then pointed at Hetal. “Hit it.”
Lucius stood back and watched Cyrus stalk Alexie as she wandered around their makeshift laboratory. The parts used to build the machines in this room were no secret. They had all been stolen right under Max’s pretentious nose. Any self-proclaimed superhero should be able to piece together what they’d been up to.
“What’s this?” Alexie asked.
She stuck her head inside the only machine that could kill her within the room, further confirming Lucius’s notion that Alexie was no hero.
“A nebula burst generator,” Lucius said, admiring the way shock lit Alexie’s already bright eyes.
“Dude,” Cyrus yelled. He picked a metal rod off the table beside him and threw it at Lucius.
A twitch of one finger and Lucius stopped the rod midair and sent it crashing to the floor.
Alexie backed away from the machine. “You’re gonna mutate people? So you can, what, eat their super-charged souls?”
“No, Alexie.” Lucius kicked off the wall, glaring at Alexie as he strolled by her. “I’m going to ensure equality for all.”
He glided his hand along the machine. The energy of the souls inside him triggered the magnetic plates within the chamber to hum, which vibrated the metal beneath his fingertips.
“You see.” He lifted his hand off the machine, and it powered down. “Just like most pompous asshats, superheroes think they know what’s best for everybody else. They’ll let society spiral into chaos just to preserve their irrationally high morals. Cyrus and I are willing to do what it takes. To make the hard decisions.”
Lucius had taken many lives, and each one haunted him. He didn’t enjoy inflicting pain, but that’s what made his cause so worthy. He—the soul taker—had sacrificed his own soul to do what he thought was right for the world.
“Eventually, every person is going to get in that machine. Most of them will die, but the ones who survive will live longer, happier, more meaningful lives. Think how wonderful the world could be with only super-powered individuals living in it. Cyrus and I are the real heroes.”
Alexie snickered. “It’s hysterical how everybody thinks they’re the ones who are right.”
She stared Lucius in the eyes, her gaze full of sorrow. “Equality is a pipedream. We all have powers, and we still fight each other. Each one of us thinks we’re better than the other. Go ahead, try to deny it.”
“Equality doesn’t mean fairness,” Cyrus said, as if he were talking to a child. “To think true justice exists is the pipedream.”
There it was. Lucius had finally found the words strong enough to break Alexie’s confident stance.
“If we all had powers, everyone could have an equal chance. A chance at survival.”
“I’m … surprised. I thought world domination or some kind of global hypnotizing scheme, but this is just—”
“Noble,” Lucius said through a smirk.
“Extreme,” Alexie said in a quaver. “But I like it. I’m actually excited about this. When do we get started?”
“There’s a little kink.”
“Lucius don’t,” Cyrus shouted. “I still can’t read her thoughts.”
“You guys need to trust me, or our little clique isn’t going to work.” Alexie walked toward Cyrus, standing in front of him. “Take my hand, try again.”
Cyrus stood up straight. He looked at Lucius, as if seeking permission, but Lucius didn’t budge. Emotions had always clouded his little brother’s powers. Cyrus had to heal the tiny piece of his heart Alexie broke on his own, without pressure from Lucius.
“I guess.” Cyrus took Alexie’s hand and squeezed. “I’ve never had this much trouble before. I can read people from miles away.”
Alexie stepped closer to Cyrus. “Your feelings for me are blocking you.”
“There’s someone in my life I care about far more than you, and I have no problem getting inside her mind.”
“I’m sure you find plenty of disgusting ways to use your power on her.”
A grin lifted Cyrus’s cheeks. “I did with you. You just don’t remember, honey.”
“Just read her already,” Lucius yelled. He’d grown tired of the bickering, which sounded a lot like flirting.
Cyrus stared into Alexie’s eyes. “It’s all fuzzy. I can only see bits.” He squeezed Alexie’s hand tighter, drew it to his chest.
“She does want to be with us.”
His head jolted to the side, like an invisible hand slapped him. He let go of Alexie and shoved her away. “Now I know why you dumped me.”
Alexie reached for Cyrus and he stormed past her, glowered at Lucius, then stomped from the room.
“I’m sure you two will work that out.” Lucius turned from the open doorway his brother just tore through. “We have more important things to deal with. I need your little scientist girl back.”
“Why?”
“The machine’s having a power issue. Cyrus is too close to the problem. We need fresh eyes.”
“Shay’s not even a real scientist, but she does have one in her pocket.”
A ring chirped from behind Alexie’s cape and she fished out her cell phone. “It’s Simon.”
“Answer it. Put it on speaker.”
Alexie tapped the send button, keeping her eye on Lucius. “Yeah.”
“I need you back here right away,” Simon said, his voice blasting through the phone’s speaker. “There’s been an incident. We’re moving on the asylum, hitting Lucius and Cyrus hard.”
“I thought you wanted to try and make peace with the Grant brothers,” Alexie said into the speaker, staring at Lucius.
“I do, more than anything. I miss Cyrus, our talks, the chess games, and Max is miserable without Lucius to boss him around. But, I don’t think they’ll ever come back to us.”
Lucius turned his back to Alexie and clutched his chest. It had grown tight. He could barely breathe. His old friends missed him, not the villain Antiserum part of him … Lucius.
“I’m close by,” Alexie said into her phone. “I’ll meet you at the asylum.”
“We’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Don’t go inside without us.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
A beep rang out as Alexie ended the call, but Lucius didn’t move. He couldn’t look at Alexie. Hope had crept up on him, and it probably showed on his stunned face.
“Now what?” Alexie asked from behind Lucius. “Max and Simon are gonna come in here guns blazing.”
Lucius forced the sentiment that clouded his mind to clear, and looked at Alexie. He’d been walking along the villain’s road for far too long, had done things that shouldn’t be forgiven. He couldn’t turn back now.
“They’ll come, and they won’t find anything. Just meet them out front, play along. But first, tell me more about this scientist in the girl’s pocket.”
Shay tugged at her leather pants, which clung to everything. The holster fastened to her leg added to the smothering feel. Fortunately, the sonic blaster tucked within the leg holster was heavy enough to keep her pants from riding up her butt.
“This is kind of … provocative.” Shay looked at Hetal, who loaded a tactical vest with canisters of every shape.
“Don’t worry,” Hetal said with a wave of her hand. “The tact vest will cover your giant boobs.”
Shay folded her arms over her chest, hiding the cleavage her halter-top magically created. “You shouldn’t need to show this much skin to fight evil.”
“All the heroines in movies do it.” Hetal shoved the last weapon into the vest and scanned Shay over. “Looking like a sexy villainess will confuse the bad guy. When he’s all stunned and drooling, hit him with a containment field.”
“Yeah, right.” Shay held out her arms and Hetal slid the vest over her shoulders, zipping it up.
“How do you feel?” Hetal asked. She ran her finger along Shay’s cheek, which now had a thin scar instead of a gaping wound. “The stem cells worked pretty well, but I would’ve liked to see some more dramatic results.”
Shay shook out the stiffness in her shoulders then smoothed back her ponytail. “I feel good, ready to kick some fake Evie ass.”
“That’s the spirit.” Hetal patted Shay on the arm, then ushered her toward the lab’s door.
“The last shot I gave you should kick in any minute.”
They walked from the lab, rounded the corner in the hallway, and stopped in front of the elevator.
“The outfit and the weapons are going to make you feel indestructible.” Hetal wagged her finger in Shay’s face. “But you’re not.”
“Okay,” Shay muttered as the stiffness slinked back into her every joint.
Hetal pushed the elevator’s button and its door slid open. “Good luck, and be careful.”
“Okay.” Shay rocked in place. Her mind screamed to go save Evie, but her legs were not cooperating. “Just give me a little shove.”
Shay flinched when Hetal’s hand landed on her back, but it kicked her feet into gear. She stepped into the elevator and her throat sealed shut.
Her reflection shined on the metal walls around her. It was a total out-of-body experience, where she stared at a ferocious warrior. Except she was that warrior, carrying deadly weapons, and wearing the face of a frightened child.
The elevator’s soft ping broke Shay’s gaze on her own terrified face. She looked at the door as it closed on Hetal’s worried eyes. The lift shot up, and Shay’s stomach dropped down.
“I can do this,” she whispered, staring at herself in the shiny wall. “You’re hardcore. A hero.”
Her little pep talk wasn’t working. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t transform her mind to fit the image that reflected off every surface around her. This look, these weapons, they’d be perfect for someone else. Someone who lingered unseen.
“Jenna, are you here?” Shay glanced over her shoulder. She actually expected to find Jenna waving at her with a sassy smile, but she only glimpsed herself.
The elevator swayed to a halt and Shay took a deep breath. She ignored the panic that disrupted her thoughts and lifted her chin high as the door slid open.
There were four levels in the rundown asylum, and endless hallways of cobwebs, yet Lucius knew exactly where to find his brother. Cyrus had developed a routi
ne as of late. He’d wake up, scream at his inventions for a few hours, then go out back and smoke cigarettes. It used to be entertaining, but now the man’s hissy fits neared the threshold of inconvenient.
A puff of white smoke wafted up from behind an ivy-laced wall and Lucius veered toward it. Cyrus flicked a cigarette at Lucius’s feet the second Lucius walked into view.
“Max and Simon are on their way here. Mimic screwed up.”
“Big surprise,” Cyrus said as he knocked another cigarette loose from his pack.
“Can you do that thing?”
Cyrus lit his cigarette. “Of course. But no one alive should be inside the building when I do it.”
“I have an errand to run. You’ll have to deal with your girlfriend. They’ll be here in ten minutes.”
“I only need five.” Cyrus tossed his cigarette into a puddle, bumping against Lucius as he strolled by.
“Hey,” Lucius shouted, and a rumble quaked the concrete under his boots.
Cyrus glanced back at Lucius, his face twisted in pain. The agony trapped behind his brother’s stare sucked the anger right out of Lucius, clearing space for the big brother vibe to sear into his chest. He stepped in front of Cyrus, and placed his hand on his little brother’s wide shoulder.
“What did you see, in Alexie’s mind?”
A snicker flowed from Cyrus’s mouth, despite the anger clouding his stare. He pushed Lucius’s hand off his shoulder, shaking his head.
“Brother—”
“Don’t brother me.” Cyrus jabbed his finger at Lucius’s chest. “You win, again. She’s in love with you.”
“Who? Lexie?”
“That’s why she dumped me, left with Max and Simon. She was running from her feelings, for you.”
Lucius caught his grin before it could escape his lips, but the warmth spread throughout his body like a virus. “I thought you were over her?”
“I am, but it still stings.”