The Vindico

by King, Wesley

  “Right,” James said, peering down the road. He doubted Mark would walk up and punch him on a bus, but he would most definitely say something insulting.

  After another couple of minutes, the bus rounded the corner. James fidgeted in nervous anticipation, clutching the fare the Torturer had given him. Trying to compose himself, he got on and deposited the change.

  He scanned the bus and saw Mark sitting near the back. James met his eyes and then pointedly sat at the front. The Torturer traipsed past, his head barely clearing the ceiling, and James heard him plunk down somewhere in the middle. The driver was watching the Torturer suspiciously in his rearview mirror, but when he looked up at him, the driver hastily averted his eyes and hit the gas pedal.

  As soon as the bus pulled away from the curb, Mark appeared beside James’s seat.

  “James? Where have you been?” he asked.

  James was instantly reminded of how much he didn’t like Mark. He was wearing a tight yellow T-shirt, his hair was gelled up perfectly, and his handsome features were twisted into something resembling concern.

  “I’ve been away,” James said coolly.

  Mark frowned. “Away? Where? I mean, at first, people told me you were staying in your room, skipping school. And then I saw your picture on the front page, along with those other kids, and it said—”

  “You what?” James cut in.

  “I saw you on the front page.” He raised his eyebrows. “You didn’t know? It’s on the news too; it’s everywhere. They said you disappeared, along with those other four kids, all in one week. Some of you right out of your own houses.” Mark shook his head. “Some people started saying it was the Villains; Thunderbolt was taking a lot of heat. And now here you are! You have to tell someone!”

  James looked straight ahead, reeling. Their faces were all over the news? Was his family being swarmed by reporters? Did everyone think he was dead?

  “Well, listen,” Mark said, sounding uncomfortable, “either way, I want to apologize. When I thought you might…well, you know, I felt terrible. Getting with Sara, that was stupid. And I shouldn’t have punched you back that morning. You had every right to be mad at me.”

  James glanced at him, surprised. This wasn’t going as planned.

  “No, you shouldn’t have,” James said. “And yes, getting with Sara was stupid. And you know what, ignoring me for the past couple years wasn’t very nice either.”

  “I know,” Mark agreed, leaning against one of the hand bars. “I got carried away trying to fit in with the team, you know? I mean, those guys…you know how it is.”

  James folded his arms sourly. “Not really,” he muttered.

  “Well, either way, I screwed up. Give me another chance?”

  The bus came to a stop at a red light.

  “What, now you’re just going to be nice to me again?” James asked sarcastically.

  Mark shrugged. “Yeah, I mean I think it’s overdue…”

  James heard heavy footsteps. Uh-oh, he thought. He’d forgotten about the signal. Mark’s face blanched as two massive hands lifted him off the ground.

  “Payback time,” the Torturer growled in his ear.

  James jumped to his feet. “Wait, maybe—”

  But before he could finish, the Torturer spun around and tossed Mark right through the far window. The glass shattered, and terrified screams filled the bus.

  The Torturer turned back, laughing uproariously, but stopped when he saw the look of horror on James’s face. “What?”

  “Did you kill him?” James shouted.

  “No, no, he landed on another car,” the Torturer said, pointing to the smashed window. “It broke his fall a little. See?”

  James looked out the window and saw Mark lying on the hood of a green sedan, groaning. The driver was already out of the car, shrieking and looking up at the bus.

  “We should leave,” the Torturer suggested. “I’ll signal the van.”

  James stared down at Mark, guilt roiling in his stomach. Guilt, and just the slightest bit of amusement. He bit down the thought, horrified with himself, and then the Torturer dragged him out of the bus. The terrified bus driver was hiding in the corner of his seat.

  They sprinted to the next side street, and James saw the van speeding toward them with no driver at the wheel.

  “How…” James began.

  “Remote steering,” the Torturer said. “That van has some tricks up its sleeve.”

  It screeched to a halt beside them, and they clambered inside. Then the Torturer hit the gas pedal, and they sped away just as the first sirens split through the air.

  17

  “STAND IN A GROUP RIGHT HERE,” AVARIA ORDERED, AND everyone hurried to get to the spot. No one wanted to make her angry.

  In fact, everyone looked absolutely terrified to be there, apart from Emily. Ever since her initial defeat, Emily had been eager for another encounter with Avaria. She’d always been fascinated with stories of powerful women, and Avaria personified strength and confidence. She was like all the great woman warriors Emily had ever read about.

  In fact, aside from missing her grandpa, Emily couldn’t have been happier. Here, people paid attention to her and even treated her like a friend. That was something new to her. Emily’s parents moved from China when she was very young, and because she hadn’t spoken much English, she’d never really made friends as a child. Instead, she turned to her computer for companionship, and that hadn’t changed. In fact, Emily had never hung out with any kids her whole life. Why would she want to go home?

  Avaria began to pace. “You will not be receiving any verbal lessons from me. You have the Baron and Leni for that. I have decided you would be best suited to learn hand-to-hand combat, both as a practical means and for exercise.”

  Hayden nudged Sam and gave him a knowing look. “Treadmill time,” he mouthed.

  Hayden had recovered remarkably fast through the night, far quicker than seemed possible, and he could already stand and move around on his own. Even the vicious bruises lining his face had begun to fade. The only indication of the severity of his beating was his bloodstained T-shirt and the tightly wrapped bandages beneath it.

  “You will all be getting specific powers or training of some kind, but each member of the Vindico is also very capable in simple combat. There are times when you must rely on your hands to dispatch your foe. Today, I will test your hand-to-hand abilities. Hayden, step forward.”

  Hayden glanced at the rest of them, looking uncertain.

  “Now,” Avaria commanded, and Hayden limped forward. “Have you ever fought before?”

  Hayden seemed to consider the question. “Do video games count?”

  “No. Have you ever actually fought anyone?”

  “Well,” he said thoughtfully, “not since the fifth grade, when Danny Rockwell came over and—”

  “Silence,” Avaria cut him off. “Let’s see what your natural abilities are.”

  Hayden paled. “Please don’t maim me.”

  “Attack.”

  “That’s okay, I get it, you’re going to beat me,” Hayden said, putting his arms up in surrender. “Consider me beaten.”

  “Do it or I attack you,” Avaria hissed.

  Hayden sighed. Then he took a quick step to the right and raised his arm, preparing to strike.

  He moves fast, Emily thought, and very smooth, despite the fact that he is already hurt. Either Hayden was lying about his fighting experience, or he was a natural.

  Unfortunately for him, Avaria was much faster. She spun to her right, crouching, and Hayden’s punch sailed over her head, passing through the edges of her long black hair. He made a wise move, and continued his motion in an attempt to get away from her. Then he pivoted, bringing his arm up to guard his face.

  However, Avaria had already reversed, and she came at him low, underneath his guard. Her right leg lashed out, striking Hayden in the stomach, and he landed flat on his back almost ten feet away.

  “Yep, you beat
me,” Hayden wheezed.

  Avaria stood up straight, showing no signs of stress or fatigue. Emily stared at her in awe.

  “You are better than expected,” Avaria said to him. Hayden just lay there, motionless. “You may have promise yet.” She turned back to the group. “Next?”

  “Me!” Emily volunteered eagerly, stepping forward.

  “Very well,” she replied. “Attack!”

  The fight lasted about three seconds. Avaria ducked and swept out Emily’s legs with a kick, sending her crashing to the floor.

  I guess I need more training, she thought, crawling to join Hayden.

  Avaria turned to Sam. “Now you,” she instructed.

  Sam looked like he might wet himself. He glanced at Lana and then took a few tentative steps forward. There was already sweat glistening on his forehead.

  Avaria watched him like a cat ready to pounce. “Attack.”

  Sam smiled sheepishly. “I already know that I need a lot of work with fighting, more practice and all. So you can just count me as a full beginner and start from scratch.”

  “Attack or I do.”

  “I really don’t want—”

  Before he could finish, Avaria leapt at him. Sam just closed his eyes.

  Avaria gripped either arm, spun him once, and then let go. Sam flew across the room and slammed into the tiles. He slid along for a few more feet and then didn’t move. Emily put her hand over her mouth, horrified. Lana tried to get to him, but Avaria wheeled on her.

  “He will get up on his own, and he will learn to defend himself. Now it’s your turn.”

  Sam slowly began to push himself up.

  “You could have killed him,” Lana whispered vehemently.

  Avaria smiled. “Could have.”

  “Does this make you feel good?” Lana asked, gesturing to the others. “Beating up on kids?”

  “You want to make me pay, don’t you?” Avaria said. She began to pace again, her eyes focused on Lana.

  Lana looked away. “I can’t beat you.”

  “No, you can’t,” she agreed. “But I will teach you how.”

  “You lie. You wouldn’t make me as strong as you.”

  “I would, and I will. But first, attack. Show me your anger.”

  “Fine!” Lana shouted, and ran at her.

  Lana was obviously a fast learner. She changed direction at the last second, pivoting to her left foot and kicking with her right. At the same time, she swung her right arm at Avaria’s midsection and put her left up to guard her face.

  Avaria didn’t even dodge. She just stepped forward with incredible speed and punched Lana right in the stomach. Lana bent over, gasping, and Avaria grabbed her hair and wrenched her head upward.

  “Better,” she said approvingly, and then shoved her to the floor.

  Avaria turned to the rest of the group. “Now, everyone get to a bag. I know what you can do; now we’ll see if we can make you better. You don’t leave until you’re dripping sweat, so work hard, or you stay here all night.”

  Hayden and Sam hurried off to the various punching bags scattered around the room, while Emily hobbled over to Lana.

  “Are you okay?” Emily asked.

  Lana stood up and shot Avaria a malevolent glare.

  “Fine,” she said, starting for a bag. “If Avaria wants me to get strong, then that’s what I’ll do,” she snarled.

  Lana began punching the bag, scowling. For the first time since they’d been there, she wasn’t thinking about how to get home. She was thinking about how to make Avaria pay. And of course, that was exactly what Avaria wanted.

  Five long, slow hours after they’d fled the bus, the Torturer steered them back into the Baron’s garage and parked the van.

  James had been silent most of the way home. Somehow, seeing Mark on the hood of the car hadn’t been what he had in mind. If I don’t even like hurting my nemesis, how am I supposed to be a supervillain? he wondered.

  Stepping out of the van, the Torturer groaned and stretched. “I’m beat. I’ll take you back to your room.”

  James followed him into the mansion. “You think I could get the heat turned down a bit tonight?” he asked hopefully.

  The Torturer seemed to consider that. “Yeah, I can turn it down.”

  When James walked into the common area, Hayden and Sam were lying on the couches.

  “How was your day?” Hayden asked, looking up.

  “Long,” James mumbled. “Yours?”

  “Painful,” Sam said.

  “I’ll get the details tomorrow.” James started for the bathroom but paused. “Oh yeah…our disappearance is front-page news.”

  “Sweet,” Hayden said. “I hope they used a good picture of me. Did you see it?”

  “Nah, just heard about it,” James replied, heading down the hallway toward the bathroom. “I’ve got to go to bed; I’m exhausted. Night.” The shower was running, so he knocked on the door. “Can I just use the bathroom quickly?”

  James heard some rummaging and then the door swung open. Steam rushed out, followed by a sopping-wet Lana, wrapped in a white towel. James stared at her for a moment, speechless.

  “Go ahead,” she said, gesturing behind her.

  “Thanks.” James stepped inside and shut the door. Wow, he thought.

  “Thanks…again,” he said on the way out.

  Lana bunched up the towel a little more. “No problem. Did the trip go all right?”

  “Long story. I’ll tell you guys in the morning.”

  “See you in the morning, then.” She smirked. “If we can sleep.”

  “Yeah, if being the operative word,” James agreed. “Night.”

  James went to his room and stretched out across the mattress. Despite everything that had happened during the day, his mind went to Lana. He fell asleep thinking of her.

  18

  THE NEXT MORNING, THE PROTÉGÉS WERE SITTING ON THE COUCHES eating breakfast when the Torturer’s now-familiar voice boomed over the speaker. They all lowered their forks in trepidation.

  The night had been awful again. Lana had eventually given up on sleeping and wandered out to find that Sam, Emily, and Hayden were already lying on the couches. All of their bedrooms were simply too hot, their beds too hard, and Sam said that quiet voices had been haunting him. Only James had stayed in his room for the night.

  “Today’s group session will be conducted by Sliver and will begin in thirty minutes. There are also a few announcements. At Avaria’s suggestion, we have decided that you will be going to the combat room to train every day before bed. Second, we will be providing you with new clothing first thing tomorrow.”

  “About time,” Lana whispered to Sam, and he nodded.

  “And last but not least.” The Torturer’s voice perked up. “We have an announcement pertaining to Hayden.”

  Hayden smiled and rested his chin on his hands. “Finally,” he said. “Let’s see what they got on me.”

  The Torturer began in a slow, dramatic voice.

  “Hayden may have informed you that he lives in a house without his parents. Perhaps he has not yet told you why. Let me give you a little history. Hayden’s mother ran away from home at seventeen: away from her abusive father, to be specific. Naturally, she went to the big city, where she became a housekeeper. It wasn’t the best job, but she was getting by. The very next year, she met a wealthy client named Albert Hinnigan. They started dating, and little Hayden was conceived.”

  Lana glanced at Hayden, but so far the story seemed to have no effect on him. He was just listening intently.

  “But, as is so often the case, the relationship didn’t work out. Albert met someone else and moved on. Hayden’s mother was absolutely crushed. But Albert is the good guy in this story. He left checks at regular intervals throughout Hayden’s entire childhood, and his mother put a lot of money away. Eventually, it would be used to buy a house for her son. But why isn’t Hayden living with his mother now, you ask?

  “Well, three years
ago, Hayden’s mother met another man, Rob Toasley. She fell for him immediately. But he was very conservative, so at first, Hayden’s mother didn’t want to tell him she had a kid. They always met at his house, never hers. She managed to hide Hayden’s existence for almost a year, which is pretty impressive, though a testament to her subpar parenting. Eventually, she realized she had to make a choice. And she chose Rob.

  “She bought a house in the suburbs to move in with Hayden. That’s what she told him, at least. She actually bought the house so she could leave fourteen-year-old Hayden to fend for himself. He saw her occasionally, on weekends sometimes. But she got pregnant again and began living with Rob permanently. Hayden doesn’t know this, but he has a half sister named Lillian.

  “Hayden hasn’t seen his mother for over a year. And when someone finally tracked her down to tell her Hayden was missing, she never made a phone call, never made the drive. She didn’t lose a night of sleep. That is all.”

  Lana was speechless.

  Hayden still had his chin resting on his hands, looking pensive. Finally, he sighed and leaned back. “I always wondered how she could afford that house,” he said. “Thank goodness for Albert.”

  Lana frowned. “Did you hear any of that?” she asked.

  The story had been awful, much worse than hers. Her dad might be having an affair, but Hayden didn’t even have a father in his life, and his mother had abandoned him to start a new family. That was beyond comprehension for her.

  Hayden nodded. “Most of it, though I tend to fade out of long stories.”

  James started laughing, and Sam and Emily joined in.

  “You’re ridiculous,” Lana muttered, but she couldn’t hold back a grin. “Totally ridiculous.”

  “Thank you,” Hayden replied seriously. “Now, anyone grabbing a shower? Want a partner?”

  Half an hour later, the protégés filed into the same shadowy classroom Leni had brought them to a few days earlier. Sliver was casually sitting on a black chair at the front of the room, watching them come in. He almost looked bored.

  “Sit down and close your eyes,” he instructed, and they quickly settled into their chairs. “No one speaks, and until I tell you, no one opens their eyes. If you do, you will find out why they call me Sliver.”