by C. C. Ekeke
As Tom and Izzy ran to Kathy, Connie’s eyes lingered on Greyson. “And you?”
Greyson glared at the three remaining criminals with smoldering hate. “Ensuring these assholes don’t hurt the authorities.” He turned Connie around and shoved her toward Tom. When Izzy had hoisted Kathy’s body over his shoulder, Greyson felt secure. “GO.”
Connie reluctantly ran to the others. She and Izzy held on to Tom, who touched Kathy’s thick leg. The foursome vanished in an explosive black cloud.
Greyson heard ripples of activity beyond the walls; OSA was storming the building. He had to act fast.
Greyson approached ShocKing, the Illusionist, and Mr. Silk. Under the moonlight spilling from the hole on the ceiling, they crawled on hands and knees across the gymnasium in obvious pain. “How does it feel to be afraid?” Greyson asked.
“Please,” Mr. Silk wheezed. Izzy had done a number on him. Good. “Don’t hurt us!”
ShocKing raised a hand as Greyson approached. “We surrender.” The Illusionist broke into a fit of coughs. Without their arrogant sneers, they looked so young and harmless. Probably in their mid-twenties. Such a waste. Greyson wasn’t feeling merciful. “How does it feel to be victimized?” He reached out, feeling around their gravity fields. For so long, when Greyson barely had any control, his outbursts levitated objects.
Tonight, in full control of himself, Greyson did the reverse, increasing their gravity fields five times over.
Screams rang out from ShocKing, that smarmy tub of guts Illusionist, and that spidery asshole Mr. Silk. They squirmed and writhed. Under his mask, Greyson smiled, witnessing their pain.
He clenched his fists, increasing their gravity. Greyson heard a loud snap: ShocKing’s ankle breaking. A stomach-churning pop: Mr. Silk’s shoulder separating. “HOW DOES IT FEEL?”
The Illusionist clutched his chest as his sternum cracked. Their screams no longer sounded human. Greyson unclenched his fists and released them. The trio lay broken and wailing, most of their limbs shattered.
“Excessive Menace?” Greyson guffawed with satisfaction. “All I see are little boys pretending to be men.”
The bark of OSA officers grew nearer.
Right then, Tom reappeared. “Tango, we gotta go.” He stopped and gaped at the three criminals and the unnatural positions of their limbs. “What happened to them?!”
Greyson met his friend’s gaze. “I did.” He steeled himself for criticism. But Tom was too stunned to respond. Military-style footfall and barking voices thundered outside the doors, with sweeping floodlights.
Now Greyson was nervous. “While we’re young, Bravo.”
That snapped Tom out of his daze. “Right!” He grabbed Greyson’s shoulders. Moments later, Greyson felt as if someone has sucked him down a sink drain of darkness. Everything turned inside out, like his stomach. Just as quick, Greyson found himself back in the parking lot beside Letty’s van. His head spun as Tom guided him into the van’s open door.
“Is that everyone?” Letty called out as he entered with Tom.
“Yup,” the teleporter answered.
“Great!” Letty took off once Greyson strapped in next to a grinning Connie. He pulled off his mask and looked immediately for Kathy.
She sat across the van, conscious and cradling her head. Big Izzy held her close, rubbing her back. Greyson’s relief soared.
Huddled in the van’s rear, no one spoke for a while as Letty raced through East St. Louis’s side streets.
Once they’d reached the I-70, Connie punched Greyson in the arm. “Okay, that was so BOMB.”
He held her adoring gaze and grinned, beyond pleased. “Right?”
“Nice work, everyone,” Letty added. Her expression in the rearview mirror looked as proud as Greyson felt. “You saved everyone.”
“We sure did!” Tom puffed out his chest.
Suddenly, everyone was talking at once about the battle and defeating actual supervillains. The team reveled in the danger, the excitement, the victory. Greyson savored every compliment given and received. He praised Connie for taking on Brickhouse. She blushed profusely.
When Tom boasted about him “wrecking” Excessive Menace, he felt no shame over how far he’d gone.
From Greyson’s viewpoint, that was justice.
Chapter 36
Hear about Malalou and Martinez?
Half the school was talking about Friday’s showdown. Unsurprisingly, word had spread over the weekend. Hugo only had to listen across Paso Robles High, hearing how he handled Baz and friends on hundreds of tongues. In 1st period French, his classmates had been staring and whispering, their retellings of the fight pretty accurate.
Hugo this…Hugo that… Some of Baz’s basketball and football allies swore retaliation. Most were slow clapping. Though popular, Baz Martinez was reviled among the school hierarchy’s lower rungs.
The more the story got repeated, the more absurd it became. Malalou thrashed Baz, TJ, Cody, DeDamien, and Brent. Malalou bench-pressed Baz ten feet high then left with Brie slung over his shoulder caveman-style. Malalou beat up the whole basketball team. That one made Hugo chuckle.
Hugo…
Hugo…
“Hugo!” The voice jarred Hugo back to the present. He opened his eyes and pushed his disheveled hair back. Mr. Allocco stood beside his desk, wearing one of his striped polos and a reproachful look. The entire class looked his way, some snickering but most gazing. Simon, sitting up front, looked worried. Hugo felt Brie’s eyes crawling all over him from across the room.
Mr. Allocco spread his hands wide. “Am I boring you?”
Right then, Hugo didn’t care enough to be polite. “Want me to lie?” That drew amused shock from classmates. By Mr. Allocco’s surprised glare, Hugo immediately regretted his words. But something in him refused to apologize. He tilted his jaw up defiantly. Hugo had apologized too much for being himself this past year.
Mr. Allocco’s features hardened. “Maybe the counselor’s office will offer more excitement.” The entire class “ooooohed” at this counterpunch.
Hugo stiffened. That was a harsh reprimand for his snarky remark. Then Hugo realized why. Friday. Shit.
“You, Simon, and Briseis have been summoned,” Mr. Allocco added, gesturing at his other two students. “Take your backpacks.”
Hugo exchanged looks with Simon as the class buzzed. He stood and shouldered his backpack. Turning to class, Hugo made a mocking hand gesture to show how unafraid he was, drawing laughs. Mr. Allocco called for order.
Inside, Hugo was petrified. Clearly, Baz or one of his lackeys had complained. Or Brie?
The walk to the counselors’ office was silent, other than Brie’s Louboutins click-clacking through the halls. Wearing a designer blouse and skirt, her sleek auburn hair styled in loose beach waves, she walked on Hugo’s left. Simon was on his right, his t-shirt featuring Titan and Lady Liberty flying.
Brie’s slender frame was tense as she searched Hugo’s face. For what, he didn’t care. Simon looked pissed being anywhere near Brie. Hugo empathized. Three of Simon’s steps and two of Brie’s barely equaled his one stride, both struggling to keep pace. Hugo’s mind was too clouded with worst-case scenarios to slow down. Simon and Brie would be fine. His fate was another matter. Had Baz or someone else accused him of having powers, despite his wariness? Would he get suspended or expelled? Hugo fully expected Brie to take her boyfriend’s side when the counselor asked questions. He kept a steely exterior and moved forward.
Once the Bearcats logo of Paso High’s main building grew closer, Briseis broke the silence.
“Bogie, I know why you’re mad at me,” she murmured urgently. “Brent told me about last summer. I had no idea what had happened until yesterday.”
The disclosure nearly tripped Hugo up. Not just Brie knowing, but how much Brent had revealed. Hugo shook off the ghastly memory and kept walking.
Simon frowned at him. “What’s she jabbering about?”
Brie ignored him. “Baz sa
w your texts about Liberty Park.” Her remorse sounded like the Brie that Hugo thought he’d known. “I dumped him after hearing he and his boys jumped you. We're so over!”
“Whoa!” Simon grabbed Hugo’s arm, aghast. “Baz jumped you last summer?”
Brie gave Simon a smug smirkface. “Ooohohoh. Bogie didn’t tell you?”
Hugo glared at Brie with pure venom. “STOP.” That growl silenced her as the trio entered the building.
He eyed Simon regretfully. “We’ll talk later.” Hugo’s priority was surviving this meeting.
Mrs. DeWitt, Hugo’s counselor, looked like someone’s favorite aunt. She was in her late forties, not unattractive for her age, sporting bob-cut blonde hair and a slight pudge around the mid-section. Her watery grey eyes studied the three sophomores sitting in front of her desk. Hugo again sat between Brie and Simon, leaning forward, heart racing. Just get it over with, he wanted to say. But after his snide remark to Mr. Allocco, Hugo kept his mouth shut.
“I heard about Friday’s altercation,” Mrs. DeWitt declared crisply, “and you three being involved. Who wants to start?”
Simon spoke about how he was minding his business when Baz, Cody, and TJ started shoving him around. He mentioned Brie egging the three athletes on. She had the decency to blush with shame.
Hugo briefly closed his eyes as Simon spoke, recalling his friend's screams while getting ping-ponged around. He should've taught Baz a more painful lesson.
“I don’t know how far they would’ve gone if Hugo hadn’t come.” Simon gestured at the Samoan. “He tried leaving and they wouldn’t let him. Hugo handled them without throwing a single punch.”
Mrs. DeWitt turned to Brie with sharp disappointment. “Walk us through this altercation, please.”
Briseis sat with perfect carriage and exhaled with practiced fatigue. “Simon’s correct. I was with my ex-boyfriend Sebastian and his friends Cody and TJ when they attacked Simon. And yes, I was mad because the day before Simon had called me a name I won’t repeat.”
“I merely explained Brie’s Cruel, Unbearable, Neurotic and Terrible personality,” Simon clarified innocently. “Then I said, ‘See You Next Tuesday.’”
Brie let out a scandalized gasp. “He just said it twice!” she protested.
Hugo quickly looked down, barely holding back laughter. “Oh my God,” he snorted.
“Simon, watch your mouth,” Mrs. DeWitt warned through clenched teeth. “Briseis, continue.”
After shooting Simon a murderous look, Brie continued. “Friday afternoon, Sebastian and his friends were pushing Simon around. Yes, I should’ve done more to stop them. But Bogie—sorry, Hugo—didn’t start the fight.” Hugo was impressed, despite his hatred for her. Brie's account was engaging and articulate, showing just enough vulnerability. No wonder teachers and parents adored her. The “slip-up” with Hugo’s nickname was a masterful touch. That made him nauseous.
“All Hugo did was protect Simon and try to leave.” As Brie spoke, Hugo felt her eyes boring into him. Still, he refused to acknowledge her. “Sebastian and his friends escalated things.”
Simon scoffed rudely. “Because you ordered your boyfriend to do your dirty work.”
Brie’s nostrils flared. “Are you deaf or just dumber than you look? Baz isn’t my boyfriend anymore,” she repeated, glaring at the ceiling. “And I didn’t make him do anything to you.”
“You lying—” Hearing the fury swell in Simon’s chest, Hugo clutched his friend’s shoulder. He silenced him with a headshake. No need to make this worse.
“Enough!” Mrs. DeWitt turned to Hugo. “You’ve been quiet. Care to add anything?”
Hugo leaned forward, wondering if he could relive last summer’s agony. But the numbness spreading through him made it easy to not feel shame. “Anyone ever peed on you?” he asked. “Not sexually.”
Simon guffawed. Brie's eyes bulged. Mrs. DeWitt gawked as if Hugo had grown wings. “Excuse me??”
He raised a hand to interject. “That happened to me last summer. I was waiting in Liberty Park for someone, who stood me up.” Hugo felt a spike in Brie’s body warmth as she blushed remorsefully. Good. “Baz and his friends tracked me down, beat the hell out of me. Then he unzips his pants and relieves himself on my face.” Somehow, the Liberty Park beatdown felt like it had happened to someone else. Maybe that’s why discussing it was easy.
He glanced at Simon, who looked horrified and pitying. Exactly why Hugo hadn’t told him. After Dad died, he’d gotten lifetimes’ worth of pity. Hugo saw Brie quaking with rage, eyes closed and hand over her heart. She didn’t seem shocked. Brent told her. Awesome…
Hugo swung his head back around to Mrs. Dewitt, whose jaw hung open several seconds before she remembered to close it. “You know why that happened? Because during last year, Baz and his friends kept bullying me and Simon, disrespecting my deceased father. Even after my mom and Simon’s parents filed complaints with the school. He and his star athlete friends got slaps on the wrist.
“Was I supposed to let Baz and his buddies do to Simon what they did to me? Would that be the right thing?” His questions got silence. What could his counselor say?
Hugo felt good getting that out, even if it fell on deaf ears. He looked Mrs. DeWitt in the eyes. “Something needs to be done about Sebastian. Because if not, I won’t be remorseful or responsible for my actions.” Maybe it was his growling tone or unwavering glare, but one could hear a pin drop. Hugo heard three skyrocketing heartbeats around him.
“Briseis, Simon,” Mrs. DeWitt said an octave higher than usual. “Return to class.”
Brie threw a concerned look at Hugo before grabbing her bag and fleeing the office. Simon lingered at the door, unsure whether to go.
“It’s okay,” Hugo said with a smile he didn’t feel. The Samoan would face his educational demise alone.
Once the door closed, Mrs. DeWitt was all business. “Because of your clean record and your two friends’ statements, this won’t go on your permanent record. But you will have detention next Saturday.”
Hugo’s relief was short-lived. “What about Baz and his friends?”
Mrs. DeWitt’s face was an unyielding mask. “They will be disciplined.”
Hugo rolled his eyes. New counselor, same bullshit. “Another slap on the wrist?”
Dewitt’s face darkened. “Want to make that two Saturdays?”
Hugo swallowed his anger and slumped back in his seat. “May I go?” he asked with the barest civility.
Mrs. DeWitt studied him and softened. “This conduct doesn’t make sense. Good grades, no record of bad behavior. But I understand last year was especially hard for you.” Hugo looked toward the office window, listening to cars zooming by. No way would he discuss Dad in this office. Hugo so wanted to be one of those cars right now.
“You’re a good kid, Hugo. I’d hate for you to get derailed.” She reclined in her seat, stern yet compassionate. “Go home the rest of today. Return tomorrow with a better attitude.”
Exiting Mrs. DeWitt’s office, Hugo felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He’d expected worse. But Hugo doubted Baz and his boys would face any meaningful consequences. At least he could play video games at home. Today was looking less crappy.
Then he found Brie waiting outside the counselor’s annex.
“Bogie,” she pleaded. “Can we please talk?”
Hugo walked away, ignoring her.
“Are you serious?” Brie seethed behind him. “Hey…HEY!”
Hugo strode as fast as he could from her fragrance, her lies, her contempt. He couldn’t look at that beautiful face on such a horrible girl, filling him with dizzying heartache. If not for hallway cameras or potential witnesses, he’d have supersped away. Instead, Hugo was forced to powerwalk.
Annoyingly, Brie didn’t storm away in a cloud of pout. Hugo heard her ridiculous heels click-clacking behind him as she kept calling him.
Once they reached the empty school lobby, Brie stamped her foot. “GODDAMMIT, HUGO!�
� she shouted with naked fury.
A perverse satisfaction stopped Hugo. Briseis chasing after him, fighting for his attention. He turned slowly to face her. “What?” he demanded, flat and vicious.
His tone and size gave Brie pause. She once had about two inches on Hugo. Now, even in heels, he towered over her.
“What is your problem?” She got in his face, arms spread as if ready to fight. Anger made Brie even more beautiful. This close, Hugo could hear her racing heartbeat and ragged breaths.
Is that anger? Or passion? Hugo shrugged, not caring anymore. “I got no problems, Briseis.”
Brie’s ice-green eyes flashed. “Really?” She pointed a finger in his face. “Getting into fights. Threatening counselors. Mouthing off to teachers. And ever since school started, you’ve barely said two words to me!” Her voice grew shriller with each transgression, as if she was the wronged party.
Hugo could no longer stay calm. “So NOW you care?”
Brie recoiled. “Of course I care. No matter how hard you’re making it.”
That won harsh laughter from Hugo. “I’m confused.” He scratched the back of his neck. “I thought that killing myself would do everyone a favor.”
Brie’s face drained of color. “What…I…That’s not…what…no…” She was stammering, on the defensive. “Whatever Simon told you—”
“Don’t you dare blame him!” Hugo barked, inching close so quickly Brie had to backpedal. Never taking responsibility. Typical Brie. Why did he not see that until now? “I heard how you felt about me halfway across campus!” Not an exaggeration, but she didn’t need to know that.
Brie looked afraid, clasping her hands in a plea for forgiveness. “Bogie.” Her voice got husky and emotional. “I didn’t mean that. You know how those guys are!”
“You didn’t mean that I'm a superhero-obsessed loser who was your bitch?” Hugo never broke eye contact while reaming her. “I’m so pathetic that you used my dreams, which I told you privately, as fodder for your asshole friends?” he bellowed, so angry he was trembling.