“You guys need to make your way over there,” Draven says pointing to the edge of the roof where a fire escape ladder peeks up over the top. “Dante and I will distract them.”
“I can fly someone down,” Riley volunteers. “I can only carry one person at a time, but—”
“Like we’re going to trust you,” Dante sneers.
“Do you have a choice?” Riley counters. “They firebombed my apartment. They shot at us even though we’re unarmed. It’s like the heroes have gone crazy!”
Talk about an understatement, but this isn’t the time for an I-told-you-so.
I turn to Draven. “You’re not going to sacrifice yourselves for us.”
“Damn right we’re not,” he agrees. “But we are going to give you guys a chance to get away.”
“No—”
He places a hand on either side of my face. “Jeremy is Deacon’s only chance.” His mouth kicks up in that cocky half-grin. “We’ve got this. We’ll rendezvous at the pedestrian bridge in Fine Park. You know where that is?”
His lips brush against mine, and then he’s darting across the roof, Dante hot on his heels.
“Shit,” Jeremy gawks. “Who ever heard of villains with a hero complex?”
“You have to go,” Nitro says, shoving me and Rebel toward the fire escape. “You too,” he tells Jeremy.
“What about you?” I demand.
“I’m going to cover your boys. Make sure they get out of here with that fearless skin of theirs intact. Besides, Riley’s got my back, don’t you, mate?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Jeremy chokes a little. “Now I’m terrified for everyone.”
“As you should be,” Riley says, totally serious.
“Go!” Nitro says again. “And keep nerd boy safe at all costs. He’s got the only way into that bunker!”
That’s what finally gets us moving. Well, that and the gunfire. As we slither toward the edge, I turn to look over my shoulder as Nitro lobs fireballs at three attacking SHPD officers. Across the roof, Dante is using his power to kick up all kinds of debris in an effort to give Draven and him some cover.
I fight the instinct to turn back and help, but Nitro’s words are playing in my head. Deacon and my mom are counting on us. Jeremy’s the only one who has a chance of saving them, and Draven is trusting me to make sure he can.
A flash of superhero lightning whizzes over my head and crashes into a pole a few feet away from us. It’s the catalyst we need. We dash to the roof’s edge, heading for the fire escape.
“Let’s go!” I jump over the edge and onto the top platform, then scramble down as fast as I can as a spray of bullets showers the parapet above me.
Seconds later, the whole thing shakes as Jeremy starts down after me. Rebel brings up the rear. We’re moving fast, and then suddenly the fire escape ends a few feet from the ground. I climb onto the ladder at the end, which slides down under my weight and finally hits the ground hard enough that my teeth snap together. Then wait for Jeremy and Rebel to follow.
Another spray of bullets hits the side of the building right below Rebel’s position.
“Go, Kenna, get moving!” she shouts.
But I’m not going without them. “Hurry, hurry, hurry,” I chant.
The heroes are closing in.
As soon as my friends hit the ground, we start to run down the alley. But we don’t get very far before we’re swarmed by SHPD officers with guns and riot shields and weapons I can’t even begin to recognize. We’re surrounded.
“Shit!” Jeremy turns in a circle, looking for an opening.
Energy tingles under my skin as my fear and rage grow. Even without ever having felt it before, I know this is my power. Almost like it’s itching to get out.
I let it.
I draw in a deep breath and then release the invisible hold. Almost immediately, the helmet of the officer closest to me crackles and starts to smoke. He drops his shield and yanks the helmet off his head, quickly melting back into the sea of officers.
I did that. I did that. For the first time, I know what power really feels like. And it feels amazing. I feel like I can take on the world. Like I can take on this whole SHPD squad.
Jeremy gapes. “Whoa.”
“Get him out of here!” I shout to Rebel. “Use your telekinesis and get as far away as you can.” I know she’s tapped out, and asking her to move even one person is a lot right now, but she has to try. It’s Jeremy’s only chance.
“No. Not without you, Kenna!” he shouts, grabbing my arm. “I think I can use your power to get into the bunker.”
Jeremy and Rebel exchange a look. His gaze is desperate. Hers is determined.
“Stay alive,” she says, holding out her hands. She gives a telekinetic push, and then Jeremy and I are flying through the air on the last of her power.
“Rebel, no!”
I grab for her, but it’s too late. We soar down the alley, high above the reach of the heroes, the pull of Rebel’s power jerky and uncontrolled—like the last sputters of a car running out of gas. I’m screaming, crying, desperate to get back to Rebel, but I can’t break her hold on me.