Underground Hatred - My Hero Origins (MHO)

22: Caught in the Crossfire

Word Count: 3211

(Kat)

    The new scene picked up Kat’s heart in her chest. Her back leaned against a wall, a door to her left. A crack of light shone beneath while she was shrouded in darkness and shadows, the only visible sign of Davis was a silhouette of a figure beside her. The early morning sun just peeking in gave a faint, orange light slanting across the ceiling, but it was no aid to her sight. She could identify boxes and shelves around that sat as obstacles, but there was no indication of what any of them contained. 

    Dust danced with the sun above, the sound of a pin hitting the floor rang off like a gunshot if possibly dropped. Two sets of lungs breathed in a shaky synchronous pattern. The faint smell of coffee wafted from Davis to Kat’s right, the heightened senses taking in the new detail. Though, her head pulled its attention to the ground, studying the fluorescent lighting that shone from beyond the barrier. She took a nibble off her chapped lips that peeled from the freezing weather. 

    “Okay, so we’re in,” Kat whispered. Her hands yanked at the strap of her satchel that swung across her chest like always. “What now?”

    “W—We find evidence.”

    Kat peered towards Davis’s direction, meeting the slight aura of blue shrouded by his visor. She swallowed hesitantly, her fingers just in reach of his: she could sense it. “But what kind of evidence?”

    “Things th—they do here,” Davis started, silently brushing past Kat to end up closest to the door. The outline of his face revealed his side profile, head tilted down towards the knob of the door. “I—If we find out some de—details, we can narrow d—down what they want from you—or why th—they keep attacking you at least.”

    “Maybe also other connections, too,” Kat added on in wonder. “Connections that they’ve maybe made deals with.”

    “T—There’s a lot of things we can find.”

    “It would probably be in an office.” Kat took a peek around the cluttered, abandoned room. “I… don’t think this is an office.”

    A huff came from Davis, as if a chuckle escaped him. His side profile turned to peer at Kat full-on. “Y—Yeah, I don’t think we’re gonna find a—anything in here.”

    “Do you wanna travel as a group to find an office? Or do you think it’s better to split up so we don’t get caught as easily?”

    “W—We can split up.” Davis brought his arm up and shook his indigo jacket away from his wrist. His visor glanced at his wrist. “I—It’s six forty-five right now. Do y—you wanna meet back up at seven fifteen?”

    Kat’s lips drew to a line, her stomach aching at the thought of getting pulled away from Davis, but also from her next line: “I… kinda forgot my phone at home. I don’t know how I’m gonna tell the time. Sorry…”

    “W—Wait—”

    The sun was beginning to illuminate the room, allowing Kat to watch Davis fumble with his wrist. Her auburn eyebrows furrowed together while watching, unsure of what he was doing, but the outline of a wrist watch ignited once pulled away from his skin. His palm laid it out in his hand, offering it over to Kat. 

    “I—I have my phone. Take my watch,” he urged. “You can give it back when we’re done.”

    Kat blinked a few times then turned her eyes to the watch. Her hand hesitated to reach out and scoop the watch, but she eventually snagged it as carefully as she could. She brought it a little closer to her face, examining the face of the clock.