Shadowsnow

Chapter 19: The Fall

For the next few weeks until winter break, it seemed that all of the powered people this mysterious puppet master was sending my way were laying low. Captain Michael's police department was being rebuilt. My dad was almost completely recorded from his kidnapping and near murder by Phlegethon.

Team Shadowsnow worked tirelessly to figure out who Teleporter had been talking about. Meanwhile, when I wasn't out and about, throwing myself into patrols, she was my eyes and ears. I was also making sure to focus on my homework. Xander and I still hadn't spoken since we broke up and every time I thought about it, my chest hurt. Every night, while I laid in bed, I would look at Xander's contact, debating about whether to text him or not. I always decided against it, thinking he wouldn't want to talk to me, especially after what I said to him the night we broke up.

Finally, shadow day for college came. Hannah and I had both applied to Roger Williams University and had gotten in. We were both excited, especially since we would be in the same program, even though our majors were different. Hannah and I were sitting in a top-floor classroom in Global Heritage Hall, which was pretty much in the center of campus. Though I was sort of daydreaming, I was still listening to our professor as she told us a story from when she was in college. Suddenly, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I tried to subtly look around for the source of my bad feeling.

"Allie?" Hannah whispered, nudging my elbow.

"I don't know. I don't see anything," I whispered back. Then, I raised my hand.

"Yes, Ms. Price?"

"Can I go use the bathroom, please?"

"Go. Hurry back."

I nodded and practically jumped out of my seat, grabbing my bag. I rushed into the bathroom and set my bag on the sink beside me. Then, I turned on the water and cupped some water in my hands, dipping my face into it. After I'd dried my face, I heard screams coming from the classroom where I'd just been. I looked around, making sure I was alone, and threw on my suit. I dropped my bag onto an empty table outside my classroom. Then, I ran inside and my mouth nearly dropped open when I saw who was standing in the room.

"Phlegethon?" He whipped his head towards me, his eyes blazing.

"Shadowsnow. Good to see you. You look as weak as the last time I saw you." I growled.

"You look as hotheaded as last time."

Before I could move, Phlegethon zipped forward and grabbed my neck, throwing me into the back wall over the heads of all of the students and our professor. I pulled myself out of the wall, dropping to the ground, and pulled Phlegethon's attention onto me, giving everyone time to get out of the classroom. Now, it's just us. Phlegethon and I ran towards each other, our powers blazing towards each other. When we crashed into each other, though, Phlegethon threw me over his shoulder, into the blackboard behind him. I slammed my head and hit the ground, dazed.

Something feels wet. I reached a hand up to my head as I sat up shakily. I looked at my hand and saw red. Then, I stood back up, glaring at Phlegethon. He laughed, an amused smile on his face.

"You simply just don't know when to stay down. Do you?"

"I'm smart enough to not let a villain like yourself win."

Phlegethon guffawed as the heat in the room seemed to rise. I grabbed at my throat, feeling like I couldn't breathe, and started trying to get to the door. He reached me before I got there and threw me through the wall next to the door. Suddenly, I felt cool air as I crashed into the glass railing right outside the wall. I pulled myself up, trembling, and looked down. Everyone still here was staring at me. I have to beat him. If I can't, what kind of hero do I look like to them? I whirled around and then, I was flying through the air to crash through the windows in the classroom.

"Ah!"

I reached for the metal frame of the window, catching myself before I fell. Ow, ow, ow, ow. I looked up, black spots in my vision, and saw Phlegethon standing over me, with a triumphant smile on his face. My hand was covered in blood and was only just barely holding me up.

"What have you been doing for these last few weeks? Sitting on your butt, thinking you're invincible?"

"Unh-Uh!" That...that wasn't...what I w...wanted to say. Phlegethon laughed.

"I'll tell you what I've been doing. I've been training. And getting strong. And more powerful, so I could beat you. And now, I have. The great Shadowsnow is taken down by me, Phlegethon!"

"Please, don't."

Then, he raised a foot and stomped on my hand. I let go, unable to hold on, and fell towards the ground, flailing my arms, but was too dazed to fly. I hit the dumpster below, making a crater in the metal top as the darkness overtook me.