When Heroes Fall

Chapter 7

Lien gaped at the destroyed auditorium stage. The room erupted in screams and cries. Moving bodies and falling dust made it hard for Lien to process what was happening, but she could see a woman grinning in the center of the destruction. A woman everyone recognized, Gea.

The villainess had disappeared after Comet's death—though no one knew why. Her motivations were unknown. Her origins were unknown. After her initial introduction, the entire underworld was in an uproar, but no one knew anything about the woman other than her geokinesis. The villainess laughed, lifting another rock and throwing it at an approaching police officer, crushing them under the stone.

A soft hand tugged on Lien's wrist. Ross grasped her wrist, standing now as they pulled Lien toward the door. "Come on, we have to get out of here."

Lien nodded, moving to her feet. Many students had made it out of the auditorium, clear from the danger. Adrenaline pumping, Lien scanned the room. The remaining students crowded the main exit, and while the side exit waited further away, it would be a cleaner escape. Swiveling, Lien took hold of Ross to drag them in the opposite direction.

The floor beneath them shifted, collapsing inward. Ross slipped out of Lien's hold. Panic built in Lien's chest, heart thudding in her ears. Time slowed as she turned, eyes widening. Earth gripped Ross's waist, yanking them back toward Gea who threw a dirt wall up between herself and another officer. Ross screamed. The sound cut through Lien's shock, jolting her body into action. Ducking behind the auditorium seating, she watched Gea wrap her lithe arm around Ross's neck.

"Back off, or the kid's head will be the next thing I throw," Gea growled at the team of three officers, including the Chief Wright, who stopped in their assault. Chief Wright motioned for the other two officers to lower their weapons. "That's better," Gea grinned, pulling Ross in tighter. Ross's hands flew to Gea's arm. They gasped for breath, tears whelming in the corner of their eyes.

Chief Wright raised his hands, "Alright, Gea, let the kid go."

"And what fun would that be?" Gea drawled.

"What do you want?" Chief Wright growled. Gea threw back her head, a cackle erupting and filling the room.

"What do I want?" Gea spat back. "It's not about want, it's about deserve, and I deserve the world—starting with the city that tried to take everything from me. Axiomville is mine, and I am going to take it piece by bitter piece until there is nothing left." As she spoke, her grip on Ross tightened.

Sinking to the floor, Lien grabbed her bag. Ross did not have time for the authorities to try and talk Gea down. Rummaging through her backpack, Lien pulled out her black domino mask and the single stun gun she carried for self-defense. Even with the mask, Lien knew she was still too recognizable. There was no reason for Chaos to be there now and if the police saw her, she would become an additional target. She could not let herself be identified in the fray. Prison would not be a good luck. Searching the seats, Lien spotted an abandoned gray hoody. It was better than nothing.

Grabbing the hoody, Lien threw it on, ignoring the baggy way it hung off her small frame and the sleeves covered most of her hands. Lien scrunched her nose, fiddling with the sleeves. Ross screamed again, a jagged cry. Lien dropped the sleeves and turned in time to see Gea fling a lump of earth at the officers, blinding them. They coughed into their shoulders, attempting to protect themselves from the dirt and dust. Gea's grasp on Ross loosened as she reveled in her attack. She gestured out again, forming a fist, and the school shook.

Lien stood, seeing Gea distracted. Hand on the back of an auditorium seat, Lien launched herself over the seats to the center aisle, giving Lien a clear path down to the floor where Gea stood. Before Lien could take off toward Ross, a person jumped from the auditorium rafters between Gea and the fallen police officers. Standing there is full costume was Nightstar.

"Hey, Gea!" Nightstar hollered, stealing Gea's focus.

Ignoring the shock, Lien darted forward, plunging the prongs of her stun gun into Gea's back. Gea shrieked. Her back arced as electricity coursed through her. She dropped Ross, swiveling around, and throwing a punch—solid rock encompassing her fist. Lien ducked. She rolled back, dodging Gea's hit.

"Run," Lien shouted at Ross, who had collapsed to the floor as they panted—their whole-body trembling. About to move toward Ross, Lien stopped in time to avoid another rock. Gea snarled at her, baring her teeth.

"You're going to pay for that, child," Gea widened her stance. Arms outstretched; she summoned the earth beneath her. The entire floor shook, boulders rising upward. Lien swallowed.

With no other option, Lien tuned and ran. Sprinting to the seats, Lien slid behind a few steady seats, using them as cover. Taking a deep breath, Lien tried to work out how to escape with her bones attack.

"Chaos? What are you doing here?" A voice asked from next to Lien. Lien glanced to her side. Sitting next to her was the blonde-haired sidekick. Lien groaned.

"Hey, Starlight."