When Heroes Fall

Chapter 17

Huddled behind an overturn SUV, Lien clutched her arm to her chest. Adrenaline raced through her veins as she tried to catch her breath. Passing out now wouldn't do her any good. Underneath her, the earth shook, nearly toppling her over. Leaning over to glance around the car, Lien watched as Gea catapulted another car, moving closer to Lien's hiding spot. Gea was picking off vehicles one by one to find her.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are," Gea called in a sing-song voice. Lien scanned her surroundings. Small fires had broken out across the street—cars and businesses catching loose flames. The broken road made for uneven terrain and Lien didn't want to risk creating even more damage by leading Gea away from city hall. For now, the area was contained. Most of the police officers and first responders had cleared out. Gea made quick work of them. City hall itself had been evacuated, although not everyone was out. Gea had thrown up a stone wall, trapping in Mayor Buros and several other city officials. Not that it mattered if she couldn't take Gea down. Her left shoulder ached from where Gea tossed her to the ground earlier and her breathing was still coming out in shallow pants.

Gea flipped over another car, letting out a guttural scream.

On shaky limbs, Lien forced herself to her feet, using the car to brace herself. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and thinking of where she could run to and buy herself a few more minutes. Lien thought about her mom. She should have left her a note that morning or something. She would be alone without Lien. Lien held back the tears threatening to stain her mask. Her mom didn't even know that she was Chaos. How long would it take for her body to be identified? For the APD to contact her. Regret bubbled through her. Pushing away from the car to stand on her own, Lien steeled herself.

Opening her eyes, she blinked. And blinked again. In his mask and full armor, Nightstar stood in front of her, smiling as he held out his hand to her.

"What are you doing here?" Lien asked, more shocked than anything else.

"I'm here to help," Nightstar shrugged. No, not Nightstar—Lien reminded herself. He was Matt. The same boy who told her it wasn't his problem earlier that morning. The same boy who had abandoned the city for weeks with no explanation. She was left to fight alone because he decided to take a break. Bitterness crept in.

"What happened to it not being your problem?" Lien narrowed her gaze.

Matt rubbed the back of his neck. He had the gall to look sheepish, like he hadn't just lied to her in the hallway. "You said it, not me—if we don't do anything, who will?"

Behind the car, Gea threw another car into the air—only two vehicles away this time. Lien jumped; remember she was in the middle of a battle. Matt took her hand, dragging her out from behind the car into a sprint. Centering herself, Lien rushed ahead of Matt, skidding behind the base of the city fountain in the small park in the city square. Matt followed her, ducking just in time to avoid being seen by Gea. The villainess overturned the SUV they were just hiding behind.

"So, what made you change your mind?" Lien peaked over the fountain edge. Gea was scouring the road, stalking down the street in search for her target. The woman's face twisted into a snarl.

"I should ask you the same thing, you're fighting against Gea—sorta puts you in the hero category. What happened to being dumb kids?" Matt joked.

Lien shrugged, "Guess you rubbed off on me. Besides, we're all this city has left."

Matt nodded, his smile slipping. "For the last few years, I was just rolling with the punches. I realized when you came up on the news that I had to make a choice. Now or never."

"So, you decided to fight?"

It was Matt's turn to shrug.

Lien shifted to meet his gaze. She stared into his eyes. They were that same brilliant blue they had always been. That blue that infuriated her. She used to daydream about punching him right between those baby blues. Now they burned with an intensity she hadn't seen before. The subtle downturn of his lips and the furrow of his brow told her that he was serious.

Blowing her bangs out of her eyes, Lien spoke, "What's our plan?"