Acceleration

Chapter 11: Overgrowth Part 2

RINGGGGGGGGGG

Erin practically launched himself out of the gym, heading straight for Liz's car. His masterfully orchestrated plan—to convince the rest of the gang to find their own rides—had worked. Alone time with Elizabeth. Perfect.

She was already in the driver's seat, waiting.

"How was class?" he asked, tossing his backpack into the back.

"Fine."

"You okay?"

"I'm alright."

Cold. Distant. Erin felt a chill crawl up his spine. Had he done something wrong? He'd only missed the first two minutes of the movie yesterday...

They drove in silence toward Old Town.

"Hey," Liz said suddenly, eyes never leaving the road, "I appreciate you coming to the market. My family really wants me to make more friends. It'll mean a lot when you all show up."

"Happy to help," Erin replied.

There was a pause.

"It means a lot to me too."

Warmth now. The whiplash in her tone left Erin unsure of where they stood. One second ice, the next, something else entirely.

He turned to look out the window. "Well, I'm glad I can—"

His words stopped dead in his throat.

The building in front of them was wrapped in vines. Massive trees burst from the concrete, their roots snaking into windows. People screamed and ran as glass and debris rained down. Elizabeth slammed the brakes.

"Holy shit!"

Scaling the building was the moss-covered figure from yesterday. The man's vine-arm gripped a screaming businessman like a ragdoll.

Liz threw the car in reverse and turned down another street.

"Hypersonic better get on that," she muttered.

Erin gripped the handle above the window, torn. If he jumped out now, she'd know. Hotrod's words echoed in his mind.

"Just don't tell her, okay?"

Does this count as telling her?

"Pull over!" Erin barked.

Liz shot him a glance like he'd lost his mind but complied. He jumped out.

"My mom asked me to stop by work—she needs help with something."

"You said you'd come to the market."

"I will. I promise. Just give me a little bit, okay?"

She stared at him. Then, forcing a thin smile, she nodded. "Alright. I'll see you in a bit."

Erin watched her drive off, guilt sinking deep into his chest. Once she was gone, he ducked into an alley, tossed his bag behind a dumpster, and with a flash of lightning—

Hypersonic hit the street running.

"Auntie, you there?" Erin called over comms.

Silence.

"She's not at the lab... Great. I'm soloing this one."

The chaos had spilled into the street. Roots cracked through asphalt like shattered glass. Erin scanned the ground, careful to avoid anything that looked like a tripwire.

He sprinted forward—only to slam into a massive vine. He skidded to a stop, only to turn and find another blocking his retreat. More vines erupted around him.

"Shit."

They lunged.

He punched through one, but others quickly filled in the gap. They crushed in around him, lifting him into the air and binding him like a human burrito. Within seconds, he was nose-to-nose with the vine-limbed monster.

"I told you to leave me alone, Hypersonic."

Erin strained against the vines. He could snap them. They were strong—but not strong enough.

"As long as you're threatening people, I'm not going anywhere."

"These people are not innocent."

The villain hurled the businessman off the side of the building.

"Dammit," Erin muttered. He pushed hard—snap. The vines broke.

He fell.

Wind howled past his helmet.

Nothing to run on. Nothing to push off of.

Panic surged in his veins.

He faced the building. His reflection shimmered in the windows as they zipped past.

Worth a shot.

He kicked his feet toward the glass. Lightning burst from his soles. The world slowed.

His shoes scraped the glass, sparking as he slid downward, gaining control. At the last second, he leapt backward—just enough to break the fall without splattering on impact.

He hit the pavement, rolled, and stood—dazed but intact.

"Way too close."

But the screaming hadn't stopped. Erin looked up.

The man was still falling.

I can't catch him. I'll get crushed.

Don't catch him—cushion him.

Erin ran for the building, kicking off the glass again. One jump. Then another—ten feet, twenty, thirty. The man was now a few feet above.

Erin reached for him, locking his arms around the man's torso. He twisted midair, shielding the man with his own body.

A thick vine jutted out below. Erin aimed for it.

CRACK.

They slammed into the vine. It absorbed the worst of the fall, but Erin still heard his ribs snap. Pain surged through his body. The man scrambled up and ran, yelling thanks over his shoulder.

Erin coughed. Something felt wrong in his leg. Dislocated, maybe. Still breathing. Could've been worse.

Then a mass of roots slammed to the ground beside him.

"Oh, COME ON!" he shouted.

Overgrowth stepped forward.

"I warned you."

Lightning sparked. Erin tried to run—but vines snapped around his ankles.

"Leave."

A massive vine punched him into the building. A bundle of twigs caught him—but he didn't get time to breathe.

Two logs slammed into his chest.

Erin coughed—blood flew from his mouth.

"If you get in my way again," Overgrowth growled, gripping his helmet, "I will kill you."

"Then why not now?" Erin spat blood and defiance.

"Because the city needs you. Just like it needs me."

"But for now—I need you out of my way."

A vine yanked his leg.

SNAP.

Erin screamed.

"That should keep you down for a few months."

The villain hurled him through a wall. Concrete crumbled down, burying Hypersonic in rubble.

Get up.

Erin pressed his hands against the ground.

Get up...

His body refused.

"Get up..." he groaned again, barely audible.

The world faded to black.