Hero Stalker

Part Sixty-Nine

I couldn't find a way to properly split up this bit, and you guys have all been awesome fans, so here's a half-part one day early!

"Citizens, remain calm!" Femme shouted from the podium. "No one move!" The crowd around me froze, even though I didn't think she'd actually used her power. Then she fired a knock-out needle into Pulse's throat. He collapsed.

Simon laughed from the rooftop. He pulled a gun from his toolbox and a bulky helmet out from underneath his shirt—probably to protect himself from the cryothene. With a wink, he lowered the visor. His men followed suit. My heart pounded. All my instincts had warned me about him and I hadn't listened. Now he was pointing a semi-automatic weapon at a crowd of civilians.

"The speakers surrounding the square contain explosives. So does that truck," Harpy said. "My henchmen have rigged pressure sensitive tiles in the roofs and floors of the buildings surrounding the square. If any of you try to use them as an escape route, you'll be blown to bits."

Simon waved his crew forward. Four other henchmen jumped down behind him, while two remained on the roof. The barrels of their guns all pointed at Slasher, Femme, and Cypher. I wanted to sprint over and help. With the core glowing behind me, I could outrun a bullet. But I couldn't risk detonating Harpy's weapon.

"Get the bastards!" the mayor screamed at his bodyguards. They didn't move.

"Harpy, what are your demands?" Femme asked. She sounded so calm, I almost felt hopeful—but without our powers, what hope did we have? Three teenage girls in green and black stared at me, their eyes wide and terrified. Each one reminded me of my little sister. I wanted to throw up. This is all my fault.

"I want admission to the League," Harpy said.

"Let me call my contacts there," Femme said. "We can discuss this."

Simon pressed the barrel of his gun against her head. A new image flickered on the screen: Peregrine, chained to the ground. A metal vise like a cross between an iPod and a ball gag covered her mouth. The crowd groaned. My heart sank. We left her behind.

"I don't need your contacts, Femme Fatale. I'm very capable of qualifying on my own. But I'll let you choose how I do it. This weapon does not affect psi-positives. I can kill the five hundred civilians in this square and spare you if I choose." He laughed. "Let me assure Mayor Hollis he'll melt as quickly as the drug addicts I found wandering the streets."

"Fuck you!" Hollis screamed. His voice went up an octave.

Harpy laughed. "Being powerless doesn't feel very good, does it? Well, it's not the power that makes the hero. And today, I'm giving the Centurions a chance to prove themselves true heroes."

Slowly, deliberately, I started walking back to the stage. People slid out of my way. I tried to catch Dan's eye, but he was focused on the henchmen.

"Or I can kill two Centurions. Is one of you willing to sacrifice yourself for these innocent people? Would anyone give their life for Peregrine?" Harpy lifted a remote control. "I'll call back in an hour. If you haven't made up your minds, I'll press this button, liquefy everyone in the square and shoot your little redheaded friend in the head." Behind the electronic voice modification, he almost sounded like he was smiling. "Go on. Save the day."

The screen went black.