Angel's Breath

Chapter 2: Family's Failure

Ok guys, I know there's currently like six of you reading this, but still. I know that one of you for sure knows what the name of the song referenced in the last part, and the musical it's in. It's Cell Block Tango from the hit Broadway musical Chicago. No one got it, or even guessed. Anyways, I'll start the story up and I'll see you at the end of the chapter.

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The city was surprisingly busy for this time of night. It was a pain weaving in and out of cars while we were on our way. And of course, Lance just flew right on over the cars, only waiting when he was a few blocks ahead. I mean, the city knows about us, and a streak of white and black isn't going to go unnoticed, so he could have been polite and wait for me instead of leaving me to find my way to him.

The Gangmol Bar is this seedy little joint on the north side of town. It's rundown, and is barely recognizable from its former glory as one of the best hotels in the country. In fact, it was so well known, it was once known as the Grand Hotel and Resort. Until it was bought out by gang members, and it, along with the rest of the area, slowly became the horror story it is today. Lance and I are very familiar with the area, with the amount of gang busts we've had to do here.

I pull up to the curb and get off my bike, chaining it to the lamppost. In this part of town, you could never be too careful. Even then, my bike could get stolen, not that anybody would want that piece of junk. I built it from scrap, so it doesn't look the best. Runs amazing, but looks like garbage.

"We don't know what the situation is like in there. I'll follow you in." Lance swoops down next to me. Figures, he makes me go in first, so if we get shot at, he doesn't get injured. For a superhero, he sure is a coward. I glare at him, not that he can see anyways, you know, with the blindfold, and walk into the bar. The door creaks as I open it, and everyone inside stops their conversations and look at me. A man and a woman leave out the back. Slowly, conversation starts back up when Lance and I sit down at the bar. The bartender, a scraggly old man whose nasty name tag reads Earl walks over to us.

"What can I get you two gentlemen tonight?" He asks us. I can tell he's nervous. He's too polite, and his hands are working at the hem of his apron.

"I need something strong. Vodka, perhaps?" I say. There's no way I'm drinking that 'vodka'. More like death trap-ka. Knowing the area, any do-gooder ends up dead. But, with the day I've been having...

"A Bloody Mary, if you would." Lance tells the bartender. I'm surprised he went for a Bloody Mary. Normally, he would just order a beer and be done with it. The bartender walks away, a little too quickly. Lance and I exchange a look. Something seems off, but I can't quite put my finger on it. 'Earl' returns a few moments later with our drinks, but still, there's something amiss.

"Well, look who decided to make an appearance in my humble bar!" A deep voice booms behind us. Startled, I turn around. Alexia is standing behind us, guns pointed at our heads. That's probably why the man and woman left, to warn Alexia. Or, should I say, Lance's Uncle Alex. Another failed experiment, like me, only, he went crazy and killed a bunch of different people, including his wife and two children. He gained the ability to control energy in it's different forms. He can also turn people into pure energy by touching their skin with his skin, which kills them, and he can turn himself into a mass of energy, which doesn't kill him. It's complicated. "If it isn't the Angel of Light, and his little sidekick, Cupid's Arrow. Just in time for the party. Stand up. Now."

We comply, because of the whole we don't want to be turned into a mass of energy that explodes in all directions thing. Alexia makes us go out the same door the man and woman left out of. It leads to a sketchy looking stairway that creaks as we go up it. It wouldn't surprise me at all if it gave way under the weight of three people. At the top of the stairway, Alexia has his goons tie Lance and I's hands behind our backs. He takes my bow and arrows and tells us to go into two rooms on either side of the hallway. Well, he makes his goons drag us in the two rooms, and he follows me into mine. My room has a single chair in it, which the goons tie me to. Great, as if this day couldn't get any worse.

"The Circle should reward me for all of the work I've done for them." Alexia gloats over me. And now for the cliché villain monologue where he me his whole plan, then I say "You'll never get away with it!" To which he replies "But I already have" with a menacing laugh. Yeah, I've been through this before. "After all, I've caught their two biggest enemies singlehandedly. I am the..." I guess I don't get to hear the rest of the monologue because the door flies off its hinges and slams into him, knocking him out. Lance stands on the other side of the door frame, fists raised. Wow, for once, he's the one saving me. That's new. Not that I needed it, because I was actually going to listen to his villain speech. Because all of the members of the Circle should be dead or behind bars.

"What the hell are you doing?" I ask him once he takes care of the rest of the goons and cuts me loose. "I had it under control. And apparently, the Circle didn't get disbanded after we destroyed their HQ. I was going to get information out of Alexia and see where their new hideout is. But nooooo, someone had to rush in and be the big hero. Now let's go home. I need alcohol, and not the stuff from here." I brush past him, and head down the stairs. Back downstairs, the bar is empty. Completely empty. Not even Earl, the bartender is still there. They must have left after Alexia captured us.

I walk outside, and my bike is gone. Chain too. Because this day couldn't get any worse. Thunder claps nearby, and it starts to rain. Should have kept my mouth shut. Lance comes out behind me.

"Well Lance, my bike got stolen, so it looks like you're going to have to fly me home." I'm not particularly happy about it, but when Lance picks me up, it feels good. Safe and secure. Because he won't drop me. He takes off, and we fly back towards HQ.

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Hate me later.

And I'm sorry for such a long wait. I'm terrible with schedules and all that. Also, this chapter just did not want to get written. I had the general outline for it, but the details wouldn't come through. Feel free to call out any errors you see because this is unedited. Also I know it flows weird, that'll come with editing.

If you liked it, a sneaky little vote is greatly appreciated, or comments.

I'll try to update GoA or CH soon, but writers block is hitting me hard. Until next time!

-LB