Big City Hero UNOFFICIAL BOOK TWO

Chapter Twenty-Four: Should've Known.

"Please hold your questions till afterward, and now here is Flaming Spark," the mayor said, stepping aside and shaking hands with me as I walked up.

You got this kid.

Just picture everyone in their underwear.

Wait.

No.

Get that image out of your head!

Abort mission!

Crap.

I sucked in a deep breath and tried to bring my racing thoughts to a standstill. I looked out at the large crowd that had gathered for the press conference, all the cameras and microphones were directed at me, everyone hanging on my every move.

'You can do this, Coal, I believe in you,' Molly had told me before I walked up on stage, she must know how I get when everyone's attention is on me.

I let the breath out that I've been holding, trying to remember to breathe. "First thing to address is the supposed discovery of my alter ego, Coal Black. Ever since that newspaper article came out by a certain journalist for the KC Daily, almost ninety percent of the calls for help have been reporters or fangirls wanting to get an interview with me. Guys, we may be superheroes, but we can't be in several places at the same time. Because of all of your cry wolves, three people who could've been saved died last night." I paused and shook my head. "So I've decided that until this whole thing calms down until you all realize how impossible it is for me and Coal to be the same person, then effective immediately, I will no longer be responding to calls for help."

There were loud gasps and murmurs that filled the auditorium as the news sunk in.

"Secondly, there have been rumors that superheroes and villains have been disappearing. Unfortunately, I have to confirm that. I do not have the liberty to say who is behind this, but they are acting under the government, and they only keep them for a week before releasing them back to us. What are they doing with them? I do not have the liberty to say, but each one that comes back is evaluated, and they all look and act fine." I paused again and looked back down at the notes. For some reason, I feel like that was the dumbest speech ever. What are you doing to me, Penny? "Any questions?"

Several hands shot into the air as well as shouts of questions, everyone talking over each other. I pointed in a general direction hoping someone would speak.

"Are you saying that you are not Coal Black?" Someone asked.

Oh great. You're above lying, Coal. "Do you honestly think I would be so careless as to let an amateur journalist discover my identity?"

"Liar!" Marie Harrison shouted from her spot in the very front. "I tracked you all the way back to that apartment, which you never left. I have proof that you are Coal Black!"

"Ah, yes, I did find that tracking device you so secretly put on my super suit," I said, trying not to scowl at her. "Did you ever ask Coal what his job is? He repairs super suits." And that is true. I do great patch jobs, so if you ever need your super suit to be stitched up or repaired, you can come to me. Okay, I'm probably not that good at it, but you can pay me in pizza, so it's a win-win situation.

"But..." Marie's confusion was evident on her face.

I shrugged and looked around. "Any other questions?"