Yin and Yang [A Superhero AU] - Book Three

Chapter Twenty-Six - Chaos

Phil stares at the screen for entirely too long, his hands shaking at his sides and his heart racing in his chest. The villains were just forced to kill some of the most powerful and influential men in San Francisco and Dan was there to witness it. He's probably having a breakdown right now and Phil can't be there to help him. His blue eyes flicker towards the other heroes, shocked expressions mirroring Phil's as they stare at the screen as well. Mark grips the edge of the desk in front of him, the Brit understanding the look on his face completely. The first gunshots pop and ring outside, making Phil's stomach lurch. Dan could be out there. Dan could be in trouble.

"What can we do?" Ken asks, leaning down to Matthias' level.

Matthias shakes his head and taps a few keys on his keyboard, leaning on his free hand. "All we can do now is save lives. At this point, the New Age Institute is too strong for us to beat them."

Phil inhales shakily and takes the nearest chair, lowering himself slowly and covering his face with his hands. More than anything, he wants to sprint to the NAI and get Dan before anything can happen to him. He knows he can't stay in Curatrix right now, but he has no excuse to leave. It's probably too dangerous out there anyway. He inhales sharply and lifts his head, trying to look calm when inside, he's freaking out.

Mark gets up and starts heading for the door, but Ken grabs his shoulder and stops him.

"Let me go, Ken," Mark demands.

"No! You're going to go off and do something stupid!"

"How would you know?" Mark spins on his heel to face the taller hero, his voice growing to a yell. "What do you think I'm going to do?! Race out into the street and yell 'I'm a hero, come shoot me!'? That's ridiculous!"

"You're going to go find Jack. That alone is dangerous enough," Ken says, voice scarily calm.

"Jack is not a murderer. Now, I'm going out to save lives. Are you coming or not?"

Phil wants to scream Dan isn't a murderer either! but holds it in. Instead, he watches the exchange with growing shakiness, anxious energy coursing through him.

Ken places a gentle hand on Mark's shoulder and sighs. "Mark, calm down. We'll go out later, but right now it's too dangerous."

Mark takes a deep breath, hands shaking at his sides as he moves slowly back towards the desk. The gunshots grow in volume and frequency, and Phil watches helplessly as Mark curls up in his chair and attempts to block it out. Phil covers his own ears, abusing his bottom lip between his teeth, and curls up even more in his chair.

"I refuse to stay here and be idle," Felix states finally. "People are dying outside, and if I have a chance to kill the woman who killed Marzia and save some lives in the process, I will take that chance."

"Felix..." Matthias begins, but then lets his voice trail off. They all know it's no use to argue with him.

"I'm going with him," Mark says without a moment of hesitation. "I can't sit here anymore."

Ken sighs. "If they're going, I'll go."

Phil nearly jumps out of his seat. "And they'll need a healer to save their butts."

Matthias watches them for a moment before hanging his head and handing them their earpieces. "Fine. If you're going out, don't forget these. I'll need to be in contact with you."

They each snatch their earpieces and head out into the chaotic streets. Some people yell and fire off guns while others huddle against walls, nursing bullet wounds and sobbing quietly. Bodies and blood and waste litter the streets, the corpses riddled with bullet holes. "THE END IS HERE" in red spray paint decorates the building across the street from Curatrix, and Phil watches as Mark steps over "Curatrix will fall" in sidewalk chalk.