The Unconventional Hero

19) Four Horsemen

Chapter Nineteen: Four Horsemen

The stairs faintly creaked as I made my way down, into what I presumed was the living room. Well, it really couldn't be anything else.

"Elias!" a familiar voice to my right said. "Thank god you're here—I was so afraid!"

Carmen! I reached out desperately against her and pulled her into a fierce hug, not caring at how she had to bend down awkwardly for me. Although, I don't think she minded, hugging me back with the same amount of visciousness. It was honestly a bit of a relief.

I pulled back after I satisfied my own personal worries. "Where's Brian? Is he okay? I saw him out front—is he here?"

Two hands falling on my shoulders made me jump a little and turn around to look at the guy in question in the eyes.

I smiled at him and then promptly forced him into one of my hugs. Well, maybe not forced, seeing as he readily hugged back as well.

Aw, he's getting used to them!

Wait, since when did I get so touch intimate?

"So... I guess the secrets are all out now, huh?" he said from behind my head, arms lazily reaching out towards Carmen through our hug.

Carmen swatted at his hands but shrugged nonetheless when I pulled back.

"I guess so. I never meant to make it a secret but I didn't want to actively tell everyone I had super powers. Besides, I didn't fancy becoming a governmental experiment," she said, raising an eyebrow.

Well. Fair point.

I turned to Brian with my own raised eyebrow. This time, instead of his casual laid back essence, he cringed and rubbed the back of his head.

"I actually just realized I had this power like, three weeks ago. Go easy on me—I planned to tell you one day!" he muttered, shoulders drooping. Three weeks only?

I pouted and nudged him with my own shoulder. "Come on, don't be like that. I can't hold it against you. Was it hard keeping it a secret?" I teased him.

"Hey, it really was! I could float and— and I couldn't tell anyone? Unfair. You wouldn't understand."

Well, yes I could—

"Come on Brian. I had to keep mine a secret for a year and a half, at least. But this isn't a competition! Look, it's great we have each other now, but what are we going to do?!" Carmen said, raising her hand and gesturing discreetly to everyone who had been leisurely sitting around or panicking in the corner.

I scanned around the room, feeling slightly relieved when I saw Graham walking around, making rounds and asking people if they were holding up alright, or if they needed anything. Which was nice, but couldn't exactly help out our current... situation.

I cleared my throat to get their attention back. "Black Shadow's going to come back in like, atleast seven minutes. He just went for Jaxson, you remember him? I'm sure once he gets back, he'll know what to do."

Brian pursed his lips. "So Jaxson has powers? What level is he, and why do you know? Also, no offence, but why or how are you here? You weren't trapped seeing as... well, by all accounts you shouldn't be here!" Well, okay. Rude.

Scrunching my nose at him, I lightly tapped the tip of my shoe to his in a less than friendly manner. "Do you forget my whole Black Shadow enemies to friends story? Anyways, I tried running after you guys but Graham man handled me and forced us to wait for him."

Carmen nodded as if she understood, but her eyes were trained somewhere else, focusing on everyone in the room. What for?

"What's wrong, Carm?"