Secret Powers

Chapter 9

The last class ended and Cindy didn't even look at Bruno. It wasn't like he hadn't gotten used to one or two... or fifty people being angry at him. As the leader of his school he had many haters who wished him dead. Many people were ticked off at him, but why did her anger upset him?
He was sitting at his desk with his feet up and arms crossed when Kevin burst into laughter next to him. Curious of what could be so funny and why he broke his line of thought, the boss turned to Kevin, "What are you giggling like a little kid about?"
"Sorry boss." Kevin grinned as he held out the newspaper for him to see. "It's that famous mysterious detective. She's been helping the police with all the crimes going on lately. She's like a super-sleuth."
"Some one whose like Sherlock?" The boss asked taking the paper from him. "Sounds amazing to me." He stared at the picture taken of a girl with blonde hair and red eyes.
"What is a Sherlock?" Kevin didn't understand what the boss was talking about. "How can you lock a sher? What's a sher?" Kevin scratched the back of his head as he desperately tried to decode the words the boss spoke.
"He's a famous detective." Cindy patted Kevin's head as she held back a chuckle, then she glanced over to Bruno who was still staring at the picture. "Don't worry about it." She strode over to him and took the tabloid from his hands. "It's what she does."
Dumbfounded the boss turned to her with wide eyes. She only lightly punched his shoulder while grinning like if she had won the battle.
"No need to waste time thinking about it." Cindy went to her seat and sat down on her desk. "She's got it covered and has been at it for awhile."
"That's right!" Kevin yelled trying to get attention, not liking the way he was excluded. "My dad says that the chief of police hates her for her capabilities, she's a show off that gets on his last nerve, or at least that's what my dad says. However, just recently there's news that her parents are some new criminals that the police are after." Kevin put on a serious expression and stroked his chin. "Does that mean, she too, is evil? Or is there something we're missing?"
The boos looked from Kevin to Cindy a few times, then shook his head. "That's what you were laughing at? Some junior detective's involvement with criminals? Isn't that a bit wrong? And when did you start reading the newspaper?"
"I'm not laughing at her parents." Kevin waved his hand brushing off the idea. "I was laughing at what the chief was quoted saying after she left the scene of the crime."
"What he say?" Cindy opened the newspaper scanning it for the article. "Something stupid?"
"Nah." Kevin intertwined his fingers and put them in front of his face while looking in each direction. "He called her out because of her folks. Says she's some kind of evil, mischievous woman. Whatever that means, I don't know, I only know it isn't nice, but mad harsh."
"That little." Cindy crumpled up the papers in her hands as she clenched her fists. "Punk..." She closed the newspaper with a flourish and marched over to Kevin, out stretching her arm to give it back.
"Why are you so up set?" Kevin raised an eyebrow while taking back the messed up news. "It's not like his insulting you. He doesn't like that girl so he says this stuff, nothing to do with you."
"Yeah." She forced a laugh. "I guess I don't appreciate when people make fun of others or say displeasing things about them."

When everyone was getting ready to go home, that's when Bruno walked over to Cindy and spoke in a hushed tone.
"Cindy..." He scanned his surroundings for eavesdroppers and determined that the coast was clear. "What you said earlier, I was thinking about it and, you were right. I shouldn't think that just because I'm in school I can't do anything."
Cindy stayed quiet without turning to look at him, was she still mad?
"Took you long enough." She finally spoke as she picked up her bag. "You need to know that no matter what, you can and do make a difference. Even if you don't do anything, it with decide the future."
"What type of psychological saying is that?" Bruno shook his head at her. "I just was saying that I won't think of myself as young and unable, but I still don't want to help. Getting involved with things like the police can't happen."
"Not everyone aids the police to be helpful to the common good." She waved her hand pathetically. "We don't even know what your power is yet. Maybe you can go through fire without being burnt and you should work with the fire department. Perhaps you have super smelling powers and should be a cook."
"Why would you put super smell and cooking together?" He made a disgusted face at the suggestion.
"You could smell if the food was burning from far away." Cindy shrugged strolling out of the room with Bruno on her heels. "Think about it. You might even be able to tell if the food would be good or not. A chief needs a excellent sense of smell to cook."
Bruno didn't even want to fight with her on the subject any further, so he switched topics, "What are you doing about that?" He pointed at the glass door in front of them, the only thing between them and Clara who had shown up to get Cindy, as anticipated.
She met Clara's eyes and waved, Clara returned the gesture as Cindy exited the building, leaving Bruno. Cindy smiles and ran towards her caretaker, clearly they were going to be fine. However as she reached the other a shadow jumped on top of the car. Shocked at the entrance of this person the two of them went into a defensive stance.
"Cindy, Clara." Spoke the man, his voice pulling at Cindy as if she had heard it before.
"Who are you!" Clara demanded furious.
"We have been following you for a while now." Another shadow spoke stepping up behind them, this one that of a woman. "We simply wanted to know how strong the one taking care of you was. We have evaluated and are quite certain of our judgement."
"Most definitely." The first one nodded in agreement as he crossed his arms.
"And what have you determined?" Clara glared at the girl figure, who smirked at the words.
"You are unfit to take care of Cindy." The woman tilted her head, slowly taking steps toward them.
"You should give her back to us and live the life you want to." The man dismounted the vehicle, and the two between them felt sweat falling down their faces. Sure, Clara was an ex-agent and knew how to protect herself, but could Cindy? She had only gone to one or two Karate lessons, but quit it because her powers had come and she needed to fine-tune them. How was Clara to take care of both figures by herself?
"Just give her to us." The woman held out a hand to Cindy, lifting her face to the sun revealing herself.
Eying them both with terror, Cindy whispered to her aunt, "These people... They're ... Mom and Dad..."
"I see." Clara leaned down and pulled a knife out of her knee-high boot. "That's why they're after us? This isn't going to end well."
"Do as we say!" The man yelled out as he caught a glimpse of the knife in her hand. "You don't have to fight us if you only do what we say."
"Fat chance." Clara pulled out another knife hidden in her other boot, now holding one in each hand. "I don't give up easily." She leaned toward Cindy and spoke softly, "Stay back, I'll handle this."
"But aunt..." Cindy reached out to grab Clara's sleeve, but her aunt headed toward the man with swift movements and slashes of her knife. The man dodged with only inches between him and the blade. While caught up with the male figure, the lady kept walking toward CIndy with an annoyed expression on her face.
"Stop this!" Clara turned to the lady, but couldn't leave as the man now advanced on her. He punched and kicked at her. She only barely managed to block as he turned her around, now his back to Cindy. Clara would have to go past him, something easier said than done, leaving the woman to approach Cindy freely.
"I'm not enjoying this little game she's playing." She spoke getting closer to Cindy, who started to walk back with the oncoming danger. With every step she felt her legs buckling and soon found herself on the floor. "She needs to have a lesson in manners, you are ours and we have a right to you."
The lady was now on top of Cindy with Clara not being able to do anything, Cindy was going to be taken in front of her and she was powerless to stop it.
Cindy lifted her hands hoping that one or two of the moves her Karate teacher had taught her had stuck.
"Don't be afraid deary." The lady scuffed, leaning down, her face almost in Cindy's. "We're family. Why should you be scared of family?" She glanced at Clara as she was still trying to get around the man. "Aren't you curious what a real family is like?"
The lady stared into Cindy's eyes as a grin crept across her face. "You do, don't you?" She reached out to grab Cindy's shoulder when a foot came out of nowhere hitting her in the side and sending her flying to the right.
"Shut up, old hag." Bruno barked standing with his hands in his pocket. "You and your partner over there are causing a commotion. Don't you know where you are?" Bruno extended a hand to Cindy, she didn't hesitate and took it gratefully. After smiling at Cindy, he turned to the lady. Head tilted and disgust written clearly on his face.
"With all the ruckus you are making that's disturbing the neighborhood, it seems that Miss Clara isn't the only one who needs a lesson in manners. Lesson one," He narrowed his eyes. "beat it."
"I'm not scared of a little boy." The lady rubbed her injured side standing up. "I have stood up to grown man who are twice your size, and won."
"Who said it was only me?" He raised one eyebrow as a bunch of the students came out of the school to stand behind him, many of the boys cracked their knuckles and their necks.
"You should run for the hills ma'am." Kevin smiled cheerfully popping out from behind Bruno. "Once you've gotten on the bad side of our boss, you have gotten on the bad side of all of us." Kevin shook his finger at her. "And that'll only mean danger for you, and lots of pain."
"You're just a bunch of little kids!" She shouted placing her fists on her hips. "Just cause there are a lot of you, doesn't mean you will win."
"You get 'em!" Everyone turned to see the teacher pumping his arm. "Don't let that old hag get the best of you guys! You rock!"
"Is that really what an adult should say?" Cindy had a worry expression as she talked to Bruno. "Especially a teacher?"
Bruno shrugged. "How should I know?"
"Oh!" The teacher lifted his finger as the sound of sirens started low and got louder by the second. "By the way, the cops say their on their way here."
The woman growled as she turned to the man who was still fighting with Clara. "We're leaving." She pointed at Cindy as she jerked back toward them. "We will get you. Don't think your group of roughians will stop us from fulfilling our mission. The master will get his hands on you and you won't be able to escape from them."
"Master?" Cindy repeated confused. Weren't they the ones who wanted her? Who was this person she was talking about?
"Who is master!" Cindy called as the man joined the woman where she stood. "Tell me who's chasing me!"
The other two shook their heads with a serious expression. "Till next time." The woman waved at her and they jumped on the car, then to the gate. Running on it like stealthy ninjas, they escaped and disappeared into the setting sun.
"Aren't the good guys the ones who have such a dramatic exit?" Kevin asked putting his hands behind his head. "The evil doers can't run into the sun set, so not comic-book-like."
"This isn't a comic book, Kevin." Bruno hushed him with his boss-like, rough, tone. "It's real life," He grinned. "But thanks." Kevin stared at him, puzzled. "You got all of the guys out right?"
"No." Kevin shrugged. "They all came rushing when I suggested that you were in trouble. I didn't do anything but point them in the right direction."
"Don't forget me!" The teacher walked out of the building with a huge grin. "If I hadn't called the police than this wouldn't have been so easy for everyone." With these words the cop cars pulled into the parking lot.
"Easy?" Clara huffed out of breath. "I've been fighting a very nimble man and I'm out of breath!"
"From such little fighting time?" Bruno scoffed at her, crossing his arms. "What type of guardian are you?"
"I'm not as young as I used to be!" Clara yelled at him causing her to lose even more breath. "And... I'm not... in the best shape..."
"Aunt..." Cindy reached out and wrapped her arms around Clara for a hug. "I love you."
Clara breathed heavily as she patted Cindy's back. "But of course!" She laughed happily.