Benny Washington, unable to relate to his distant father, and wracked with guilt over the recent death of his mother, seeks solace in best friend Peter Hall, comic books, and ballet-a passion he and Peter share. When Benny learns on the Internet tha...
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CHAPTER ELEVEN
The Attack
Benny stands beside Peter, gazing out the bars of their cage. A line of helmeted cops—along with their dads—face the open manhole and block whatever view Benny might have had. He wonders what's happening below ground, and if some of those officers will end up getting hurt. Detective Wong assured him he shouldn't feel guilty, but he does anyway.
"Why do you think it wants me so bad?" He glances at Peter. His voice is soft and low, to not distract the police guarding them. Under the makeshift lighting, Peter's blue eyes seem to sparkle.
Peter smirks. "Maybe because it doesn't know I'm a better dancer than you?"
Benny's eyes widen in surprise and then he chuckles. Raising a hand, he gives Peter a high five.
"Seriously, though," Peter goes on, the smirk firmly in place, "if I was a monster from another dimension and came to this city, I'd want you, too."
Benny gives Peter a shove. "Fool. You're just trying to get on my good side, 'cause I kicked your butt in the Cap versus T'Challa argument."
Peter laughs and then both boys fall into a heavy silence, losing their smiles.
"This Cap won't let it have you, T'Challa. I promise."
Benny feels an upsurge of emotion swell his heart. "And I won't let it hurt you."
They bump fists.
***
Amy follows her three lead officers, Yang by her side. Stagnant water beneath her feet sloshes as she moves forward and the stale air reeks of decay. There have been several cases in the past that made her skin crawl, but none like this one. And there had certainly never been anything in her academy classes that covered tracking monsters in abandoned tunnels beneath the city.
The three officers up ahead stop moving and a voice crackles through her com unit. "We got some bodies, Detective."
Amy leans into her com. "On my way."
She splashes through the water with greater urgency, impressed that Yang keeps pace. Her team trails closely behind. Reaching the lead officers, she shines the beam of her light on two middle-aged men sitting in the water and leaning up against the wall, as though asleep. From their scruffy looks and dirty clothes, she concludes they must be homeless.
Dropping to a squat before them, she reaches out and lifts the head of the first man, using her fingers to force one eyelid back. She shines her light into the eye, but it's unresponsive. She repeats this procedure with the second man. Same result.
Standing, Amy faces her team. "Looks like the others, some kind of induced coma." She squints at Yang. "Your monster is close."
Yang looks on the verge of correcting her use of the word "monster," but her intense expression causes him to decide otherwise.
